The ThunderBlogs

A plethora of ethnic restaurants thrive on the far-stretching Kingsway Road, mostly Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian — but the lack of Filipino businesses speaks for the community’s economic marginalization.

There is only one Filipino dentist that services the community, on Kingsway and Broadway. Of course, Filipino Canadians need not to be served only by a Filipino dentist, but that there is only one that made it to the level of practicing such a profession is a sign in itself of the lack of work opportunities.

Dr. Gloria Samosa advertises her clinic in the Philippine Journal, a local Filipino newsletter, alongside only one Filipino lawyer, Anthony M.M. Remedios.

The phones are constantly ringing in Samosa’s clinic, as Filipino receptionists pick up calls in both English and Tagalog and the dental assistants are also Filipino, carefully preparing the utensils and offering medical gowns.  Such semi-professional jobs are barely even available to Filipino Canadians, as professional Philippine degrees are not recognized by the government.

Further down Kingsway, Real Liquidation Store, on the corner of Joyce, struggles as they run multiple businesses, such as providing a money remittance service, renting out films and selling non-perishable Filipino food and miscellaneous dollar-store-like items.  Within its dusty shelves, the best selling, of course, are the cheap phone cards.

Moving down Joyce, there is a sign of hope as five businesses in a row are Filipino, though all equally appear low-budget and unpopular. One of them, the Goto King, with its hybrid Chinese/Filipino menu, is more populated with clients that feast on bowls of mami, a Filipino version of Chinese congee.

Kay Market, a Filipino grocery store, advertises Western Union under its sign, which is an ideal sponsor because Filipinos are known for sending half of their pay cheques home.  A lot of the produce look like they should have been thrown out a week ago, but the beat up tomatoes and spongy radishes still sell, so long as those hard-to-find, Asian long beans, known as sitaw are still shelved.

One of the workers complained of the cold while he was arranging the vegetables.  Having moved here two years ago, he still has not gotten used to it, he said.

He cheerfully chatted with practically everyone who walked in.  But he was not doing so as a formidable vendor, but as a fellowman trying to make a personable relationship with people who likely aren’t used to the cold as much as he isn’t.