Reunited for Christmas
Filipino family ready to celebrate Christmas together for the first time
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — It was a first of many days watching the snowflakes swirl in the wind and settle on the ground for one Filipino family on a recent Saturday.
Growing up in the Philippine city of Manila, the peace, quiet and snow is a dream come true for Louie Binag and his family, who were recently reunited after years of separation.
“We left the Philippines to escape the unemployment, low wages, and limited opportunities,” explained Binag, who then moved to Taiwan where he met and married Charlie (who is also Filipino) and they had their first son Carlo. Sadly, Taiwan wasn’t much better for the family of three and in 2014 Binag accepted employment in Alberta.
“It was very hard and there were many tears shed being separated from the family,” he said.
Binag and his family attended the ninth annual Christmas in Canada event in Summerside, hosted by the P.E.I. Association for Newcomers to Canada. “We were expecting our second child (Charles) in Taiwan, but Louie had to leave for Canada. He never met Charles until last year in August when we came to P.E.I. for a visit. It was the first time in four years Louie had met his son, and the four of us were together,” said Charlie.
“While we video chatted, I never had the opportunity to visit them because of the cost of travel,” added Louie, who moved to P.E.I. last year and started working at an aerospace company in Slemon Park.
His family later joined him on the Island in January 2019.
This will be the first Christmas the family of four celebrate together. Although, the journey to get here hasn’t been easy. Shortly after Charlie and the two boys arrived on P.E.I., she learned her father had died in the Philippines.
“I wasn’t able to attend his funeral because of the cost of airplane travel and the time it would take to get there,” she said.
But immigrating to P.E.I. has offered a chance at a better life.
“Out of Alberta, Ontario that followed, and now P.E.I., I can say that the people on this Island have been the most welcoming. And, our family never experienced snow – only summer and rain in the Philippines and Taiwan – so we are grateful for this season, one of many firsts,” said Louie.
The family was one of many attending the icebreaker Christmas dinner, carol singalong, and special arrival of Santa. “By bringing everyone together we can shine the light on what Christmas in Canada is all about, break any isolation and build friendships,” said Belinda woods, the organizer.
In Summerside, 45 different countries are represented at this event.