| Rosalinda Natividad Cantiveros Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada A leader highly committed to community development and empowerment |
In any given community, there are many individual leaders who
labor and toil to make the community a better place it used to be.
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Linda is one such person whose
contributions to her community have made it more vibrant and
dynamic. For the past twenty of her 23 years in Winnipeg, Linda
has consistently advanced the interests of the community and its
members. And these has earned her the respect of both the
Filipino and the Canadian community.
As an educator, journalist, community leader, advocate and
volunteer, she has touched many lives and has left her mark on
virtually all aspects of community life-cultural, social, economic,
sports, religious, political, educational and inter-cultural
understanding. Her initiatives have resulted in empowering the
community members, equipping them with knowledge,
information and various skills as well as helping them access
financial and other resources to make them active partners in
labor and toil to make the community a better place it used to be.
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Linda is one such person whose
contributions to her community have made it more vibrant and
dynamic. For the past twenty of her 23 years in Winnipeg, Linda
has consistently advanced the interests of the community and its
members. And these has earned her the respect of both the
Filipino and the Canadian community.
As an educator, journalist, community leader, advocate and
volunteer, she has touched many lives and has left her mark on
virtually all aspects of community life-cultural, social, economic,
sports, religious, political, educational and inter-cultural
understanding. Her initiatives have resulted in empowering the
community members, equipping them with knowledge,
information and various skills as well as helping them access
financial and other resources to make them active partners in
determining the courses of their lives. As a volunteer teacher (1977-1980), she has helped Canadian adults
acquire proficiency in understanding and speaking the Filipino language. Likewise, many Filipino adults, both
longtime citizens and recent immigrants, have gained literacy skills and proficiency in the English language
in government-sponsored settlement language through her involvement in government-sponsored language
programs (1987-1997). She takes particular pride in being credited with providing the working model for
community-based language training programs adopted by the provincial government through the Adults and
Continuing Education Branch of Manitoba Education and Training. The federally-funded, provincially-
administered English language training program for immigrants delivered in partnership with the community
has been patterned after the English for Academic Purpose for Filipino adults which she has initiated,
developed, coordinated and implemented with a team of other Filipino teachers. Such was the success of the
program in enabling Filipino adults to upgrade their academic skills and increase their motivation to pursue
higher education and/or training that the program was carried on for four years, well beyond the one year life
of the pilot program.
Linda’s commitment to personal development of various age sectors in the community especially the youth
manifests in a variety of ways: encouragement to articulate their thoughts and opinions on a variety of issues
through the Generation X page in the Filipino Journal; support for and/or organization of leadership
development workshops, sports events; recognition of outstanding achievements, establishment of the MAFTI
scholarship awards and membership in scholarship selection committees. As Manitoba coordinator for the
National Songfest and chairperson of the Debutante of the Year Award, she provides opportunities for the
youth to showcase their talents and advance their ambitions. Linda is also involved in addressing the issues
of domestic violence as well as abuse against seniors and domestic workers.
The scope of her activities spills over to the general community in an effort to promote inter-cultural
understanding and harmony as well as bring the community into the mainstream and vice-versa. In her stint
as member of the RCMP Advisory Committee on Cultural Diversity (1995-present), she has participated in the
workshop that helped formulate the RCMP’s national mission and vision statements and has provided input
in critiquing the entrance exams, the training program and law implementation procedures to make them
more sensitive to cultural issues. She was one of several volunteer coordinators during the 1990 Western
Canada Summer Games and the Filipino community’s alternate rep to the Manitoba Inter-cultural Council
(1985-86) , then the advisory council to the provincial government of multi-cultural affairs. She was a founding
member and a past vice-president of the Manitoba Association for Multi-cultural Education. In 1995 she ran
under the Liberal Party for an elective position in the Manitoba Legislature, placing second in the field of four
candidates. She collaborates with the International Centre and other agencies to help recent immigrants from
the Philippines gain Canadian work experience and enhance their employability. As editor in chief of The New
Silangan (1982-87) and the Filipino Journal (1987-present) she has been and continues to provide the
medium for information discrimination and exchange of views/opinions within and outside the Filipino
community. She has often been sought by the mainstream print and electronic media and other service
agencies to provide information and/or comment on issues relevant to the Filipino community.
A field player in national and international affairs, Linda is a member of the 1997 Asia Connects APEC Youth
National Conference Advisory Committee for Foreign Policy Development to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
She has been actively involved in the National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations (NCCFA) both as
member and officer of the Manitoba region. The NCCDA coordinates the articulation of policies and lobbying
activities to address the concern of Filipino Canadians at the national level. As founding and current member
and past chairperson of the YM-YWCA of Winnipeg International Development Committee, she raises funds to
support the projects jointly undertaken with the Manila Y, other Philippine NGOs associated with the Philippine
Development Assistance Program (PDAP) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). As
Manitoba Coordinator for the Partners in Rural Development (formerly the Canadian Hunger Foundation), she
makes presentations to organizations, schools and other groups to raise awareness as well as funds to help
the village poor in 14 countries worldwide including the Philippines to gain economic self sufficiency through
sustainable livelihood development projects. She was a participant in the national consultation workshop to
prepare the US/Canada policy document for the 1996 World Food Summit in Rome.
Although she has adopted Canadian citizenship, Linda remains attached to her Filipino heritage and works
hard to impart this sense of ethnic pride among the Filipino-Canadian youth. As an executive officer of the
Manitoba Association of Filipino Teachers Inc. (MAFTI), she has organized and supervised a government
sponsored summer youth employment project (1980-81) which required the participants to research and
develop audio-visual display materials about the Philippines, its people and culture. In 1985, she initiated the
formation of the MAFTI Rondalla ensemble. She was secretary of the Filipino Language Curriculum
Committee which prepared the K-12 curriculum and support materials for the teaching of the language in
Manitoba schools (1982-88). As chair of the Institute of Philippine studies, she collaborated with Ligaya
Buenaventura in co authoring and publishing a series of three bilingual children’s books on Philippine folk
literature (1990-1992). Since 1977 and up to the present, she has acted as resource person and speaker on
Philippine history and cultural traditions to different agencies and crowd including visitors to the two Philippine
Pavilions at Folkorama Festival of Nations. She has been an integral part of the Philippine Heritage Week
Celebration since 1981 up to the present and next year’s observance of the Centennial Celebration of
Philippine Independence.
Linda’s contributions have been recognized with various awards from the community -by the Philippine
Association of Manitoba (PAM), the MAFTI, MAFTI Rondalla. She was a nominee for the First Lieutenant-
Governor Medal for Literacy in 1990; awarded the 1996 Community Education Development Association
Citizenship Award for her outstanding contribution to improving the quality of life in Winnipeg’s inner city. She
was one of the eleven Most outstanding Filipino Canadians in 1997 awarded in Toronto by the Bb. Pilipinas
North America Pageant organizers.
Linda academic/professional background include: BA Psychology/Education, St. Theresa’s College (Manila);
MA Candidate, Psychology, Adult Education and Cross-Cultural Studies, University of Manitoba in Canada; an
elementary school teacher with the Department of Indian Affairs (2 years) and Winnipeg School Division No. 1
(10 years); an adult educator in Manitoba (10 years); an adult educator in Manitoba (10 years);
psychometrician and Psychology/Guidance instructor, Philippine History and Government teacher, Sienna
College (Philippines); researcher, Child & Youth Study Center under the Office of the President and later
under the Dept. of Education, Culture & Sports; and Guidance and Student Affairs Coordinator Makati
Polytechnic Community College.
Linda Cantiveros is supported proudly by her loving husband, Rod E. Cantiveros and two caring sons, Ronald
and John. Further credit to Mrs. Cantiveros’ success can be attributed to her parents’ (Francisco Natividad
and the late Trinidad Linsangan) inspiration and guidance, friends and relatives’ support, role modelling of
former teachers and instructors, the trust of the Filipino community and its guidance for her continued
devotion to sincerely help others. #
acquire proficiency in understanding and speaking the Filipino language. Likewise, many Filipino adults, both
longtime citizens and recent immigrants, have gained literacy skills and proficiency in the English language
in government-sponsored settlement language through her involvement in government-sponsored language
programs (1987-1997). She takes particular pride in being credited with providing the working model for
community-based language training programs adopted by the provincial government through the Adults and
Continuing Education Branch of Manitoba Education and Training. The federally-funded, provincially-
administered English language training program for immigrants delivered in partnership with the community
has been patterned after the English for Academic Purpose for Filipino adults which she has initiated,
developed, coordinated and implemented with a team of other Filipino teachers. Such was the success of the
program in enabling Filipino adults to upgrade their academic skills and increase their motivation to pursue
higher education and/or training that the program was carried on for four years, well beyond the one year life
of the pilot program.
Linda’s commitment to personal development of various age sectors in the community especially the youth
manifests in a variety of ways: encouragement to articulate their thoughts and opinions on a variety of issues
through the Generation X page in the Filipino Journal; support for and/or organization of leadership
development workshops, sports events; recognition of outstanding achievements, establishment of the MAFTI
scholarship awards and membership in scholarship selection committees. As Manitoba coordinator for the
National Songfest and chairperson of the Debutante of the Year Award, she provides opportunities for the
youth to showcase their talents and advance their ambitions. Linda is also involved in addressing the issues
of domestic violence as well as abuse against seniors and domestic workers.
The scope of her activities spills over to the general community in an effort to promote inter-cultural
understanding and harmony as well as bring the community into the mainstream and vice-versa. In her stint
as member of the RCMP Advisory Committee on Cultural Diversity (1995-present), she has participated in the
workshop that helped formulate the RCMP’s national mission and vision statements and has provided input
in critiquing the entrance exams, the training program and law implementation procedures to make them
more sensitive to cultural issues. She was one of several volunteer coordinators during the 1990 Western
Canada Summer Games and the Filipino community’s alternate rep to the Manitoba Inter-cultural Council
(1985-86) , then the advisory council to the provincial government of multi-cultural affairs. She was a founding
member and a past vice-president of the Manitoba Association for Multi-cultural Education. In 1995 she ran
under the Liberal Party for an elective position in the Manitoba Legislature, placing second in the field of four
candidates. She collaborates with the International Centre and other agencies to help recent immigrants from
the Philippines gain Canadian work experience and enhance their employability. As editor in chief of The New
Silangan (1982-87) and the Filipino Journal (1987-present) she has been and continues to provide the
medium for information discrimination and exchange of views/opinions within and outside the Filipino
community. She has often been sought by the mainstream print and electronic media and other service
agencies to provide information and/or comment on issues relevant to the Filipino community.
A field player in national and international affairs, Linda is a member of the 1997 Asia Connects APEC Youth
National Conference Advisory Committee for Foreign Policy Development to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
She has been actively involved in the National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations (NCCFA) both as
member and officer of the Manitoba region. The NCCDA coordinates the articulation of policies and lobbying
activities to address the concern of Filipino Canadians at the national level. As founding and current member
and past chairperson of the YM-YWCA of Winnipeg International Development Committee, she raises funds to
support the projects jointly undertaken with the Manila Y, other Philippine NGOs associated with the Philippine
Development Assistance Program (PDAP) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). As
Manitoba Coordinator for the Partners in Rural Development (formerly the Canadian Hunger Foundation), she
makes presentations to organizations, schools and other groups to raise awareness as well as funds to help
the village poor in 14 countries worldwide including the Philippines to gain economic self sufficiency through
sustainable livelihood development projects. She was a participant in the national consultation workshop to
prepare the US/Canada policy document for the 1996 World Food Summit in Rome.
Although she has adopted Canadian citizenship, Linda remains attached to her Filipino heritage and works
hard to impart this sense of ethnic pride among the Filipino-Canadian youth. As an executive officer of the
Manitoba Association of Filipino Teachers Inc. (MAFTI), she has organized and supervised a government
sponsored summer youth employment project (1980-81) which required the participants to research and
develop audio-visual display materials about the Philippines, its people and culture. In 1985, she initiated the
formation of the MAFTI Rondalla ensemble. She was secretary of the Filipino Language Curriculum
Committee which prepared the K-12 curriculum and support materials for the teaching of the language in
Manitoba schools (1982-88). As chair of the Institute of Philippine studies, she collaborated with Ligaya
Buenaventura in co authoring and publishing a series of three bilingual children’s books on Philippine folk
literature (1990-1992). Since 1977 and up to the present, she has acted as resource person and speaker on
Philippine history and cultural traditions to different agencies and crowd including visitors to the two Philippine
Pavilions at Folkorama Festival of Nations. She has been an integral part of the Philippine Heritage Week
Celebration since 1981 up to the present and next year’s observance of the Centennial Celebration of
Philippine Independence.
Linda’s contributions have been recognized with various awards from the community -by the Philippine
Association of Manitoba (PAM), the MAFTI, MAFTI Rondalla. She was a nominee for the First Lieutenant-
Governor Medal for Literacy in 1990; awarded the 1996 Community Education Development Association
Citizenship Award for her outstanding contribution to improving the quality of life in Winnipeg’s inner city. She
was one of the eleven Most outstanding Filipino Canadians in 1997 awarded in Toronto by the Bb. Pilipinas
North America Pageant organizers.
Linda academic/professional background include: BA Psychology/Education, St. Theresa’s College (Manila);
MA Candidate, Psychology, Adult Education and Cross-Cultural Studies, University of Manitoba in Canada; an
elementary school teacher with the Department of Indian Affairs (2 years) and Winnipeg School Division No. 1
(10 years); an adult educator in Manitoba (10 years); an adult educator in Manitoba (10 years);
psychometrician and Psychology/Guidance instructor, Philippine History and Government teacher, Sienna
College (Philippines); researcher, Child & Youth Study Center under the Office of the President and later
under the Dept. of Education, Culture & Sports; and Guidance and Student Affairs Coordinator Makati
Polytechnic Community College.
Linda Cantiveros is supported proudly by her loving husband, Rod E. Cantiveros and two caring sons, Ronald
and John. Further credit to Mrs. Cantiveros’ success can be attributed to her parents’ (Francisco Natividad
and the late Trinidad Linsangan) inspiration and guidance, friends and relatives’ support, role modelling of
former teachers and instructors, the trust of the Filipino community and its guidance for her continued
devotion to sincerely help others. #
Washington D.C. Since 1987
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Copyright© 2006 Filipino Image. All rights Reserved. Advertise | Contract | Subscribe | Publisher | Contact Us |