Alberta Filipino Journal - February 2021 Issue by Alberta Filipino Journal

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FEBRUARY 2021 • Volume 14, Number 02

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2021

THE PULSE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, CANADA

Business

FEBRUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Covid-19 vaccine must be accessible to everyone

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Marco Luciano mluciano2@gmail.com Marco Luciano is the Global Council Representative of Philippine based Migrante International. He is also the current Secretary General of its chapter Migrante Canada.

ccording to Covid-19 Tracker Canada, as of Tuesday, more 1,124,229 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered across Canada. COVID19Tracker.ca is the first tracking project in Canada that allows others to freely and easily access Covid data in real-time. In Alberta there are 124,325 individuals that were vaccinated. In a press conference in Calgary, Premier Jason Kenney said that Alberta is set to run out of COVID-19 vaccine supply for first doses. “We have quite simply run out of supply,” Kenney said. “Yes, we’ll get more vaccine in the coming weeks and some more doses this week, but

we need to make adjustments today to accommodate this lack of supply.” As supplies slow down, many Albertans worry. Last year it was the most vulnerable Albertans that were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. There are at least 1.8 million migrant and undocumented residents in Canada. Alberta is home to many of them. This group includes seasonal agricultural workers who are essential to Canada’s food supply, care workers in long term care homes, and taking care of children, sick and the elderly. It includes cleaners in hospitals and homes, and it includes many warehouse, food delivery and grocery store workers. Many of Canada’s essential workers are migrant and undocumented. And many of them are Filipinos. Migrant and undocumented people are at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis. While they are often working in essential jobs that sustain our communities, they are excluded from services and protections. According to Syed Hussan the Coordinator of

Migrants Rights Network (MRN), “Some of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections are for migrants in congregate living and working conditions, like farms, factories, and warehouses, and those who are homeless or incarcerated”. MRN is a national network of migrant justice organizations across Canada. Many of these migrants don’t have a health card or coverage. Those who are undocumented are afraid of accessing healthcare in case their personal information is shared with federal immigration enforcement. In some cases, employers have already started to threaten migrants with job loss and deportation if they aren’t vaccinated. In Alberta, Migrante is spearheading a campaign called AHS for All. “In times of global pandemic, it's important to protect the most vulnerable,” said Jay Zapata, Vice Chairperson of Migrante. “They are undocumented, they are afraid. But their health and safety is also our community’s health and safety”. The Migrants Rights Network along with its member organizations

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which includes Migrante Alberta call on federal and provincial governments to ensure full access to the COVID-19 vaccine to all migrants regardless of immigration status. They said that Vaccine provision must be free of charge, not require a health card or health card number, be accessible, not collect any ID or addresses, or information about immigration status, and develop alternative mechanisms for tracking vaccine doses. Health authorities must guarantee that any personal information that is collected will not be shared with immigration enforcement or police and not be coercive or mandatory. The organization is also calling for a comprehensive multi-lingual public

education and outreach strategy, as well as training for healthcare providers, should be created. Governments and authorities must coordinate with and take leadership from these migrant-led organizations. It must ensure that migrants can receive the COVID vaccine and testing in a safe, accessible and dignified manner, no matter where they work or live, and without fear of punitive consequences. All migrants must have access to universal healthcare immediately, regardless of immigration status. Our Filipino community’s safety lies in the protection of all. If you're interested in supporting the campaign, you may contact Migrante Alberta at migrantealberta@ gmail.com

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AFJ Staff | Editors Corner | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2021

LOYALTY GAINS ROYALTY Published by Angeles Publishing Company Inc. 246 Lindsay Crescent, Edmonton, Alberta T6R 2T2 Jose L. Angeles Publisher / Chief Operating Officer Sales and Advertising CP: 780-916-7677, Landline: 780-988-8889 Fax: 780-988-2221 publisher@albertafilipinojournal.com Lito Mendoza Velasco Editor-in-Chief / Associate Publisher 780-655-5126 editor@albertafilipinojournal.com Lianne Angeles Associate Editor Melanie Rose Atizado Angeles Administrator / Office Manager Sales and Advertising, 780-993-5503 albertafilipinojournal79@gmail.com Mark Angeles, Mike Angeles Distribution Managers - Edmonton Andy Chua Marketing Manager - Edmonton +1 (780) 965-3549, fcchua@hotmail.com Stephen Burry Distribution Manager - Calgary 1 (587) 938-3100, Freedommigrate@gmail.com Manny Bautista Advertising, Sales and Marketing Manager 780-802-0848, canadianasset@gmail.com Rodel Paguirigan Advertising, Sales and Marketing Manager - Calgary 1 (403) 921-0148, rodelpaguirigan@gmail.com Melanie C. Gomez Website / Graphic Designer Photographers/Videographer: Moses Billacura, Noli Granado, Dario Juanillo Columnists: Marjorie Carmona-Newman, Tito S. Venida, Ida Beltran-Lucila, Kristian Cereno, Marco Luciano, Moses Billacura Mervin Mendoza Cereno, Nicky Gocuan Giselle General, Riana Torrejon, Hermo Pagtakhan Januel Cedrick Ibasco, Fr. Jhack Diaz, Bing J. Jaleco Contributing Writers: Aubrey Reyes, Katrina Marielle U. Cereno Racquel Getigan, Jonabel Cabasal Jasmine-Grace Nacu The Alberta Filipino Journal is dedicated in memory of Rosalinda Linsangan Natividad-Cantiveros of Winnipeg as she engaged her entire life in service to the Filipino Community. We welcome submissions-news, articles, pictures and letters. Letters must include signature and phone number; names can be withheld upon request. We reserve the right to edit for length and content. All submissions, unless arrangements are made, become the property of the publisher. Reproduction of contents, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the expressed written permission from the Publisher/Editor. Opinions by columnist, writers, and readers do not in any way reflect those of the Publisher/Editor.

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love with a hug and saying "it’s okay" is a sure way of establishing rapport and winning loyalty as well. Because, in the long run, your love for that child is more important than the vase.”

EDITOR’S CORNER Lito Mendoza Velasco

xperience tells how essential loyalty is in every relationship. Without it, all promises will be just be broken. Loyalty is the integral component of love and therefore deserves to be preserved in order to gain counter-fidelity or royalty. Loyalty and Love Loyalty is recognizing that everyone deserves to be loved at least to a certain degree, whether they or others believe it or not. Faithfulness or loyalty, for instance, is tantamount to loving them enough or to give someone a fair trial the very moment he or she engages into a lifetime commitment. Loving someone enough to try and help others understand how great love is being shown. Winning Loyalty In recognizing that everyone deserves to be loved, being able to forgive for most things, for example, instead of scolding a child who has just broken an expensive vase, knowing that the child already feels bad for breaking it, showing the child

Loyal Opposition Can an employee or a constituent be punished because he airs his stand against the company or government policies, procedures, and ordinances? Can one always be dictated what and what not to do in the workplace and the community? Can one be admonished and apprehended by not abiding with the rules? Can one, especially in the military, still consider an “Obey first before you complain policy?” If you do, good luck! You will die before your destined death arrives. Have you encountered a boss, superior, and elected government official who runs the office by threatening the rank and file or ordinary citizen? If you do, sorry for you. You will surely work and be paid by the hour but not grow as a person. Blind obedience will surely become an accepted norm of behaviour. On the other hand, have you met a leader who listens and considers new ideas? You are so lucky for having him or her for the reason that he is accepting a loyal opposition. Whereby, both of you are heading towards the same direction. That is, progress—success—and in the long run, royalty.

Loyalty to your company In business ethics, there is a so-called “inducing breach of contract.” This common malpractice takes place when an employee is unquestionably proficient and indispensable. Be careful when you are being offered by another company - a competitor with a higher position and salary. You may just be set into their trap for a very simple reason: They don’t really need you in their company. The truth is, they just want to pull you out from your current employer and ruin your relationship with them. Of course, the pirating party truly knows that you are a certain threat to their company’s progress and success. Once you’ve get enticed and grabbed the offer, then, that’s going to be a nightmare - the end of your career. Why? They would be giving you tasks you can’t manage and will surely be resulting to your premature termination. Now, the question is: Can you still go back to the company where you became disloyal? Definitely no! And therefore, your royalty has been set in jeopardy. My words may not always be true to all but may be considered as the points of reflection and guidelines for future decision to be made. I did not say that you must stay where you started because there is always a greener pasture ahead of us. Just make sure, it is greener! Just see to it that loyalty will gain royalty!

THE PULSE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, CANADA

Sports

FEBRUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

EBOA referee Rolan, three-time national athlete Tony Flores SPORTS JOURNAL

Moses Billacura mocolumnist @albertafilipinojournal.com Moses Billacura was a sports correspondent for national newspapers in the Philippines since 1992 and served as sports editor and columnist for a community paper before moving to Canada in 2010. He loves photography, manages pinoyedmontonnews.com and strongly believes that sports development is for all.

Before I proceed to my main story, I’d like to congratulate Rolan Latorre for receiving an award from the Edmonton Basketball Officials Association (EBOA). He won the Ed Tomick Award for being the Most Improved NOCP 2. We are proud of you referee Rolan! Yes, check out his photo on this page. Pogi eh? *** Giselle General, who is running for the City Council of Edmonton this fall, posted on her FB page about an interesting Pinoy, Tony Flores.

Out of curiosity, I googled his name and tried to reach him out. This is the beauty these days in finding out a news source or pursuing a lead. Gone are the days of going through a thick telephone book, calling the phone numbers of the sports federation to find where the athlete is, arranging a meeting over coffee, and you have to take public transportation to meet the news source for an interview using those bulky double A battery-powered voice recorders. After that, you start writing using a manual typewriter and send the news article to the editor in Manila by fax machine! So much work those days for news writers, eh? Hahahaha. Let’s go back to Tony Flores. My curiosity led me to sending him an email. Luckily, he responded and so I started asking questions. Do you know that Tony represented Canada as a national athlete, three times? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, mga Pinoys at Pinays, three times a national athlete. He competed for the first time in the 2009 ICF Paracanoe World Championships in Nova Scotia, then in 2010 in Poland and finally in 2011 in Hungary. To represent Canada in the international stage is not a walk in the park. Tony said they must go through very competitive trials, and once selected, they train six days a week. “It required a lot of hard work. Training six days a week, early morning practice and afternoon practice,” Tony recalled. It also required a lot of support from family and friends. “I truly enjoyed spring kayaking. I raced in the single 200-meter sprint. But I was not a podium guy. It was indeed an honor to represent Canada,” he said.

Tony Flores, Alberta's first Advocate for Persons with Disabilities. (Photo credit: Alberta.ca) Ed Tomick Award: Most Improved NOCP 2 - Rolan Latorre

I agree Tony, winning a medal is a bonus. To represent your country is the highest honor. “Sports was my past life. But sports definitely helped define who I am now,” said Tony, who is now an Advocate for Persons with Disabilities in Alberta Province. Tony said what enjoyed the most was the journey. “Appreciating the values of sports such as discipline, focus on commitment and respect for others. Sports helped define who I am now and sports opened up many opportunities for me. Sports is truly empowering.” I totally agree Tony. Here’s what I cannot forget when I attended the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Solidarity Movement seminar many years ago: The IOC Charter states that “The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion,

politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement”. And that’s the reason why I always believed that Sports is For All, stricken with polio like Tony or not. That is why I love sports. Maraming salamat po My brain functions very well and let’s keep spreading when we talk about sports, LOL. some love! So, now you’ll understand

times, except when engaged in the physical activity. • Coaches and trainers must remain masked at all times. • There must be limited access to change rooms, including for accelerated arrival and departure, for emergencies and for washroom use. • All other previously announced measures set to ease in Step 1 will also be permitted starting on Feb. 8 as part of Alberta’s four-step path forward. Indoor masking and distancing requirements will remain in place throughout this stepped approach, and

some degree of restrictions will still apply to all activities within each step. A decision on Step 2 will be made if, after three weeks, there are 450 or fewer hospitalizations and the number is declining. The same re-evaluation period will be used for all subsequent steps. Metrics based on cases and growth, including COVID-19 variants, are being monitored and will also be used to guide any decisions around the need to pause further steps or potentially increase restrictions. Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with precise measures to bend the curve, sustain small businesses and protect Alberta’s health-care system.(pr)

for Team Edmonton in FIBA 3X3. Baker also had an illustrious career with the University of Alberta Golden Bears. He was named to the CIS AllRookie Team in 2010 and CIS First Team All-Canadian in both 2012 and 2014. By the time his career with the University of Alberta was over Baker was the all-time leader in career points, rebounds, assists, steals, and minutes played. While Baker’s performance on the court is impressive, he is also making his mark in the Edmonton community. Baker currently lives in

Edmonton and serves as assistant coach with the Golden Bears basketball program. Baker also organizes and coordinates a number of youth basketball initiatives in the city including the All-Star Showcase, an all-star game for the top high school players in the Edmonton area. The CEBL is preparing for its third season in 2021, following the success of the 2020 CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines, Ont., which saw a record 1.2 million viewers across Canada tune in to four days of live programming on CBC.

Limited school, team sports allowed as of Feb. 8

imited school and minor sport training will be allowed under Step 1 of Alberta’s fourstep framework to carefully ease restrictions as pressure on the health system declines. Starting Feb. 8, children and youth will be allowed to participate in lessons, practices and conditioning activities for indoor and outdoor team-based minor sports and athletics. All games continue to be prohibited. “Alberta’s government is committed to supporting the health and well-being of children and youth provincewide. While these activities are included in Step 1, there

are strong measures in place that must continue to be followed. Let’s all continue doing our part to limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health system that every Albertan relies on.” Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health “Despite this small change, one thing remains the same: we all need to be cautious and make safe choices to limit the spread of COVID-19. It is vital that everyone involved diligently follows the health measures as we move forward. Together, we can continue to reduce the spread and keep protecting our heath system.”

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health While limited indoor and outdoor activities for school and minor sports are allowed, strong public health measures remain in place: • All participants must be 18 years old or younger, excluding coaches or trainers. • A maximum of 10 individuals, including all coaches, trainers and participants, can participate. • All participants must maintain physical distancing from each other at all times. • Participants must be masked at all

why I wish this Covid-19 vaccination is fast-tracked, so we can go back to our normal sports activities before we all go crazy!!! Anyway, I hope Tony’s story would inspire our differently abled Kababayans to pursue sports in Canada and Tony, an advocate, is just an email away if you need some guidance. *** For news tips, announcements, and other information, kindly inform our Sports Desk by sending an email to mocolumnist@ albertafilipinojournal.com.

Edmonton Stingers Re-Sign Baker: CEBL Canadian Of The Year Edmonton, AB – The Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that they have re-signed power forward Jordan Baker for the 2021 season. Following his performance in the CEBL Summer Series Baker was named CEBL Canadian of the Year in a vote cast by coaches, general managers, and media covering the CEBL Summer Series. “It is always special when a professional team has hometown talent. It is extra special when that hometown player is the most valuable Canadian in the league,” said Stingers President Brett Fraser. “Jordan Baker is the definition of the Edmonton Stingers.” Baker joined the Edmonton Stingers in the inaugural season when he was selected 23rd overall

in the 2019 CEBL entry draft. In his first season with the Stingers, the Edmonton native averaged 13.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals over 17 games. In 2019, Baker was the league’s leading rebounder, named to the All-CEBL Second team, and a finalist for the 2019 CEBL Player of the Year. During the CEBL Summer Series Baker averaged 12.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 3.8 assists, and 28.3 minutes while guiding the Stingers to the 2020 CEBL championship. The former University of Alberta Golden Bear led the league in rebounds per game for the second year in a row, ranked first in 2-point field goal percentage (61.1), fifth in field goal percentage (56.7) and fifth in assists (3.8). Baker also hit back-to-back game-winning shots in Elam Ending

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time against the Niagara River Lions and the Saskatchewan Rattlers. As a result of Baker’s performance, he was named to the All-CEBL First team, a finalist for the 2020 CEBL Player of the Year, and CEBL Canadian of the Year. “Baker is a winner and a leader in every sense of the word,” said Head Coach and General Manager Jermaine Small. “On the court I know what I will get from him every night, what is truly remarkable about him is the standard that he holds himself and his teammates to. Baker’s return puts us in a great position to repeat." The former University of Alberta standout has played professionally in Germany, Portugal, and Japan. During that time, he has played with the Canadian National Team and continues to compete internationally

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Education | Points of View | Community

VIEWPOINT

Can Alberta thrive beyond oil and gas?

W Bing J. Jaleco bingjaleco@yahoo.com Raleigh “Bing” Jaleco was a veteran journalist and public relations consultant in the Philippines. He started out as a correspondent for Ang Pahayagang Malaya and then moved on to be a reporter, and then an editor, of The Manila Chronicle. He also served as news editor of The Manila Standard, business editor of The Manila Times, and sub-editor at the Manila Bulletin. He landed as a permanent resident in Canada in 2016.

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2021

E recently wrote about the effects of Covid-19 on Alberta’s economy and how unemployment will get worse before it gets better. The latest data from Statistics Canada says it’s not all that bad. The numbers should provide some optimism in an otherwise bleak jobs landscape. The province’s unemployment rate fell 0.4 percentage point to 10.7% in the January. This puts Alberta just behind Newfoundland and Labrador which posted the highest provincial unemployment rate for January at 12.8%. Amid the pandemic’s second wave and restrictions imposed on businesses, this development should be welcomed. Credit Union Central Alberta chief economist Charles St-Arnaud was quoted in a media report as saying the province is seeing an emerging

divergence in the economy between sectors. As Covid restrictions are put in place, face-to-face sectors like food and accommodations have been negatively impacted but other industries that have adopted remote work or operate on safe-distance environments have performed relatively well. He cites construction as an example, which grew by about 15,000 jobs. St-Arnaud wrote in Alberta Central’s Outlook 2021 report that Alberta is expected to continue to lag the rest of the country in consumer spending and housing. But higher cash savings and strong incomesupport from the government are positives that could help the province weather the proverbial pandemic storm. That, and a gradual increase in oil demand through 2021 and 2022, will be good for Alberta.

The main takeaway here should be the “emerging divergence in the economy between sectors.” Alberta—and Canada for that matter—has long been dependent on oil and gas. The sector has fueled economic growth over the past 20 years and has touched virtually every aspect of life in Alberta. However, there is always room for economic diversity and much of the profits from oil and gas could have been used to expand the economy into other fields. Of course hindsight is always 20-20, but that should never be an excuse to keep the blinders on just because there’s still grass on our side of the fence. The cancellation of Keystone XL, and a lot of conversations about Enbridge 5, should wake up Alberta’s economic planners to the realities of energy’s future, and the

political economy of the US. With a stroke of the pen, US President Joe Biden effectively killed 9,000 jobs, erased billions of dollars in potential revenues, and sent a chilling reminder to Premier Jason Kenney that the US’ energy policies have shifted. Perhaps it is time for Alberta to draw up an economic development program that will not make oil and gas the centerpiece. Perhaps a change of mindset and outlook should be forthcoming, if only to truly secure the future for Alberta. The market constantly changes, and economic policies in key markets like the US are driven largely by political realities. Mr. Kenney can wait for the next Donald Trump to emerge (God forbid), or he can rearrange the paradigm and make a plan for a future that is, well, more attuned to the future.

Volunteer initiates call for another Duterte to lead in '22 By Moses Billacura

EDMONTON --- Benjie Lindo has initiated a campaign in 2016 for then Mayor Rody Duterte to run for President in the Philippines. This time, the Duterte Volunteers Alberta Canada chair is initiating another one, for President Duterte’s daughter, Davao City mayor Sara

Z. Duterte to join the presidential run next year. “Tuloy tuloy sa pagbabago,” Lindo said over myRadio 580 AM’s “Usapin Pinoy” hosted by Tony Surtida on Feb.11. Under the Philippine Constitution, presidents can only serve one term of six years and Lindo said this is a concern because the programs and projects that have been started by the current president could either be derailed or stopped by the next president who may change the direction of programs. Duterte and his political allies have introduced “Build, Build, Build” that saw the building of roads in cities haunted by hours of traffic

and other infrastructure projects, universal health care for all Filipinos, initiated peace talks with communist rebels and Moro separatists, and the economy’s growth has recorded 6.6 per year. Last year, the Japan Credit Rating Agency even upgraded the Philippines’ credit rating from BBB+ to A-. The opposition kept on criticizing him for his authoritarian style and yet Duterte has continued to be popular among Filipinos and scored a high approval rating of 91% in a survey done by Pulse Asia last year. Lindo believed that with Sara Duterte succeeding as the next president, the economic progress enjoyed by Filipinos will continue for the next six years. Lindo, in partnership with UMAC Cargo, has printed “Run Sara, Run” stickers and car plates to start disseminating the call for the Davao mayor to consider running for the highest public office.

Is it Worth it for a Practicing Engineer in the Philippines to Migrate to Canada? ENGINEER IN ACTION

Mervin Cereno, P. Eng. mmcereno@gmail.com Mervin Cereno is a Filipino immigrant in Canada. A FilipinoCanadian Engineer license to practice Engineering in Alberta. He is employed in one of the most sought Engineering Consulting Firm based in Edmonton as a Structural Engineer that designs small to medium-rise commercial and multi-family buildings. He is a Volunteer and Advocates to help Filipino-Canadian Engineers to pursue their Professional Engineering License in Canada. For advice on a specific case in pursuing your application whether in ASET or APEGA, please email me at mmcereno@gmail.com.

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usually receive emails from Internationally Educated Engineers who are Practicing Engineers in the Philippines or in the Middle East. The most common questions they ask me are with regard to how their profession can be recognized in Canada and eventually be able to practice as Professional Engineers here. It is my advocacy to inform our “kababayan” on the process of Professional Licensing in Canada and it is not my desire to encourage or discourage them from migrating to Canada. Below are the typical questions and inquiries I usually receive, and my answers are in the succeeding paragraphs. Question: I saw your information on one site and learned how you help Filipino Engineers in Canada. We're a couple who aspire to have careers in Canada. My husband is an Electrical Engineer with more than 10 years of experience, whereas I am an Electronics and Communication Engineering graduate with more than 6 years of experience in the manufacturing industry. Wondering if you can give us your best advice and perhaps help on how we can proceed with our journey to Canada.

Answer: Thank you for your email. Moving to Canada for a Professional like you is a great option. For sure you will be successful here. But as I always say to most Filipino Engineers who choose to move to Canada, you must have a realistic and correct plan - equipped with correct knowledge not just from good stories of Filipinos living here and not from the typical immigration agents there that will tell you only the good stories of "Living in Canada". I will not discourage nor encourage you to move here - you have to fully decide for yourself and your husband if you truly want to immigrate. You have to decide after knowing what is like living here, your present situation, your knowledge of getting a job in your profession, and a concrete "Plan B" if you face struggles and challenges at the time you move. For Engineers - the typical way to solve problems as we study in University was applying the "Scientific Method". Never proceed in solving an Engineering problem by just knowing what is given and the required variables. You must understand the problem and solve it by a definite process, not just by relying on the formula. Immigrating to a different country is not a problem,

but it should be carefully considered using Scientific Methods. 1. Define Purpose - you must be true to your purpose. There is a very slim way of turning back. You have to be ready for whatever the result may be. 2. Construct Hypothesis - draw a possible outcome if you move here. What are the positive and negative outcomes? What are the things that you will give up? Weigh those against the possible things that you can gain. 3. Test the Hypothesis from your collected Data - from your plans, check if those are realistic from the information you obtained. That information must not be one-sided. You have to research how your education will be evaluated and how your experience will be treated here so that you can land a job in your profession. Check the job market. 4. Analyze data. - From the information you gather, check if the timeline for your move is doable. Check if you have enough resources. Check if the information you gather is enough for you to have a definite conclusion. 5. Draw a conclusion. If you are convinced that you have the correct information, draw a conclusion from the matrix of pros and cons that you have constructed. This will give you a better picture of everything and will

help you reach a "decision" that you will not regret in the future. 6. Communicate results. Form your conclusion. You have a plan and need to start from step 1. Take time to accomplish each task in the soonest possible time because as you draw from your plan, this must be time-bounded. In your plans, you must identify your resources and the correct pieces of information. I know this is quite a complicated process and can be stressful. Take note, immigrating to a different country will not only change your life but the lives of your children and their children's children. Your little move today will affect the next generations of your future family. So - it is worth planning. If indeed your conclusion is to stay in the Philippines and not proceed to immigrate to another country, that is your decision and you must not regret it. You have the correct information and you have reached your conclusion from that correct information. As I always reply to my emails regarding Professional Recognition in Canada, it pays to know the process. Understand your situation and decide on all available information. I hope this article will inform others if they finally decide on their “Big Move”.

THE PULSE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, CANADA

Opinion | Business

FEBRUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

"WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN?

elcome to the Month of February: The Month of LOVE! A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?' The answers they got were broader, deeper, and more profound than anyone could have ever imagined! 'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore, so my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca - age 8

HUWAG PAGTAKHAN! (“DON’T MARVEL at MR. MARVEL”)

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4 'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5 'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissy - age 6 'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4 'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 8

Hermo Toribio Reyes Pagtakhan hermopagtakhanlaw@ hotmail.com Cell: (780) 905-9288 Hermo Toribio Reyes Pagtakhan of Edmonton, Alberta is a Lawyer who had practised for more than 25 years in the Philippines and in Alberta and thereafter, was an Index Options Trader in Wall Street. He is currently a Family Counselor with Arbor Memorial Gardens whom he joined in 2013. Hermo is also President of PROXSMART GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES and of NOTIFY GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES which develop Mobile Apps for Digital Marketing and Contactless Technologies which enable Businesses to operate their businesses and at the same time keep their Employees and Clients safe from Covid19 Contamination.

CONFLICTS with LOVE have you experienced that you are obliged to do something, what to give and what not to give in a certain relationship? Well, it is mandated. The Supreme Court jurisprudence declares that there is also injustice in sex. In Tsoi vs Court of Appeals. Justice Justo Torres Jr said: “Love is useless

LEGAL CHIKA

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen.' Bobby - age 7 (Wow!) 'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.' Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikkas on this planet) 'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day.' Noelle - age 7 'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8 'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' Clare - age 6 'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine - age 5 'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris - age 7 'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.' Mary Ann - age 4 'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' Lauren - age 4 'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image!) Karen - age 7 'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross...' Mark - age 6 'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8 And the final one: The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry.' HAPPY VALENTINES EVERYONE! GOD BLESS ALL!

Raquel P. Getigan Earned Bachelor of Laws degree at Manila Law College and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Philippine Normal University. She’s an educator by profession and Apprentice at Atty. Romeo Sese Law office.

alentines day was mostly celebrated everywhere despite the pandemic. People are still happy to share the love day with their loved ones through other means. Philippine Law possibly in some way conflicts with love. Here are some categorically endearing and comical legal matters about love: First, the Family Code of the Philippines states that, “Marriage is a special contract of a permanent union between a man and a woman entered into it, in accordance and bound with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution.” Have you noticed that based on this, love is not a significant element in marriage? Likewise, it was not even stipulated. Consequently, love is immaterial in contracting marriage. However, in the Philippine Civil Code Article 1156, obligation is defined as a juridical necessity to give, to do, or not to do. Although, the civil code does not directly state the specific type of obligation. Seriously,

unless it is shared with another. Indeed, no man is an island, and the cruelest act of a partner in marriage is to say “I could not have cared less.” This is because an ungiven self is an unfulfilled self. The egoist has nothing but himself. In the natural order, it is sexual intimacy which brings spouses wholeness and oneness. Sexual intimacy is a gift and a participation in the mystery of creation. It is a function which enlivens the hope and procreation and ensures the continuation of family relations.” The Supreme

Court decided to null and void the marriage due to the complaint of the wife that they were not having sex with the husband.” Lastly, to end the law conflicts with love, the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court, states that, “The heart has a reason of its own which reason does not know” in Chua-qua vs Clave. This landmark ruling had confirmed that love can win despite the odds. Law is an ordinance of reason promulgated for the common good by one who is in-charge of society. Hereafter, in the occurrence of ambiguity in a relationship, universal law ruled that love is bestowed to be certain and just. Spread the love and continue to love and be loved.

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Immigration Consultancy Services | Commentary | Religion

No Entry!

Provincial Borders and Keystone Pipeline

n the effort by their Provincial Government to further stop the spread of the Corona Virus, the BC Government is seriously considering a regulation that will prevent Albertans from entering their province unless

JUST LISTEN

Nicky Gocuan, PMAA ngocuan@yahoo.com Nicky Gocuan has been a Columnist/ Photojournalist for over 15 years. He finished his Degree in Communication Arts at De La Salle University in 1990. After obtaining his University degree, Gocuan joined the Print Media and has contributed for The Philippine Star, Pilipino Star and later moved to Bagong Pinoy, where he wrote a regular opinion column. He also went on to write a showbiz column for The Tribune and Remate. Gocuan has experience in covering the Police beat, Political beat, and Entertainment beat before landing in the Sports beat. He later wrote a regular sports column for Remate Tonight. During this time, he was elected President of the Philippine Basketball Association Press Photographers Club (PBAPPC) for Two Terms and helped uplift the status of the group to become a part of the 5 Man Mythical Committee in the PBA. He is currently the President of The Philippine Media Association of Alberta (PMAA) and Host of a weekly radio program ‘The Fourth Estate” on Tala Luvz Radio in Calgary.

FROM MIGRATION TO IMMIGRATION

it is official business. The ongoing pandemic has also seen a divided view among provinces on the need to lock down and prevent people from crossing their border unless it is official business. In Manitoba, it is mandatory that anyone who crosses the border should quarantine for 14 days. With the increase of the number of Corona Virus Variant’s cases, the Canadian Provinces are stepping up their measures to discourage people from travelling during the pandemic. After gaining ground to control daily cases of the Corona Virus, Alberta has started to ease up on some restrictions and is slowly restarting the economy.

In my own opinion, I strongly believe that no Province will survive if they do not restart the economy, especially Alberta. The Province has been hurting since the oil downturn a few years back and has not even recovered from it. ****** A few months ago, we saw a silver lining when the US Government, under Former US President Donald Trump approved the Keystone Pipeline which was welcomed by Canadians, and Albertans especially. But after the recent US Presidential Elections, Trump lost to President Joe Biden. True to his campaign promise, President Biden, without any delay, signed an executive order to withdraw the permit for the pipeline to cross the US-Canada Border, thus putting a hold on the project again which is another big blow to the Government of Alberta.

info@ mcncanadaimmigration.com 780-758-2045 Marjorie Carmona Newman is a REGULATED CANADIAN IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT based in Edmonton, Alberta. She is currently a member of CAPIC’s Policy and Lobbying Committee and previously served as Prairie Chapter representative for Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC) in the Governance and Nomination Committee and Education Committee. A recipient of CAPIC's Members Service Award for four consecutive years (2015-2019).

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Fr. Jhack Diaz Photo source: en.wikipedia.org

Was Alberta Premier Jason Kenney not aware of what was going to happen to the Keystone pipeline if Presidential Candidate Joe Biden won the elections? If the Kenney Administration was aware, why didn’t they send an emissary long before the elections to try to find middle ground to negotiate and reconcile whatever would have been favourable between President Biden’s new leadership styles and the government of Alberta under Kenney’s term of office? In the meantime, I wonder what the Opposition did to help improve the situation and protect the interests of the pipeline which is essential to Alberta? As a part of Government, the Opposition plays an important role and it would be nice to find out if they did act on this matter prior to the US Presidential elections. Former US Presidential adviser John Podesta has recently said that “The project is gone and not coming back” on his comment if President Biden is going to change his mind. Before I close, my question is, who is the true defender of the interests of Albertans? Please let me know your thoughts. Feel free to email us at tfe@gmail.com for your comments or questions.

Rev. Fr. Raldy "jhack" Diaz is the first Filipino priest ordained in the Diocese of St. Paul Alberta. He is currently the Pastor of St. Jean de Brebeuf Parish, Mallaig, Alberta.

Start small, finish BIG Mark 4:26-34

o what shall we compare the Kingdom of God? “It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” Jesus often uses images of smallness when describing the heavenly kingdom. What do mustard seeds teach us about the Kingdom of God? For me, the message is this: GROW because the best is yet to come. How to grow? Well, start small and end big. Start by being a seed and end up a tree producing numerous seeds. Do not be scared to start insignificant. Do not be afraid of being helpless and powerless, because like the mustard seed, we have the immense potential to

make wonders. You are a huge tree wrapped in a tiny seed. Remember, the biggest in the world is small in its beginning. Friends, supersize your faith! There is greatness in tiny things. No matter how small it seems, faith has an overwhelming power. It can move mountains. Today, start to value the small and insignificant events in your life. I know it may seem small but it is not about what it is, it is about what it becomes. Friends, bear in mind that success is the result of small and insignificant moment to moment choices that yield big results. Small does not meant insignificant. Small can be mighty. Little by little, little becomes a lot. Little things are big. Do not be frustrated if you have a loony or a peso now for that is how your billions start. Guys, do not complain if you're still working now and tired of paying debts for that is how you start to build an empire. Being unnoticed will pave the way for you into the mainstream. Friends, do not despair if you are still single until now for that is how you begin to journey towards your perfect match. One day, someone will walk into your life and make you realize why it never worked out with anyone else. Success in life is not measured by how long you wait but it is about how well you understand why you are waiting. Conclusion: Rejoice for now things may seem small but one day they will be huge and great. Jesus is that small seed. Allow Him to be part of your journey towards success and greatness. Folks, keep growing. Start small and end big. Do not stress over the things you can’t control. Like the farmer after the planting he sleeps and he believes in tomorrow. Today, declare it to the Lord that the rest of our life will be the best of our life. Blessings Fr. Jhack

International Students – Work after you graduate!

I Marjorie Carmona Newman

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2021

have been approached by five kababayans this week inquiring about the Post Graduation Work Permit or PGWP. An International Student or a study permit holder may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if he/she graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), the school is PGWP eligible and if he/she wants to stay in Canada temporarily to work. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website provides a list of all the schools who are designated learning institution (DLI) and the same list will also show if the school is PGWP eligible. If your school of choice is DLI but NOT PGWP eligible, you will not be eligible for the PGWP. Remember, that you can’t work after graduation if you have NO Post Graduation Work Permit or PGWP. Please note that graduating or completing your program from a

Designated Learning Institution or DLI doesn’t automatically make you eligible for a PGWP. Before obtaining the Letter of Acceptance from a DLI, you must check if that DLI is also PGWP eligible to be able to apply for a Post Graduation Work Permit or PGWP. I strongly suggest that you do your due diligence before applying for the Letter of Acceptance (LOA). Upon receipt of your final marks, you have 180 days to apply for a PGWP. What happens if your study permit expires before you get your marks: you have two options- first you can apply for a Visitor record to stay in Canada longer while waiting for your marks or leave Canada and apply for your PGWP. If you decide to stay in Canada and your study permit has expired, you must immediately apply to restore your status as a student to apply for the PGWP. When you apply for

the restoration of your status, you must pay additional fees to IRCC. The validity of the Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) will depend on the length of your study program. If your program is less than eight months, unfortunately, you are not eligible for a PGWP. If the program is two years or more IRCC MAY give you a PGWP that’s valid for up to 3 years. PGWP has a pre-determined duration based on the years of post-secondary study in Canada (and this cannot exceed three years), immigration officers will issue a PGWP for a shorter duration if the applicant’s passport expire earlier. A friendly reminder to kababayans to ensure that their passport is valid for the entire length of time they should be eligible for. If your passport expires sooner, IRCC will only issue you a PGWP which has the same validity as your current passport and IRCC will advise you

if you need to extend your PGWP to get the full validity of the PGWP. Please don’t forget that a PGWP application must be accompanied by the $155.00 work permit processing fee and the $ 100.00 open work permit holder fee. As per current guidelines, your application for PGWP must be submitted online. If you have questions regarding the above article you may contact Marjorie at info@mcncanadaimmigration.com Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) A word of caution: You should not act or rely on the information provided in this column. It is not a legal advice. To ensure your interests are protected, retain or formally seek advice from a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing of ICCRC. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RCIC’s.

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Points of View | Community | Business

Navigating Seniors Care in Edmonton on a Personal Level

Mag-abang para sa iyong Abiso ng Pagtatasa sa Pag-aari ng 2021

GENERAL POINT OF VIEW

Giselle General gqgeneral@gmail.com Giselle General came from the cold, mountainous region on the Benguet province, and immigrated to Canada as a teenager in 2007. She completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, and has a career in the nonprofit sector. She works at the Edmonton Community Legal Centre, which provides free legal help to low-income Edmontonians. She channels her creativity by writing in her personal blog, FilipinaYEG, and self-published a book called The Humanity of Me, and is active in numerous volunteer-based initiatives.

t was inevitable, but heartbreaking nonetheless. My mother-in-law who I deeply care for was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It has been a decline ever since then.

The adjustment that my father-in-law, my now husband, and my brothers-in-law to navigate the responsibilities needed to care for her is fascinating and also sad to watch. It gave me a glimpse of how elder care works here in Canada and there were information gaps that I did not even know about. First, is about resources to support families who have loved ones with Alzheimer's. I am so grateful that there were information resources and workshops available for family members. My brother-in-law, the planner and organizer type, found a 6-week workshop series for family members, broken down into focus topics. My husband and brother-in-law went together to learn and it proved to be beneficial for all of us. Second, I learned so many new things about our Health Care system and how Elder Care is integrated into it. It was already during the pandemic when we had to call 911 because of a medical distress situation that my mother-in-law had. It was not until then that the topic of Home Care Facilities was discussed. The first time the concept of facilities for seniors came to my mind was when I was in Grade four, back in the Philippines. In our Reading (English) class, I remember reading a story which frankly, made me scared about these seemingly horrible things called the Home for The Aged. The story I read was about a girl who was being disrespectful,

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continued on page 17 ►

Ang iyong Pagtatasa ng Pag-aari ng 2021 ay dadating sa Enero. Kapag natanggap mo ito, repasuhin ito. Upang matulungan ka sa iyong pagrerepaso, kami ay nag-aalok ng mga kagamitan at mga mapagkukunan sa online, kabilang ang detalyadong impormasyon sa iyong pag-aari sa Assessment Search (Paghahanap ng Pagtatasa), mga patnubay sa kung paano gumawa (how-to), at isang kalkulator ng buwis sa pag-aari. Bisitahin ang calgary.ca/assessment para sa karagdagang impormasyon. Kung mayroon kang mga katanungan tungkol sa iyong pagtatasa ng pag-aari mangyaring tawagan kami sa Panahon ng Pagsusuri ng Kostumer (Enero 14 hanggang Marso 23) sa 403.268.2888.

20-0009098 / ADV-6908

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Community Update | Legal Matters

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2021

Accessing Information on Local Issues By Giselle General

here are many ways to get information on different topics these days, and many times, the topics that we are interested in are topics that people from all

over the world or the country are also interested in. In many ways, hearing from people from other provinces or countries is a good thing. However, there may be times that you might want to learn deeply about what is going on in the city

or the neighbourhood. This resource article outlines some local resources that you can subscribe to: 1. Newsletters from the City of Edmonton on focus topics: The City of Edmonton serves its residents in different areas, and for many of these departments, there is a electronic newsletter available that people can subscribe to in order to receive updates. The entire catalogue can be found at: https://www.edmonton.ca/city_ government/news/subscriptions. aspx. Here are some of my suggested newsletters mainly because of my interests, and I encourage you to browse through the entire list to see which topics interest you. a. Online Public Engagement: The Edmonton Insight Community Newsletter b. Neighbourhood Services: The Keep Neighbouring Newsletter c. LRT Construction and Expansion:

The LRT Projects-Stay Informed Newsletter 2. Newsletter from your neighbourhood Community League: Community Leagues are our city’s volunteer-based associations that gives residents and opportunity to serve and care for each other at a neighbourhood level. In addition to maintaining a hall or facilities such as a tennis court or ice rink, and in addition to organizing events for the community, they also try to disseminate information that

they find most relevant to their neighbourhood. An easy way to check if there is a newsletter for your neighbourhood is by checking your mail or searching online. Here are some examples of neighbourhood-based newsletters in the city: a. The Terwillegar Tribune: This is published by the Terwillegar Community League which is based on the southwest part of the city. A print copy is distributed to each resident, and the online versions are available at: https://www.terwillegar. org/terwillegar_tribune.php b. Southeast Voice: This is a joint newspaper that covers several neighbourhoods such as: Avenmore, Capilano, Cloverdale, Forest Terrace Heights, Fulton Place, Gold Bar, Holyrood, Idylwylde, Kenilworth, Ottewell, Strathearn. A print copy is distributed to over 18,000 households in the area, and digital copies can be accessed at: http://communityleaguenews.com/ newsletters/southeast-voice.html c. Secord Community League Newsletter: Secord is one of the newer neighbourhoods on the northwest side of the city. Their newsletter talks about upcoming events and ways to get involved, a physical copy is delivered to homes and online versions be accessed at: https://secordcommunityleague. com/newsletters/ 3. Other local media outlets: In addition to diligently reading our very own Alberta Filipino Journal, subscribing on other local media outlets can be a great way to enrich our understanding of what is going on in the city, as well as hearing perspectives from others who care about the community. These two are just a few recommendations. a. Taproot Edmonton: This media company was launched right after the 2017 elections to cover local content. In addition to a weekly podcast that summarizes key political updates, they also provide email roundups, which is a weekly summary of pertinent news about a particular topic such as arts and culture, the technology sector, business and politics. https:// edmonton.taproot.news/ b. Diversity Magazine: This media outlet is in many ways, like the Alberta Filipino Journal. It is a media outlet launched by an ethnic community and has been flourishing for many years. It is valuable to check out the content that other outlets produce to better understand similar issues that their communities highlight as well unique insights and stories they share that pertains to the people they serve. https://www. diversitymag.ca/

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COVID-19 INFORMATION

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SELF-ISOLATION For more information call 211 Financial support is available if you need to isolate, you are caring for someone in isolation, or you are unable to work due to illness. If AHS directs you to self-isolate and you are unable to isolate safely at home contact 211.

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Skinlueur Opens Its New Location JOY cannot always be obtained from what has been acquired. Also, SUCCESS cannot just be measured by money amass. But, it can be measured by faithful services being rendered, and by the number of faces and bodily appearances well-maintained. SKINLUEUR’s new expanded location proves that the clients’ growing demands can no longer be accommodated at its former location. What are you waiting for? Pay them a visit to avail of great opening promos, experience modern technologies, and more quality services!

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Inspiration | Business

Filipinos’ Success Stories:

Kaya Ko; Kaya Mo! If I can; You surely can!

AZELLE: QUEEN OF MILK TEA What was your dream job as a child? As a child, I really didn’t bother with what I wanted as my dream job. All I knew is that entrepreneurship runs through my blood. I was always easy-going and optimistic of what will happen ahead of me. I always saw my mom and dad working hard for the business to accommodate our needs and wants in life and it also made me feel that I would also want to have a family of my own to cherish and take care of. With that in mind, I envisioned creating and building a company where my employees would consider us their second family because of our family-like work ethics. This is one of the reasons why I named my company Quen’s Tea and Juice, after my daughter, Quenzelle. What is your career path like? The experiences that I have been through are like a puzzle. In the beginning, you’re not quite sure what you have but as the bigger picture begins to form, all of the pieces come together and fit each other perfectly, culminating in where I am today. It started when my Mom was hospitalized and ended up having financial problems. I had to juggle my studies and work part-time. Being young and naïve at that time, I thought I could help pay my Mom’s hospital bills. But then, I had to drop my studies and work harder instead to earn more money. I learned to manage my time, money and energy. I worked as a barista in one of the best coffee company chains in the Philippines, where I realized

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that I love what I’m doing and should pursue it further. I worked as a Marketing Assistant with the best Marketing director who not only taught me marketing strategies, but how to be confident with who I am. My favorite job was when I worked at My Uncle Jimmy Topacio and Aunt Rebecca Topacio’s franchising company Silver Ace in the Philippines. They taught me how to be tough in this kind of industry. I have seen my potential by working with them from creating concept, dealing with clientele and to contract signing. And now, opening our first store in the middle of a pandemic, it is tough but with the support of our fellow Pinoy and Grande Prairians, we are surviving and are still continuously hitting our goals. There were ups and down but at the end of the day, my career path was in God’s plan and everything fell into its destined place. What goal did you have in mind, and how did things fall into place? Living three years in Canada made me realize that there is something that is missing that most people here look for, and that is an authentic experience of Asian Fusion food and beverages. Having a taste for the best Asian flavors, we decided to bring an Authentic Asian Fusion experience for everyone in Grande Prairie. We came up with an idea where I should introduce “Milk Tea” in Canada but this time the taste of Canada just like the well known “Iced Cappuccino of Tim Horton’s”. We created

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2021

an Authentic Taiwanese experience that was made to suit our Filipino and Canadian market. This includes an array of specialty beverages including their famous Bubble Tea, which comes in different flavors that everyone loves and are crazy for. We built a company where many fellow Filipinos would confidently take pride in the products that we make and serve not only to Filipinos but others who live in Canada as well. What struggles did you have to go through? I was struggling with the pressures, obligations and expectations of being a home maker, a Mom to my daughter, and as a young entrepreneur where I cannot fit in all the things that I have and need to do within 24 hours. I realized that my daughter would not remain a kid forever and I wanted to spend time with her during her childhood. I have struggled mostly with my postpartum depression. Every time I look at my baby without my Mom beside me to guide me through the process of having my first baby I always think, “Can I raise her well? Can I give her the future that she deserves?” Without a job to help my husband who had to work in -50 degree weather, I want to provide a better living situation for them. There were so many questions on my mind. I turned all the negative encounters into positive ones during my pregnancy, and while I was on maternity leave that was the time that I created a business plan and it turned out well. I am very blessed to have my dad, Aser Bass, here with us in Canada. He is one of my pillars of support, helping me get through every day together with my family.

Azelle Morales CEO and Founder of Quen's Tea and Juice Corporation 9823 116 Ave Unit 104, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4B4 Store Number: (780) 5332-202

What schooling did you have to take? I was not able to finish College in the Philippines and I didn’t even have the chance to get into High School in Canada, but with a burning amount of passion and dedication, I get to follow my dreams and will soon build an empire. I was trained by the best in Taiwan for my milk tea certification. I want people to know that getting a degree will make you successful, but not getting a degree is okay too, both will make you equally successful, maybe more than you expect. With enough hard work, dedication and passion, you’ll be able to meet and achieve your goals! Kaya ko, kaya mo! When did you decide to come to Canada? It was 2017 when I migrated to Canada to be with my husband. In the span of three years, we built our home in Grande Prairie. Quenzelle came into our lives and she is our inspiration to work hard every day. What is your advice to your younger self? Young Azelle, your own happiness reflects what you’re doing and the important part is what you do to achieve that happiness. Create your own environment, put yourself in places that will help you grow, and not suppress your growth. To all the miserable things that will come into your life, use those as fuel to motivate you to do better in life. Keep inspiring people and try to help others in any way that you can. Remember to always listen to your inner self because God is guiding you and He has a purpose.

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Points of View | News Update | Heroism

Sinimulan ng Alberta ang Hakbang 1 ng plano upang mapagaan ang mga paghihigpit

ng Hakbang 1 sa apat na hakbang na balangkas ng Alberta upang mapagaan ang mga paghihigpit ay isinasagawa habang nababawasan ang pwersa sa sistema ng pangkalusugan at ang mga pagpapa-ospital ay mananatiling mas mababa sa 600. Ang may kaugnayan sa paaralan at limitadong panloob at panlabas na palakasan ng mga bata at mga aktibidad sa pagganap, isa-sa-isang panloob na personal na fitness sa isang tagasanay, at dine-in service sa mga restawran, cafe at pub ay pinapayagan ngayon sa buong lalawigan. Ito ay isang maingat na pasulong na hakbang na nagpoprotekta sa parehong buhay at kabuhayan at naging posible lamang dahil sa pagsusumikap at pagsasakripisyo ng mga Albertans. Sama-sama tayong magsisimulang magbukas ng landas na pasulong para sa ating mga kababayan, ating ekonomiya, at ating sistema ng pangangalaga sa pangkalusugan. Ang kurba ay binaluktot natin at kailangan patuloy na baluktokin ito sa mga susunod na linggo. " Jason Kenney, Premier "Tayo ay nag-usad, ngunit mahaba pa rin ang ating haharapin na pagsubok. Ginawa ng ating mga nagkakaloob ng kalusugan ang kanilang tungkulin upang mapanatili ang sistema sa pagpapatakbo ng kalusugan sa panahon ng pangalawang alon, at ngayon dapat gawin nating lahat ang ating bahagi upang mapanatiling ligtas ang bawat isa at magpatuloy ang pagbaba ng mga pagpapaospital.” Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health "Mahalagang tandaan nating lahat na may dahilan kung bakit dahandahan tayong gumagalaw upang maiangat ang mga paghihigpit - ang katotohanan na mayroon tayong higit pang pitong beses na mga kaso ng COVID-19 sa ospital at masidhing pag-aalaga kaysa noong Mayo sa nakaraang taon. Mas mahalaga kaysa dati na bawat isa ay sundin natin ang mga hakbang sa pampublikong kalusugan araw-araw. Kailangan nating gamitin ang ating sama-samang lakas upang maiwasan ang pagtaas ng mga kaso para maprotektahan natin ang isa't

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Navigating Seniors Care in Edmonton on a Personal Level mean, and disobedient towards her parents. Then, she had a dream that because of her behaviour, her own adult children and grandchildren didn’t want to be around her, so she was moved out of the family home to the Home for the Aged to live alone and suffer. It seemed like the moral of the story is to be kind and respectful to family, so that you won’t end up being miserable and alone. And also, that being placed in a facility called home for the aged is the worst thing that can happen to you. It is something that I have internalized until coming to Canada. Being in Canada challenged

isa at ang sistema ng pangangalagang pangkalusugan. " Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health Ang mga kinakailangan sa panloob na masking at distansya ay ipinatutupad pa rin sa buong hakbang na ito, at ang ilang antas ng paghihigpit ay mailalapat pa rin sa lahat ng mga aktibidad sa loob ng bawat hakbang. Ang hakbang 1 na kasalukuyang may bisa: benchmark sa ospital - 600 at pagbaba ng bilang Panloob at panlabas na isport at pagganap ng mga bata • Ang mga paaralang K-12 at mga aktibidad na isport at pagganap ng mga bata pagkatapos ng sekundarya, ay maaari nang gumamit ng mga pasilidad sa labas ng paaralan upang suportahan ang mga gawaing pangedukasyon na nauugnay sa kurikulum. • Ang mga aralin, kasanayan at aktibidad sa pagkondisyon, ngunit hindi mga laro, ay maaaring maganap para sa panloob na koponan na nakabatay sa koponan/mga aktibidad at palakasan sa paaralan. o Ang lahat ng mga kalahok ay dapat 18 taong gulang o mas bata, hindi kasama ang mga coach o tagasanay. o Maximum na 10 indibidwal, kabilang ang lahat ng coach, tagasanay at kalahok. o Ang mga kalahok ay dapat manatiling nakadistansya ng pisikal sa bawat isa sa lahat ng oras. Panloob na Kaangkupan • Pinapayagan na ngayon ang isasa-isa na indibidwal at isa-sa-isa na pagsasanay sa sambahayan para sa mga aktibidad na kaangkupan sa pangloob (hal., kaangkupan sa studyo ng sayaw, pagsasanay na skating sa yelo, mga aralin nang paisa-isa). o Ang mga taong nasa isa-sa-isang sesyon ay hindi maaaring makipagugnay sa iba at dapat mayroong isang minimum na tatlong metro sa pagitan ng mga sesyon sa parehong pasilidad. o Ang mga tagasanay ay dapat maging propesyonal, sertipikado at/o bayad na mga tagapagsanay na nagbibigay ng aktibong tagubilin at pagwawasto. Ang hindi actibo na pangangasiwa sa isang pisikal na aktibidad ay hindi kinikilalang pagsasanay. o Ang mga sesyon ay dapat nakaiskedyul o sa pamamagitan ng

that viewpoint. I have volunteered and did a school practicum project at a senior’s home, so I got to see firsthand how they operate. I will not deny that for the residents who don’t get visits from their family members, that it feels heartbreaking. However, the built-in support from the staff and other residents can be a source of community. In my mother-in-law’s case, doing the round-the-clock care for someone who is unable to walk, struggles with eating and using the bathroom became too much to bear. It was during the pandemic, in September 2020, when she was moved to a Long Term Care facility. I was scared because I kept hearing that so many COVID cases are from such facilities. To our great relief, her facility seems to be one of the few ones with very minimal cases, only one or two

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appointment. o Walang pinapayagan na drop-in para sa mga indibidwal o pangkat. o Walang mga larong pang-isports, kumpetisyon, kasanayan sa koponan, paglalaro ng liga o pag-eehersisyo ng pangkat ng anumang uri ang kasalukuyang pinapayagan. o Ang mga tagasanay ay dapat manatiling nakamaskara sa panahon ng sesyon; hindi kinakailangang nakamaskara ang mga kliyente habang nag-eehersisyo. • Pinapayagan ang higit sa isang tagasanay at pares na kliyente sa pasilidad, studio, rink, court, pool, ibabaw ng yelo, atbp., sa kondisyon na: o Ang bawat tagapagsanay at kliyente ay mananatiling tatlong metro ang layo mula sa lahat ng iba pang mga tagapagsanay at kliyente sa lahat ng oras, kabilang ang mga pasukan at labasan. o Ang bawat tagapagsanay ay nakikipag-ugnay lamang sa kanilang itinalagang kliyente, at ang bawat kliyente ay nakikipag-ugnayan lamang sa kanilang itinalagang tagapagsanay. o Hindi pinapayagan ang pakikipagugnayan sa pagitan ng mga kliyente o sa pagitan ng mga tagasanay. o Walang pagiikot ng mga maramihang tagasanay, kagaya ng “circuit training”. Mga restawran, cafe at pub • Maaari nang buksan muli ang mga restawran, cafe at pub para sa mga serbisyong dine-in. o Dapat kolektahin ng mga establiyemento ang impormasyon sa pakikipag-ugnay ng isang tao mula sa grupo sa kainan o Hanggang sa maximum na anim na katao sa bawat mesa ang pinapayagan; ang mga indibidwal ay dapat nagmula sa iisang sambahayan o sa dalawang malapit na kontak para sa mga taong nakatira nang nag-iisa. o Nagtatapos ang serbisyo sa alak sa 10:00 o Kailangang magsara ang kainan nang personal ng 11:00 o Hindi pinapayagan ang aliwan (hal., walang mga VLT, pool table, live na musika). Ang desisyon para sa Step 2 ay gagawin kung, sa Peb. 28, mayroong 450 o mas kaunting naospital at ang bilang ay patuloy na bumababa. Gagamitin ang parehong panahon ng muling pagsusuri para sa lahat ng kasunod na mga hakbang. Ang mga sukatan batay sa mga kaso

at paglago, kabilang ang mga variant ng COVID-19, ay sinusubaybayan at gagamitin din upang gabayan ang anumang mga desisyon kung kinakailangang itigil sandali ang mga karagdagang hakbang o maaaring taasan ang mga paghihigpit. Ang gobyerno ng Alberta ay

tumutugon sa COVID-19 pandemya sa pamamagitan ng pagprotekta sa mga buhay at kabuhayan ng tumpak na hakbang upang mabaluktot ang kurba, mapanatili ang maliliit na negosyo at protektahan ang sistema ng pangangalaga ng kalusugan ng Alberta.

FRONTLINER

ISA KANG BAYANI (YOU’RE A HERO)

This column aims to recognize and appreciate everyone’s heroism when facing the challenges of life with courage and equanimity. Our society truly needs virtuous people like you. Indeed, we can speak of the truth, though, it may be hard; but we can soften it with kindness.”A grand salute to our heroes!

Maria Housekeeper University of Aberta Hospital Renal Dialysis Unit

Julia Chua Food Server Palabok House Family Reataurant

Jessa David Licensed Practical Nurse, Covid Unit University of Alberta Hospital

Imee Park Housekeeper, Covid Unit University of Alberta Hospital

at a time, and are swiftly contained and mitigated. Now, we have a new weekly routine. My father-in-law would go visit her in person, turn on the Ipad we left in her room, and arrange a Zoom call with me, my husband, and my two brothers-inlaw. It became a routine that gives us a sense of structure and something I now look forward to. The final thing I am starting to pay attention to is government and policy. Senior care is part of healthcare so it is predominantly a responsibility of the provincial government. However, there is a city councillor assigned to pay attention to how municipal services affects seniors. As our senior population continues to increase, this is something that all of us, no matter our age, should proactively look after. www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

Fashion | Mind Twister

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2021

CR OSSWOR D

FILIPINAVIGATION

Riana Torrejon torrejonriana@gmail.com Riana Torrejon is an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta who is a passionate advocate for human rights. In her spare time, she loves to write and sing. She is also the Fundraising and Events Director for the Child Advocacy Society of University of Alberta and a writer for Happy Columns. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of her greatest inspirations.

“HIKAW at Ako!”

s COVID-19 has forced many of us into quarantine, I’m sure that we’ve all found creative ways to pass the time. During the pandemic, I developed the skill of making polymer clay earrings. It’s a process that I find meditative and it has brought me

Me, Riana Torrejon, wearing the Champorado!

ACROSS My personal favourite, the Tsokolate.

Our bestselling earring, the Champorado.

great joy during my days at home. With that in mind, I also love being able to share my culture, so I am proud present “Hikaw”! As you may know, hikaw is the Filipino word for “earring”. I wanted to pay homage to my Filipino Heritage by dedicating

a brand that uses notes from the Philippines. You can check out each design at our website, www.hikaw. shop or our Instagram @hikaw_shop. We are planning to donate a portion of the proceeds to a Filipino charity soon, so please email any suggestions you have to info@hikaw.shop.

HOROSCOPE February arrives with a major focus on your finances, Aries. This is because your ruler Mars powers up this sector again this month. It could increase your expenses during this time but also give you the drive to make so much more. This would be an excellent time to look for a better paying job or, if you freelance, hunt down more clients.

You are nearly unstoppable in February, Taurus! That’s because you’re energized by the tremendous power of Mars through the entire month. You’ll be fired up to tackle your goals and able to make a great deal of progress on any of your personal or professional plans. Take the initiative. Be a leader. Don’t sit in the shadows.

February could feel especially slow for you, Gemini. This is because your ruler Mercury is fast asleep in a retrograde cycle until February 20. Even after he awakens, though, he will be groggily catching up to speed through the remaining days. Mighty Mars, the planet of drive, ignites your solar twelfth house of rest, encouraging you to lie low, rest, and recharge.

As mighty Mars ignites your solar eleventh house of community, you’ll feel your social life highly active this month. This will likely bring exciting news from friends as well as possibilities for events and gatherings. If you’re able to make some time for fun and adventure, go for it. You’ll be glad you did! Venus glides into your solar eighth house of intimacy on February 1 and remains here until February 25, which can increase your need for affection and sensuality.

Your career will be shooting off fireworks in February, Leo! Mars is skyrocketing through your solar tenth house of achievement, which can make this a tremendously exciting time for you to pursue professional goals. Set important meetings with business associates, pitch your plans, or search for a higher-paying job. Promotions, accolades, and public recognition may manifest now from previously completed work.

With so much activity in your solar sixth house of productivity, it’s clear that you have many irons in the fire! This bodes well for Virgos who are looking for work or interested in taking on more projects with their current employer.

January 2021 Crossword's Solution

The stars sparkle divinely for you in February, Libra. Get ready to open your heart wide as the planets rain showers of love upon you! On February 1, Venus dances through your solar fifth house of romance and creativity and remains here until February 25, bringing all Libras luck in matters of the heart. A new moon in this sector on the eleventh opens a doorway for you to welcome in more passion with a current partner or else find someone who truly aligns with your spirit.

A slower pace of life is guaranteed in February, Scorpio. This is because Mercury, planet of communication and clarity, is spinning backward until the twentieth. This could have you reassessing or reconsidering some plans regarding a home, real estate, or family matter. Despite some delays or uncertainty, a great deal of planetary energy can instead bring opportunities for growth and happiness to these same areas.

Your mind could be especially active this month with so much planetary activity lighting up this area of your life, Sagittarius. Venus soars into your solar third house of communication on February 1 and remains here until February 25. This means that you can find the perfect words to charm anyone you want to impress.

February guarantees that your mind is highly focused on your income and prosperity, Capricorn. While you always like to build your life like a business, you’re especially favored to increase your abundance this month and throughout 2021.

You are the cosmic favorite at this time, Aquarius! With so much planetary power in your zodiac sign, you have a rare opportunity to direct all events in your favor. The sun, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn have already been spinning within your grasp, highlighting your personal goals and plans. Venus joins you on February 1 and stays until February 25. With the goddess of pleasure within you, now is a great time to update your look or embrace romance.

With so much planetary activity in your solar twelfth house, it’s clear that you have a great deal of activity behind the scenes, Pisces. This could be increasing your intuitive senses or the intensity of your dreams. Pay attention to the messages from the universe now because you could have your finger on the pulse of some meaningful breakthroughs. This same sector of the sky also rules working on projects in private or developing things that will take some time to get right, so by all means let your creative juices flow and brainstorm!

1. Intense rage 4. Mule's kin 7. Midwest airport 12. Pirate's drink 13. Stool pigeon 14. Worth 15. Majestic 17. Comic _____ DeGeneres 18. Informal talk 19. Sis's counterpart 20. India's locale 22. Cap ornaments 26. Story connector 29. Lick up 30. Create lace 31. Upper class 32. Lemon drink 33. Before, in poems 34. Commanding respect 36. Mutton, e.g. (2 wds.) 38. Serving both sexes 39. Museum offering 40. Level 42. Religious images 45. E-mail item 48. Newspapers and TV, e.g. 49. Snaky fish 50. Pekoe, e.g. 51. Bicycle part 52. Vane dir. 53. Always, in poems

DOWN

1. Tax agcy. 2. Groove 3. Very scrawny 4. Range 5. Pepper's partner 6. Pigpen 7. Supervisor 8. Angels' headgear 9. Entire 10. Regret 11. Still, poetically 16. Asian language 19. Sew temporarily 20. Fall bloom 21. Fixed gaze 22. Contaminate 23. Rich in detail 24. Large spoon 25. Swiftness 27. About-face 28. Shoe spike 35. Fighter pilots 37. Excessive excitement 40. Young adult 41. ____ of Capri 42. Rascal 43.Third letter 44. Weird 45. Gents 46. Golly! 47. Pitcher handle

Sudoku Puzzles are games of patience, numbers and genius! The satisfaction of solving a challenging Sudoku Puzzle is one of the greatest accomplishments any sudoku game player can experience. The rules are simple, fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contain one instance of each of the numbers 1 through 9.

Here is the puzzle. Good luck!

January 2021 Issue Sudoku's Solution

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THE PULSE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, CANADA

FEBRUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Business | Philippine Consular Info Updates

Local YEG Small Business Spotlight: Jennifer’s Studio 27 By: Jennifer Fecundo & Januel Ibasco

or the month of February, I would like to offer my column once again to another local Filipina small business owner (Jennifer Fecundo) who is looking to make a positive impact and shine a bright light in the community despite the ongoing pandemic we are all experiencing. Let us all continue to support local businesses that help keep YEG moving forward and are influencing those across the globe! Without further ado, here is Jennifer: Jennifer’s Studio 27 – A small Canadian business, that offers a wide variety of custom and hand-crafted tumblers, mugs, and stickers. Hi! my name is Jennifer Fecundo, creator and owner of Jennifer’s Studio 27. I am a graduate of the University of Alberta with a passion for clinical and behavioural psychology, political science, the corporate world, and art. Before graduating at the UofA, I was doing everything in my power to grab an opportunity to land a job in healthcare, specifically in mental health or, an occupation in the Canadian government. With COVID appearing in 2020, this has not only stirred up the entire world, but also affected me getting into the workforce. I was put in a

JAN THE MAN’S NOTE

Januel Cedrick Ibasco Januel Cedrick Ibasco is a proud Filipino-Canadian who is currently a student at the University of Alberta and is studying to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. Sportsmanship is a big slice of his cake. He is highly-spirited when playing golf, volleyball, and basketball and loves reading, writing and volunteering at church. Jan looks forward to taking up law after his undergraduate degree.

position where I did not know what to do next. From all the stress and pressure, I was feeling, from the difficulty of not starting my career due to this pandemic, it felt as if an anchor was pulling me down. With

that, I always leaned towards doing something creative and healthy for my mind. Whether it was painting or watching small business studio vlogs on YouTube; this always uplifted my spirit, and, in a way, I felt this was a sign for me to do something bigger and more purposeful in my life. Being the ambitious person that I am, I had to execute plan B. Since creating art played a big part in my life, I decided to utilize my art skills and turn my life 180 degrees. At 6 years of age, I had the mentality of “when I get older, I am going to have a business”, however it was unclear as to what it would be. I completely loved the idea of having my own small shop and I barely envisioned myself working under an employer at that age. I was the boss. Today, with all the circumstances I’ve dealt with, I decided to bite the bullet and open my small business on Etsy. Jennifer’s Studio 27 started in August of 2020, and I am proud to say, I am one lady who does it all. From digitally planning new designs to hand crafting them on drinkware, getting shipments ready, and handling social media. My business offers you the opportunity to collaborate with me to create a completely customized tumbler or mug of your choice. Whether it is for you, a gift for a loved one, or a company logo mug, I can make it happen. With a wide range of designs, fonts, and colors, you can design a mug or tumbler that is uniquely made for you. I also offer tumbler and mug designs that I have created where you can add your own personal touch as well. From the beginning, I have been rated a 5-star Etsy shop, a top-rated shop for gifts, exemplary customer service, and my customizable mugs have made it to the bestseller list. Jennifer’s Studio 27, has produced custom drinkware designs for individuals and corporations all over the globe from Canada, United States, Germany, France, and Singapore. For more information, don’t forget to check out my Etsy

PHILIPPINE CONSULAR INFO SERIES

Suite 920, 517 10th Ave SW, Calgary AB, T2R 0A8 ▪ Tel: 403-455-9346; 403-455-9457

Filipina Small Business Owner: Jennifer Fecundo

Company Logo: Jennifer’s Studio 27

shop, Instagram, Facebook page, and TikTok all @jennifersstudio27 to view my products. To show my appreciation for your support, here is 10% OFF your purchase when you use code MABUHAY10 at checkout on my Etsy shop.

Philippine Consulate General, Calgary www.philcongencalgary.org

PCG Adds Passport Online Appointment Slots With The Easing Of Public Health Restrictions In Alberta

he Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Calgary wishes to inform the public that in view of the easing of public health restrictions in Alberta beginning 8 February 2021 under the provincial government’s Path Forward plan, the PCG opened additional passport online appointment slots last 1 February for the month of February. Additional slots will also be opened for March. The slots for April and the succeeding months will be increased if the easing of public health restrictions will continue. Currently, passport appointment slots open two months in advance and on a staggered basis. The PCG’s passport online appointment system, which is found at www.passport.gov.ph, is managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila and is the same appointment system used by the DFA for passport applicants in the Philippines. The PCG’s passport applicants, however, should select North America - Canada – PCG

Calgary as the site for their applications and must encode their personal details. Applicants are requested to read the PCG’s Passport Booking Guidelines. The opening of the passport appointment slots is not preannounced, but the PCG will issue notification via its Facebook page the minute new slots are opened. The PCG encourages the public to follow its Facebook page to get notification about the opening of slots. While the PCG is adding more slots, it is also observing client capacity limit inside its office in compliance with the public health measures of Alberta Health Services. The number of slots, therefore, is still limited and cannot go back yet to the pre-pandemic level. For more information on consular services available at the PCG, please visit www.philcongencalgary.org. The PCG thanks the public for its understanding and cooperation.

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Religion | Media Partner

I AM THAT I AM

Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh Exodus 3:13-15

FROM A VANTAGE POINT

Tito S.Venida FOUNDING FATHER

Tito S. Venida is a product of the University of the Philippines. He used to be a student-leader during his college days and became one of the founders of the Tau Gamna Phi, one of the world leading Philippine-produced fraternities. His immensurable love for the human race has brought him to the conviction of translating his mission from fraternity into Divinity-from a mere brotherhood into sainthood. Tito authored a book entitled Quocunque Jeceris Stabit, which means, wherever you throw, it will stand.

OUR TEXT 13 "And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."

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INTRODUCTION There are times when we hesitate to do God's will because of feelings of inadequacy. Moses felt so inadequate to lead the children of Israel that he offered several excuses to God, but found God to be his adequacy. A right concept of God is essential to serving the Lord with, power, purpose, and proper perspective. God not only reminded Moses of His covenant promise to Abraham, but used the name I AM (EHYEH) to teach him about His perfect and provider nature. In answer to Moses' question in verse 13 of our text, "What is His name?" God clearly states His name to be EHYEH, I AM. The scribes and Pharisees of the New Testament were astounded when Jesus used this name in reference to Himself. In their way of thinking, it was to be used only of God. In fact, it was so revered that they dared not even speak it, substituting another name for God in its place. But, since Jesus is fully God, He has every right to use this name. And so He did! John 8:24-"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM He, ye shall die in your sins." • The "He" is not in the original Greek text. Jesus stated emphatically that if a person did not believe in His deity (EHYEH), he would die in his sins. A sobering thought. John 8:28-"When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I AM He..." • God became flesh, died for our sins, and desires to be our Savior. Is it any wonder that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6)? John 8:58— "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." • In this statement Jesus is declaring His preexistence from eternity past. John 13:19— "Now I tell you before it come, that,

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2021 when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He." • Jesus predicted the betrayal of Judas to give evidence that He shared God's attribute of omniscience that He was all-knowing. The deity of Christ is one of the cardinal doctrines of our faith. THE PROPOSITION The full revelation of God is Jesus Christ. The I AM of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament. Let's look at several aspects of God's nature in order to enhance our sense of God's power, purpose, and perspective. 1. EHYEH (I AM) TEACHES US ABOUT GOD'S SELF-EXISTENCE • We can praise God for His pre-existence before time. "In the beginning, God" (Genesis 1:1). God is the Great I AM! It means that from His Word, there is no past, no future, no was nor will be about Him, but only the now since HE IS. No one created God so He is not beholden to anyone else. • EHYEH is above all, before all, and greater than all. Thank God for His eternality that transcends all of time, people, and events. He is greater than all history, present circumstances or future opposing powers because He always has been the eternally existing God. • There is only one God. God is the only Creator. The Creator must be before His creation can be. Therefore, God was before He created. All that is not God is His creation. ‘All That Is’ is God and His creation. God was before He created. Therefore, there was a condition of ‘All That Is’ when there was only God. Let's teach, preach, and serve a God who has neither beginning nor end. Ask God to give you more of His eternal perspective, power, and peace today. 2. EHYEH (I AM) TEACHES US ABOUT GOD'S COMPLETENESS • Moses had to learn that whenever he was feeling inadequate, God is totally sufficient, complete, and adequate for all his needs. God completes whatever we are lacking in. May it be courage, wisdom, or ability, He is our great I AM. • EHYEH gives us the authority to do things that are far beyond the ability of human beings because He supernaturally enables us with the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul wrote: "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 • Before He created, ‘All That Is’ was God. God is perfect. Disunity is imperfect. Therefore, in God there is no disunity. In God there is perfect unity. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 • God in Himself is perfect in UNITY. Perfect unity is a condition in which there are no differences by which to be distinguished. • It is a condition of perfect oneness in all aspects of being. • In perfect unity there is no distinction of one from another. In perfect unity there is only ONE. In perfect unity there is no other. 3. EHYEH (I AM) TEACHES US ABOUT GOD'S SUPPLY. • EHYEH is the purveyor of every good and perfect gift. He is the only One who always supplies without adding any sorrow. Moses doubted if he had the wherewithal to teach, lead, and govern the people of Israel, but EHYEH assured him of the availability of total resources. • As New Testament believers, we count on the promise, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19 • We also find our supply in the promise, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32 • We can be assured that whatever spiritual, material, mental, emotional, financial, relational, academic, or physical need we might have, EHYEH is able to supply it.. Hudson Taylor, the famous founder of the China Inland Mission, wrote, and I quote, "God's will done in God's way will not lack God's support," unquote. 4. EHYEH (I AM) TEACHES US ABOUT GOD'S PROMISES • When God told Moses, "EHYEH hath sent me unto you," He provided a sort of blank check. In other words, whatever need you might have and in whatever circumstance, EHYEH will provide. • Let's find strength for our weakness, find solutions to our problems, find deliverance from our difficulties, find peace in our stress, find relief from our pains, find victory from our defeat, find ability for our inabilities. • God gives us this Great I AM to live in our souls, in the Person of the Holy Spirit so He can fill us with whatever need, at any time and in any situation, if we will trust Him, ask Him, and look to His Word for the solutions to our problems. 5. EHYEH (I AM) TEACHES US ABOUT GOD'S HOLINESS • The Great I AM is perfect, pure, and completely worthy of our worship. The Apostle Peter wrote, "Be ye holy as I AM holy" (1 Peter 1:15). • It is not enough to just look to the Lord to meet our needs, but we need to recognize that we please Him the most when we are holy, above reproach, and blameless in all aspects of life. • We learn more about the HOLINESS of God when we recognize that He is forever holy and not one person, problem or event has caused Him to lose an iota of His Holiness. • His holiness is the center of His Being as everything emanates from His holy standards of righteousness, truth, and purity. Let's purge ourselves from an unclean conscience so we may serve Him with purity, holiness, and truth. 6. EHYEH (I AM) TEACHES US ABOUT GOD'S COMFORT • Just as God comforted Moses at a time of desperation, so He comforts us in all our afflictions so that we can comfort anyone who is undergoing distress with the same comfort we receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4-"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." • Let's trust the Lord to comfort us when we are in distress. He has sent the Comforter in the Person of the Holy Spirit to be with us always. • Hannah Smith wrote, and I quote, "I AM implies that we may ask for what is not complete. This apparently unfinished name is the most comforting name the heart of man could devise, because it allows us to add to it without any limitations. Whatever we feel the need of and even exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think" unquote. Let's allow the Lord to comfort, buoy our spirits and relieve our minds from stress as we call upon Him to comfort us, deliver us, and relieve us from all our burdens. Isaiah 26:3-4-"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the

Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." 7. EHYEH (I AM) TEACHES US ABOUT GOD'S CHARACTER • Let's teach God's character to the people around us. • Once a person understands the characteristics of God then he will become more like the Master. John 17:3-"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Application: • Let's ask God for help in reflecting His character in our attitudes and actions. • By teaching character development we will enhance maturity, depth, and breadth in the lives of the people we seek to influence for the long haul. • The greatest tool we have to influence people is our example. Our Lord Jesus said, "The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master." Luke 6:40 We learn more about God by reading and studying His Word, but praising Him for His attributes and the Biblical descriptions about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 8. EHYEH (I AM) TEACHES US ABOUT GOD'S PROTECTION • When people know that we are sent from God, then, if they reject or discount our teaching, they have to deal with God. • When we make it clear that we are merely representing EHYEH it becomes clear people are not rejecting us or our teaching but God and His Word. • Moses needed to know that even if people would laugh, ridicule or criticize him, God would be his Deliverer. As long as we trust and obey the Lord, we can be assured of God's approval, regardless of people's response. Illustration: One day, the late Adrian Rogers, the former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, then pastor of Bellevue Baptist in Memphis, Tennessee, felt discouraged that people were not responding to his invitations. He felt distraught that he asked God to give him a verse for encouragement. He opened the Bible and pointed at a verse and it read, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." John 13:20 After that, Adrian Rogers no longer worried about the results from his invitations knowing that people were not rejecting him or his teaching, but God and His Word's invitation. That took all of the pressure off of him to see success. CONCLUSION EHYEH ASHER EHYEH, I AM THAT I AM--the self-existent and eternal God is a declaration of the unity and spirituality of the Divine Nature, the exact opposite of all the forms of idolatry, human, animal, and celestial that prevailed everywhere else. It is, however, not merely a philosophical phrase. The emphasis must be on the active manifestation of the Divine existence. To the Israelites in bondage, the meaning would be, 'Although He has not yet displayed His power towards you, He will do so.' The answer, which Moses receives in these words, is thus equivalent to, 'I shall save in the way I shall save.' It is to assure the Israelites of the fact of deliverance, but does not disclose the manner. It must suffice the Israelites (and us) that: "EHYEH, I WILL BE (WITH YOU) HATH SENT ME UNTO YOU." AMEN!

THE PULSE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, CANADA

FEBRUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

IMMIGRATION: A Beacon Of Hope

Stephen Burry Stephen Burry is the Lead Consultant and owner of Freedom Migrate Immigration Solutions Limited, an immigration consultancy firm based in Calgary, Alberta. Stephen is licensed with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC). He can be reached at 403-520-2277 or call/ text at 587-938-3100. Email: freedommigrate@gmail.com Website: www.freedommigrate.ca

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Hurry up and wait! Question from Amelia in Sherwood Park, AB: I just found out that I must travel back to the Philippines for a family emergency. I have my flight booked for the second week of March. The issue is that my permanent residency card expired last year and I fear I do not have time to renew my card before I travel! I need help! Answer: First of all, I hope you and your family are safe and healthy! It can be incredibly stressful dealing with family issues when you are so far away. The good news is we can expedite your permanent residency card and hopefully ease some of your troubles! The Canadian government allows for the expedition of permanent resident cards in certain situations and depending on when you need to travel. In your case, because your

travel will be more than three weeks from today, we can apply for your permanent resident card now and request urgent processing. Your family situation will need to be either a death in the family – which we certainly hope is not the case – or a serious illness in the family. There are other circumstances such as a work opportunity, obligations related to your work, or you have a serious illness that requires you to travel. We can never guarantee that your request will be processed before you travel, but we have experienced processing times as fast as two weeks. We can certainly help! Don’t worry, we literally write URGENT on these applications! Restoring hope! Question from Niresh in Edmonton, AB: Help! My temporary resident visa

expired last March, and I did not apply for an extension. I fear that I will be forced to leave Canada and cringe every time I must check my mailbox, fearing a letter from the government. Winter vortex aside, I really like Edmonton and do not want to leave! I missed my 90-day restoration period many months ago. Can you help? Answer: Niresh, we certainly can help. Under normal circumstances, you would only have a 90-day window to restore your expired status. However, nothing in 2020 and 2021 fits into normal circumstances! Last year, the government announced an exemption to the usual 90-day restoration window and will allow an application for restoration if your status expired between January 30, 2020 and May 31, 2021 – which in your case, it did! This means we can build a restoration application and give you a second chance to renew your status! Of course, this is subject

to you continuing to be admissible to Canada and have the means of financial support for your stay. We can then look at further options so you can stay long term! Rest easy knowing Freedom Migrate offers full representation for the entire process. We help you build your case and prepare you for the permanent resident application to follow. Our prices are very reasonable, and we work hard to build a competitive application for you! Have a question? Send us your submission to freedommigrate@ gmail.com or call our office at 403-520-2277 or text 587-938-3100 from anywhere in Alberta! ASK AN IMMIGRATION PROFESSIONAL – 2021 Winter Vortex Edition: Our most frequently asked questions in a series called Questions for an Immigration Professional. **All names and details have been changed to protect identities**

Remembering Hermie Angeles on the First Anniversary of her passing. On February 19, 2021, a family prayer is scheduled to be held at Palabok House Restaurant, where Covid-19 protocols will be observed. “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal. Remembering Hermie Angeles on the First Anniversary of her passing. “You touched countless lives in your lifetime, and even after your death, you live through your good deeds. We miss you always. You are alive through our prayers and wishes, so rest peacefully.”

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2021

The Twins: Bryan and Brent Dizon No two individuals are exactly the same. This is true when it comes to physique or physical appearances. However, the upbringing, familial orientation, good manners and right conduct being acquired by these twin brothers from their parents Albert and Erica Dizon as well as the love of their sisters Ninia and Luzel will have an indelible character in their individual life. Legally, age 18 is the beginning of guided independence. Meaning, they can do not what they want to do; but, what they ought to do.

Celebrating 29 Years of Constant Love and Fidelity Since February 14, 1992 Doc Rod Montaño said: “It is a celebration of love, trust, loyalty and partnership. It takes a second to fall in love, but a lifetime to prove its worth. Happy Wedding Anniversary to my gorgeous wife and a Happy Valentine’s Day to you!”

DIZON FAMILY (From left) Bryan, Albert the Dad, Erica the Mom, Brent, Ninia, and Luzel

Happy 18th Birthday!

COPAA’s Second Wave of Assistance to the victims of Calamities in Philippines

he Senior High School and College students of Agguirit, Amulung, Cagayan have extended their heartfelt gratitude to the Congress of the Philippine Associations in Alberta, under the leadership of its president Jose “Jun” Angeles, through ONE GREAT INITIATIVE: Pantawid Calamity Fundraising Project, and to the generous donors from Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. Of course, they are thankful to the members of iCARE Compassion Ministry-Cagayan, who acted and reached out to them, in order to deliver these gifts to them. “We thank you po sa school supplies na inyo pong ibinahagi sa amin. God bless you all always po.” The COPAA, on the other hand, wants to thank Lito and Beng Agasino of A4 Oriental Store in Edmonton and Freedom Migrate Immigration Solutions in Calgary as well, for allowing the use of their spaces as donation centers.

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