The Straight Area Filipino Society (SAFS) is a non-profit socio-cultural organization established in 2017 by the original Filipino immigrants in the Straight Area, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Its founders were inspired by their common love for Filipino culture and heritage derived from their yearning for home. SAFS was initially organized with the objective of promoting fellowship and camaraderie am
ong the Filipino community of the Straight Area. Since then, it has evolved into a more organized community as its mission became deeper and more diverse adding a different dimension and meaning to the group. SAFs has now morphed into a cross-cultural community as it opened its doors to other individuals from different cultural backgrounds as well as the local community who can identify with the group’s goals, ideals and aspirations. To date SAFs has already reached 138 members and counting as it continues to strive and responds to the new challenges and call of time. Vision:
The integration of Filipino heritage vis a vis the Canadian culture to foster fellowship and harmonious co-existence through understanding and respect of each other’s heritage and culture. Uphold and celebrate Filipino heritage through various events and activities and sharing it with the local community
2. Conserving and protecting Filipino heritage by inculcating Filipino culture and virtues to the new breeds of Filipinos who were born in Canada.
3. Integrating and immersing with the local community through the group’s various involvement and participation in the different local festivities and events in the community. We are Non-Profit Filipino Organization in Strait Area, Port Hawkesbury, the Counties of Richmond and Inverness that celebrates our rich Filipino culture and presence in Cape Breton Nova Scotia, and desiring to share them for the enrichment of Canadian culture and life in general as a whole. We do "Bayanihan", We help each other"...
"Bayanihan", it is the much-cherished Filipino spirit of solidarity, civic unity and cooperation, is not confined to the bayan or bansa (town or country) only. It transcends borders, hanggang sa ibang bayan (all the way to other towns or countries). Filipino Cultural Values
Hospitality
Hiya
Modesty
Courtesy
Warmth
Respect
Kapwa
Trust to the Divine Creator
Located between the South China Sea and Philippine Sea, the Republic of the Philippines contains a diverse set of landscapes, languages and cultures. Various countries – such as Spain, China and the United States – have interacted with and impacted Filipino culture. A sense of national identity and pride emerged out of struggles for Philippine independence. However, loyalties remain foremost with one’s family and place of birth. Key values such fellowship, respect and acceptance are found throughout the culture, with many Filipinos displaying a warming and hospitable demeanor. Geographic and Linguistic Diversity
The Philippines is made up of over 7,000 islands, of which approximately 2,000 are inhabited. The islands are categorized into three main clusters – namely Luzon in the north, Visayas in the centre and Mindanao in the south. The island clusters vary in terms of cuisine, languages and culture. One of the main distinctions is in respect to religion. The population in the northern islands generally identify as Christian while it is much more common to find those who identify as Muslim in the southern parts of the Philippines. The country is also linguistically diverse, with eight major dialects and over 170 languages spoken throughout the inhabited islands. The official language of the Philippines is Filipino, which is mainly Tagalog (the dialect from central and southern Luzon) combined with words from various other languages. For example, English is widely spoken throughout the Philippines, and it is common to hear Filipinos use a mixture of English and Tagalog (known informally as ‘Taglish’) in everyday conversations. Depending on their location, Filipinos may not speak the national language. As a way to retain their local identities, many Filipinos will often choose to speak in their regional languages and dialects. Indeed, it is common to find Filipinos who are from different parts of the Philippines conversing in English rather than in Filipino. National and Local Identity
Given the diversity of the Philippines, the unifying element of Filipino culture is a complex matter. A sense of national identity emerged out of the long standing struggle for independence. In contemporary Philippines, many Filipinos are acutely aware of the colonial history of their country. For example, José Rizal, a national hero in the struggle for Philippine independence, is a highly revered and well-known figure whom many Filipinos look up to as a role model of a virtuous person. However, the sense of a national identity is fragile, with loyalty residing firstly to their kin group, province or municipality. The Philippines is a collectivist society and individuals tend to understand themselves as a part of a group. For Filipinos, the interests of the collective often override the interests of the individual. Filipinos generally feel a strong sense of pride towards their group and will celebrate their pride through sharing stories or facts about their family, barangay (village) or town. The long history of contact with Spain and the United States continues to have a significant impact on the Filipino identity. One example is the influence of American standards of beauty, which are often measured in the Philippines by the possession of Western physical traits – such as fair skin and curly hair. Another example is the prominence of Christian ideology since the introduction of Christianity by the Spanish. Indeed, when compared to other countries on the Asian continent, the Philippines has one of the highest Christian populations. Social Interactions and ‘Hiya’ (Shame)
Social hierarchy in the Philippines is determined according to age and social status. Nearly all Filipinos are taught from an early age about the importance of the underpinning social hierarchy. Gestures, terms of address and communication styles vary depending on who one interacts with and their relative positions in the social hierarchy. For example, it is expected that, if you are referring to someone who is older than you but within the same generation, you use the terms "kuya" for males and "ate" for females (for example, ‘Ate Jess’). Failing to do so is considered highly disrespectful and a lack of acknowledgment of the established hierarchy.
‘Kapwa’ (Fellowship)
Kapwa (fellowship or togetherness) is a core value that explains Filipinos’ interpersonal behaviour. The term generally refers to a shared identity whereby people bond together despite differences in wealth or social status. Kapwa is related to the collectivistic nature of Filipino society. It is believed that what is good for one person will be good for the collective and ought to be shared with fellow people. Being branded as not having any "kapwa" is an insult as it implies that the person does not belong to a community. The concept of ‘hiya’ is also one of the underpinning factors influencing how Filipinos behave and interact with others. While hiya translates roughly into English as ‘shame’ or ‘embarrassment’, on a deeper level it refers to one’s sense of self, propriety and respect. Filipinos may be more motivated to succeed by a fear of shame rather than fear of failing the task at hand. To avoid experiencing shame, they may try to give face to those around them through complimenting them and avoiding direct criticism. Individuals will often try to be generous and hospitable to avoid "hiya" and to maintain "kapwa".
Warmth and Acceptance
Filipinos are usually very warm and friendly people who enjoy conversing with those around them. It is common to find strangers engaging in conversation or sharing stories to family, friends or foreigners about their hometown, family or country. Filipinos are often expressive and sentimental while maintaining a light-hearted demeanor. For example, the word ‘hugot’ (‘to pull out’) is often used to describe someone drawing out deep sentimental memories or experiences. Trust to the Divine Creator
Indeed, Filipinos are often willing to share stories of their past that may be considered personal. Alongside Filipinos warming and light-hearted demeanor, the general approach to life is of acceptance. ‘Bahala na’ (come what may) captures the strong belief among many of us that whatever may happen is a part of God’s will. Any individual or group success is often attributed to fate or God rather than efforts. This indicates a fatalistic attitude (a person who advances the idea that all events are naturally predetermined or subject to fate) throughout society whereby Filipinos are generally accepting of theirs and others circumstances. However, this does not mean Filipinos are passive. Rather, they are hardworking and will often do their best to help themselves and their family.
