| Editha Bernardino Fedalizo Montreal, Quebec, Canada Nursing Clincian and Educator, Passionate Musician, Champion of Philippine Culture in Montreal |
Perseverance and fortitude have been the guiding force in the life
of Editha B. Fedalizo. Edith, as she is known to her friends, hails
from San Narciso, Zambales. Born posthumously, Editha was
raise solely by her mother, the late Juliana Bernardino Fedalizo.
Her father, Democrito Academia Fedalizo, died in the infamous
Bataan Death March of World War I.
Exposure to music at an early age has undoubtedly influenced
Editha’s passion for the arts. She remembers listening to the
band of her five uncles as they rehearsed in the ground floor of
the Fedalizo home. The Sunday exposure to th local church choir
nurtured her love for choral music. Early childhood piano lessons
developed her musical inclination for the instrument. She learned
to play the piano well enough that she was playing for school
programs in elementary and high school. She also joined the
school choir as an alto.
Upon graduation from high school, Edith chose nursing as the
most obtainable among the health care professions. Her choice
of school was the Mary Johnston College of Nursing. She not
only excelled in academics, but was also active in the school’s
extra-curricular activities. Her leadership skills were recognized
of Editha B. Fedalizo. Edith, as she is known to her friends, hails
from San Narciso, Zambales. Born posthumously, Editha was
raise solely by her mother, the late Juliana Bernardino Fedalizo.
Her father, Democrito Academia Fedalizo, died in the infamous
Bataan Death March of World War I.
Exposure to music at an early age has undoubtedly influenced
Editha’s passion for the arts. She remembers listening to the
band of her five uncles as they rehearsed in the ground floor of
the Fedalizo home. The Sunday exposure to th local church choir
nurtured her love for choral music. Early childhood piano lessons
developed her musical inclination for the instrument. She learned
to play the piano well enough that she was playing for school
programs in elementary and high school. She also joined the
school choir as an alto.
Upon graduation from high school, Edith chose nursing as the
most obtainable among the health care professions. Her choice
of school was the Mary Johnston College of Nursing. She not
only excelled in academics, but was also active in the school’s
extra-curricular activities. Her leadership skills were recognized
by her peers when she was voted class president and later was elected as president of the student body in
her senior year. Through hard work, Edith was able to finish her nursing degree through academic
scholarships. She obtained her Bachekir if Science degree in Nursing, cum laude.
After graduation, Mary Johnston hired Edith as a clinical instructor. However, her sense of adventure
prompted Edith to leave for the United States under the Exchange Visitors’ Program. She joined the nursing
staff of the Rochester Methodist Hospital which is affiliated with the world-famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester,
Minnesota.
While at Rochester, Edith immersed herself in the life of the Filipino community. She was active in the Filipino
Nightingales’ Nurses Assocation of which she eventually served as president. During her term of office, the
group presented a musical show entitled “Faraway Places”, showcasing the musical talents of the Filipino
nurses. It was a make-believe travelogue around the world ending in the Philippines. Philippine songs and
dances were highlighted in this presentation.
At the end of the two-year Exchange Visitors’ Program, Edith decided to move on. She could have moved to
any city in California, New York, Oregon, or Ontario (Canada) where she was qualified to practice nursing by
virtue of having passed the required board examinations in those states/provinces. She instead chose
Montreal, a city she once briefly visited and liked.
In 1970, Edith joined the nursing staff of the Royal Edward Chest Hospital, a renowned North American
Center for the treatment of respiratory diseases and thoracic surgery. She became an assistant head nurse
in 1972 and a head nurse in 1975. She was commended for her work in clinical practice for studies in the
analysis of the quality of nursing care through the application of nursing audits. At the same time, she
improved her language skills by taking French courses at McGill University.
Not satisfied with the status quo, Edith quit her work and decided to go to graduate school where she
obtained her Masters in Education degree from McGill University in 1987. Upon graduation, she was offered a
job as Consultant in the Evaluation of Care program by the Montreal Chest Hospital (formerly known as the
Royal Edward Chest Hospital).
As healthcare facilities put more emphasis on the quality of care in the 1990’s, the Montreal Chest Hospital
appointed Edith to be the Quality Assurance and Risk Management Coordinator, a position she later held at
world-famous Montral Neurological Hospital, whose first director was Dr. Wilder Penfield.
Edith has recently channeled her nursing skills as a consultant. Her most recent project was in the field of
accreditation, through the development of nursing policies and procedures at the Griffith-McConnel Geriatric
Centre of Montreal.
Editha Fedalizo has been a member of the Ordre des infimiers et de infirmieres du
Quebec (Quebec Order of Nurses) and the Association for Quality Assurance Professionals in Canada.
In the mid-80’s, while Edith was still in graduate school, a very important aspect in Edith’s life took place.
Inspired by a group of friends, she was instrumental in forming the Panday Tinig Choral Ensemble, Montreal’
s first Filipino choir.
Since the inception of the Panday Tinig Choral Ensemble, Edith has been its pianist and coordinator. As
coordinator, her aptitude for singing, flair for dramatization, communicative and leadership skills have been
tested time and time again.
Through its nineteen-year history, Panday Tinig events and activities have been coordinated by Edith. The
include requests to perform in weddings, birthday celebrations, memorial services, and various promotional
events.
In a capsule, the Ensemble has presented twelve major concerts in its 19-year existence. Some of these
concerts were musical benefits to raise funds for victims of natural disasters or for scholarship funding, and
for local help-organizations in Montreal. Through these concerts, the community was made aware of the rich
Philippine musical heritage.
Among the Filipino community in Montreal, when people see Edith, they see the Panday Tinig,,,they see
Philippine music represented in their midst. During major events in the community, one hears the Panday
Tinig performing. These include the Sto. Nino Celebration in January, Salubong or early sunrise services
during Easter Sunday, Flores de Mayo in May, Rizal’s birthday and Philippine Independence Day in June,
Simbanggabi at Christmastime, and Rizal’s death commemoration at the end of the year. In-between time,
the Panday Tinig is always rehearsing for a concert or a sarswela-type presentation, for a possible
presentation of Philippine songs and dances in various cultural events.
Dr. Gene Santander of Montreal’s Kababaihang Rizalista, a 1998 FILIPINO-IMAGE awardee, commented,
“Whenever the birth or death of Dr. Jose Rizal is commemorated, Edith is there, organizing the Panday Tinig
Choral Ensemble, to sing at such event. Her visibility in the community is impressive; her commitment to
promote Philippine music is remarkable.”
One of Edith’s goals is to impart Filipino culture to the youth so that they can appreciate their heritage. In
1992, she helped establish the Salingsing, the children’s choir of the Panday Tinig Choral Ensemble. She
patiently teaches them Philippine songs, teaches them the meaning of the words and how to pronounce
them. “These children were born here,” she said, “that is why, I have to make them appreciate the Philippine
culture through these songs.” Incidentally, she goes through the same process for the Panday Tinig singers
who were born or raised in Montreal.
“In a multi-ethnic place like Montreal,” Edith says, “the different groups of people need to understand each
other to live harmoniously together. In a way, the Panday Tinig acts as ambassador of good will for the
Filipinos in Montreal.”#
her senior year. Through hard work, Edith was able to finish her nursing degree through academic
scholarships. She obtained her Bachekir if Science degree in Nursing, cum laude.
After graduation, Mary Johnston hired Edith as a clinical instructor. However, her sense of adventure
prompted Edith to leave for the United States under the Exchange Visitors’ Program. She joined the nursing
staff of the Rochester Methodist Hospital which is affiliated with the world-famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester,
Minnesota.
While at Rochester, Edith immersed herself in the life of the Filipino community. She was active in the Filipino
Nightingales’ Nurses Assocation of which she eventually served as president. During her term of office, the
group presented a musical show entitled “Faraway Places”, showcasing the musical talents of the Filipino
nurses. It was a make-believe travelogue around the world ending in the Philippines. Philippine songs and
dances were highlighted in this presentation.
At the end of the two-year Exchange Visitors’ Program, Edith decided to move on. She could have moved to
any city in California, New York, Oregon, or Ontario (Canada) where she was qualified to practice nursing by
virtue of having passed the required board examinations in those states/provinces. She instead chose
Montreal, a city she once briefly visited and liked.
In 1970, Edith joined the nursing staff of the Royal Edward Chest Hospital, a renowned North American
Center for the treatment of respiratory diseases and thoracic surgery. She became an assistant head nurse
in 1972 and a head nurse in 1975. She was commended for her work in clinical practice for studies in the
analysis of the quality of nursing care through the application of nursing audits. At the same time, she
improved her language skills by taking French courses at McGill University.
Not satisfied with the status quo, Edith quit her work and decided to go to graduate school where she
obtained her Masters in Education degree from McGill University in 1987. Upon graduation, she was offered a
job as Consultant in the Evaluation of Care program by the Montreal Chest Hospital (formerly known as the
Royal Edward Chest Hospital).
As healthcare facilities put more emphasis on the quality of care in the 1990’s, the Montreal Chest Hospital
appointed Edith to be the Quality Assurance and Risk Management Coordinator, a position she later held at
world-famous Montral Neurological Hospital, whose first director was Dr. Wilder Penfield.
Edith has recently channeled her nursing skills as a consultant. Her most recent project was in the field of
accreditation, through the development of nursing policies and procedures at the Griffith-McConnel Geriatric
Centre of Montreal.
Editha Fedalizo has been a member of the Ordre des infimiers et de infirmieres du
Quebec (Quebec Order of Nurses) and the Association for Quality Assurance Professionals in Canada.
In the mid-80’s, while Edith was still in graduate school, a very important aspect in Edith’s life took place.
Inspired by a group of friends, she was instrumental in forming the Panday Tinig Choral Ensemble, Montreal’
s first Filipino choir.
Since the inception of the Panday Tinig Choral Ensemble, Edith has been its pianist and coordinator. As
coordinator, her aptitude for singing, flair for dramatization, communicative and leadership skills have been
tested time and time again.
Through its nineteen-year history, Panday Tinig events and activities have been coordinated by Edith. The
include requests to perform in weddings, birthday celebrations, memorial services, and various promotional
events.
In a capsule, the Ensemble has presented twelve major concerts in its 19-year existence. Some of these
concerts were musical benefits to raise funds for victims of natural disasters or for scholarship funding, and
for local help-organizations in Montreal. Through these concerts, the community was made aware of the rich
Philippine musical heritage.
Among the Filipino community in Montreal, when people see Edith, they see the Panday Tinig,,,they see
Philippine music represented in their midst. During major events in the community, one hears the Panday
Tinig performing. These include the Sto. Nino Celebration in January, Salubong or early sunrise services
during Easter Sunday, Flores de Mayo in May, Rizal’s birthday and Philippine Independence Day in June,
Simbanggabi at Christmastime, and Rizal’s death commemoration at the end of the year. In-between time,
the Panday Tinig is always rehearsing for a concert or a sarswela-type presentation, for a possible
presentation of Philippine songs and dances in various cultural events.
Dr. Gene Santander of Montreal’s Kababaihang Rizalista, a 1998 FILIPINO-IMAGE awardee, commented,
“Whenever the birth or death of Dr. Jose Rizal is commemorated, Edith is there, organizing the Panday Tinig
Choral Ensemble, to sing at such event. Her visibility in the community is impressive; her commitment to
promote Philippine music is remarkable.”
One of Edith’s goals is to impart Filipino culture to the youth so that they can appreciate their heritage. In
1992, she helped establish the Salingsing, the children’s choir of the Panday Tinig Choral Ensemble. She
patiently teaches them Philippine songs, teaches them the meaning of the words and how to pronounce
them. “These children were born here,” she said, “that is why, I have to make them appreciate the Philippine
culture through these songs.” Incidentally, she goes through the same process for the Panday Tinig singers
who were born or raised in Montreal.
“In a multi-ethnic place like Montreal,” Edith says, “the different groups of people need to understand each
other to live harmoniously together. In a way, the Panday Tinig acts as ambassador of good will for the
Filipinos in Montreal.”#
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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