Stranger in Calgary park verbally abuses family chatting in Ilocano

A total stranger in a Calgary, Alberta park without provocation verbally abused a Filipino family visiting from Saskatoon, telling them to speak English or go back to their country.

“As soon as I heard her saying go back to your own country or speak English, that’s the time when I started recording,” Khamille Ballesteros, a target of the attack, was quoted by City News.

Khamille and her family were on vacation from Saskatoon and staying at a hotel close to the park. They decided to visit the wheel of women plaza in East Village for a relaxing afternoon.

Ballesteros’ aunt and niece were conversing in Ilocano, “just minding our own business and having a nice day” when the stranger apparently tapped one of them and said, “Speak English, you’re in Canada if you’re not speaking English go back to your own country,” said Ballesteros.

Unfortunately, Ballesteros says this isn’t the first time something like this has happened to her family. “My auntie has dealt with a lot of racist people. That wasn’t her first time so she knows how to control her emotions.”

Her young niece was shaken and started crying. Ballesteros later decided to post the video on TikTok after discussing the incident with her parents, who wanted to spread awareness on how racist encounters like this still happen.

The video has since received over 300,000 views and has been shared across various accounts.