OUR TEAM
Dr. Fritz Pino Associate Professor at the University of Regina.
Dr. Pino completed a PhD in Social Justice Education and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Toronto. Born and raised in Cebu, Philippines, she completed a Masters degree in Psychology from the University of San Jose Recoletos, and a Bachelors degree in Psychology (summa cum laude) at Southwestern University. Her PhD dissertation focuses on the lives and intimacies of older Filipino gay men in Canada.
Dr. Pino’s research focuses on the lives and experiences of historically marginalized communities, particularly those who identify as LGBTQ, racialized immigrant, and older adult. She is interested in examining how they navigate the complexities and contradictions of everyday life in the margins as reflected through their bodily performances, affect and emotions, and personal desires. Theoretically, her work is informed by critical intersectionality approaches, particularly from a queer diasporic lens, which pays significant attention to the impact of transnational migration, nation-state of belonging, and normative discourses. Methodologically, she engages in decolonial qualitative research approaches to bring out the cultural nuances that historically marginalized groups embody and use to resist forms of colonialisms and neoliberalisms, structural violence, and normalcy. Her work aims to create culturally-grounded interventions and approaches by centring the cultural knowledge and practices of marginalized groups and communities.
Dr. Ilyan Ferrer Associate professor at Carleton University’s School of Social Work
Dr. Ilyan Ferrer’s research focuses on the intersections of aging, im/migration, labour, and care experiences of racialized communities in Canada. Ilyan’s work incorporates intersectionality, oral history, and anti-oppressive social work theory and practice. He was also involved in community organizing, skills and capacity building within the Filipino-Canadian diaspora.
Monica Batac
Monica Anne Batac (she/they/siya) is currently a Lecturer at University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Social Work and completing her PhD in Social Work at McGill University. She is a critical qualitative researcher, community practitioner, and educator. Her interdisciplinary research program focuses on community capacity-building and mobilizing with Filipino community members, groups, and organizations in Canada.
Veronica Javier
Is a Registered Social Worker with a Masters in Social Work. Veronica is currently a Social Worker at Scarborough Health Network. She is also Adjunct Faculty with the School of Social Work, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies at York University. Veronica has over 15 years of community-based social work experience including in a clinical healthcare setting; with specialization in nephrology, chronic disease management, palliative care, community development, outreach and programming.
Veronica’s community work highlights include being a member of the Kidney Foundation, Ontario Branch, Government Relations Committee; and Board of Director with the Kababayan Multicultural Centre and with the Migrants Resource Centre Canada. Veronica also frequently acts as an advisor to various Filipino-Canadian organizations and programs such as the Filipino Youth Fellowship and Filipinas Speak Out.
Esther Dimalanta Website and Communications Coordinator
Esther is a Filipino settler currently living on Mohkínstsis, colonially known as Calgary. Her creative work aims to be the centre of a Venn diagram where creativity and positive social impact meet. Her academic background was focused in the humanities and social work. She creates visuals that tell compelling stories and believes that good storytelling is told better by good design! She’s excited to be part of sharing the stories of Filipino social and community workers.
Althea Gorospe Event Coordinator
Althea (she/her) is a racialized immigrant settler woman with ancestral roots in the Philippines, a community practitioner (SSW, BSW, MSW), and a critical researcher living and working in so-called Toronto, Ontario. Her work is grounded in anti-oppressive, critical race feminist
praxis and is focused on mental health care, advocacy, and community organizing in the gender justice and anti-violence movement. Her research interests include gender-based violence; critical Filipino/a/x studies; anti-racism and anti-colonialism; and intergenerational trauma and healing.
Melissa Cortez Event Coordinator
Melissa (she/her/siya) is a Master of Social Work student at McMaster University. She completed her Bachelors degree at the University of Toronto in Sociology, Equity Studies, and Buddhist Psychology & Mental Health, a Social Service Work diploma at George Brown College, and a Bachelor of Social Work at McMaster University. Her current MSW thesis focuses on the experiences of second-generation Filipino children of caregivers in the GTHA.
Alyssa Schenk Project Coordinator
Alyssa is a PhD candidate in the School of Social Work at Carleton University on unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin territory. She is a community organizer and activist with Filipino youth in so-called Ottawa and across Canada. Her social work background is primarily in immigration and refugee settlement in southwestern Ontario. Alyssa is excited to see how the Network will continue to grow through upcoming projects and beyond.
Ashley Saulog Outreach Coordinator
Ashley is a Filipino settler currently living on Treaty One Territory in Winnipeg. In 2021, she graduated with a Master’s in Development from the University of Winnipeg. Her work has been around community development, community engagement, and mental health working with newcomer and Indigenous communities in Winnipeg. She is honoured to be a part of the kwentuhan (storytelling) and koneksyon (connection).