Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder of Filipinas of HamOnt

Anabelle is born and raised in the Philippines. She is fluent in Bisaya and Tagalog and comprehends Ilokano and Ilonggo. Hamilton has been home since a decade ago. She attended the University of the Philippines and Carleton University.

Anabelle Ragsag manages outcomes and impact measurement and reporting at a nonprofit in Hamilton, ON, in a position in which she was featured in the local news outlet Hamilton Spectator in 2015, and co-authored an essay on the introduction of the Canadian government's Express Entry process for IWC's magazine, Unpack.

Previously, she worked on social policy research and international development research: such as the Pantawid program, partly a form of basic income in the Philippines, volunteer outcomes in development work at the UNV headquarters in Germany, and regional integration at the ASEAN external relations with the East Asia desk. She also led United Way Philippines as its ED and taught politics at the University of the Philippines.

Anabelle loves to watch historical fiction, whodunit shows and comedies with social commentary.

Recently, Anabelle named inaugural recipient of Stephen Lewis Fellowship at McMaster University.

Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder of Filipinas of HamOnt

Jessica is a second-generation Filipina-Canadian. She is an educator and artist. She is a graduate of Brock University with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Bachelor of Education. She is currently working at McMaster University as the Communications and Outreach Officer.

She was the Project Coordinator for Hamilton Art Council's The Arty Crowd project and chair of the community committee focused on bridging the gaps in communication, digital accessibility and inclusion. This sparked her curiosity and passion for co-creating accessible digital spaces and completed General Assembly’s Software Engineering Program.

Her favourite colour is light purple. She loves bringing people together, cooking for friends and reading.

Community Engagement Coordinator

Julia Espinosa is a recent McMaster University History graduate with a minor in Immigration, Race Relations and Indigenous Settler Relations. She is a first generation Filipina who moved to Canada when she was 3 years old. Her family is from Cebu City, but she was originally born in Iligan City.

She is from a small town just 30 mins away from Hamilton called Grimsby, and have since grown up in Southern Ontario. She is passionate in learning, growing and working with other Filipina/o/x to stay connected to our culture.

Program and Content Strategist

Angelica Pangilinan is a social justice advocate, paganay (eldest) daughter, and community organizer. She is a second- generation Filipina born and raised in Hamilton, ON with her family from Pampanga. Angelica learned Tagalog and Kapampangan by watching teleseryes and practicing with her Lola Patricia growing up. She is a recent Brock University Sociology graduate with a minor in Psychology and concentration in Critical Criminology. She is passionate in learning about race and culture, and the societal and psychological dynamics surrounding it. She currently enjoys music, physical activity, and social media content creation!