Fil-Canadian couple contributes song to Manitoba vaccine drive

Ernesto Ofiaza Jr. and his wife, Catherine Ofiaza, have recorded a song in Tagalog about the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19. FACEBOOK

A Filipino couple from Winnipeg is using the power of song to encourage others to get their COVID-19 vaccine.

Ernesto Ofiaza Jr. and his wife, Catherine, of Winnipeg, Manitoba have written a song to encourage fellow Filipinos in Canada to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

The couple’s Tagalog song, Kabarangay Magpabakuna Na, translates in English to Fellow Community Members, Get Vaccinated Now.

Ernesto told Information Radio guest host Faith Fundal that it’s their contribution to Manitoba’s immunization drive.

Filipinos in Manitoba were disproportionately affected by Covid-19, according to a provincial report released in March. Filipino Manitobans made up 12 percent of cases while comprising only 7 percent of the province’s population, according to the report.

All Manitobans 12 and up are now eligible to get a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

On Wednesday, the province opened up second dose eligibility to anyone who got a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine on March 29 or earlier.

The Ofiazas’ song, which they singing in a video, is now making the rounds on Facebook.