Absolutely Filipino Magazine Winter 2016

Uplifting PINOY

WINTER 2016

ISSUE # 10

Jeremy Senaris: A Simmering Success Anne Longakit: Beyond Brains & Beauty 12th World Congress of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays Club Nursing Community Assessment Services (NCAS) BC Lolita Carbon Brings Back Memories of The Good Ol’ Days

CAPTIVATE GLOREN OLADIVE GUELOS www.absolutelyfilipinomagazine.com

ABSOLUTELY FILIPINO MAGAZINE

Message from the Editor W

hard until we succeed.

We are here to celebrate our fellow Filipinos who exhibit remarkable talent and abilities in their own chosen fields. Their success reminds us to be always proud of who we are. For us to continue living, I believe, we must continue dreaming. Just like these people, we already have the innate gift and talent; we just need to find our inner strength to gather ourselves and present it to the world with courage and determination.

In behalf of Absolutely Filipino Magazine, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year. We always think about every Filipino around the world, and this is our simple way to reach out to you by giving inspiration and providing you

some helpful information.

I would like to thank all of our readers and supporters as well as the staff of Absolutely Filipino.

I thank our Almighty God for being in control throughout this beautiful year. #UPLIFTINGPINOY JINKEE PORTA-MERCURIO Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

our staff

inter connotes spending the Christmas holidays with family. Images of drinking hot cocoa by the fireplace while watching Netflix and roaming around the mall or Christmas markets are what fill my mind. This year, the season reminds me of my six long years of being away from my homeland.

I can’t help but feel a little bit homesick. I’m pretty sure Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) all over the world share this same sentiment with me particularly during this time of the year.

But despite all that, I am still thankful for the many blessings in life particularly the gift of hope knowing that one day all of our dreams, wishes, and desires will eventually come to life. We just need to keep the faith and work

Joandrea

Merryl

Kurt

Dwight

Paulo

marj

arjay

alice

PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Jinkee Porta-Mercurio CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Joandrea Santiago • Merryl Catherine V. Talan • Kurt Zubieta • Alice Mercurio • Arjay Bartolome • Marjorie Anne Macahilas GUEST CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Lucy Lombos • Daniel Enriquez • COPY EDITOR: Joandrea Santiago LAYOUT AND DESIGN EDITOR: John Paulo Fernandez • PHOTOGRAPHY: Dwight Simon • Marlon Mercurio • Lucy Lombos • Icaptured Productions CIRCULATION: Marlon Mercurio FOR SALES AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: jinkee.mercurio@outlook.com | 778-792-0071 • 778-792-0049 • RYAN FERRER (nryanferrer@gmail.com) 778-241-4895 WEBSITE: www.absolutelyfilipinomagazine.com Disclaimer: Absolutely Filipino Magazine is an inspirational and lifestyle magazine. The articles written in Absolutely Filipino do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the publisher. All articles are designed for educational and informational purposes only, and no one should use it as a replacement for any expert's advice. Sponsors and advertisers are solely responsible for the content and legitimacy of information published within their ads and are not necessarily supported and recommended by the publisher. All material submitted for publication is considered to be the property of the advertiser. Advertisers who doesn't have their own art and asked Absolutely Filipino Magazine to aid in making the art or advertorial/write-up are responsible for its content.

All contents © Copyright 2016 | No part of this magazine maybe reproduced in whole or in part without written permission.

LUKE 1:37 “FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.”

WHAT’S INSIDE? WINTER 2016

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NATURE 12th World Congress of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays Club An account by Lucy E. Lombos; Daniel Enriquez

FEATURE JEREMY SENARIS: A Simmering Success

by Marjorie Anne Macahilas

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FOOD Ready, Get set, Boodle Fight!

by Kurt Zubieta

FEATURE ANNE LONGAKIT: Beyond Brains & Beauty

by Arjay Bartolome

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ON CENTRE STAGE The Filipina Reigns: Getting to Know GLOREN OLADIVE GUELOS, Ms. British Columbia 2016

by Merryl Catherine V. Talan

HEALTH CARE Nursing Community Assessment Services (NCAS) BC

by Joandrea Santiago

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FEATURE LOLITA CARBON Brings Back Memories of The Good Ol’ Days

by Jinkee Mercurio

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LIFESTYLE A Pumpkin Patch Experience

by Alice Mercurio

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www.absolutelyfilipinomagazine.com

Cover Page GLOREN GUELOS Photo by: Dwight Simon Hair & Make-Up: Renci Vana

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LIFESTYLE

Pumpkin Patch

Experience

By Alice Mercurio Photos by Marlon Mercurio

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his year, my family was invited by Tita Treenee to celebrate Thanksgiving through a farm experience. There are many farms scattered in BC, but we visited one with a pumpkin patch that was ready for the pumpkin harvest. Late October is the best time to go there because it’s the season for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

My dad and I had already experienced a day in a pumpkin patch, but mom has NEVER been to one. It was a more exciting experience for her, especially when she got to try the hayride. In a hayride, a group of people is taken to a tour of the farm while they are seated in a wagon full of hay that is being pulled by a big tractor.

There are many other things you can do when you visit the farm. You can come and pet the farm animals, which are usually cows, goats, and sheep. You also get to harvest and buy the fruits and vegetables in season. Food and drinks are also being sold there, kind of like a country fair setup, so you don’t have to worry about that.

Our day at the Pumpkin Patch was muddy. My shoes got mud on them the moment I stepped on the ground! We took pictures of things we don’t usually see in the city like big tractors, the animals, and there was a fire truck too. The farm we went to had a dog mascot called “Sparky” and we took pictures with him as well.

My best experience there was going on that hayride to pick our own pumpkins.

It was such a bumpy ride to get to the pumpkin patch! We were bouncing and giggling inside the big wagon. When we finally reached the pumpkin patch, it took me a while to find a pumpkin without holes on it because crows have been pecking on them. Calling dibs on pumpkins doesn’t really work because my parents tell me to always give way to other people.

Finally, I went back and saw this tiny patch of pumpkins, and in there I was able to pick mine.

I learned the most important thing of that day: nobody is perfect, just like the pumpkins! Some are bumped, and some are smooth! Not everyone is perfect, and that makes us all human.

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JEREMY SENARIS: A Simmering Success

By Marjorie Anne Macahilas

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oming from Winnipeg, Manitoba, the heart of Canada, is Jeremy Senaris, this year’s MasterChef Canada runner-up. Jeremy is Filipino by blood, yet born and raised in Canada after his parents immigrated in the late 70s. Growing up, he did not actually take an immediate interest in cooking. In fact, he pursued a degree in Civil Engineering and currently works as a building plan examiner in Winnipeg.

Jeremy’s footsteps towards the culinary world can be compared to a gradually simmering dish. He started cooking when his mother fell sick to cancer. “She was very weak then and was when I started learning how to cook so I could make whatever she wanted to eat.” One of his most treasured memories with his mother is making the Filipino favourite “turon”— deep fried bananas and a bit of jackfruit in lumpia wrapper and glazed with sugar.

This simple recipe is the first dish Jeremy learned to cook and what paved the way to more creative and unique dishes. After the passing of his mother, Jeremy found himself more involved in the kitchen and hosting family gatherings more frequently. He discovered that he had a natural knack for cooking and enjoyed experimenting and adding twists to the traditional family recipes used by his mother when cooking for them. It is in his home’s kitchen and amongst family and friends that he developed his love and skill for cooking.

Photos: CTV Television and BELL Media

Black Arroz Caldo with Grilled Shrimp Photo: Mike Talastas

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MASTERCHEF CANADA It was in 2014 when the MasterChef franchise opened its doors in Canada. Jeremy, who was already a fan of the US version, became excited when the possibility of joining became closer to home.

Earlier this year in MasterChef Canada’s third season, Jeremy took a shot in competing in what was now a burning passion for cooking. By that time, he had become confident with his cooking skills and wanted to find out how far he could go with it. His audition dish, Dynamite Roll with Spicy Mayo and Bonito Flakes, won him a place amongst 13 others who would battle it out for the MasterChef title.

FEATURE

Fierce competition was the atmosphere of the show. The pressure you saw on TV was thicker in real life with the sounds, smells, and hustlebustle of the live kitchen. Moreover, the contestants were isolated from their friends and family and were only allowed to speak to them once a week.

Amidst all this, there were lighthearted moments too. “The makeup artists would often give me retouches on my forehead because I’m kalbo (bald)”, he cackles.

Friendships and camaraderie also grew among the chefs, which kept their spirits high and positive. He cites, “We became our own little family”.

THE FINAL COOK-OFF The day came for the most awaited cooking face off of this year’s Master Chef between Jeremy Senaris and Mary Berg. Jeremy’s menu was an infusion of both Western and Asian pallets starting with a Bison Tataki with Uni cream for the appetizer, a personal take on the Sushi Boat for his entrée, and a Milk Tea Panna Cotta with Coconut Tapioca and Jackfruit Ice Cream for desert.

In the end, although the judges were impressed with Jeremy’s more creative and varied menu, Mary Berg won with her classic Canadian dishes.

Having gone so far, Jeremy learned, “I think my culinary journey is proof that anything is possible as long as you are passionate towards something you want to pursue.”

Fast-forward to today, many doors have opened for Jeremy since he joined the show. He has been approached

by Canadian Cancer Society to host a fundraiser for cancer research. He is also now a highly sought-after host chef for big and significant corporate events and has started his own popup dinners called the “LASA Series”.

Asked what his future endeavors will be, “I am thinking of putting up my own restaurant which will feature modern Filipino Cuisine”.

Our taste buds look forward to what Chef Jeremy has in store for us next.

I think my culinary journey is proof that anything is possible as long as you are passionate towards something you want to pursue.”

To become Miss Teenage Surrey is to be conďŹ dent, caring, open-minded, compassionate, and a role model for others.â€?

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Photos:

Evan Chen Photography

FEATURE

Anne Longakit:

BEYOND BRAINS & BEAUTY

By Arjay Bartolome

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nne Longakit, 19 years old and a Filipina beauty bagged the crown as Miss Teenage Surrey 2016 during the Miss Teenage BC pageant.

Although her parents were from Cebu and Oriental Mindoro, Anne was born in Laguna, and they immigrated to Canada when she was six years old. As the only child in the family, Anne didn’t have siblings to play with and had to discover her identity on her own.

AN ACHIEVER IN MANY FIELDS Anne involved herself in many different interests. During her elementary days, she learned to play the piano and violin. In her 8th grade, she tried out and became part of the Clayton Heights Secondary Volleyball team. She was also a member of the Synergy Volleyball Club throughout high school and even helped coach U12 girls volleyball club last year.

However, a big part of Anne’s passion is into music and dancing. Anne started dancing ballet at the age of four and in elementary and high school she became active in ballet, hip-hop, and lyrical jazz. She even joined several hip-hop and lyrical jazz competitions where she received awards.

Anne goes beyond her personal aspirations and has been actively involved in volunteer work. Last 2014 spring, she joined her Global Issues Club thru the Me To We program and flew to Shuid, Ecuador. There they had hands-on experience in building a school and was exposed to the disparate situation of the place. In 2015, she served as a volunteer at her mother’s hometown in Oriental Mindoro where she helped Pinamalayan Community Hospital with admin and outpatient duties. She also regularly volunteers at the Vancouver General Hospital’s gift shop.

In spite of being involved in many extracurricular activities, Anne’s passion for music, sports and service did not hinder her from

excelling in her studies. In fact, she received honourable awards from Grade 8 to 12. She also graduated with a Governor General’s Bronze Medal Award for graduating with the highest average in her class. Currently, she is already in her third year as Honours Biology major at the University of British Columbia where she received a Chancellor Scholar designation. She also received several scholarships such as the CPCA (Canadian Paint and Coatings Association scholarship, Bill Bidel Memorial Scholarship and Pollon Poultry Scholarship for Science A PAGEANT FIRST TIMER The Miss Teenage Surrey 2016 is Anne’s first pageant. One of the biggest challenges she faced was to have confidence and faith in herself as many other brilliant girls surrounded her. It was through her many experiences and exposure to different kinds of environments that reminded her of her own capabilities and strengths. She understood that focusing on improving her personal skills and talents was the key to building her confidence.

Anne’s standout Filipina features, great personality, and notable personal achievements won her the crown.

At present, Anne is the Ambassador of the SOS Children’s Village in British Columbia. She actively participates and promotes different programs and projects of the organization.

FILIPINA ALL THROUGHOUT Even though Anne grew up in Canada, Filipino culture remains embodied in her values. She also appreciates the food and enjoys all her visits back to our country. Most importantly, Anne loves the family atmosphere in the Philippines because Filipinos are respectful and family-oriented.

Being Miss Teenage Surrey 2016 is more than a title or a crown. As Anne quoted, “To become Miss Teenage Surrey is to be confident, caring, open-minded, compassionate, and a role model for others.”

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The Filipina Reigns: Getting to Know

Gloren OLADIVE Guelos Ms. British Columbia 2016 Written by Merryl Catherine V. Talan Photos by Dwight Simon Assisted by Damian Simon

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he Filipina beauty continuous to spread in all countries and British Columbia was not an exemption! Our cover girl and MS. BRITISH COLUMBIA 2016, Gloren Guelos, gives us a sneak peek into her crazy life. We will realize through Gloren, that there is more to every beauty queen than just a pretty face. Our cover girl has in fact “muscles” to show, gained from different “exercises” life has thrown at her.

FILIPINO ROOTS Gloren was born in Antique, Philippines and grew up in Iloilo. She can speak and understand Ilonggo, Karay-a and Tagalog.

Her father and grandparents raised her when her Mom flew abroad at the age of six as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW). “I miss spending my afternoons eating merienda with my grandparents and playing with the kids in the neighborhood.” She has traveled throughout the Philippines but given a chance, she’d love to visit Palawan, Cebu, and the Rice Terraces in Banaue.

ON CENTRE STAGE

MOVING TO CANADA Gloren immigrated to Canada when she was 12 years old and has resided in British Columbia ever since. Moving to another country, one can’t help but feel both excitement and anxiety.

“School was definitely difficult in my first year.

I struggled with social anxiety. School here is different compared to the Philippines. It took a lot of courage to ask other classmates to have lunch with me because I felt like I didn’t fit in. At the same time, I was struggling with my parents’ separation. I had to work really hard with getting good grades and being an understanding daughter. But I believe that “things happen for a reason” and I knew that everything will be okay.”

Moving to another country sounds exciting. But for the person leaving, it may not be total bliss.

I asked Gloren what she had to give up when she transferred to Canada: “To be with my dad everyday is what I had to give up. He gave me his full support even though he knew he couldn’t be with me due to medical reasons. I’m daddy’s girl, so we’d talk everyday!”

WORK AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN Gloren went to Stenberg College and took up the Licensed Practical Nursing Program. It was during her studies when life proved to her that things happen for a reason. Jenny Rae, the Student Placement Administrator of the school got her into modeling right after graduation. She found herself enjoying this stint especially for her school where she appeared in magazines, buses, sky train platforms, websites, and newspapers.

Gloren currently works in a care home facility where she does graveyard shifts from midnight to sunrise. During her spare time, she enjoys reading, inspiring her viewers on social media and attending volunteer opportunities. Being a dancer herself, she also teaches dance and encourages her students to be creative, innovative and most of all, enjoy themselves.

GLOREN AND HER FATHER’S PASSING “I struggled in 2015 trying to accept dad’s passing in the past year. I knew I had to force myself to focus as my graduation was coming up. I had to delay school and again, it was another emotional roller coaster. I developed negative attitudes. It took a year to overcome that… but the good always wins. It may not have a good result overnight, but patience was key, and 2016 is yet, still the best year”.

To have our Filipino blood is an honor. Let us continue to show our love to our family, our country, and ourselves because the world is admiring our humbling, warm presence.”

In behalf of AFM, we would like to thank the following for accommodating us: SHERATON VANCOUVER GUILDFORD HOTEL 15269 104 Ave, Surrey, BC V3R 1N5 T- (604) 582-9288 www.sheratonguildford.com -------------------------------EMMANUEL MEDEIROS Director of Sales T 604 587 6112 M 604 230 4051 F 604 582 9712

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A LOVE FOR DANCING After seeing a poster in Grade 9 about a school dance team audition, Gloren knew dancing was something she was going to fall in love with forever. Coaches saw potential in her.

Gloren specializes in hip-hop and is where she got her toned figure. “Hip hop helped me express my emotions when I was feeling down. Music saved my life.” A few years later, Gloren started coaching dance teams and has been doing so for the last three years in school.

After high school, Gloren missed the environment of being in dance competitions and the adrenaline that came with it. She found herself auditioning to be a BC Lions “Felions” cheerleader and was pitted against more than a hundred girls from all over British Columbia.

Despite not having much experience in gymnastics or technical style, Gloren was able to make the dance team!

MISS BRITISH COLUMBIA 2016 Pageants are nerve-wracking contests where ladies get trained for almost everything—walking in 4-inch heels, smiling for hours, and of course, who could forget the question and answer portion?

“A friend of Jenny Rae, Renci Vana,

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helped me prepare about a month before the pageant. I didn’t know I had to learn so many things! But he was so encouraging. I learned the most I can. My mindset was simple throughout the pageant, to enjoy every moment. I think that the proudest moment of life was when I heard mom cheer me on during the talent show! I love her!”

As she reigns as Ms. British Columbia 2016, Gloren advocates for mental health. She also helps children who are struggling in balancing education and passion. To achieve her goals in breaking the stigma that revolves around mental illness, she will be speaking in schools on antibullying events and is in the process of working with health organizations.

One tip for all ladies out there who are interested in joining pageants: “Be yourself and enjoy the journey!”

Her Message to the Filipinos “Our filipino culture can influence others through our love and faith for God. Our determination makes us unique at work, school, and in our community.

To have our Filipino blood is an honor.

Let us continue to show our love to our family, our country, and ourselves because the world is admiring our humbling, warm presence.”

puerto galera NATURE

mexico

12th World Congress

of the World’s Most Beautiful

Bays Club

An account by Lucy E. Lombos, Official Journalist Photos by Lucy Lombos And Daniel Enriquez

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he World’s Most Beautiful Bays Club (WMBBC) was founded in 1996 and is aimed at spreading knowledge about the natural bays of the Earth and how to preserve them for the future generation. Delegates from different countries gather to report updates and discuss efforts in fulfilling the organisation’s goals. This year, the 12th World Congress WMBBC was held in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from October 30 to Nov 2.

The Philippine Delegates were composed of Ara d’Aboville, head delegate and her sister Rosario

Valenzuela; Daniel T. Enriquez, Puerto Galera’s resident Marine Biologist; Sofia Domenica Lombos, Consular and Diplomatic Affairs graduate of De La Salle University, our youth representative; and Luz E. Lombos, ESL, TESOL, Reading & Writing Teacher, Children’s Book Author and WMBB advocate since 2009 who functioned as the official journalist of the group.

Seventy-seven countries participated in this year’s congress. Mexico, our host country, provided all the delegates with warm hospitality, entertaining programs, and a roster of cultural experiences. We were brought to the island of Las Caletas to experience the famous Rhythm of the Nights show. We dined under the stars, heard live music, and saw performances

from Mexico’s contemporary dance troupes. We were also in time to experience the country’s Day of the Dead Festival with the colorful costumes, skull masks and makeup, and unique rituals.

One of the highlights of the event was dining at Café Des Artistes’magical jungle setting. Owner-and-chef, Thierry Blouet, presented us with a Festival Gourmet filled Mexico’s finest food and other International flavours. Conversations were filled with each other’s accounts of the uniqueness of each of our country’s bays and how an Almighty Creator has done such natural wonders.

Truly we are stewards of these gifts. And we hope that you too, in your own little way, will support and give importance in preserving our natural environment.

PUERTO GALERA, PHILIPPINES’ MOST BEAUTIFUL BAY

Report from Daniel Enriquez

In 2005, Puerto Galera, located on the northern part of the island of Mindoro, became a member of the Most Beautiful Bay in the World. Since then, the local government, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the leadership spearheaded by Marine Biologist, Daniel Enriquez, have made efforts to conserve Puerto Galera. Marine Protected Areas have been identified as

core zones where no extraction activities are allowed. An Environmental User Fee System is also being imposed on tourists to fund many of their Environmental Activities. Currently, our country’s Beautiful Bays Club is focused on developing Tangalan Peninsula into Puerto Galera’s New Eco Tourism Destination. Aside from visiting the beaches, they offer: Bike and trekking

in the forests; a cliff view of the Puerto Galera Bay; a Virgin Mary Shrine; a picnic area; and snorkeling and diving activities featuring their famous Giant Clam Gardens.

The group extends its invitation to everyone to visit the many attractions of Puerto Galera and to support the efforts of conserving our nation’s most beautiful bay.

For more information: http://www.mostbeautifulbays.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/daniel.enriquez

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FOOD

Ready, Get Set,

Boodle FIGHT!

By Kurt Zubieta Photo by AFM

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“boodle fight” is a Filipino style banquet that originated from the mess halls and kitchens of the military. Different kinds of food are piled on top of banana leaves on a long table where everyone eats using their bare hands. The food usually consists of rice, seafood, tuyo (fried dried fish), sausages, tomatoes, salted duck eggs, and grilled meat. In a boodle fight, everyone, regardless of rank or stature share food from the same pile. Thus, aside from being a special meal, it served as a symbol of brotherhood and camaraderie among soldiers and their officials.

Today, the boodle fight remains a unique custom for the military back in our country but has long been adopted by the common Filipino home and even restaurants. There is no surprise that we’ve taken the boodle fight experience to North America where it has become a kind of exotic experience for them. The absolute disregard for utensils, communal sharing of food, combined with the tastes of Filipino cuisine offers a unique cultural experience for the non-Filipino.

Recently, our editor, Jinkee, celebrated her birthday in a boodle fight as a new offering by Grandt Kitchen Restaurant in Surrey, BC. “It turned out to be a great experience for everyone because most of my friends, even the Filipino ones, haven’t experienced a boodle fight before. The experience made me feel more bonded with my friends and co-nurses”, says Jinkee. They shared and enjoyed the following simple but heavenly Filipino dishes: Pork Barbecue Cocktail Skewers, Lumpiang Shanghai, Marinated Milk Fish, Grilled Large Squid, Mussels, Grilled Shrimps, Grilled Eggplant, Grilled Zucchini, Grilled Okra, Corn on the cob, and of course,

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Garlic Rice. This festive meal wouldn’t be complete without pairing it with the best Mango Salad in town. Bagoong Caramel, Homemade vinegar, and chili-vinegar sauce also gave an extra boost to the already fantastic flavour of the said dishes. You too can have your own boodle fight experience at a very reasonable price.

FUN FACTS: On March 2015, Laoag City became the Guinness World Records titleholder for the longest boodle fight. Tables were set side by side to the length of 4.858 kilometres and they only served the following foods such as plain rice, pinakbet, and Igado (a popular Ilocano dish), then it was all piled on top of banana leaves. 30,000 feasted for 30 minutes to beat the previous year’s record from Labo, Camarines Norte with only 2.65 kilometres.

For those who have yet to experience a boodle fight, why not invite your friends and family, and try it in a restaurant or even at home? Make sure you build up an appetite before the meal and have your favourite, mouth-watering dishes prepared.

Ready, get set, boodle fight!

We would like to thank GRANDT KITCHEN for the wonderful boodle fight experience.

12297 Industrial Road Surrey, British Columbia Tel (778) 395-0900

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HEALTH CARE

Nursing Community Assessment Services (NCAS) BC

By Joandrea Santiago

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he Nursing Community Assessment Services (NCAS) is a service aimed exclusively at health care practitioners who obtained their healthcare education outside of Canada (or Internationally Educated Nurses/ IENs) who would like to work in BC either as a Health Care Aide, Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, and Psychiatric Nurse.

It seeks to assess the skills and competencies of the applicants and add them to a registry, which can be used by the regulators or healthcare organization in need of workers.

NCAS helps ensure that the candidates entering the health care system meet the standards required for each profession.

The assessment process comes in three parts: Computerbased Assessment, Simulation Lab Assessment, and an Oral Assessment.

NCAS BC will be launched on January 4, 2017, and is a mandatory registration requirement for many regulatory organisations. Sadly, this means that this will be an added cost for IENs here in BC. But for the purpose of getting a good insight about this, we have asked the founder of International Nursing Alliance (INA), Cristina Privat on what INA has to say about it. INA is a newly founded nursing organization, the very first of its kind that welcomes, associates, and unites all the nursing professionals that are mainly composed of Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Internationally Educated Nurses, Retired Nurses,

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Nursing Aides/Assistants, Home Support Workers and Student Nurses. The statement below is their response about this matter.

“For INA, NCAS is an opportunity for the Internationally Educated Health Professional (IEHP) to do self-reflection on their learning needs, competencies, and motivation. This can mean more cost and longer integration process, particularly for the Health Care Aide, but it may facilitate the process for RN and LPN registration. It’s only in the introductory phase, but INA has already taken the step to help IEHPs understand the concept of NCAS. INA believes in the significant contribution of IEHPs to the BC health care. It recognizes the needs of support for the IEHPs to integrate into the workforce with ease. It also collaborates with other non-profit organizations like MHHS and MOSAIC to deliver a workshop called INBC. INA also provides practical workshops and mentorships that contain the essential information about nursing in BC, registration process including preparation for NCAS. Most of our nursing mentors had gone through the integration process and are inspired to share and give back by helping their fellow IEHPs. After all, this is what INA aims for, to associate, integrate, engage and empower our nursing professionals through innovation.”

We’d like to urge nurses and health care practitioners to look up the information on their website, http://www.ncasbc.ca/, so that you are better prepared as soon as they launch next year. You can also contact International Nursing Alliance at http://www. internationalnursingalliance.com, to find out what kind of help that they are offering.

Best of luck!

Model : Adrian Benedict Photo: Jepoy De Guia

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Lolita Carbon

Brings Back Memories of The Good Ol’ Days

By Jinkee Mercurio Photos by Icaptured Productions Who would have thought that going to Lolita Carbon’s concert would be a spontaneous road trip down memory lane?

Growing up in a small remote barrio somewhere in Quezon province, I always have a recollection of her and her band’s music as it had a meaningful impact in my childhood. Since my source of fun and entertainment then was quite limited, listening to her songs on my cassette player transformed my ennui into contemplation and appreciation for their meaningful lyrics.

For those who don’t know Lolita Carbon, she is also known as ‘Nene’ and is a part of the Pinoy legendary rock

and folk band ASIN. It was during the 70s and 80s when they made their mark in the music industry and Filipino culture.

Among their greatest hits are Masdan mo ang Kapaligiran, Pagbabalik, and Itanong mo sa mga Bata.

It wasn’t the first time for Lolita to hold a concert in Canada. In fact, I heard about her music events before. A fellow Filipina who moved here in the 70s invited me to Lolita’s show. Because she was already in Canada during the rise of ASIN, she wasn’t familiar with Lolita’s music but has heard of them from fellow Filipinos. We were both pleasantly surprised and quite entertained to have experienced being in a crowd that sang along to all the songs of Lolita—it was indeed a unique experience that made us feel connected to the shared history and culture of all the Filipinos present there.

AFM would like to thank the following: RAFFY “SWAP ONE” RAMIRO • R’S BAR Turf Hotel 12411 King George Blvd. • Surrey, British Columbia; ICAPTURED PRODUCTIONS Tel: 778 895 2473 • Email: icapturedproductions@gmail.com

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FEATURE THE CONCERT Last October 28, 2016, R’s Bar, a Filipino pub owned by the multi-talented artist, Raffy “Swap One” Ramiro, held their 2nd-year-anniversary concert entitled, “Himig ng Pagibig 2016”. The event had lined up Filipino performers and featured Ms. Lolita Carbon of ASIN as the highlight of the celebration. Among artists who made the night memorable were Estribo band, Raffy “Swap One” and his band, with the special participation of Mr. Lamar Alviar, Ms. Jane Anastacio, and other talented local musicians.

These performers set the mood for the high point of the hour. Great anticipation and excitement filled the crowd as they started chanting Lolita’s name, asking her to come out. The most amazing part was when Lolita started

singing, and the audience loudly sang along with her—with the words stamped in their hearts—as she brought back memories of the good old days.

Decades have passed, but Lolita’s voice remains the same. It still has the raspy and unique quality that brings us back to a faraway time, evoking a feeling of patriotism, love, and hope. I can’t help but get emotional knowing the moment had come when I finally saw the person behind the songs in my youth. It was a mixed emotion of joy, nostalgia, and homesickness.

Lolita Carbon indeed succeeds in keeping the immortality of her astounding craft. ASIN had unquestionably produced a silvery kind of music that appeals not only to the ears but also soothes the very heart and soul of their listeners.

Photos: Icaptured Productions

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