By Anne Longakit
15 years ago my parents made the decision to move our small family unit of three to Canada. It was a decision filled with risk with the potential benefit of a so-called “better life” though vague and immeasurable. My 6 year old self could never fully comprehend the future ramifications this decision would have on our lives.
When our family arrived in Canada, our possessions consisted of 6 boxes filled with clothes, photos, toys, and other remnants of a life once lived. We moved into a small, empty apartment where our only pieces of furniture consisted of a small dining table set, and a tiny television without a remote given to us by strangers; we slept on the floor. For the next year, my parents would shuttle me from our apartment to another Filipino family’s home at 6 am before driving to work in the forest green third-hand van my parents had bought with the little money we had. Often times I would find myself waking up on my friend’s couch in the morning without having any recollection of how or when I arrived there. During those days, the first time I would see my parents was in the evening, after their work day. I remember McDonald’s and days at the movie theatres being a luxury. Life was hard, and full of sacrifices but life in the Philippines was harder. In the next year, we moved to our brand new house closer to my parents’ workplaces. I would yet again say goodbye to the friends I had, and start afresh. This time however, we had slightly more than six boxes of possessions, and we were able to get my paternal grandmother a visitor’s visa, so I no longer needed to be shuttled around.
Despite the challenges we faced, my parents surrounded me with as much love and support as they could muster and provided me with every opportunity. Perhaps my parents were living vicariously through me, or they were simply tired of hearing the ungrateful phrase of “I’m bored”, but regardless of the motive I was kept busy, and encouraged to pursue my passions and interests. I followed my parents’ example of hard work and determination as I wholeheartedly threw myself into all of my endeavours. I devoted my time to a multitude of extracurricular activities such as dance, music, swimming, art, and volleyball. My bustling schedule instilled the values of discipline, hard work, and passion into me, allowing me to excel in my academics; I received honor roll status from grade 8 – 12 and earned the Governor General’s Bronze Medal for graduating with the highest average in my class.
Anne Longakit a Filipino Canadian is set to represent Canada, the pageant is slated to be held on Sept. 16, 2018.
Throughout all of these experiences, I was able to collect various awards, memories, and lessons, which have all shaped me into the person I am today. However, a large part of who I am and who I would like to be, began in high school, when I became actively involved in my school’s community by planning and volunteering at large annual events through clubs such as Student Council and Project Equal. In the fall of 2012, an opportunity arose to take my passion for community service to an international level. Project Equal was going to Ecuador for a Me to We volunteer trip during the spring of 2014. I was excited by the prospect of travelling with a group of likeminded students and teachers from my school. When I presented the idea to my parents, they were hesitant. Not only would the trip be a financial investment, the idea of sending their only child to another country for 10 days created feelings of apprehension. However, through the art of persuasion and persistence they became thoroughly convinced that this experience would truly be once in a lifetime.
In the spring of 2014, I travelled to Ecuador with a group of students from my high school; we worked in a small rural community called Shuid, where we helped with ongoing community projects such as painting school buildings, and digging the foundation of a new building. In addition to the building projects, we were able to learn more about the local culture and way of life in the communities tucked away in the Andes Mountains. For my peers, the trip opened their eyes to another world. Many of them experienced culture shock when we spent a day at the local market. For me, it brought a sense of familiarity; memories of my childhood days accompanying my mother to the palengke came flooding back.
Upon entering my first year of university, I found my community involvement to be non-existent, as I struggled to meet the demands of the University of British Columbia’s rigorous first year science program called Science One. I felt that something was missing in my life, but I couldn’t quite figure out what. In the second term of my first year I helped coach U12 girls volleyball. Coaching provided me with a means to give back to my community and simultaneously bring back the sense of purpose that I had missed since high school.
This wouldn’t be the first time I would get a glimpse of a life that could have been. In the summer of 2015 after my first year of university, I devoted my 4 month break volunteering at the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), and the Pinamalayan Community Hospital in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines – which is located in my mother’s hometown. I was given the opportunity to work in the outpatient department where I learned how to take blood pressure, and practice my Tagalog as I attempted to converse with patients. My experience in the Philippines reinforced my motivation to become a medical professional as I saw the assemblage of people waiting for hours in the hot foyer of the hospital everyday to be treated.
My mother would often describe Pinamalayan as a sleepy town, and I couldn’t agree more. Apart from the newly opened Jollibee, the town lacked any sort of commercialized establishments – the one and only cinema had permanently closed its doors years before. I spent the majority of my free time with my grandmother; accompanying her as she tutored elementary school children, and visited family and friends. Three weeks in that sleepy town felt like months; life was slow and the scorching heat combined with the humidity left me longing for the endless rainy days that I had grown accustomed to back in Vancouver.
When I returned to Vancouver, I felt refreshed, and ready to take on my second year with more conviction. I was able to enjoy my courses, and finish the fall term off on the Dean’s Honour List. I was content, and felt confident enough in myself to step out of my comfort zone and pursue something I had not previously thought I would ever attempt. Pageantry. My mom had presented the idea to me in my first year of university, but I felt ill equipped and had thought the timing to be poor. However at 19 years old, it was my last opportunity to enter in Miss Teenage Canada, and the prospect of having a platform for community involvement was appealing, so I applied. In April of 2016, I competed in the regional competition in British Columbia; I was declared a finalist, winning the title of Miss Teenage Surrey 2016, and securing a spot in the National Pageant – Miss Teenage Canada in Toronto last July 2016.
I spent the months leading up to the Pageant Final volunteering at local events, finding sponsorship, and fundraising for Free the Children which is the Miss Teenage Canada Organization’s charity of Choice. Despite not being able to achieve my goals at the pageant final itself, I was able to meet an uplifting group of girls from across the country, and share an unforgettable week in Toronto with them. In addition, my year as a titleholder provided with much more than the opportunity to compete on the National stage. My proudest moments as a titleholder came after the national competition, when I became involved in events hosted by the Philippine Consulate of Vancouver, and became an Ambassador for SOS Children’s Village of British Columbia. Pageantry is much more than the make up, gowns, and crowns. It is the work and dedication that is invested before and after the event; the advocacy, is what makes a true queen.
I don’t particularly remember many events about my life prior to the move in 2003, however I do remember living in a small house with a blue metal gate somewhere in Laguna, Philippines; it was a house full of life and love – it was my first home. I often pester my parents with questions about what life was like, and what my life could have been like had they chosen not to take the gamble. I think my experiences in Shuid and Pinamalayan vividly illustrated that hypothetical scenario better than what my parents could have ever described to me. Had they not chosen to take the leap, we would still be living in that tiny house. Travelling within the Philippines would have been a rare occasion, let alone travelling outside of the country. I probably would have been as equally dedicated to my education if not more; but the possibility of attending a post-secondary institution would remain in the realm of uncertainty. In the event that I did attend university, pursuing anything beyond a bachelor’s degree would be out of the question.
Immigrating to Canada opened up a world of opportunities. In the 15 years since arriving, I have been able to become actively involved in my community, attend a world-renowned University and earn a place on the Deans Honours List for two consecutive years. I have also travelled to places I’ve only previously dreamt of, and competed in pageants, winning the titles of Miss Teenage Surrey 2016 and Miss Lower Mainland 2017. In a world full of what-ifs and what could-have-beens, I know for certain that if my parents had chosen to take the safe route I would not be the person I am today; I thank them for their bravery, and perseverance.
In the spirit of taking risks, and seizing once in a lifetime opportunities, this summer I am travelling to the Philippines to compete in the 50th anniversary of Mutya Ng Pilipinas as the representative of the Filipino community in Canada. I am thrilled to be returning to my first home to learn more about the beauty of our islands, culture, and people which attract tourists from around the globe.
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