Filipinos on Canadian island bond by playing hoops

Filipino basketball teams from all over Prince Edward Island meet in its capital, Charlottetown, to indulge in a sport well-loved by all, be it in the homeland or their adopted home. FACEBOOK

Prince Edward Island is one of eastern Canada’s maritime provinces, located off New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. For many Filipino immigrants on the island, weekends are for basketball.

Filipino basketball teams from all over P.E.I. meet in its capital, Charlottetown, to indulge in a sport well-loved by all be it in the homeland or their adopted home.

Some 230 members of 16 teams make up the new Filipino Sports League P.E.I. This time of year, they come to compete in winter basketball and to socialize.

Filipino Sports League P.E.I. league board member Con Dela Cruz came from the Philippines ten years ago. FACEBOOK

Of the total non-white minority population of 6,640, some 700 are Filipinos who have found work in the island’s primary industries of fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. There are jobs as well in aerospace, biosciences and information technology.

“The main purpose of the organization is really to unite Filipinos all across P.E.I.,” league board member Con Dela Cruz told CBC. She came from the Philippines ten years ago and is also involved in a volleyball league.

Dela Cruz said the league is trying to become a nonprofit and plans to host clinics and other leagues