Paulina Jocelyn Balisi Corpuz

Paulina Jocelyn Toribio Balisi Corpuz passed away at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital on November 6, 2022. She is survived by her husband, Ben, and her children Belinda, Isabella and Benson. She is also survived by her many beloved siblings.

Paulina obtained a Psychology degree from the University of the Philippines and worked in various non-profit organizations. Hailing from Ilagan, Isabela, Philippines, she came to Canada to unite with her husband in 1993.

She continued studying and learning in Canada, obtaining a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the Canadian Institute of Philanthropy under Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University), certificates in Business Analysis and Change Management, Internet Marketing, E-business and Web Marketing, Life Skills Coaching, and Non-Profit Sector Management among others.

Her passion for non-profit and community-based service led her to join the Canadian Cancer Society, starting as a volunteer, and eventually working as an Administrative Assistant. Through her 16 years of hard work and resourcefulness, she was promoted to Systems Project Coordinator, helping build their long legacy of uniting and inspiring Canadians affected by cancer.

Paulina is known for championing and advancing community causes – from arts and culture, education, workers’ rights and politics:

Her first job was being a pioneer and coordinator in the workers’ cooperative union of San Miguel Corporation in the Philippines. She helped form the team from a small capitalization to a thriving system, helping hundreds of workers and their families.

Paulina then became a project evaluator for the Luzon Social Action Centre, an institution founded by the CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines), whose main function was to help the livelihood of the poor and provide aid during calamities. With this organization, she worked on the ground during the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and the 1990 earthquake in Luzon.

Paulina’s passion to serve the community continued even after immigrating to Canada. Her notable community work includes her campaign to run for Toronto Catholic School Trustee in 2014. In 2018, she ran as Council Candidate for Ward 20 (Scarborough Southwest). As a candidate, she provided a diverse perspective and rich experience as a woman of colour, a social justice advocate, an entrepreneur and most of all, a mother. Over the years, she continued her advocacies on behalf of the community.

Paulina is President and co-founder of Philippine Advancement Through Arts and Culture (PATAC) that funded cultural initiatives benefiting Filipinos, particularly the youth in both Canada and the Philippines. She also co-hosted TV Migrante Canada, a program that focused on local and Philippine national issues that is accessible to viewers across Canada and beyond. Her community advocacy includes her work with the Filipinos Workers Network, supporting the Children’s Rehabilitation Centre (Philippines). She was a member of the PIDC (Philippine Independence Day Council) council of leaders, acting as a Press Relations Officer and Women’s Diversity in the CMC (Canadian Multicultural Centre of Asians in Ontario), and the President of the Filipino Canadian Parents Association in Catholic Education (FCPACE).

Paulina was best known for her advocacy to have the City of Toronto declare the month of June as Filipino Heritage Month, which paved the way for the federal and provincial government to follow suit. Her journey started in November 2016 when she first raised this idea with Ontario New Democratic Party Members of Provincial Parliament, and gathered signatures at various community events from June 2016 until August 2017. After gathering endorsements from 50 individuals and organizations, Paulina and Councillor Neethan Shan introduced the Filipino Heritage Month motion in November 2017, and the City Council passed the motion unanimously.

Paulina’s work in the community is well known and acknowledged, and she was honoured with numerous awards and recognitions. Her many awards include the Canadian Multicultural Council – Asians in Ontario, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in Toronto for her more than 30 years of community service and her work in the declaration of June as Filipino Heritage Month, the 2018 Golden Balangay Award, and the Quincentennial Award from Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto.

She was also a hard-working and successful business person, working with SMDC as an authorized International Broker in Canada, as a top-seller, helping Filipinos abroad own a condo property in the Philippines. She was also a member of the Association of Filipino Canadian Accountants (AFCA).

Paulina was fond of poetry. Poems helped Paulina through the challenges she faced, but she never considered herself a poet. Her love for writing and prose is evident in her published poetry, providing you a taste of her gift as a writer. Together with her loving husband, Ben, she published a book of poems called Pagsinta, which celebrates their 30th wedding anniversary. The book speaks about their feelings, views, and perspectives. Her poetry is also published in AKDAAN 2, and AKDAAN 3.

Aside from all of her achievements, Paulina was a very loving and devoted wife, mother, and sister, and loved to be surrounded by family. She was also extremely funny, and always tried her best to make others feel at home. In spite of her numerous health issues, she constantly persevered. Paulina was fiercely independent and hard-working in everything that she did, with every action serving a purpose. She would always remind everyone around her to slow down, breathe, and live life on their own terms. This is the kind of person that Paulina was, and she will be dearly missed.

Rest in peace and power, Paulina. Thank you for everything.

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Paulina’s family would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of love for Paulina, as well as the care that was given to her by the Toronto EMS team, Toronto Fire Services, and healthcare professionals at Sunnybrook Hospital during her last hours. They would also like to thank Manny Gutierrez from Dignity Memorial, Nancy Woodbine and the entire team at Paul O’Connor Funeral Home, and Rev. Jeffrey Masterson at St. Dunstan’s Catholic Church. They would like to thank the entire Filipino community for their immense love and support.

Visitations will be held at Paul O’Connor Funeral Home (1939 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough, ON M1R 2Y8), Sunday November 13, 2022, 2-6pm & Tuesday November 15, 2022, 5-8pm.

Funeral service will be held at St. Dunstan Catholic Church (3150 Danforth Ave, Scarborough, ON M1L 1B6), Wednesday November 16 at 11am. The funeral service will be available via livestream https://funeraweb.tv/diffusions/63892

For more details and to send your condolences, please visit: https://www.forevermissed.com/paulina-corpuz/

In lieu of flowers and donations to the family, Paulina's family would appreciate a donation to the Philippine Advancement Through Arts and Culture (PATAC) which strongly supports the Childrens Rehabilitation Center in the Philippines. https://patac-canada.webs.com/donate

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