Warmth of a welcome

CBC

06-04-2025

Ranz Jaren Bontogon Apr. 6, 2025
In this photo essay for CBC Creator Network, Ranz Jaren Bontogon is using film photography to explore the experiences, history and culture of Filipinos in New Brunswick.
When I was 13, I immigrated to Moncton with my mother and sister. When we landed we were greeted with a blizzard, but having no experience with snow, I felt excited.
Coming from the Philippines, a country where it's either hot or rainy, I knew adjusting to the environment would be challenging. Somewhere along the way, I found warmth in the welcoming embrace of New Brunswick and the Filipino community that helped me feel right at home.
In our native language of Tagalog, we have a word — Bayanihan — which means community co-operation. Traditionally this is an old practice where neighbours gather around physically helping a family to relocate their Bahay Kubo, or nipa hut, a house made out of bamboo and banana leaves, by lifting and carrying it to a new location.
This is an act of Pakikisama, or getting along and helping each other out. Filipino culture values harmony, empathy and unity over individualism. Our identity is connected through the spiritual Kapwa philosophy, or 'shared self,' where every person's responsibility is not for themself but in the service of each other and the greater community, binding us as one.
These profound cultural customs are something that we practice no matter where we are in the world, including here in New Brunswick.
I'm grateful for the power of photography and how it can broaden one's horizons.
I hope my photos give current and future generations of Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians a window to see their heritage through and to provide an understanding that helps everyone see the beauty in our culture and how it fits into our shared communities in New Brunswick.
Helping Filipinos feel at home, one at a time
Betty De Asis
Betty De Asis is one of the founding members of the Filipino Association of New Brunswick, which was formed in 2007. At the beginning, the association relied entirely on their own pockets and the support of the Filipino community.
Because of Betty's stewardship, the small initiative grew into the thriving organization it is today. She is well-respected and known as Nanay (Mother) Betty in the community, a name that speaks to her kindness and motherly nature. One of her greatest contributions has been voluntarily helping newly arrived Filipinos settle in New Brunswick.
For 14 years, Nanay Betty was a full-time teacher at Elsipogtog First Nation School, with many of her students remembering her compassion, staying in touch even years later.
'I went to UNB Fredericton and got my education degree so I could teach,' she said. 'Years later, I was professionally dressed up for an interview for adult education at Oromocto when I got a call from the principal of Elsipogtog First Nation School, he told me to come in. When I arrived, the principal tossed me a set of keys and told me this is for your classroom. I got excited then I quickly ran to this classroom, when I entered It was empty, but at that time I got help from my kababayan [fellow Filipinos] with filling up my classroom with decorations, It was a regular act of bayanihan, I couldn't be any happier.'
Betty currently lives in Richibucto with Tito, or Uncle, Raynald Chiasson, her partner of 20 years. She travels around the province working as a settlement support worker, making presentations about Filipino cultures to elementary students as part of the diversity and inclusion initiative by the New Brunswick Multicultural Council.
One thing I felt when I was having my conversation with Nanay Betty was her quiet, steady generosity — a generosity shaped by her own experiences of isolation and the kindness she now shares freely, making sure everyone around her always feels seen and supported.
Guiding the Filipino community forward
Anna Mae Sy
Originally from Las Piñas, Philippines, Anna Mae Sy moved to Canada with her husband and daughter, settling in Moncton in 2018.
Right from the start, she viewed this new chapter as full of exciting possibilities. She started her career as an early childhood educator, then moved into teaching English online, eventually landing a job that spoke to her passion for culture and community.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she joined the Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area as a youth program co-ordinator, helping refugees, immigrants, and youth explore their career paths. In 2023, Anna Mae successfully ran for the volunteer position of vice-president for the Filipino Association of New Brunswick, and began helping with various initiatives like the annual Filipino Christmas party, Filipino Family Day in the summer, and Filipino Heritage Month.
'My family and I felt the hardships of immigration, and the only thing I can do now that I'm here is to pass forward the kindness I was given to others trying to settle in New Brunswick,' she said.
'When you are part of a community organization like this (Filipino Association of New Brunswick), your outreach is endless and we try our best to help, this is part of the spirit of Bayanihan. The Filipino community did not hesitate when a kababayan almost got deported. They were set to go home when the community got together and helped raise funds to pay for a lawyer. I saw how we all united to help this person.
'If I change one life for the better, then I've done my job. It resonates with me deeply, whenever I see the impact of the work we do in the Filipino community.'
This year marks the 18th year for the Filipino Association of New Brunswick, and it also marks a huge milestone for Anna Mae, who was chosen as the association's new president. Listening to her oath-taking speech, you could feel her heart for the community in every word she spoke. She also chairs the Asian Heritage Society of New Brunswick, a volunteer group that celebrates Asian heritage and opens doors for honest conversations about life in Atlantic Canada. In her day job, Anna Mae helps community members with writing resumes, job-hunting and interview prep as an employment counsellor for the Government of New Brunswick.
Anna Mae is a great example of what the Kapwa philosophy entails. Her responsibility is not just for herself but in the service of the greater community, making it a better place not just for Filipinos, but for everyone.
Navigating mixed Filipino-Acadian heritage
Philipp Nino Michaud
Growing up as the child of a Filipino mother and Acadian father, Phillip Nino Michaud sometimes felt caught in between two worlds.
For Nino, there was a period when he resented being Filipino because it made him feel self-conscious. In elementary school, his mom always made sure he had the best food, preparing meals like pancit, a Filipino noodle dish, and other dishes she put time and care into. But instead of feeling proud, Nino wished he could just bring something that wouldn't make him stand out. 'I should just be able to eat whatever I want,' he thought at the time.
It took a while, but eventually, he realized that the food his mom made is a representation of who he is, and that standing out isn't a bad thing.
'I would say that my mom and her active involvement with the Filipino Association of New Brunswick played a big key in me growing up and just really getting my sense on my Filipino side. But in the end, you know, I learned not to pick but to embrace both.'
Nino acknowledged that being Filipino-Acadian may have its hardships, but it's a gift, an opportunity that not everyone gets to have. Realizing that he was given a bridge that connects him to both Filipino and Acadian culture, he feels grateful for both sides of his heritage, and how it enriches his life. Even his name, Philipp Nino Michaud, carries meaning. Philipp and Nino together, form the word Filipino, while Michaud, his Acadian surname, anchors him to his other half. With a sweet reminder that's ingrained in his very identity, he never has to choose one or the other, but instead he moves through both with a sense of belonging.
Raising a family with Filipino and Canadian traditions
Jason Hernandez & Jennifer Dupuis
Jason Hernandez and Jennifer Dupuis have been together for seven years and are raising two daughters: Serina, who is one, and Faith, who is four. Their parenting styles are influenced by Dupuis's Acadian heritage and Hernandez's Filipino culture.
Growing up in the Philippines, Hernandez carries with him the traditions and values that influenced his approach to family life in Canada, including respect for elders and strong family ties.
'We're doing that Filipino tradition where we all sleep in the same bed,' he said. 'She [Jennifer] didn't like it at first, because most of the time she's on the corner of the bed and would fall off. I'll be in the corner too, but Serina and Faith like to be in the middle, beside us. I told Jennifer, It's good to be close. She ended up accepting it, [and] now we all sleep in the same bed every night.'
Jennifer spoke about her gradual ease into Filipino culture as she became part of Jason's family, from learning how to speak the Tagalog language to experiencing life in the Philippines, a trip she enjoyed so much she didn't want to leave.
'When I had our daughter Faith, I had postpartum depression, because she was my first kid and at the time, I didn't know how everything worked, but every time I needed to sleep, Nanay and Tatay (Jason's parents) would take over. They're always there, ready to help us,' shared Jennifer.
In the Philippines, family often extends far beyond the usual nuclear household in Canada. It is very common for multiple generations — including grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins — to live under one roof, creating an embracing support system. It's a Filipino way of life where our doors are always open, meals are shared without hesitation, and there is always someone to turn to, whether for guidance, laughter, or maybe just sitting together after a hard day.
For Jason and Jennifer, raising their daughters means carrying these traditions forward. Their home is never quiet but it's always full of love, a comfort knowing that help is always close.
Bringing the community together through music
Mark Ruiz Pajaron
Mark Ruiz Pajaron's father arrived in Cap-Pelé in 2011. Once he got his permanent residency in 2018, Mark immigrated to New Brunswick, along with his mother and brother. Before moving to Canada, he was in his third year of college in the Philippines. For Mark, there were times when he longed for home, but he adapted with the support of the Filipino community. Today, he is the only Canadian citizen in his family.
Coming from the big city of Cagayan de Oro, Mark found the fresh air and quieter pace in New Brunswick refreshing. Life moved differently here, but in a way that felt right for him and his family to start over. What stood out to him the most was how welcoming people were for a small town. They showed a real interest in his culture, asking questions and wanting to learn more. He found comfort in those conversations, seeing them as a way to share his Filipino heritage while also feeling more at home in a new place.
Music has always been a part of Mark's life, but stepping onto a stage in New Brunswick was something he had to slowly ease into. As a newcomer, he wasn't sure how people would react to his performances.
'I remember the first time I ever performed, it was during a scallop festival in Richibucto and they could not play the Philippine national anthem,' he said. 'A kababayan pushed me to sing it and so I did. I was really embarrassed and worried, because I know some Filipinos are super strict when it comes to singing our national anthem. It needed it to be in a right and respectful tone. I was really nervous but fortunately everything went smoothly and I got a good reaction from the audience. Singing is my calling, I wish I could do more, paid or not, I would love to perform as long as I live.'
About the Author
Ranz Jaren Bontogon
Ranz Bontogon (he/him) is a photographer, artist and cultural worker based in Moncton. Originally from Taguig City, Philippines, he immigrated to Canada in 2013 and has been living in New Brunswick for more than a decade. His work explores Filipino identity, migration and his culture through traditional darkroom processes, including silver gelatin and platinum-palladium printing.
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