Love Thy Neighbor? Canadian Pinoy Wins $8,000 in Anti-Bias Suit

CHICAGO, Illinois – Filipino-Canadian Cecilio M. Rous was finally awarded $8,000 in damages by the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission in a decision handed down last November but released only on Dec. 9, after he was discriminated against by his neighbors. Reached for comment by phone by this reporter in his Saint Hubert, Montreal home, Rous, 71, was very happy, saying, “I feel vindicated. Natanggap ko na ang award sa akin. (I finally received my award.)" In November last year, Rous, a qualified electrical engineer from Manaoag, Pangasinan in the Philippines, rejected as an “insult" the settlement offer of $1,000 by his neighbors, who were ordered by the Commission to pay him $8,000. This prompted him to elevate the matter up to the Quebec Human Rights Tribunal, which is equivalent to a court. Rous and his wife, Rustica Punzalan Rous, immigrated to Canada in 1977 and had lived since 1986 in Saint Hubert. In June 2003, after months of harassment, the Rous couple sought the help of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR) and protection from their neighbors, who threw garbage in their property, which provoked Rous into attacking them, but his neighbors told him “to return back to your own country." His neighbors even called him cochon, a French word for pig. At the time of the incident, Rous was 66 while his wife, Rustica, was 67 years old. Mrs. Rous was having cerebral and vascular problems. CRARR filed a complaint on behalf of the couple in August 2003, seeking $40,000 in damages from the four neighbors, who were identified as having racially harassed the couple. The neighbors were identified as Jean Blais, his wife, Line Vachon, and their sons Mathieu and Jonathan. The Commission took almost two years to meet with Rous for his testimony. Unfortunately, Mrs. Rous died of cancer in June 2007, at the age of 71, and never got a chance to meet with the human rights investigator prior to her death. In its decision of November 26, 2007, the Commission ordered $5,000 in moral damages and $3,000 in punitive damages to be paid to Rous. As for his wife, the Commission concluded that she was never a victim of discrimination from the neighbors, and consequently, no damages were awarded in her favor. The respondents were ordered to pay Rous by no later than Dec. 21, 2007, failing which the case would be brought to the Quebec Human Rights Tribunal. Since the neighbors did not comply with the order, the case was brought before the Tribunal. CRARR filed its own submissions to claim $13,000 in damages due to the nature and length of harassment and the fact that the Rouses were not only “racialized seniors, but also suffered from ill health at the time." Last week, the respondents finally agreed to pay $8,000 to settle the case. “I feel finally vindicated because it has been all along a battle for principles of equality and dignity," Rous said. “This is an important victory for Filipino-Canadian civil rights. My wife would have been pleased, and I wish we had won the case earlier so that she could celebrate this victory with me." Rous donated a portion of the damages to CRARR to support its service to victims of racism. Said CRARR Executive Director Fo Niemi: “Senior citizens from racialized minorities should never hesitate to stand up for their civil rights, no matter how old, weak or isolated they are. Mr. Rous’ perseverance is an example for all." In an interview with this reporter, Rous said he was weighing his option to travel to the Philippines for the first time since he left his native country. “Sana makauwi ako sa Pilipinas baka operahin ang aking kaliwang tuhod dahil maghihintay ako ng anim na buwan bago ito gumaling." (I hope I can return to the Philippines for the first time since I left my native country before I undergo my left knee surgery, which takes six months to heal.) Rous had just recovered from his right knee surgery. - GMANews.TV