List of Filipino Canadians
This is a list of Filipino Canadians who have made significant contributions to Canadian culture, politics, or society. It also includes those with notable mentions in Canadian media.
Academia
- Joselito (Lito) M. Arocena – soil scientist, Canada Research Chair in Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC
- Glenda Bonifacio- Professor of Women's Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Lakehead University
- Herbert Gaisano – Professor and Researcher at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine and Gastroenterologists
- Jessica Trisko-Darden – activist, former model, beauty queen and assistant professor of international development and conflict at American University's School of International Service
- Ann Makosinski – student inventor and public speaker
- Romulo F. Magsino Sr. – former Dean of Education at a major university in Canada
- Rogemar Mamon – mathematician, professor at the University of Western Ontario
- Ana Serrano-artist, Dean of the Ontario College of Art and Design University
- Eleanor Ty – professor in the department of English and film studies at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Arts and letters
Dance
- AC Bonifacio – dancer/female member of Lucky Aces
- Maribeth Manalaysay Tabanera aka Kilusan – artist, abolitionist educator and community organizer
- Alvin Erasga Tolentino – choreographer and dance artist
Graphic arts
- Adrian Alphona – comic book artist
- Mike del Mundo – comic book artist
- Francis Manapul – comic book artist and writer
- Francisco Reyes – illustrator and comic strip artist
- Leanne Shapton – artist, art director, illustrator, and publisher
Visual arts
- Stephanie Comilang – artist and filmmaker
- Lani Maestro
- Sofronio Y. Mendoza, aka by his monogram SYM – painter
- Marigold Santos – inter-disciplinary artist
Journalism
- Ruben Cusipag – founder of Toronto-based Balita newspaper.
- Melissa Grelo – co-host of CP24 Breakfast and the moderator of The Social
- Hazel Mae – sportscaster and anchor Rogers Sportsnet
- Cherie Mercado – journalist, host and producer Filipino TV
- Rhea Santos – journalist, presenter OMNI News
Literature
- Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio – author
- Albert Casuga – writer
- Petronila Cleto – writer and activist
- Edmundo Farolan – writer
- C. E. Gatchalian – playwright, poet
- Catherine Hernandez – novelist, children's book writer, playwright
- Marc Perez – poet
- Jhet van Ruyven – writer
- Alexis Tioseco – film critic
- Jia Tolentino – writer and editor
- J. Torres – comic book writer
Theater
- Rogelio Balagtas – actor
- Esteban Comilang – actor
- Ma-Anne Dionisio – actress
Business
- Victor Cui – CEO and owner of the MMA promotion ONE FC
- Dominic Penaloza – CEO & founder of Ushi and WorldFriends
Fashion and pageantry
Pageants
- Karla Henry – Miss Earth 2008
- Bea Santiago – Miss International 2013
- Riza Santos – Miss Earth Canada 2006, Miss World Canada 2011 and Miss Universe Canada 2013
- Tisha Silang – former Bb. Pilipinas-Universe; beauty queen; TV host; entrepreneur
- Jessica Trisko – Miss Earth 2007, academic, activist, beauty queen, and former model
Labour
- Juliet Cuenco – rights activist, public servant
- Columbia 'Coco' Diaz – program manager for Intercede, an Ontario advocacy group for domestic workers
- Don Garcia – ILWU Canada president
- Virginia Guiang-Santoro – founder of Filipino Domestic Workers Association of Manitoba
- Ging Hernandez – advocate for domestic care workers and women's rights activist
- Juana Tejada – caregiver who campaigned for overseas Filipino workers' and immigrants' rights in Canada
- Pura Velasco – advocate for caregivers
- Fely Villasin – advocate for domestic workers, caregivers and new immigrants, founder/artistic director of Carlos Bulosan Theatre
Health Science
- Eileen de Villa – Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto
- Gigi Osler – president of the Canadian Medical Association
Politics
- Cris Aglugub – Manitoba former NDP MLA, the Maples, former Legislative Assistant to the Minister of Labour and Immigration, and subsequently to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade.
- Carl Benito – former MLA for Edmonton-Mill Woods
- Lisa Bower – Councillor for Town of Ajax, Ontario.
- Yvonne Clarke – first Filipina MLA in the Yukon Legislative Assembly
- Jelynn Dela Cruz – Member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly for Radisson
- Narima dela Cruz – community organizer
- Mable Elmore – first Filipina-Canadian MLA in BC, current Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services and Long-Term Care, former Parliamentary Secretary for Poverty Reduction of British Columbia, former Spokesperson for Temporary Foreign Workers and Immigration and former the Deputy Spokesperson for Finance
- Tobias C. Enverga – first Filipino-Canadian Senator ; first Filipino-Canadian elected to the City of Toronto in 2010
- Taciana Jew – first Filipino citizenship judge in Ontario
- Flor Marcelino – first Filipino woman and racialized woman elected MLA in Manitoba, former Leader of the Opposition, Minister of Multiculturalism and Literacy, and Minister of Culture, Heritage, and Tourism
- Malaya Marcelino – MLA in Manitoba- Notre Dame
- Ted Marcelino – former MLA in Manitoba, first MLA for the electoral district of Tyndall Park
- Rey Pagtakhan – first Filipino-Canadian Member of Parliament, first Filipino-Canadian Cabinet Minister, former Minister of Western Economic Diversification,Minister of Veterans Affairs, Senior Minister for Manitoba,Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development), and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific).
- Jon Reyes – Conservative MLA and Minister of Economic Development and Jobs in Manitoba, former special envoy for military affairs
- Conrad Santos – first Filipino Canadian elected in Canada, and first Filipino Canadian to run for the leadership of a political party
- Rowena Santos – first Filipino councillor in City of Brampton, Vice Chair of Audit and Risk, and Chair of Community Services
- Rechie Valdez – first Filipina woman elected MP, current MP for Mississauga-Streetsville, first Filipina-Canadian Cabinet Minister
- Tany Yao – Conservative MLA in Alberta in the riding of Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo
Sports
- Sean Anthony – professional basketball player for the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters
- Eve Badana – football goalkeeper
- Matthew Baldisimo – midfielder for Pacific FC
- Michael Baldisimo – soccer player for Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Jonathan de Guzmán – midfielder for Feyenoord Rotterdam
- Julian de Guzman – soccer coach and former professional player
- Edrian Paul Celestino – figure skater
- David Choinière – soccer player
- Mathieu Choinière – soccer player
- Kadin Chung – soccer player for Pacific FC
- Camille Clarin – basketball player for the Philippines women's national basketball team
- Aidan Daniels – midfielder for Colorado Springs Switchbacks
- Crispin Duenas – Olympic archer
- Mathew Dumba – professional hockey player
- Leylah Annie Fernandez – tennis player
- Bianca Fernandez – tennis player
- Rey Fortaleza – Olympic boxer
- James Forrester – professional basketball player
- Gilmore Junio – Winter Olympics long track speed skater
- A. J. Mandani – former PBA & ABL basketball player
- Patrick Metcalfe – soccer player for Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Nick O'Donnell – soccer player for Philippines national football team in 2014
- Alex Pagulayan – 2004 world pool champion
- Victoria Pickett – professional soccer player
- Kharis Ralph – former ice dancer
- Rebecca Rivera – professional volleyball player
- Kayla Sanchez – Olympic swimmer
- Jaclyn Sawicki – footballer for Philippines women's national football team
- Devin Shore – professional ice hockey player
- Jesse Shugg – international soccer player
- Kat Tolentino – professional volleyball player
- Ernestine Tiamzon – former professional volleyball player
- Norbert Torres – professional basketball player
- Matthew Wright – basketball player for Kyoto Hannaryz, former PBA player
Television and film
Television
- Susan Aceron – actress
- Chasty Ballesteros – actress
- Eric Bauza – voice actor, stand-up comedian and animation artist
- Carlos Bustamante (TV personality) – television host, actor and voice actor
- Nancy Castiglione – actress and singer; actress on Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga
- Chelsea Clark – actress
- Gordon Cormier – actor
- Lexa Doig – actress
- Patrick Guzman – actor
- Manny Jacinto – film and television actor
- Ron Josol – actor and stand-up comedian
- Amanda Joy – actress, screenwriter, comedian, satirist, and producer
- Mig Macario – actor
- Alex Mallari Jr. – actor
- Shay Mitchell – actress
- Keith Pedro – comedian
- Ann Pornel – comedian, host The Great Canadian Baking Show
- Ariel Rivera – singer-songwriter, multi-platinum recording artist, actor
- Kayla Rivera – actress
- Jeff Rustia – television host and VJ
- Gervacio Santos – film editor
- Michael Sager – actor
- Cassie Steele – actress
- Veena Sud – television writer, director, and producer
- Cheryl Torrenueva – designer
- Louriza Tronco – actress and singer
- Lisa Marcos actress
- Beverly Vergel – actress and film writer, director and producer
- Jessalyn Wanlim – actress and model
Reality show
- Celeste Anderson – competitive gamer and reality television personality
- Mikey Bustos – Canadian Idol finalist; singer from Toronto
- Erika Casupanan – Survivor 41; first Canadian to win
- Darren Espanto – The Voice Kids Philippines season one runner-up, singer, recording artist
- Elise Estrada – singer; recording artist; Pinoy Pop Superstar finalist
- Elena Juatco – Canadian Idol finalist; roving reporter for season 4 of Canadian Idol
- John Alvarez – Chef, Chopped Canada chef contestant
- Kyne Santos – Drag performer; Canada's Drag Race Season 1 contestant
- Kimmy Couture – Drag performer; Canada's Drag Race Season 3 contestant
- Melinda Verga – Drag performer; Canada's Drag Race Season 4 contestant
- Kiki Coe – Drag performer; Canada's Drag Race Season 4 contestant
Film
- Kim Albright – filmmaker
- Paul Denham Austerberry – production designer
- Rogelio Balagtas – actor
- Enrique Miguel Baniqued – producer
- Romeo Candido – filmmaker
- Tirso Cruz III – actor, comedian, and singer
- Seán Devlin – filmmaker and comedian
- Liam Diaz – actor
- Martin Edralin – filmmaker
- Von Flores – actor
- Marco Grazzini – film and television actor
- Haji – actress
- Kathleen Jayme – filmmaker
- Mig Macario – actor; filmmaker
- Isiah Medina – filmmaker
- Marianne Métivier – filmmaker
- Serville Poblete – filmmaker
- Ellie Posadas – actress
- Gervacio Santos – film editor
Internet
- Sabrina Cruz – YouTube personality
- Elle Mills – YouTuber
- Domics – animator
Disc jockeys
- Mark Anthony – co-launched the web-based music label Dark Panties Recordings
Music
- Joey Albert – recording artist
- Jeremie Albino – singer
- Maria Aragon – singer
- Eleanor Calbes – soprano
- Elise Estrada – singer
- Warren Dean Flandez – R&B and gospel singer
- Emmalyn Estrada – singer, songwriter
- Carolyn Fe – jazz and blues artist
- Carlo Gimenez – guitarist of the band Meg & Dia
- Emm Gryner – singer/songwriter
- Manila Grey -, R&B duo
- Martha Joy – singer, recording artist
- Killy – rapper
- Kimmortal – musician, songwriter and visual artist
- Kytami – musician
- Ernesto Lejano – pianist, music educator
- Casey Mecija and Jennifer Mecija – musicians from the band Ohbijou
- Pressa — rapper
- Preston Pablo – Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Juno Awards 2023
- August Rigo – recording artist, songwriter, producer and musician
- Alcvin Ramos – composer
- Maylee Todd – indie pop singer
Other
- Benson Flores – first known Filipino immigrant to Canada on record
- Christina Calayca – daycare worker who mysteriously disappeared on a camping trip in August 2007
- Erik Mana – professional magician and mentalist
- Jeff Rustia – executive director & founder of Toronto Men's Fashion Week
- Japoy Lizardo – former taekwondo athlete
- Rhea Santos – newscaster, journalist
- Henry Omaga Diaz – YouTuber, former newscaster journalist