Modeled after the Kalayaan Centre in Vancouver, British Colombia and the Kapit Bisig Centre in Montreal, Quebec, the Magkaisa Centre is a Filipino community centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The various organizations in the Magkaisa Centre struggle for the rights and welfare of and social justice for Filipinos in Canada, while supporting the struggle for human rights, national freedom and democracy of the Filipino people.

Since 2000, the groups in the Magkaisa Centre have operated to serve the needs of and empower the growing but marginalized Filipino migrant and immigrant community in Toronto. It is a place not only for Filipinos to gather, but more importantly, a place where marginalized Filipinos can collectively continue the struggle to achieve equality, human rights and genuine development. The tagalog word “Magkaisa” means “Unity,” and was chosen as the name for the Centre to illustrate the collective unity of the organizations that strive for social justice for the Filipino people.

Located in Toronto (see contact us section for a map), the Centre houses a number of organizations doing specific work in various sectors of the Filipino community. All of the organizations are part of national formations in Canada. More detailed information on the history and work of these organizations will follow in this package.

Organizations in the Magkaisa Centre are:

Ugnayan Ng Kabataang Pilipino Sa Canada/Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance – Ontario (UKPC/FCYA-ON)

Philippines Canada Task Force on Human Rights (PCTFHR)

Philippine Women Centre of Ontario (PWC-ON)

SIKLAB-ON (Advance the Rights and Welfare of Oversea Filipino Workers)

The Magkaisa Centre hosts meetings, workshops, forums and conferences to meet the objectives of building an empowered Filipino community, while building alliances with other progressive individuals and groups in Canadian society. The Centre also houses a library and unique collection of resource materials on Filipinos in Canada and the Philippines.

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