Founder’s Message
Colors of Compassion grew out of a lifelong passion for advocacy. It all started when Vic Lantion (now passed on) and I were fighting for student rights through our college newspaper back in the Philippines. As medical students, we carried that drive into building healthier, stronger communities at the grassroots level – training and organizing health workers.
When we became doctors, our work expanded even more—tackling issues like gender equity and social justice. That same spirit lives on today through Colors of Compassion—a movement rooted in optimism, compassion, and the belief that a better world is always within reach.
But it’s not just our story, it’s the story of our Board too. Dolly, co-founded Babae, empowering Filipino women in Calgary. Adanech has dedicated herself to supporting Ethiopian and Eritrean newcomers, founding the Immigrant Outreach Society. Eric co-founded MissionPH to uplift Filipinos in Calgary and back home. And Milleth spent over a decade helping Filipino migrants in Cambodia—work she proudly continues here in Calgary.
All of us including its members have been committed to community service long before we set foot in Canada. Filipinos and other immigrants bring something powerful to our communities—their spirit of coming together. They form small self-help groups where they connect, support each other, share laughter, and turn dreams into reality. Their collective strength and resilience show that when individuals unite, they create a force greater than the sum of their parts. This force drives equity, ensuring no one falls through the cracks of injustice. It empowers communities to advocate for themselves, shifting from passive recipients to active changemakers.
The founding of Colors of Compassion is simply a continuation of that lifelong work—a way to stay connected, to celebrate the strengths of our communities, and to help them build bright, thriving futures right here in Calgary. Its founding is a burst of color, each one fueled by compassion, hope, the power of community, and an unstoppable drive to make a difference.
Mr. Jun Naraval
Founder
A Lifelong Commitment to Compassion
Colors of Compassion was born from a lifelong dedication to advocacy, stemming from my days fighting for student rights with Vic Lantion in the Philippines. As medical students, we built healthier communities at the grassroots level, a drive that expanded to encompass gender equity and social justice as doctors. That same spirit of optimism and belief in a better world fuels Colors of Compassion today.
Our story is also woven into the fabric of our Board. Dolly Castillo co-founded Babae to empower Filipino women. Adi tirelessly supports Ethiopian and Eritrean newcomers through the Immigrant Outreach Society. Eric Dizon co-founded MissionPH to uplift Filipinos locally and abroad. And Milleth Tortal has spent over a decade helping Filipino migrants in Cambodia, a commitment she continues in Calgary.
All of us were dedicated to community service long before arriving in Canada. Filipinos and other immigrants bring an incredible spirit of unity to our communities, forming self-help groups where they connect, support each other, and turn dreams into reality. Their collective strength drives equity, empowering communities to advocate for themselves and become active changemakers. The founding of Colors of Compassion is a natural continuation of this lifelong work — a way to stay connected, celebrate our communities' strengths, and help them build bright, thriving futures here in Calgary. It's a burst of color, each hue fueled by compassion, hope, the power of community, and an unstoppable drive to make a difference.
