Little Manila
To celebrate Filipino Heritage Month this June, OMNI Television visits a Toronto neighbourhood at the intersection of Bathurst and Wilson to find out how this area became known as Little Manila to the local Filipino community.
The major intersection is located in one of Ontario’s busiest cities, and has unofficially been known as Toronto’s “Little Manila.” The corner of Bathurst and Wilson has transformed into somewhat of a close replica as to what streets in the Philippines looked like – the chatter in mother tongue, the smell of roasted pig or lechon, the smoke from the BBQ, and the friendliest smiles from the community who found a home away from home.
But despite the popularity of what was once an ordinary neighbourhood, the question remains to many, including the growing Filipino diaspora in the city, who coined the term Little Manila? Was it the Filipina caregivers who were believed to be some of the first to arrive from the Philippines? Or perhaps the much-anticipated Filipino festivals that bring life to the streets every summer?
Read more:
- English: How a major Toronto intersection has become ‘home away from home’ for the growing Filipino diaspora
- Tagalog: Little Manila: Kilalang intersection sa Toronto, pangalawang tahanan para sa mga Pilipino
Repeat:
- Sunday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, June 22 at 8:30 p.m.
- Sunday, June 30 at 11 p.m.
