I am a Filipino who immigrated to Canada last year. I am married to a Canadian who is a retired airline pilot. I met him on the Internet better known as On line Dating. Thanks to him, for now I have experienced the traveling that I dreamed of when I was a little girl. There is no air pollution or traffic congestion. My first winter experience was great because it was not as nasty as I thought it would be. Although I come from a cold place in the Philippines which is Baguio City north of Manila, the winter months are something to prepare for.

Many Canadian men marry Filipino women. These men have all the reasons why they want to marry us. We are known to have charming smiles that light up your day. This very light can diminish your worries and uplift your spirits. That particular smile can leave a mark on your mind that tugs at your heart. I guess that is how my smile affects my husband. That describes the mark of a Filipino woman wherever I see them here in Canada.

Filipino women  are all over Canada and they are well-liked and admired by Canadians. In my interaction with Canadians, they express their admiration and respect towards us. The words “awesome”, “perfect”, “incredible” are some of the words they use. Filipino woman in Canada may be that trusted nanny who has endeared herself to her employer’s children. She may be the patient and excellent care giver of your neighbour. She may be the girl behind the counter who rings out your purchases from the store.

The Filipino culture dictates that a daughter be taught domestic skills at a young age. She should be a good housekeeper, cook, and more. She is also trained to want and value a good education. The Filipino family does not only include the father, mother and children. The grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and even distant relatives are included in what you call the family unit. All these members of the family have an influence over how a child is raised. At least in mine, it was that way. I picked up values taught not only by my parents, but also from my grandparents, aunts, uncles and yes, even from distant relatives.

Hence, Filipinas are gifted with beauty, intelligence, sensitivity and are very giving. The moment you gain their trust you will experience that they have a generosity of heart, reliable, protective, conscientious and committed as a friend, mother, wife and worker. As a wife, a Filipino woman excels as a housekeeper. She can be counted on to help her husband provide for family sustenance. And she remains the ever sensitive and responsible mother, keeping close watch over the upkeep of her children.

The typical Filipino woman values education. They work hard to achieve a college degree. Some Canadians are surprised that I speak English fluently. I tell them that English was my first language, my family having been influenced by close interactions with the Americans.  Even with their accent, Filipinas are able to communicate well as compared to other foreigners in Canada.

Most Filipinas have earned a college education and most are well-versed in many things.  As professionals, Filipino women are active in a variety of fields such as education, social welfare, arts and culture, entertainment, medicine and even in politics. She is as good or even better than her male counterpart in careers where sensitivity, creativity and charm are put in harness. Filipino women have shown they can succeed not only as housekeepers, nannies, caregivers, and wives but also as partners of nation-building.

Why do Canadian men marry foreign women such as a Filipina? Who would not if the woman you marry has all  the attributes as stated above?