Alberta Filipino Journal - February 2022 Issue by Alberta Filipino Journal

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Academy of Health Care Services’ Malot Rivera celebrates birthday

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FEBRUARY 2022 • Volume 15, Number 02

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`Taking care of self is more than wellness to me’

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MIGRANTS TOWNHALL MEETING:

Calling on MPs to address the migrant crisis

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

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

Editor's Corner | Business

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

EDITOR’S CORNER Lito Mendoza Velasco

WORLD: Where are you heading to?! While the majority of people around the world have been begging for a centavo or one PESO in order to buy an ounce of milk for their starving kids; there have also been, on the other hand, people who purposely ignoring them and vying for POWER instead. While there have been stricken with serious illnesses and wanted to get healed; there have also been, on the other hand, people who intentionally killed or even murdered the healthy ones due to political rivalry or religious disparity. While there have been children, looking and longing for parents; there have also been, on the other hand, children who, with their hardened conscience, abandoned their parents and vice versa. While there have been poor and destitute people who just fed their mouths from the waste foods and garbage dumpsites; there have also been, on the other hand, rich and well-off people who are apathetic and indifferent. While numerous people have been crying for justice; there have also been, on the other hand, people in authority who tend to ignore their voices. While there have been husbands who went abroad to meet the needs of his wife and children; there have also been, on the other hand, wives and children who never realized how hard it is

guide and lead your people towards the right direction? Who would you vote for in order to govern and not merely impress and influence people? Whose leader is going to maintain his endurance to serve when there is no longer fund and resources being left by the previous administrations in his/her area of responsibility or country? What is a piece of pizza pie against a hundred mouths to partake. Who can still lead a good governance beyond politics? Who can still give without lavishly expecting many things in return? Who do you think can still adhere and promote austerity?

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My world, where are you heading to if you will continuously be filled with these kinds of creatures or where are you heading to if the goodmen were outnumbered by evil men?! Who would you delegate in order to

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Is giving alms to the poor an act of charity or expression of love?! Lao Tsu said that if you give a hungry man a fish, you feed for a day, but if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. Similarly, our constitutional right is not might, simply because we have the duty to save and protect our fellowmen (the beggars) from being parasites and from the danger of death on the streets. Just remember that giving shall be done in the right place or else, illegal or improper. If you do, that would encourage some of God’s people to become idle and will no longer be striving harder in order to excel. This may also be the reason why there is a law

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oooOOOooo to be away from them. While there have been wives who went abroad to find a greener pastures so he can help uplift their family’s quality of life; there have also been, on the other hand, a husband and children who are unreasonably spending and disposing the hard-earned money for their caprices. Sadly, there have also been children who are ungrateful about their parent’s effort and hard work. While countless people are trying to serve faithfully; some are just observing what to grab and when to become greedy.

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prohibiting “giving alms” to the beggars in any forms. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Philippines, has reiterated its appeal to the public to refrain from giving alms to street children, homeless and individuals, and members of indigenous people. “The department cited that under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1563 to the Anti-Mendicancy Law, begging or soliciting of charitable donations by the poor and other religious organizations on the streets are prohibited.” He who gives alms to the poor can be punished with a fine or imprisonment for up to two years. In Canada, soliciting money or panhandling

is also illegal. The practice of accosting people face-to-face is public to beg for money or other handouts - is against the law under the PC 647(c). In British Columbia, legislation prohibits aggressive panhandling, subject to a fine or imprisonment. Although the penalties are not specified within provisions of the Act, the government website states that tickets may cost $86 - $115 each. Giving, in relation to the preceding paragraphs, is not the act of charity and benevolent love but a mere continued on page 4►

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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 Maria Visconde Advertising, Sales and Marketing Manager - Calgary 403-891-9328 or 403-608-8817 Stephen Burry Distribution Manager - Calgary 1 (587) 938-3100, Freedommigrate@gmail.com Rolan Latorre Marketing Manager Melanie C. Gomez Website/Graphic Designer Moses Billacura, Noli Granado Photographers/Videographers Columnists: Marjorie Carmona-Newman, Tito S. Venida, Ida Beltran-Lucila, Kristian Cereno, Marco Luciano, Moses Billacura, Mervin Mendoza Cereno, Nicky Gocuan, Giselle General, Hermo Pagtakhan, Januel Cedrick Ibasco, Fr. Jhack Diaz, Bing J. Jaleco, Jon Perez (Saskatoon, SK) Contributing Writers: Katrina Marielle U. Cereno, Leonila Samarita, Raquel Getigan, 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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manifestation of negligence, indifference, and a sort of vested interest. Some may just be giving money or any kinds to the beggars to protect their cars from banging and scratching over the paints of their cars; some may just want to be known as philanthropists so that when election times come, they would be elected. oooOOOooo Attacking the Heart: Loving even until the day after forever.! Countless relationships have failed due to lack of time being spent in courtship. As the saying goes: “Anything that is hurriedly done is not well done.” In Filipino, hindi ang tibok ng puso ang nasunod; kundi, ang tibok ng puson.” (Lust rules over love). Why good relationships go bad? The answer is: “Because it is good.” In metaphysics, evil exists in good; therefore, without good, there is no evil. But, it doesn’t make the entire nature of being or a thing evil. Always remember that there is nothing evil or bad in itself. Evilness is not the nature of man. However, he is prone to commit mistakes that makes him partly bad and this is what makes him human - being human is to err. As a partner, we have to fully understand that not everything that happens or will be happening within a relationship is going to meet your standard or expectation. Ideally, one has to find an imperfect person to love him or her perfectly. Practically, ask how much money does a person have in the bank. Hedonism

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022 day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish always, until we are parted by death. It’s not too late to roll and let love Those vows have explicitly rule.! implied that any of the partner Gino Padila, in his song: has to be sensitive to each other’s “Let the love begin, needs and welfare: Spiritually, let the love come shining in biologically or physically, Who knows where the road will lead emotionally, intellectually, and us now? financially. Whoever is strong Look at what what we’ve found has to carry the heavier burden. Make this moment turn our hearts around It may never come again, let it end Let the love begin…” asks how long will your night duty or performance be? A paranoid tries to find for a perfect person and always looks for imperfections.

Whoever is affluent has to help and secure another’s pocket. Don’t just wait until your partner has the courage to open up to you seek for help. Try to offer and extend help now. Take two to tango. Harmony begins in you. Sensitivity is the ability to treat your partner who is going through a tough times. Happy Lovers’ Month!

Assurance is your life insurance. Rest assured to let bygone be bygone. Never let your partner feel sorry about the past. Never let him feel guilty all the time. The past cannot be changed; the future is ahead of us; do something that would surely make bot of you comfortable and happy and share those moments together. Love’s Assurance is not a term; but your life insurance. It must be consistently enjoyed without being renewed. Sensitivity is one of the ingredients of lasting relationships. Attend to your partner’s needs. This traditional vows are the cornerstones of any relationships: “I promise to never lose our spark and to always do the little things to make you happy. I will always cherish you no matter what. I promise to always make you laugh and to laugh together. I vow that we will be united forever.” Also try the marriage vows: “I_________, take you__________, to be my lawful wife/ husband, to have and to hold, from this

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

Sports

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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.

y wife Marj, who once upon a time predicted that the Oilers would sign Connor McDavid, has been happy these days after seeing that the Edmonton Oilers are on a winning streak. I told her, there’s a new coach, Jay Woodcroft. Despite her hectic schedule at work, she still has the energy to make a sports analysis after arriving home. If we happen to have a video blog,

Oilers on a roll, all the best to you Victor Cui you’ll find her analysis to be insightful. No kidding. But that would be extra work for me, LoL. And I may be forced to pay her a salary! Keep winning Oilers! *** I am also happy to know that Victor Cui was named the new president of the Edmonton Elks. I must admit, I am not into Canadian football because in my 20 years as a sportswriter in the Philippines, there were no American or Canadian football games to be covered. I started to learn about the sport only from my former boss Dr. Jon Adamis, who was a Super Bowl fanatic! Thomas Ancheta first informed us about this, and we are glad to know that his parents are from Cebu, the land of my paternal ancestors, Bisdak! So, I started monitoring him on the sports channel, on social media accounts and even Googled his name. Wow! This is my new idol in sports management! If I write about him now, it will take one page. Hopefully, we will be able to arrange an interview with him soon through our publisher Kuya Jun, who knows his parents. To Mr. Victor Cui, I know you’ll be victorious in managing the EE in these very challenging times! *** I’m glad that preparations are in place to resume volleyball tournaments in the Filipino community. Mishy Baranda and her friends,

said Ian Murray, Chair of the Elks’ board of directors. “We are confident Victor’s tenacity, creativity and proven ability to inspire people to quickly deliver big results will play a major role in our promise to re-energize the organization and our fans.” Cui, who was born and raised in Edmonton, left the city in 2002 to gain international sports marketing experience. In 2010, as CEO he launched One Championship (MMA) from the concept stage to Asia’s largest sports media property – broadcast to 150 plus countries, with 280 Full Time Employees and 720 athletes

SkinLueur seeks revenge against Black in finals

who had been organizing tournaments before the Covid-19 pandemic, said that they have started talking. That’s a welcome development and hopefully, we will be able to cover their volleyball games soon! *** I’m surprised to see a busy schedule of Pinoy basketball games. There are two ongoing leagues in Edmonton, one in Leduc, two in St. Albert and in Lloydminster. Our friends in Red Deer just finished their 3 on 3 league. Cold Lake Filipino Basketball is also kicking off on March 19 at the Col. J.J. Parr Sports Centre. I’m still waiting for an official announcement from PSA Edmonton, which has been organizing tournaments since 1996. PSA president Gary Perpetua has been cautious and keenly monitoring the Covid-19 situation in the province because if they resume their league, there will be more than 30 teams participating. This is a good precaution to take, especially if there is another Covid-19 outbreak. We’ll see! *** In the meantime, I’ll be on standby and if I can’t personally cover your league my friends, don’t hesitate to email mocolumnist@albertafilipinojournal.com. Happy Valentine’s to everyone. Let's keep spreading some love and stay safe!

Filipino-Canadian Victor Cui named Elks president, CEO

EDMONTON – One of the most internationally successful sports executives and promoters in recent years is bringing his skills home to lead the Edmonton Elks’ front office. The Elks’ board of directors has named Edmonton born-and-raised sports marketing and promotions executive Victor Cui its next president and CEO after an extensive and highly competitive search for the football club’s new senior leader. “We’re thrilled Victor has agreed to bring his broad local and international sports leadership experience and bountiful energy to lead this community’s football club,”

and with a current valuation of well over $1 billion (USD). “As much success One Championship has had in Asia, and the experience I gained during my time there, the opportunity to return home and lead this cherished organization that I grew up watching from the Knothole Gang is truly a dream come true,” said Cui. “Edmonton has always been home to me. Being away gave me even more appreciation of what a special city this is and what a privilege it is to represent this organization.” (goelks.com, photo from elks FB)

Virson Orquez will miss the final game but will cheer for his team SkinLueur Aesthetics and Laser Centre on Sunday, Feb.20, at the Saville Centre.(Photo by Moses Billacura/AFJ)

By Moses Billacura

Julia Marie Chua won a silver medal at the Camrose Recreation Centre last month, competing in the skating event for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic started in 2020. (FB photo)

kinLueur Aesthetics and Laser Centre secured a ticket to the finals on Sunday, February 20, after trouncing Blue Team, 94-76 in the semis of the 2022 Go Pinoy-Flip Hoops Basketball League. SkinLueur is seeking revenge against Black Team which defeated them, 76-80 in the elimination round last January 23 at the Gametime gym. The final is set at 10:45 a.m. at the Saville Sports Centre. That loss made them work harder as they bested White Team, 82-50 on January 30, to enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage against the Blue Team. SkinLueur took the long road to the finals after losing the first game, 74-76 and bounced back in the second game with Rhay Villarosa scorching hot with 33 points, hauling five rebounds, issued two assists and tallied one steal. “Luckily we did it,” said team coordinator Giovanni Olayer, who said they will be playing in the finals without the services of Virson Orquez, who will be sidelined after hurting his foot last February 20. Paul Bryan Marqueses and Jigz Germino are expected to lead Black again when they face SkinLueur for the second time. Germino led Black's victory in the other semis game against Yellow, 90-77, by scoring 17 points, grabbing six rebounds with five assists and one block. The tournament is organized by Flip Hoops with the support of Filipino Drives, Go Pinoy and Wilma Payne Mortgages.(with reports from Giovanni Olayer and Richard Bordallo)

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Sports| Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

FC Edmonton appoints Jeff Harrop as President Edmonton, AB (February 8, 2022) – Today, the Canadian Premier League with the support of all its member clubs, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Harrop as FC Edmonton President effective immediately. A resident of Edmonton, Jeff has held extensive leadership roles in a range of dynamic, highly competitive industries including sports & entertainment, food & beverage, consumer packaged goods, and financial services. An accomplished business leader with a 20-year track record, Harrop’s experience includes his role as Senior Vice President Marketing and a member of the Executive Leadership Team at Oilers Entertainment Group. In his role with the Oilers, Harrop oversaw a talented team of

professionals dedicated to revenue generation (ticketing, premium sales), brand equity, sponsorship activation, customer retention, event operations, retail operations, digital media, fan engagement, TV & radio broadcast, in-house media, creative services, and game presentation. His first focus will be to engage the passionate and loyal Eddies fans, supporters and the Edmonton soccer community with the primary focus directed to creating an exciting matchday experience in Edmonton this season. Jeff will be stepping in to replace FC Edmonton’s President and General Manager, Eric Newendorp. Newendorp joined the Club in 2020 and was an integral part of the Eddies team and navigating the Club through a challenging season affected by the pandemic. The CPL and FC

Edmonton are extremely grateful for Eric’s passion and commitment to the Eddies and wish him the best in his future endeavours. FC Edmonton Head Coach/ Director of Football Operations, Alan Koch has been working diligently on building a new, re-energized FC Edmonton squad for the season. A team of young, hungry talented players who are focused on the future of soccer in Canada. “Today is a new start, we are excited to embrace the challenges ahead,” said Alan Koch, FC Edmonton Head Coach/Director of Football Operations. “We are ready to put in the hard work and deliver another great season with a talented young team for the dedicated FC Edmonton fans. The 2022 season will be full of heart and an exciting new team.”

As we enter one of the most exciting years of soccer in Canadian history FC Edmonton is here to grow the game in Canada and be a key contributor to expanding and developing the Canadian Premier League. “It’s an exciting time for FC Edmonton, the CPL and soccer in Canada. With over 90,000 tickets sold for two World Cup qualifier matches in frigid conditions, the appetite for soccer in this market is obvious,” said Jeff Harrop. “I know firsthand that the passion for this game is equally strong at the grassroots level. I look forward to getting started and helping bring more Edmontonians out to experience what is a fantastic product on the pitch at Clarke Stadium.” Connect with us online and on

FC Edmonton President Jeff Harrop.

Twitter/Instagram @FCEdmontonNow and Facebook @FCEdmonton for more news and updates very shortly on player signings, fan forums, season memberships, and community activations.

Team Canada wins women’s hockey gold at Beijing 2022

eam Canada has captured women’s Olympic hockey gold at Beijing 2022. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice to lead Canada to a 3-2 win over the United States in

the gold medal game at Wukesong Sports Centre. Sarah Nurse added a goal and an assist while Ann-Renée Desbiens, stopping 38 of 40 shots, earned the win in net. It’s the fifth time Canada has

Two PBAC final games on Feb.19 at Legacy By Moses Billacura

The two final games of the Pinoy Basketball Association in Canada (PBAC) 2021-22 Winter League are set on Saturday, February 19, at Legacy Athletics. Kabayan Driving School plays Prairie United/Brothers at 9 a.m. in the master’s division while Transcend Esthetics takes on Truckers at 11 a.m. in the open division. Organizers announced that there will also be a three-point shooting contest and 50/50 Raffle Draw. PBAC merchandise will be available at the playing venue, such as a reusable masks with filter, and 26-oz. aluminum water bottles.

Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin celebrates her first period goal against the United States in the Beijing 2022 women’s hockey gold medal game at Wukesong Sports Centre on Feb. 17, 2022. Photo by Mark Blinch/COC

won gold in women’s hockey at an Olympic Games but the first since Sochi 2014. Canada fell 3-2 to the United States in the championship contest at PyeongChang 2018, ending a streak of four straight gold medals. Since women’s hockey was added to the Olympic program at Nagano

Team Canada’s women’s hockey team celebrates its 3-2 win over the United States in the gold medal game at Beijing 2022. Photo: Mark Blinch/COC

1998, Canada and the United States have met in six of the seven gold medal matches. It looked as though Natalie Spooner had opened the scoring for Canada at 7:15 of the opening frame, putting in the rebound of a Mélodie Daoust shot that was blocked

Source: olympic.ca

in front. But after a review, the goal was called back due to an offside. Not long after at 7:50, Canada officially opened the scoring when Nurse redirected a Claire Thompson point shot past American netminder Alex Cavallini. continued on page 7 ►

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

Politics| Legal Matters

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL from page 6

Poulin made it 2-0 at 15:02. After stripping an American defender of the puck, the Canadian captain skated into the middle of the offensive zone and threw a shot on net that fooled Cavallini. With the goal, Poulin became the first hockey player – female or male – to score in four Olympic gold medal games. Poulin struck again at 9:08 of the second period. Canada entered the zone on an oddman rush with Brianne Jenner firing a hard shot on Cavallini. A rebound came loose, allowing Poulin to bank the puck off the leg of the American netminder and in, making it 3-0 Canada. Nurse picked up the other assist on the goal, giving her an Olympic record 18 points. The United States got on the board at 16:39. While shorthanded, Hilary Knight carried the puck into the zone and deposited her own rebound, making it a 3-1 game. Alex Carpenter had a great chance to get the Americans back within one early in the third but hit the post. With 9:21 remaining, Jocelyne Larocque took a hooking penalty but the Canadians produced a key penalty kill. The United States was awarded a power play with 1:25 remaining. After producing some strong pressure in the offensive zone, Amanda Kessel scored with the American net empty, making it a 3-2 game with 13.5 seconds remaining. Canada would win the ensuing centre ice faceoff and the United States couldn’t generate another scoring opportunity, making it a 3-2 final. Canada entered the game with a 6-0 record in Beijing while the Americans were 5-1. The Canadians went 4-0 in the preliminary round, which included a 4-2 victory over the U.S. where Desbiens made 51 saves. Canada then went on to defeat Sweden 11-0 in the quarterfinals and Switzerland 10-3 in the semifinals to advance to the gold medal game.

From Mayor Sohi’s Desk By Lindsay Harvey Senior Media and Communications Manager Office of Mayor Amarjeet Sohi

Mayor Sohi calls on the provincial and federal government to support public transit through pandemic uncertainty. I want to tell the story of Qiping, a transit user of over 30 years. As a single mother with vision impairment, she knew the bus was her ticket to building a joyful life for her and her daughter. The number six bus was a gift that let Qiping get to her job as a food service worker, to her church, to appointments, and to live actively in her community. Now in her 70s, Qiping still takes the bus and continues to enjoy the autonomy that accessible, low-cost public transportation affords her. I love Qiping’s story because I know so many Edmontonians who share it.

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Mayor Amarjeet Sohi

We must protect transit services that so many Edmontonians rely on. But I am worried that without help from the provincial and federal governments, revenue shortfalls from lower transit ridership will have a lasting impact on those who depend on this service the most. When I started driving for Edmonton Transit in the early 1990s, I saw first-hand how transit is essential to the vitality of our city and the dignity of citizens like Qiping. Transit is critical to keep our workforce moving. In 2021, people employed full-time or part-time accounted for 65% of transit riders. Transit has proven to be an essential service throughout the pandemic for front line workers in healthcare, retail, service and construction sectors; students; parents getting kids to daycare and school; seniors getting their groceries and going to healthcare appointments. Nearly ⅓

of our riders are seniors or youth– two groups for whom driving is often not an option. Even though transit use has dropped off across Canada since March 2019, riders are starting to come back. In 2021, our ridership reached 58% of what it was before the pandemic and continues to trend upward. Despite those encouraging numbers, we will still have to cope with a projected $85.4 million shortfall over the next two years. We cannot resort to cutting route frequency, operational hours, or pulling money from other City services to make up for lower ridership. I know how damaging that would be for citizens. My City Council colleagues and I have weighed different options like increasing transit fare rates or raising property taxes to close the revenue gap. But we decided that squeezing the wallets of transit users, home owners, and businesses during a pandemic is not the solution. Unlike the federal and provincial governments, municipalities cannot run a deficit. This means that revenue shortfalls have to be reconciled every year even during a pandemic. Edmonton and many other cities have already passed 2022 municipal budgets making it urgent that other orders of government step up immediately to prevent unnecessary service reductions. That is why I am calling on the Government of Canada and Province of Alberta to commit funding in their upcoming budgets that will cover our revenue shortfalls to keep cities running. This is not an Edmonton issue alone. I am grateful to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and my fellow Big City Mayors for collaborating to tackle this and other issues critical to our citizens' health and quality of life. Cities are economic drivers that will jump-start Canada as we emerge from two frustrating and draining years. I believe a strong pandemic recovery starts with strong and reliable local public services. I know ETS is incredibly important to Edmontonians. I appreciate our neighbours and family members whose jobs require them to continue to go to work in person. And to all workers, regardless of if you take transit or not, thank you for keeping our city running. As your Mayor, it is my job to make sure the City supports your work and life so we can move forward together.

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Opinion | Educational

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

A Reflection on the Philippine Immigration Story JAN THE MAN’S NOTE

Januel Cedrick Ibasco Januel Ibasco is a proud FilipinoCanadian who is a current law student at the Thompson Rivers University’s Faculty of Law and a graduate of the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. Januel enjoys giving back to his community through volunteering for multiple not-for-profit organizations. In his free time, he also enjoys the outdoors as he is an avid golfer and hiker. He is a huge Oilers fan and loves to talk about anything sports!

ike many first-generation Filipino Canadians, I have been fortunate enough to have grown up in Canada and have taken advantage of the opportunities my parents were able to provide for me. As I have gotten older, I have come to realize the many sacrifices my parents made just to make a life here in Edmonton. When I speak about my family’s resilience to make it to Canada, I know that many immigrant

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 and British Columbia. He is a Volunteer and Advocates to help Filipino-Canadian Engineers to pursue their Professional Engineering licenses in Canada. For advice on a specific case in pursuing your application whether in ASET or APEGA, please email me at mmcereno@gmail.com.

I heard a lot of stories recently that many Filipinos are coming to Canada through the Student Permit pathway. Some of them are Engineers or their spouses are practicing engineers in the Philippines and were able to get an open work permit.

families have similar experiences and many continue to journey their way halfway across the world, just for a chance at a better quality of life. Receiving quality education in Canada is often one of the prime factors for Philippine immigrant families making their way here. As a degree in Canada is often recognized internationally, this is vital to be aware of because our parents are often coming to Canada with rigorous educational backgrounds in areas such as engineering, mathematics, and medicine – only to settle for low-skill minimum wage type jobs. Imagine that, your parents work hard in another country and have credentials and work experience to exemplify their qualifications to work a job, but then move to another country that does not recognize that at all. Most of the time, this sacrifice is so their children can attain a recognized education here in Canada. However, despite these challenges, it never surprises me when I see many individuals in the Filipino community willing to start from ground zero, re-educate themselves, and prove their worth in a system that calls for re-qualification. As I take the time to reflect about the little things I was able to experience growing up such as playing multiple sports a year, receiving educational support, and offering much of my time to volunteer work – I realize those little things were major parts of my life. These experiences granted me with lifelong memories and has shaped the type of person I am today.

Photo taken from Stock Images on Microsoft Word

Something that is always embodied in the transition of Philippine immigrant families is the continued importance of family once they arrive in Canada. This is important because in the western world here in North America, the mindset is focused on the individual and a focus on “me”. The Philippines, like many other countries across the world, have a collective mindset, where everything an individual does is for those around them, and their families. It is for “all of us”. They are willing to drop everything if its for the greater good of their

friends, families, and relatives. And as the Filipino-population continues to grow in Alberta and across the country, you see that on a daily basis, Filipino-individuals connecting with one another, first as strangers, then as family. From there, it almost feels like you are back at home in the Philippines. The only difference is that it is cold here! Furthermore, in the west, it’s considered normal to keep your head down, keep to yourself, and not acknowledge others in passing. However, that feeling of willingness

to meet others is something I take with me from my parents because there is so much power in the ability to make meaningful connections and form everlasting relationships with those you meet. I can go on and on about much of the Philippine immigration story. This was a little reflection on my gratitude for being a FilipinoCanadian and paying homage to all the Philippine immigrants that continue to embrace the beauty in the journey.

Can I Practice Engineering in Canada If I am not a Permanent Resident Yet? If they applied for membership to APEGA or any other Provincial Regulating Body of Jurisdiction, they can have a better chance of landing a job in their profession once these Regulating Bodies recognize their education and work experience. Starting the process of your Professional Licensing procedures in your home country as early as possible can save a lot of time and money. With the resources available online, everything can be done and some requirements that cannot be done online can be arranged accordingly when you land in Canada either as a student, open work permit holder or as a permanent resident. To be a Professional Member of APEGA, an applicant must satisfy all specific requirements. One of these requirements is proof of Canadian Citizenship or proof of Permanent Resident Status. If an Internationally Educated Engineer or Geoscientist intends to migrate to Canada and eventually has the intention to practice his/her profession – he/she can start applying and eventually can be eligible for Professional Licensee License. As defined by APEGA, if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent

resident, you can apply for professional membership. If you are neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident but still wish to independently practice engineering or geoscience in Alberta, you may be eligible for a Licensee license. Licensee is the designation APEGA can give to an individual who: •has met all academic and experience requirements for licensure in engineering or geoscience •is not yet a Canadian citizen A Licensee: •can independently practice engineering or geoscience in Alberta •is subject to the same ethical and practice standards as a Professional Engineer or Professional Geoscientist •must comply with the Continuing Professional Development requirements (As lifted from the APEGA website on the requirements for Licensing) An internationally-educated Engineer in Canada who is not yet a permanent resident can practice their profession in a limited capacity. Then, when you acquire your permanent resident status, the Professional Engineer designation status will take

automatically upon submission of the required documentation. Therefore, even before you arrive in Canada you can start applying for APEGA and eventually gaining the Licensee status. After satisfying the Citizenship or Permanent Residency Status requirement and the Work Experience requirement, you can eventually apply to be a Professional Member.

Th e typical timeframe to complete the process usually takes 6 to 12 months according to the APEGA website. But, it always depends on how and when you submit your application documents. In the previous issues of the Alberta Filipino Journal, I discussed the step-by-step procedure and the cost associated with it. Please refer to the AFJ website: (http://www.albertafilipinojournal. com/category/living/education/)

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

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Points of View | Religion| Filipino Proverb

Covid Pills & Family BEATITUDE: THE RIGHT ATTITUDE Luke 6:17,20-26 Doctor Solution MAKE OUR

lot of Canadians are skeptical about the move of Provincial Governments to finally lift Covid restrictions. In Alberta, Premier Jason Kenney has already announced it. Both Saskatchewan and Quebec are lifting restrictions as well. Am I happy to see this happen? Yes, indeed. It has been two years and we know a lot of information on the disease by now. Small to Medium sized businesses have suffered too long. A lot of them could not survive the last two years because of the restrictions and had to close shop. Too many people became unemployed because of the virus. The virus did not only affect small businesses and jobs, but also the mental health of a lot of people. We are hearing of a rise in depression, the worst outcome of which is suicide. It’s heartbreaking to see people dying because of the virus but we must also understand that there are others who died because they felt alone and depressed. So many people like to say let us follow the science. If science is so great, why can’t the greatest scientists stop this man-made virus? While the vaccines have been helpful in preventing the severity of infection, there are incidents where the vaccine was injected and it affected the quality of life of others. These people cannot even go after the manufacturers. So where is the check and balance here to protect people if they experience the side effects of the vaccine? Now, as the Provinces try to pivot away from Restrictions and Mandates, the question for a lot of people is how do we transition and make sure that during this time we do not overwhelm the hospitals? I believe we have to go back to the basics like how it was prepandemic. But first, I believe the Government has to flood the market with Covid pills. If these pills are already available for prescription, let the family doctors do their job. If the doctor determines the patient has Covid, then he can prescribe the

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.

pills. This way, the person can try to isolate and get better at home. By following this plan, it will help ease the pressure on our hospitals. They can also focus on other things like surgeries and other procedures. At the end of the day, we need to move away from restrictions and learn to live with Covid and get our freedom back. Let me know your thoughts on how we can finally end restrictions and get back our normal lives and not be like robots who just follow orders without understanding how harmful it can be to our body, our mental health and most of all, our freedom.

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Our Gospel for today speaks about the beatitudes. The beatitudes are the standards of God. The word beatitude literally inherited its blessedness from the Latin word beatus, meaning both "happy" and "blessed." In the Bible, the Beatitudes are a series of eight blessings—the invitation to a way of living that brings true happiness and supreme blessedness. Now, looking at each beatitude, it seems like it is illogical and unacceptable to think that being poor, hungry, weeping, hated, and persecuted are considered blessed. Right? In the eyes of the world, we take these as forms of misery and misfortune! Yet, in God’s eyes it is blessedness because being poor, hungry, rejected, and persecuted truly mirror and reflect who Jesus Christ is. Each beatitude begins with the word “blessed” (translated as extremely fortunate, welloff, extreme happiness) and it speaks of one as highly favoured by God. Friends, we are blessed if we are poor, hungry, weeping and insulted. Why? Because our only hope is the Lord. We are blessed because we take Jesus as a real source of our joy. Friends, money, food, possessions, or cars only bring temporal happiness. “All that is not eternal is eternally useless because what is essential is invisible to the eyes.” When we follow the Lord, we will never be poor. We will never be hungry. We will never be sad and that is our blessedness. There are eight beatitudes but today let me just highlight the first one: being poor. To be gifted with riches is a blessing. We have all the desires to live in abundance and prosperity. We aspire to have good health, a good job, good friends, and good sources of income. There is nothing wrong with being affluent because wealth is a grace and gift from God. God does not condemn rich people but God warned them of their attachment to their riches. It is not sinful to be rich. In fact, God wants us to live in prosperity. Being rich is a blessing. But replacing God with money makes it unacceptable

to our Lord. Friends, attachment to material riches is a dangerous attachment. Too much possessions will possess us. “If material things are what you mean about when you say ‘I am blessed’; then, you have no idea what blessing is.” Money cannot be a substitute for God. Challenge: Today, use your money to help people. Don’t use people to make more money. If we want to be extremely happy, live simply. “Blessed are the poor of spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Friends, be careful of the non-economic use of money. Money can make people selfish and greedy. Money can destroy relationships. It can break marriages. It can ruin people’s integrity. Money can be a pathway to damnation and hell. Let us be careful because the devil is very clever. He will help us accumulate temporary wealth so that we will forget God. Woe to us if we fall into the trap of the devil. In this world, the rich men are on the top and those who are poor are at the bottom. But in the kingdom of God there will be a reversal if you despise the poor because of your possessions. Friends, the coming of the kingdom turns everything upside down. Today, let us ask the

DAILY GOSPEL READING TRENDING Like it and share it!

Fr. Jhack Diaz 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.

Lord to give us the grace not to be materialistic but to live according to His plans and designs. Blessings, Fr. Jhack

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

By August, Galvez sees face-to-face classes in all levels National Action Plan on COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez says the government aims to vaccinate 100% of all students, teachers, and other school workers under the DepEd by August. The government sees face-to-face classes resuming in all levels by August “As long as the health protocols are followed, social distance spacing; and the ventilation in classrooms are fixed

ahead, the classes may start in the new normal,” he said. Galvez was in Zamboanga City on Tuesday to check its vaccination sites, and see how it has started inoculating children, five to 11 years old. The Department of Education (DepEd) recorded no infection among children who participated in face-to-face classes in schools pilot-tested. Galvez also said that

of the more than 10,000 children who first got inoculated, only four children showed “very, very minor side effects.” But the minimum public health standards set by the government such as wearing face masks and physical distancing would remain even when the face-to-face classes begin also a need to check on classroom ventilation concerns.

As DOH eyes shift to “new normal”, dropping face mask “still iffy”

s the spread of COVID-19 continues to slow down after an Omicron-fueled surge, the government is eyeing to transition to the “new normal” there are no plans yet; or even a discussion on whether to drop the mandatory use of face masks. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the NTF and the DOH are in the process of formulating the new normal roadmap, guidelines

which are expected to be presented to President Rodrigo Duterte in early March. This would be implemented if the country is placed under the least restrictive Alert Level 1. This was seconded by vaccine czar and National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., saying that wearing face masks is still “very essential” in the fight against severe respiratory

disease. “Until we finally declare that Covid 19 is totally eliminated masking is our final defense. It would be the last thing that we will remove. Voluntary masking may happen if the health crisis is over, meaning that the COVID-19 threat is completely eliminated and the situation is already back to normal.” He added. Health Secretary Francisco Duque also said that the idea of no longer requiring the use of face masks is “still iffy.”

Duque: NCR possible under Alert Level 1, de-escalation by March Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Metro Manila will likely de-escalate to Alert Level 1 in the first week of March depending on the capital region's establishments both public and private sector level of compliance with the government's safety seal certification program which will have to be assessed Feb. 17, 2022, Thursday. The objective of the program "is to ensure that all establishments will have very minimal or low to no risk for those who will enter those establishments. The positivity rate in Metro Manila is now at 6.8%, inching closer to 5% or below the benchmark set by the World Health Organization, OCTA Research fellow Guido David said. The positivity rate will continue to go down over the next few weeks and we can safely say that we will reach 5% by March 1, that's the lowest level while we are in a state

of a public health emergency. Once the President lifts the state of a public health emergency, the alert leveling will be set aside," Duque said, noting that the scheme will only be brought back once a new and potentially threatening COVID-19

variant enters the country. Metro Manila and some areas will still be under Alert Level 2 until the end of February, while the government observes how recent gatherings and political activities will affect the next COVID-19 figures, Duque added.

PRRD institutionalizes National ID as proof of identity Filipino citizens and resident aliens may now use their national IDs to prove their age and identity in all government and private transactions with President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent Executive order 162, signed on Feb. 14. 2022 but only released publicly this Wednesday, institutionalizes the acceptance of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) ID and PhilSys Number (PSN) in such transactions as official proof of identity and age. The order also directs covered agencies to inform the public of these amendments, while private entities are enjoined to do likewise regarding similar changes in their identification requirements. They may be presented instead of a birth certificate in applications www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

for the likes of marriage license, student’s driver’s permit or conductor’s license, the Professional Regulation Commission, and those relative to voter’s registration. Unless otherwise provided by law, the presentation of the PhilID, PSN, or PSN Derivative, as authenticated, shall be sufficient

proof of identification and of all other personal details stated therein, without need for presentation of other identification documents. This may also be used when enrolling at public and private schools or registering for the Philippine Educational Placement Test, the EO stated.

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

Education | Government Update

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

BAKIT FILIPINO, NOT TAGALOG?

Josephine Pallard jepallard@gmail.com

ilipino Language is the National Language designated along with English as an Official Language of the Philippines. Filipino language is a Standardized Variety of the Tagalog Language, as an Austronesian Regional Language that is widely spoken by over 45 million, which is about one-third of the Philippine Population. There are over 175 living languages originating and spoken by various ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines. The Five Major Languages spoken are: Visayan, Kapampangngan, Panggasinan, Ilocano and Tagalog. In November 09, 1937, the Institute of National Language

recommended TAGALOG to be the basis of the National Language. President Manuel Quezon issued Executive Order No. 134 approving the adoption, and proclaimed that the National Language be based on the TAGALOG Language on the following basis: 1. Tagalog is widely spoken and is the most understood language in the Philippines. 2. Tagalog is not divided into smaller DAUGHTER LANGUAGES, as the Visayas is. 3. Tagalog has always been the Language of Manila, the country’s Political and Economic Centre during the Spanish and American Colonization Eras. 4. Spanish was the language of the 1896 Revolution; but was led by Katipunan Tagalog speaking leaders. In 1960, there was the RISE of the PURIST MOVEMENT, where the Tagalog speakers wanted Tagalog spoken without any use of borrowed or loaned words from other sources such as Spanish, English, and Malayan languages. This sparked criticism and resulted in the campaign against the Tagalog language by the other language groups who claimed INCLUSIVENESS. This Anti-Purist group led by Congressman Geruncio Lacuesta brought in the “MODERNIZING

the LANGUAGE APPROACH MOVEMENT ( MOLAM )” and promoted “MANILA LINGUA FRANCA“ which encouraged the INCLUSIVITY of LOANED WORDS from other foreign and local languages, thus replacing the BALARILA with GRAMATICA ng WIKANG FILIPINO, and replacing the 20-letter ABAKADA with the 32-letter Alphabet.

The National Language Issue was revived once more during the 1971 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, and in 1976, the CONSTITUTION designated English and Pilipino as Official Languages of the Philippines, and provided for the development and formal adoption of the COMMON NATIONAL LANGUAGE, termed FILIPINO to replace PILIPINO. This tasked the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY to: Take

A Step toward the Development and Formal Adoption of a Common National language to be known as FILIPINO, not TAGALOG. Presently, it is an issue around the world whether to use our mother tongue language vs. the national language to preserve the heritage language of the country. Footnote: Acknowledgement of Resources from Robert John O. Robas

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Points of View | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

Catching up on Insufficient Sex Education By: Giselle General

s someone in their 30s who immigrated to Canada as a teenager, I experienced many of the milestones that teens and young adults go through relatively recently. These milestones include dating, getting married, taking full-on responsibility for my health, and working on things that make me happy and healthy. It’s with sadness, and also horror, that I realized that not having sufficient sex education from growing up in the Philippines is not only problematic, but also dangerous. The danger is not just in terms of physical health, but also in terms of relationships. A few things I’m catching up on are the following: Diseases: I wish I learned earlier about sexually transmitted diseases and especially what activities cause them to happen. The idea that people can have sex with multiple people, which can lead to a disease spreading didn’t even occur to me even after dating here in Canada, which started for me at 17. I remember there immense awkwardness of conversations regarding genitals. I don’t remember learning about other potential medical issues such as cervical, ovarian cancer or PCOS. It didn’t occur to me that fertility issues can be caused by either the woman or the man. I still have a lot to learn about the real-life physical symptoms and implications of menopause. As someone married to a man, I took it upon myself to learn more about potential diseases that I will likely not have, so I can better support my spouse if they happen to him. Imagine my surprise when I learned about testicular cancer and testicular torsion! Medical Procedures: Growing up, I learned what happens during certain procedures like getting your tooth pulled during a dentist appointment, a blood test or an X-ray. But the first time I was booked for an ultrasound due to stomach pain was a different story. During the appointment, I thought that the procedure would be similar to what pregnant women experience, with the scanner going over the top of my belly. But there were two additional methods. I was told to lay on

my belly then the scanner went over my waist and my back. And the most shocking one to me was the ultrasound wand (that looks like a long stick) going into my vaginal canal! As a 20-year-old, that caught me by surprise. The first time my doctor booked me for a pap smear was also shocking until I got used to it. Identifying harmful and abusive activities: As someone who was sexually abused as a minor, this is the one that hit me the hardest. I realized, if high school students were given straightforward, scientifically accurate, and real-life practical information on how people have intercourse, I would have known sooner that what I was subjected to was sexual abuse. Had I been taught during puberty that sexual activities should be safe, sane, and consensual between the people involved, I would have been able to identify earlier what was happening to me, and realize “wait, this is not safe and not consensual, I should report this to the authorities.” Now, after a lot of selfdirected learning, when I hear a scandal in the news that someone was sexually assaulted and the details are explained, I know exactly what that means. Personal preferences and preventative measures: Preventative measures are so awkward to pursue because of the ingrained notion that our private parts are dirty or should not be paid attention to. But in order to be healthy and content in our adult lives and relationships, this is very important. From contraception, doing self-checks to detect cancer and infections, or not feeling ashamed to seek medical help when something is painful, all of this is just as important as caring for the other parts of our body like our eyes, our lungs or our teeth. Thankfully there are a lot of resources, books and publications that try to share information on these topics, and I strive to have these conversations with my husband. I hope that, for the reasons I listed above and more, that adults like me decide to take ownership and catch up as well. And I hope that kids and teens these days have better resources taught in school.

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Community | Business

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

MIGRANTS' VOICES

Migrants Townhall Meeting: Calling on MPs to address the migrant crisis

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.

he national alliance of migrant’s groups, the Migrants Rights Network (MRN) organized a virtual town hall meeting on January 30th. There were approximately 200 participants that joined the Zoom virtual town hall meeting, which was also live streamed on Facebook. Migrant workers and advocates spoke about their experiences in working and living conditions, and how these became increasingly precarious due to the global pandemic. Advocates also talked about the work their organizations have been doing. Speakers came from different organizations across the country including Migrante Alberta, Immigrant Workers Centre in Quebec, No One is Illegal Halifax, the Vancouver

Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights. These organizations are part of the MRN. Syed Hussan, Executive Director of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC) discussed the demands of MRN to the members of Parliament (MPs). These demands call for full and permanent immigration status for all migrants. Hussan stressed how the pandemic exposed the conditions of migrant workers. In the midst of this pandemic, many migrant workers do not qualify for federal income support and struggle to access testing and vaccines. The number of migrant workers has continued to grow since 2000, when there were approximately 60,000 work permits issued. And in 2021 there were half a million issued. At the same time, the number of permanent residents that were approved only increased at the rate of 5.2%, the increase in the population.

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In Alberta, the crises migrants have faced increased in the last two years. The Provincial government shut down the issuance of the Labour Market Impact Assessments. That means that no employer can hire a foreign worker in Alberta except for certain sectors. On the other hand MRN have led effective campaigns and mobilization across Canada that resulted in the prevention of the deportation of students, post graduate work permits were extended as well as access to other interim programs. There were five migrants who discussed their issues. Ena, a care worker, talked about how their employer was dependent on work permits, and how they lost their jobs when their employers lost their own jobs due to the pandemic. She also mentioned the backlog which resulted in years of waiting for the result of their application. Many workers like Ena who have applied for permanent

resident status face long delays in processing their applications which means extended family separation. Her message to the Trudeau government is that the work that care workers do, looking after children, seniors and people with special needs, is essential and permanent and they demand nothing less than full and permanent status. An international student, Abu Hena, talks about how students pay huge amounts in tuition fees but are restricted to working only 20 hours a week. He was forced to abandon his studies altogether when the pandemic hit. This means he has lost his study permit and therefore has no health insurance. Last year the government made a one-time exception and allowed post graduate students to renew their work permits but it was filled almost instantly and is no longer in effect. He said that “permanent resident status is not a gift, it’s a human right and the government

should act now to end the injustice to foreign workers and students”. Another speaker, refugee claimant Teresa, was working in long-term care. She said that governments have neglected long-term care homes and their residents for years. Covid-19 made the situation much worse with workers not given what they needed to work safely. Their facilities are often short-staffed and being forced to work long shifts of 16 or even 24 hours straight. To the government, she says, “It is simple. We want status for all, we want the government to not exploit us, to give us what is rightfully ours.” The town hall meeting ended with a showing of creative posters, chanting, and calling and leaving messages to the government. They were also asking participants to continue the campaign and advocacy in their respective cities by putting up posters of the MRN campaign.

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Community | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of MCN Canada Immigration Consulting Inc., we distributed food packs to 305 families in Brgy. Batasan, Tubigon, Bohol, Philippines who were affected by Typhoon Odette. A Thanksgiving Blessing was officiated by Father Jhack Diaz. We are grateful for the many clients, mentors and the ever-supportive community that have made the journey possible. We will look forward to and will endeavor to keep doing better to serve you in your immigration needs! Thank you so much! Maraming Salamat po. Daghan kaayong salamat! To God Be The Glory!

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

Points of View | Government Update

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Review of the book “Coming to Canada, The Ultimate Success Guide for New Immigrants and Travelers” GENERAL POINT OF VIEW

Giselle General gqgeneral@gmail.com Giselle General came from the cold, mountainous region of 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.

n this special edition of our Community Resource Article, I’ll be focusing on just one resource, a book titled Coming to Canada, The Ultimate Success Guide for New Immigrants and Newcomers, by Chidi Iwuchukwu. Chidi is a fellow Edmontonian who lives in the West End. I met Chidi during my campaigning days for the Edmonton Municipal Election in 2021. I personally haven’t read any newcomer-related guidebooks since I came to Canada in 2007. As a teenager who was then overwhelmed with adjusting to life here, I was focused on getting by day by day. What got me curious about this book is that it is written by a fellow immigrant who came from a different country. I wondered how much of his advice and insights would be applicable to newcomers from different countries of origin. I’d like to share the various things I appreciate about it. First, is that the book is brief and an easy read. The chapters are short and upon looking at the Table of Contents, it looks like a practical checklist. I think that if someone were to receive this book overseas, six months before coming to Canada, it would be very helpful. Chapters 1 – 4 are well organized, with tasks that

are explained in a straightforward manner, including essential tasks within the first week. For me, the best parts are the explanations on why these tasks are important. And while it sounds like a no-brainer, I appreciate him adding a very important piece of advice which is to “stay alive”. The book doesn’t claim to have exact advice on what to do in one’s particular situation but it helps spur awareness on many aspects of living in Canada that might catch a newcomer by surprise. I think this is why I felt this book could be universal for newcomers regardless of country of origin. Chapter 5 – 8 talk about work culture in Canada, driving and transportation, marriage, and parenting. Numerous nuggets of information that one can describe as harsh but true, are conveyed in a manner that is honest and still encouraging. There is a good balance in how tactfully these realities are conveyed, without crushing the esteem of the reader. I came to Canada as a teenager so I definitely agree that many immigrant families struggle with adjusting and supporting their children as they navigate these crucial chapters in a young person’s life. The pressure of

needing to survive and being exposed to a new environment can also take a toll on relationships, whether it is between spouses or between different generations. Mental health, trauma, sexual relationships and cultural clashes are mentioned in the book, which I think is amazing as these should not be neglected. The book also recommends the reader to go out and seek resources to find the exact information or help they need, whether it is from newcomer organizations or searching for online resources. Encouraging this has two

immense benefits. First, it encourages the reader to familiarize themselves with their local environment by reading relevant resources and joining local groups. Second, it helps with the longevity of this print material by not including information that could be outdated after a few months. As someone who is involved in the community and has been in Canada for a while, I really appreciate Chapter 10. Many newcomers are very communityoriented and politically active before coming to Canada. The first few years can be so challenging, focusing on survival and staying heathy and paying bills. But a great sign of integrating more in our new home is by getting connected and involved, socially and politically. This chapter also serves as a beacon of hope to the reader, that this level of integration and connection is achievable and worth pursuing. Overall this book is really good and I highly recommend it to others. For anyone who wants to order this book you can learn about it from this link here https://chidiiwuchukwu. company.site/

Help shape Calgary’s next four years Give us your input until March 7 The City of Calgary is working on plans and budgets for 2023-2026 to deliver the services you value in our community. Tell us what’s important to you so we can invest in the services that matter the most. engage.calgary.ca/yourservices 21-0014214: ADV-12466 21-0014214: ADV-12466

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Beauty and Health | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

`Taking care of self is more than wellness to me’, says SkinLueur’s Chora Moarae

SkinLueur Aesthetics and Laser Centre CEO Chum Ardaniel (left) with one of SkinLueur's models, Chora Moarae Smith. (Photo by Moses Billacura/AFJ)

Chora carries the Canadian-made Monter Skin Care line of products.(Photo by E&W Production)

By Moses Billacura

Spotted! Yes. That’s what happened, a few years back. Spotted, in a good and charming way. SkinLueur Aesthetics and Laser Centre CEO Chum Ardaniel “spotted” Chora Moarae Smith at an event where SkinLueur was one of the sponsors and from there on, a friendship was built. Pre-pandemic, Chora started to consult with Doc Chum on SkinLueur’s services, a bit curious at first and went to the clinic’s previous location along 51 Avenue. (SkinLueur eventually moved to a bigger clinic space at 5924 104 Street NW) SkinLueur has started its acquisition of the latest and top of the line equipment for body contouring, and Chora decided to try. Doc Chum has proudly been telling her clients that they have been, and will be, true to their word of providing “professional skin care solutions with proven results”. Aside from the equipment, SkinLueur has also taken care of their client’s skin with their Monter Skin Care products. But for Chora, coming to SkinLueur has become more of self-care. “It has become more important to take care of ourselves these days. It’s more than wellness to me,” said Chora citing how the pandemic has changed many lives of those living in Edmonton and surrounding areas. “We have to keep our body and mind, sound,” added the Stanhope Eatery and Bar staff, who loves photography, biking and hiking and has even started to learn snowboarding and skating. Some may consider it “vanity”, but Chora said “self-care” at SkinLueur can help a lot these days.

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

Business

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

OFFERS THAT WILL GIVE YOU CHILLS LEXUS

LEXUS

Signature Package Shown

Executive Package Shown

2022 RX 350 AWD

2022 NX 300 LEASE APR

LEXUS

LEASE APR

BI-WEEKLY LEASE PAYMENT FROM

F Sport Package Shown

2022 UX 250h AWD

BI-WEEKLY LEASE PAYMENT FROM

LEASE APR

BI-WEEKLY LEASE PAYMENT FROM

4.9% $268*

2.9% $288*

3.9% $228*

39 MONTHS

36 MONTHS

39 MONTHS

DOWN PAYMENT $6,071*

DOWN PAYMENT $7,935*

DOWN PAYMENT $5,645*

*Offers valid until February 28, 2022

THE REDESIGNED 2022 LEXUS NX IS HERE ORDER YOURS NOW! The redesigned 2022 Lexus NX ushers in a new era of luxury with class-leading innovations in electrified powertrains, infotainment, driving dynamics, styling, and safety. Its long-list of Lexus firsts range from a Plug-in Hybrid-Electric powertrain to an all-new Lexus Interface multimedia system – including a virtual assistant – to Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, and so much more. ALL-NEW FEATURES. ALL-NEW DESIGN.

VIP AMENITIES Choice of Courtesy Vehicle, Chauffeur, or Valet pick-up

Airport Lexus Preferred Parking

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Luxury Spa

Meet Herby

Complimentary Breakfast

VIP access to Lexus Events

TEXT ME

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EMAIL ME ifernandez@lexusofedmonton.ca

Ian Fernandez Director of Filipino Sales

*Representative lease example based on a 2022 Lexus IS 300 AWD sfx ‘P’ on a 39 month term at an annual rate of 4.9% and Complete Lexus Price of $48,336. Bi-weekly payment is $258 with $6,384 down payment or equivalent trade in, $0 security deposit and first monthly payment due at lease inception. Total of 84 bi-weekly lease payments required during the lease term. Total lease obligation is $28,201. 52,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.20/km for excess kilometres. *Representative lease example based on a 2022 Lexus NX 250 AWD sfx ‘A’ on a 39 month term at an annual rate of 4.9% and Complete Lexus Price of $50,787. Bi-weekly payment is $268 with $6,071 down payment or equivalent trade in, $0 security deposit and first monthly payment due at lease inception. Total of 84 bi-weekly lease payments required during the lease term. Total lease obligation is $28,717. 52,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.20/km for excess kilometres. *Representative lease example based on a 2022 Lexus RX 350 AWD sfx ‘P’ on a 39 month term at an annual rate of 2.9% and Complete Lexus Price of $60,887. Bi-weekly payment is $288 with $7,935 down payment or equivalent trade in, $0 security deposit and first monthly payment due at lease inception. Total of 84 bi-weekly lease payments required during the lease term. Total lease obligation is $32,271. 52,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.20/km for excess kilometres. *Representative lease example based on a 2022 Lexus UX 250h AWD sfx ‘P’ on a 39 month term at an annual rate of 3.9% and Complete Lexus Price of $44,133. Bi-weekly payment is $228 with $5,645 down payment or equivalent trade in, $0 security deposit and first monthly payment due at lease inception. Total of 84 bi-weekly lease payments required during the lease term. Total lease obligation is $24,911. 52,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.20/km for excess kilometres. Complete Lexus Price includes Freight/PDI ($2,145), Tire Tax ($20), Filters ($1.9), AC Tax ($100), Dealer Fees ($849), Block Heater ($265), and AMVIC Fee ($6.3). License, insurance, registration (if applicable), and taxes are extra. Lexus Dealers are free to set their own prices. Limited time offers only apply to retail customers at participating Lexus Dealers. Dealer order/trade may be required (but may not be available in certain circumstances). Offers are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Offers are effective beginning February 1st, 2022, and expire on February 28th, 2022, unless extended or revised. See your Lexus Dealer for complete details

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Legal Services | Community | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

Saskatchewan RCMP’s Advisory to Locate Minor Sarah Jackson, Daughter of a Filipino National

he Philippine Consulate General in Calgary wishes to inform the public about the advisory of the Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on its continuing search for Mr. Michael Gordon Jackson and his daughter, Sarah Jackson, as found on this link: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/news/2022/ saskatchewan-rcmp-request-public-assistancelocating-michael-gordon-jackson For the information of the public, seven-year-old Sarah is the daughter of Ms. Mariecar Jackson, a Filipino national living in Regina, Saskatchewan. Ms. Jackson is divorced from Mr. Jackson. Ms. Jackson last saw her daughter on 10 November 2021 when her former husband picked her up for a courtsupervised visit. Ms. Jackson has not seen her daughter since then. According to the RCMP, Mr. Jackson is wanted in relation to a 21 January 2022 charge laid of abduction in contravention of custody or parenting order, contrary to Section 282(1) of the Criminal Code. The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary shares the appeal of the RCMP and Ms. Jackson for the public to provide them with any information or leads that would help authorities find Sarah so she can be reunited with her mother. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Mr. Michael Gordon Jackson or his daughter Sarah Jackson are requested to call the Saskatchewan RCMP at 310-RCMP (7267) or (306) 780-5563. Information can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1‐800‐222‐TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

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

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Easy and Delicious Quinoa Salad

love quinoa salad. It became a staple in my kitchen not only because it is healthy and delicious, but also because it is easy to make using simple ingredients that are commonly available in our kitchen or easy to find in the grocery store.

KUSINA DIARIES

Leonila Samarita samleonila@gmail.com Leonila learned to take life in stride after realizing that life truly is what we make it. She believes that life, in every moment, brings opportunities for us to be better or do better. She is grateful. Finds joy in everything she does. She loves her life.

Kitchen Tips | Business

1 large bunch of cilantro, finely chopped (can substitute parsley) 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped ¼ cup chopped red onion 2 cloves garlic, minced ¼ cup lemon juice 1/3 cup olive oil 1 ½ tsp salt My family and friends love it too. It can be eaten on its ½ tsp ground black pepper own any time of the day, and is great for picnics, baon for ¼ cup sliced or slivered almonds lunch at work or something you would be proud to bring to your next potluck. What to do: 1. To cook quinoa, place it in a fine mesh Why eat quinoa? strainer and rinse it in running water. Put it Quinoa is a good source of complete plant-based protein. in a medium pot with 3 cups of water. Add It provides all nine essential amino acids—the building ¾ tsp salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a blocks of proteins, and proteins are the building blocks of all tissues in your body. It is rich in insoluble fiber which helps reduce the risk of diabetes and improves gut health. Quinoa is also a good source of antioxidants and minerals such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. Cooked quinoa contains about 20% carbs with low glycemic index, which helps avoid a rapid spike in blood sugar. High-glycemic foods are linked to obesity. The salad is a complete meal on its own. It is packed with vitamins and minerals plus a whole lot more coming from the other healthy ingredients, which include cucumber, tomatoes, cilantro, bell pepper, onion, olive oil, and almonds. You’ll get the proteins your body needs. The carbs and the fibre which are higher in quinoa than most other grains can fill you up longer than if you eat white or brown rice. This is also a gluten-free recipe. So go ahead and try this. You won’t regret it. What you need: 1 ½ cups uncooked quinoa (can combine white and colored or use plain white) 3 cups water 1 big English cucumber, chopped 2 large tomatoes, chopped

gentle simmer, uncovered. Cook for about 15 minutes or until quinoa has absorbed all the water. Remove from heat and cover for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork after and allow to cool. 2. In a large bowl, combine garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and ¾ tsp salt. Whisk until blended. 3. Add quinoa and the rest of the chopped ingredients. Toss until thoroughly combined. Season with more salt and black pepper to taste. 4. Let salad rest for 10 mins before serving. 5. Sprinkle with almonds just before serving. Enjoy!

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Editorial | Business | Heroism

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

PILIPINAS: Pili at Pino ang tawag sa nagmamalasakit sa’yo. (PHILIPPINES: The Chosen and Modest are those who truly care about you). Lito Mendoza Velasco

ung ang lupain ng Pilipinas ay akma para sa agrikultura, nararapat lamang na ito ang pagtuunan ng pansin at pagyamanin ng mga mamamayan. Kung saka-sakali naman na makakita kayo diyan sa Pilipinas na isang kandidato na ang focus ay akma sa kalagayan ng mga lupaing nabanggit, siya ay bonus na lamang kung sakaling manalo sa darating na halalan. Baka naman makatulong nga ang kanyang programa para sa pangsakahan at pangkabuhayan. Sa kapanahunang ito, mas kailangan ng bansang Pilipinas ng pagkain. Iyan ang pangunahin. Pangalawa ang pagkalusugan. At pangatlo ang seguridad sa pamamagitan ng pagtatalaga ng mga armado at disiplinadong alagad ng batas. Uulitin ko, armado, subalit displinado; hindi abusadong alagad ng batas. Tandaan, ang taong hindi nagkulang sa pagkain ay malusog at ang malusog na pag-iisip ay batay sa katawang malusog. Maayos kumilos at makisama ang taong malusog ang pag-iisip. Hindi siya mag-iisip na magnakaw o manlamang o mainggit sa kapwa kung siya ay busog. Dahil ang busog ay kuntento at di naliligaw sa

Sino kaya sa inyo?

pagkakaintindi ng kanyang pag-iral. At iyon ay: “kumain para mabuhay; hindi iyong, mabuhay para kumain ng kumain.” Kung kaya naman, maging sino ka man, pakatandaan, buong ingat na ipagkatiwala ang inyong mga boto sa darating na halalan 2022.

Unahin ang dapat unahin. Isunod ang dapat kasunod. Bawiin ang dapat bawiin o ibalik ang dapat ibalik. Magtanim ng magtanim upang bukas makalawa ay may aanihin at kakainin! Tingnan din ninyo ang aspektong ito: Masama ba ang pagiging diktador? Oo masama ito. Kung ang ipinapatupad o ipinapagawa ay makasisira sa kalikasan ng tao at kapaligiran. Hindi ito masama kung makabubuti sa kapakanang pantao at pangkalikasan. Halimbawa: Kung ang anak mo ay papasok na sa unang baitang o grade 1, kung ako ang gobyerno, ididikta ko sa’yo na

magtanim ka ng 3 punong kahoy sa tabi ng ilog o sa itinalagang lugar na pwedeng pagtaniman. Mahalagang pangalagaan mo ang tatlong punong kahoy na iyan bilang isang magulang na may pinag-aaral na anak. Dahil, hindi ko bibigyan ng sertipiko ng pagtatapos ang grade 12 mong anak o mga anak kapag hindi mo nagawang buhayin at payabungin ang punong-kahoy na iyong itinanim noong ang anak mo ay grade 1 pa lamang. Ngayon, isipin ninyo: Masama ba ang ipinatulad ko? Masama ba ang idinikta ko? Masama bang makita ang isang Pilipinas sa luntian niyang

kapaligiran? Masama bang makita na ang mga kabukiran ay mayaman sa halaman? Masama bang makita na ang malalawak na lupain na dati-rati mong ipinagdadamot o ipinagkakait ay hinayaan mong mapagtaniman ng mga malalaking punong kahoy na hahadlang sa tagtuyot, tagbaha? Masama bang makita na sa Pilipinas ay kinikilala ng muli hindi dahil sa mga dayuhang negosyante; kundi dahil sa nakita mong kahalagahan ng mayamang lupa na sa bawatFilipino ay napaka-importante? Maging masusi, maingat, at matalino sa pagboto upang ang ating bansa ay tuluyang umasenso!

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!

Pio Traballo, Supply Chain and Operations University of Alberta Hospital

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Marichu Tucay, Environmental Service Worker University of Alberta Hospital

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

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Business |

THE BIRTH OF A NEW FILIPINO-CANADIAN CLAN: The Association of Friendly Filipino-Canadians of Edmonton (TAFFCE) By Dindo Tipon

President (middle right), Vilma Kinasewich - Secretary (5th to the left, Amor Bihis-Quedado - Asst. Secretary (4th to the left), Rowena Lao - Treasurer (middle left), Maria Hathaway - Asst. Treasurer (6th to the left), Romy Lapak - Auditor (4th to the right), Hermo Pagtakhan - PRO (2nd to the right), Manny Aviles - Sargeant-At-Arms (5th to the left), Teddy Angeles - SargeantAt-Arms (not in the picture).

n December 18, 2021, the oath taking of officers for the newly founded organization called The Association of Friendly Filipino-Canadians of Edmonton (TAFFCE) was held at Palabok House. It was also the first Christmas party of the Association attended by several guests from different organizations. It was a night full of dancing, gift giving, 50/50, and raffles. Sspomitapi Ward Councillor Hon. Jo-Anne Wright (1st to the right) inducted the oath taking ceremony assisted by Hon. Jasvir Deol - MLA for Edmonton-Meadows (1st to the left) and witnessed by Mr. Jun Angeles (TAFFCE adviser and COPA President, 2nd to the left), Leticia Malbog-Tria (TAFFCE Adviser, 3rd to the left), and Pompei Quedado (TAFFCE Adviser, not in the picture). TAFFCE was established to promote camaraderie among FilipinoEdmontonians, to help and support fellow Edmontonians through outreach programs, especially those that assist the needy and destitute, and to create a cultural and recreational program for the elderly. The new set of officers, who took an oath and will serve for two years, are as follows:

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Arts and Culture | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

Kalinga (Care): the Filipino Caregivers’ Stories ARTOSPECTIVE - an artist’s point of view

Ida Beltran-Lucila ida_b_lucila@yahoo.com

n the various waves of migration of Filipinos to Canada, one of the most heartbreaking stories is the

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Caregiver Program stream, which singled out Canada for offering permanent residency after a successful completion of work. This stream has resulted in migrants leaving thriving careers, abandoning professional and educational pursuits, and longterm parent-child separation while allowing Canadian family employers freedom within their respective family care. That, in the objective of providing a better future for the family, one has to leave their loved ones behind. This is the focus of Kalinga (Care), a documentary on Filipino caregivers in Vancouver, written and directed by Kent Donguines, and co-produced with Robin Macabulos. This 29-minute documentary was pitched and completed through Telus Storyhive, has been going around the film festival circuit, and is supported by Story Money Impact, “in creating

strategies, building partnerships and organizing screenings designed to educate and expand audience understanding of the social issues of the film”. This film was also a personal process for Kent, as it made him reflect and understand his mother’s decision to leave them when he was six years old, to be a nanny for another family abroad. It explores the concept of “If caregivers and nannies take care of other people, who takes care of them?” A project that started from an impulse to go around the Filipino community and conduct interviews, the film has generated traction beyond Kent and Robin’s expectations. Aside from the successful pitches with Storyhive and Story Money Impact, Kalinga has received several recognition: Kathleen Shannon Award by the National Film Board of Canada; Honourable Mention for Short Film in Hawaii Film Festival; nominations for Best Documentary and Chilliwack Spirit Award at the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival; nominations for Best Multicultural Short Film and Best Director Non Fiction at the Yorkton Film Festival; and official selection at the DOXA Documentary Film Festival, Whistler Film Festival, and Toronto International Film Festival. Kalinga will also be playing in Air Canada as part of their in-flight entertainment. In all these, Kent has seen the impact the film has had on the community, how it had been cathartic for the interviewees and his own story as well, and how it can be a vehicle to create change in Canada’s care industry which can be subjected to exploitative practices. Kent’s entry into the creative industry was when he held a camera as a Grade 4 boy, and was entered into a photography competition. His grandmother was then an avid photographer. He finished his Communications degree at the University of the Philippines, and worked with Viva Entertainment and Star Cinema, before moving

to Ottawa in 2015. He then moved to the west for a scholarship offer at the Vancouver Film School. It is here where Kent and Robin met Kent was then a teaching assistant in one of Robin’s classes. Robin, on the other hand, is a Business Marketing graduate of the University of Asia & Pacific who moved to Canada in 2016, and studied at the Vancouver Film School, focusing on the business and logistics side of film production. He currently works with Creative BC, and collaborates with Kent via Aimer Films together with Maxime Beauchamp. In 2021, Kent was one of CBC Playback’s 10 to Watch, which highlights 10 emerging creatives in the film/broadcast industry for their innovative works and prominent voices. Jayme Pfahl, a senior instructor at Vancouver Film School and Kent’s mentor, says in another interview about Kent, “...His gut instinct is why his voice is so strong. He believes in people and the good in humanity and this shines through in all his projects. They are often centred around outsiders – the underdogs, the misunderstood, the fringes of humanity – and at their core, all these stories have an authentic beating heart. I believe audiences are looking for that authenticity in storytelling, and I feel this is what Kent brings to the table.” Kent’s other works include: Netflix’s Filipino film First Love; the

kent donguines

robin macabulos

continued on page 23

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

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL from page 22

CBC short documentary The Ink Runs Deep, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and won Best Documentary in Calgary; the music video Iridescence; Catwalk; Small Fish (Crazy8s film), and Grey. He was one of five Canadian producers selected for the prestigious 2020 Canadian Film Centre Producers Lab, the Hot Docs Doc Accelerator Program, the Canadian Film Centre’s Producers Lab, the Netflix-Banff Diversity of Voices Program, and a finalist in the 2017 Whistler Film Festival Power Pitch Competition. Taking into account the shortage of FilipinoCanadian representation both in front and behind the camera, Kent and Robin resolve to be a medium for Filipino and other under-represented voices on screen, and to work with young and promising creatives in Canada and the Philippines. Kent has just finished another Filipino immigrant story and is working on a feature length documentary “Treasure of the Rice Terraces”, about fixing a fractured identity through traditional Filipino tattoos, with National Living Treasure Awardee Whang-Od, the last and oldest mambabatok (traditional Kalinga tattoo). I asked these two young men, whose passion in their mission and craft are so palpable and are being recognized for their work, what their guiding principles are. For Robin, it is about patience, trusting the process, and the thinking that if you are passionate about it, it’s going to happen. Kent believes in the ripple theory of change - of thinking about one as a droplet of water, how are you going to influence the people around you and the community. This thinking has always been tied to his grandmother’s saying: positive people do not put others down. The only way we can survive is when the people you work with enjoy working with you. Try your best not to step on anyone’s toes, be empathetic and passionate with everything. For more information on Kalinga (Care) the documentary, go to the Kalinga - Documentary Facebook page. To comment on this article, go to https://www.philippineartscouncil. com/blog.

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Immigration Update | Business

Eligibility of the sponsor in question! FROM MIGRATION TO IMMIGRATION

Marjorie Carmona Newman 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 Committee and previously served as Prairie Chapter representative for the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC) in the Governance and Nomination Committee and Education Committee. Marjorie was a recipient of CAPIC's Members Service Award for four consecutive years (2015-2019).

received an email from a kababayan asking if he is eligible to sponsor his wife who is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He currently receives disability support payments and lives in his parents’ basement. His question is if he is eligible to sponsor his wife of two years.

Let us first check the definition of sponsor eligibility as per s.133 of the Immigration, Refugees and Protection Regulations or IRPR: 133 (1) A sponsorship application shall only be approved by an officer, if on the day on which the application was filed and from that day until the day a decision is made with respect to the application, there is evidence that the sponsor (k) is not in receipt of social assistance for a reason other than disability. Please take note of section (k), which states “ is not in receipt of social assistance for a reason other than disability.” Since the kababayan did not provide additional information in his email let us assume that he meets all the other criteria outlined in s.133 of IRPR. He is eligible, and his disability support payments do not bar him from sponsoring his wife. But bear in mind that financial admissibility is one of the requirements in the assessment of a permanent residence application. As per section 39 of IRPA which states as follows: 39 A foreign national is inadmissible for financial reasons if they are or will be unable or unwilling to support themself or any other person who is dependent on them, and have not satisfied an officer that adequate arrangement for care and support, other than those that involve social assistance, have been made. This means that even if the sponsor meets and passes the eligibility requirement and the application moves forward, financial considerations could be examined by an officer under the applicant’s admissibility assessment. You will never know, the officer might not raise the issue. But if the officer believes that the applicant may be financially inadmissible, the officer is obliged to send

a procedural fairness letter to confront the applicant with their concerns and the applicant is afforded the opportunity to respond. In your response to the PFL, you must explore the applicant’s ability to support herself in Canada despite the spouse/sponsor’s disability. You must provide supporting documents or evidence to support your claim. The sponsor mentioned in his email that the spouse is currently in Dubai, UAE. I can assume that she is working there and if so, for how long? This means that she is very employable in Canada, especially if she is able to demonstrate a good employment history. How about her education and her English language skills? Those might be a credit to her since she has been working in Dubai, UAE for years. With all those skills, she won’t have much trouble finding employment in Canada. Do not forget to mention that with the sponsor’s disability, it puts him in a sensitive situation where he really needs his wife for emotional support. 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 legal advice. To ensure your interests are protected, retain, or formally seek advice from a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing of CCIC. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RCIC.

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Education | Horoscope | Mind Twister

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

C R O S S W O RD

ACROSS Join the Filipino Language and Culture school of Edmonton students, Kindergarten to Grade 9, High School (Grade 10 - 12) Filipino Language and culture credit courses and Adult language classes. Classes for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students are offered on Sunday afternoon

and Adult classes are offered on Wednesday evenings. Schedule: High School In person learning is taught at the downtown McCauley school building Online classes are currently offered

HO ROSC O P E February 4 will be an especially lucky day for you as your ruling planet Mars blows a kiss to auspicious Jupiter. These vibes will be especially beneficial to your professional life, making it important that you take serious steps toward your goals even if you’re not completely sure what the outcome will look like.

February 7 will be a busy day for you, little Bull, because the Taurus moon aligns with innovative Uranus while sharing helpful aspects to both Mars and Venus. These celestial connections could affect you on a profound level, helping you grasp your purpose in life.

If you’ve been feeling disorganized or like you’ve been slogging through mud over the past few weeks, things will start to get much better when your ruling planet Mercury ends its retrograde journey on February 3. This shift gives you a chance to break cycles and move forward with your evolution.

Your focus will be relationship-oriented this month, dear Cancer, because four planets are camping out in the sector of your chart that rules matters of the heart. However, this doesn’t mean that you’ll need to throw yourself into your love life. In fact, major themes around prioritizing yourself now come into play. On February 6, check in with yourself to make sure you’re not slacking on your professional goals in favor of date nights and romance.

Look for ways to mix up your love life and self-care regimen this month, dear Leo, because the Aquarius sun shines its light on the sector of your chart that rules love. These quirky vibes ask you to embrace unknown experiences and concepts, opening your mind in new and exciting ways.

You’ll want to get a head start on your spring cleaning this month, dear Virgo, because the Aquarius sun shines its light on the sector of your chart that rules organization, daily routines, and health. However, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get everything in order until your ruling planet Mercury ends its retrograde on February 3.

January 2022 Crossword's Solution

to elementary and adult students Rondalla is taught as part of the cultural heritage program. If you are interested in improving or learning the Filipino heritage language, please contact us at filcan. saranay@gmail.com.

Your solar fourth and fifth houses see the most astrological action this month, dear Libra, with six celestial bodies making their way through Capricorn and Aquarius. You’ll feel drawn to the comforts of your own home above all else, though your friends will still manage to lure you away for the occasional night of fun. Luckily, keeping a balance should come easily right now, especially if you find a creative outlet to help you stay grounded.

Make sure you communicate your needs clearly this month as Mercury and Venus find their way through your solar third house. Just make sure you’re gracefully articulating your disposition, dear Scorpio, or people might mistake your requests for demands. Putting up boundaries will also be important throughout the month, even if they’re with people you want to remain close with.

Take some time to map out what the year ahead looks like for you financially, dear Sagittarius. With four planets making their way through Capricorn and activating the sector of your chart that rules money, it will be important to get real about your resources. Make a solid plan to pay off any debts you’ve racked up.

1. Bus terminal (abbr.) 4. Sucker 7. TV host 12. Eternally, in verse 13. Stop ____ dime (2 wds.) 14. Malicious looks 15. Numero ____ 16. Baby carriages 18. 18-wheeler 20. Own 21. Runaway herd 23. Discharge 27. Small, yappy dog 29. Shopping binge 32. Intended 33. Principal 37. Loathe 38. Wasp weapons 42. Cry 43. Slangy affirmative 44. Certain noncoms 49. Spanish waterway 50. Elude 51. Foldaway bed 52. Roadhouse 53. Adolescents 54. "You there!" 55. Needle feature

February asks you to appreciate your beauty and the beauty that surrounds you as sweet Venus continues to travel through your sign. Plugging into your gratitude will also work wonders for your psyche, dear Capricorn, inspiring you to participate boldly in life. These vibes are also perfect for unapologetically going after the things you want, a sentiment exacerbated by the placement of Mars in your sign.

It’s your time to shine, dear Aquarius, as the sun makes its way through your sign, boosting your popularity, confidence, and energy levels. With your birthday season in full swing, you’ll be thinking of what you’d like to manifest in the year ahead and what it will take to get there. Use the energy when structure-loving Saturn cozies up to the sun on February 4 to outline a series of reasonable landmarks you’d like to hit each month.

It’s okay if you need to take a step back from your family and friends for the first half of the month, dear Pisces, as a series of celestial bodies make their way through your solar twelfth house. These vibes ask you to carve out some quiet time for introspection, so you can gain a clearer understanding of yourself, your goals, and your relationships.

DOWN

1. Author Dr. ____ 2. Principle 3. Fragrance 4. Distress signal 5. Song of praise 6. Formal procession 7. She, to Pierre 8. Producer ____ Brooks 9. Passing grade 10. Mess up 11. Double curve 17. Done 19. Obstruct 22. Verse 23. Vigor 24. Hamm or Farrow 25. Bond creator ____ Fleming 26. Explosive initials 28. Prayer ending 29. Hush! 30. Round vegetable 31. Rodent 34. On an ocean trip 35. Foul smell 36. Walk cautiously 39. Creepy 40. Drizzly 41. Gleamed 42. Marries 44. Perched 45. Eden lady 46. Caviar 47. Card game 48. Pigpen

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 2022 Issue Sudoku's Solution

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

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Philippine Politics

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Religion | Opinion

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.

PEREZCOPE

Perry Diaz PerryDiaz@gmail.com I am a writer/columnist/journalist. I have two weekly columns -- "PerryScope" and "Balitang Kutsero." They're published in more than a dozen Filipino newspapers in five countries.

WHAT’S GOING ON in President Joe Biden’s mind on the Ukraine crisis? First, he announced that the U.S. would not send soldiers to Ukraine to fight the Russians. Secondly, he just announced that the 160 National Guard troops deployed to the American Embassy in Kiev, are going to be withdrawn and sent home. Thirdly, he didn’t send the 8,500 American troops that he promised he’d send to Eastern Europe. Instead he changed their status to “heightened alert,” meaning they’ll stand by somewhere in the U.S. ready to be airlifted to Eastern Europe if Russia attacks. And, fourthly, he announced that the U.S. will “act swiftly and decisively” if the Russians invade Ukraine. What was his message? Why the mixed signals? The third time he talked to Putin at his request, Biden didn’t offer anything different from his two previous conversations with Putin. Instead, Biden announced Russia would invade in a matter of days. Instantly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy complained that Biden was creating “panic” among Ukrainians by saying that Russia will invade Ukraine in February. Well, it’s now almost mid-February and the Russians haven’t invaded yet. Biden characterized the impending invasion as using bombers and www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

The Happy and Hopeful Man OUR TEXT 5 "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. 6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever." Psalm 146:5-6 Psalm 146, verse five says, "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God." Who is the happy and hopeful man? Heaped up is his happiness. He has happiness indeed: the true and the real delight is with Him. The God of Jacob is the God of the covenant, the God of wrestling prayer, the God of the tried believer; He is the only Living and True God. The God of Jacob is Jehovah, who appeared unto Moses, and led the tribes of Jacob out of Egypt, and through the wilderness. Those are happy who trust the Lord, for they shall never be

ashamed or confounded. The Lord never dies, neither do His thoughts perish: His purpose of mercy, like Himself, endures throughout all generations. Hallelujah! He is happy in help for the present and in hope for the future, who has placed all his confidence in Jehovah, who is his God by a covenant of salt. Happy is he when others are despairing! Happiest shall he be in that very hour when others are discovering the depths of agony. We have here a statement, which we have personally tried and proved: resting in the Lord, we know a happiness, which is beyond description, beyond comparison, beyond conception. O how blessed a thing it is to know that God is our present help, and our eternal hope. Full assurance is more than heaven in the bud; the flower has begun to open. We would not exchange with Caesar; his scepter is a bauble, but our bliss is true treasure.

In each of the two titles here given, namely, "the God of Jacob", and "Jehovah his God", there is a peculiar sweetness. Either one of them has a fountain of joy in it; but the first will not cheer us without the second. Unless Jehovah be his God no man can find confidence in the fact that He was Jacob's God. But when by faith we know the Lord to be ours, then we are "rich to all the intents of bliss." Psalm 146, verse six says, "Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever." Wisely may we trust our Creator: justly may we expect to be happy in so doing. He who made heaven can make a heaven for us, and make us fit for heaven. He who made the earth can preserve us while we are on earth, and help us to make good use of it while we sojourn upon it. He who made the sea and all its mysteries can

steer us across the pathless depths of a troubled life, and make it a way for His redeemed to pass over. This God who still makes the world by keeping it in existence is assuredly able to keep us to His eternal kingdom and glory. The making of the worlds is the standing proof of the power and wisdom of that Great God in whom we trust. It is our joy that He not only made heaven, but the sea; not only things which are bright and blessed, but also things which are deep and dark. Concerning all our circumstances, we may say the Lord is there. In storms and hurricanes the Lord reigneth as truly as in that great calm which rules the firmament above. This is a second and most forcible justification of our trust: the Lord will never permit His promise to fail. He is true to His own nature, true to the fellowships, which He has assumed, true to His covenant, true to His Word, true to His Son. He keeps true, and is the Keeper of all that is true. Immutable fidelity is the character of Jehovah's procedure. None can charge Him with falsehood or vacillation.

Putin should abide by the Budapest Memorandum missiles, which would attack Kiev and other cities. Evidently, Biden’s statement had created “panic” and “chaos” among Ukrainians but the people remained calm, going about their business as if nothing was happening. And come to think about it, nothing has happened yet. No need to panic According to BBC News, Zelenskiy who spoke at a press conference in Kiev said, “We don’t need this panic. There are even signals from the respected leaders of the states, they say that there will be war tomorrow. Any news of how much this panic is costing our state?” The question is: Why does Biden appear to be telling the world that chaos would soon reign in Ukraine? The truth of the matter is that the Ukrainians have been calm considering that more than 100,000 Russian troops are amassed along Russia’s border with Ukraine. They should panic, right? Yet, they’re acting as if nothing is happening. While, it’s true that there has been war between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian armed forces in the Donbas region in Eastern Ukraine since 2014, it hasn’t spilled over outside the Donbas region into the rest of the country. And the Ukranians seem to be nonchalant about the whole situation. They appear to be relaxed and calm, which shows that they do not care or worry about the Russians invading their country. Swift and decisive Which makes one wonder: Why did Biden insist that the invasion would be “swift and decisive”? Earlier today, CNN news anchor Fredricka Whitfield asked a guest, a member of the congressional Armed Services Committee, how soon is “swift and decisive,” to which the congressman couldn’t answer. But being cognizant that Biden promised that no U.S.

troops would be sent to fight the Russians, the best the U.S., if any, would do is stay within the confines of NATO territory like in Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In other words, no NATO forces would enter Ukrainian territory to fight the invading Russians. Honestly, I’ve never seen any war conducted that way. The Russians would enter Ukraine like they’re going to a picnic, not a country in panic. First of all, Putin had made threatening remarks about launching nuclear attacks against NATO countries. But why would Putin use nuclear weapons against NATO? Putin may be crazy, but he is not stupid. Only a stupid leader would use nuclear weapons. He should know better that it would – nay, will – lead to a nuclear holocaust or MAD, that is, mutually assured destruction. Putin will not survive to enjoy his $200 billion stashed away. It will be blown to radioactive smithereens. Biden should be resolute in his dealings with Putin. He’s probably thinking what concessions he’d surrender in exchange for peace? He could do another “Afghanistan withdrawal” of American forces from Europe. Then he can announce to the whole world, “Friends, we have achieved peace for our time,” an eerie reminder of that fateful day on September 29, 1938, when British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Germany’s Adolf Hitler signed a peace treaty. The following day, he spoke from the window of 10 Downing Street: “My good friends. This is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And now I recommend you to go home and sleep quietly in your beds.”

But “Peace of our Time” lasted only six months. On March 15, 1939, Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia, which triggered World War II. The rest was history. Are we seeing a repeat of the invasion of Czechoslovakia, this time perpetrated on the people of Ukraine? Is Biden going to sign a peace treaty with Vladimir Putin, to ensure that there will be “Peace of our Time” in Europe? Budapest Memorandum We need to remember what happened in December 1994, five years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Ukraine was left with the world’s third-largest nuclear stockpile. In a treaty known as the Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine agreed to trade away its intercontinental ballistic missiles, warheads, and other nuclear infrastructure in exchange for guarantees that the three treaty signatories – the U.S., the U.K., and Russia -- would "respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine." The ICBM missiles with their nuclear warheads ended up in storage in Russia and supposed to remain secured. With the imminent danger of Russian invasion, one wonders what happened to the guarantee that the

three signatories of the Budapest Memorandum had given to Ukraine? Why don’t Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson invoke the terms of the Budapest Memorandum? But all Biden could do was to tell Putin during a phone call, urging Russia not to invade Ukraine and warned Putin of “real costs” of doing so. But the real problem was that Putin is demanding that NATO bars Ukraine from joining NATO. NATO said it’s not negotiable. Russia also demanded NATO withdraw its forces, hardware, and arms from countries that were not NATO members before 1997 – 14 countries – as part of security demands it is seeking from NATO. Heck, that’s about half the membership of NATO! At the moment, the negotiations have reached an impasse. And it seems that the U.S. and its NATO allies would never agree to Putin’s unreasonable demands. So, what’s next? Biden should – nay, must – demand that Putin make good to abide by the terms under the Budapest Memorandum. Or, is he like Hitler who reneged on the peace treaty he signed, the “Peace of our Time,” with Neville Chamberlain? Is it déjà vu all over again?

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

Legal Tidbits | Business

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Absentee Voting Act LEGAL CHIKA

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.

t is three months away before Philippine National Election. The campaign period for National positions started last February 8, 2022 and will end on May 8, 2022. L et us take a dive into Philippine Election Law, in particular, Republic Act No. 9189, February 13, 2003, AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A SYSTEM OF OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING BY QUALIFIED CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES ABROAD, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Absentee voting is an electoral process that enables persons who cannot appear at their designated polling places to vote from another location. (Encyclopedia Britannica) L et us site important provisions of this Act, limited to the coverage and disqualification for the benefit of the Absentee voter, especially those who live in a foreign country. Sec. 4. Coverage. - All citizens of the Philippines abroad, who are not otherwise disqualified by law, at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of elections, may vote for president, vice-president, senators and party-list representatives. Sec. 5. Disqualifications. - The following shall be disqualified from voting under this Act: a. Those who have lost their Filipino citizenship in accordance with Philippine laws; b. Those who have expressly renounced their Philippine citizenship and who have pledged allegiance to a foreign country; c. Those who have committed and are convicted in a final judgment by a court or tribunal of an offense punishable by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year, including those who have committed and been found guilty of Disloyalty as defined under Article 137 of the Revised Penal Code, such disability not having been removed by plenary pardon or amnesty; Provided, however, That any person disqualified to vote under this subsection shall automatically acquire the right to vote upon expiration of five (5) years after service of sentence; Provided, further, That the Commission may take cognizance of final judgments issued by foreign courts or tribunals only on the basis of reciprocity and subject to the formalities and processes prescribed by the Rules of Court on execution of judgments; d. An immigrant or a permanent resident who is recognized as such

in the host country, unless he/she executes, upon registration, an affidavit prepared for the purpose by the Commission declaring that he/she shall resume actual physical permanent residence in the Philippines not later than three (3) years from approval of his/her registration under this Act. Such affidavit shall also state that he/she has not applied for citizenship in another country. Failure to return shall be the cause for the removal of the name of the immigrant or permanent resident from the National Registry of Absentee Voters and his/her permanent disqualification to vote in absentia. e. Any citizen of the Philippines abroad previously declared insane or incompetent by competent authority in the Philippines or abroad, as verified by the Philippine embassies, consulates or foreign service establishments concerned, unless such competent authority subsequently certifies that such person

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is no longer insane or incompetent. On this RA 9189, other relevant matter an absentee voter must read include Personal Overseas Absentee Registration, System of Continuing Registration, Requirements for

Registration, National Registry of Overseas Absentee Voters, Notice of Registration and Election, Procedure for Application to Vote in Absentia, Verification and Approval of Application to Vote, and Preparation and Posting

of Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters. Let us exercise the privilege of the right to vote. Choose prudently as we contemplate the future of our nation.

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Religion | Immigration Update

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

“Thank You Lord (For Everything)!” *Be grateful...whatever may be happening in your life.*

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

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.

here was a bird who lived in a desert, very sick, no feathers, nothing to eat and drink, and no shelter to live in. One day a dove was passing by, so the sick, unhappy bird stopped the dove and inquired, "Where are you going?" It replied, "I am going to heaven." So the sick bird said, "Please find out for me, when my suffering will come to an end?" The dove said, "Sure, I will," and bid goodbye to the sick bird. The dove reached heaven and shared the message of the sick bird with the angel in-charge at the entrance gate. The angel said, "For the next seven years of its life, the bird has to suffer like this, no happiness ‘til then." The dove said, "When the sick bird hears this he will get very disheartened, could you suggest any solution for this?" The Angel replied, "Tell him to recite this verse *"Thank you God for everything."* The dove on meeting the sick bird again, delivered the angel’s message. After seven days, the dove was again passing by and saw that bird was very happy. Feathers had grown on his body, a small plant grew in the desert area, a small pond of water was also there, and the bird was singing and dancing cheerfully! The dove was astonished.... The Angel had said that there www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

would be no happiness for the bird for the next seven years. With this question in mind, the dove went to visit the angel at heaven's gate. The dove put forth his query to the Angel, who replied, "Yes it is true, there was no happiness for the bird for seven years but because the bird was reciting the verse "THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING" as with every situation, his life changed. When the bird fell down on the hot sand it said "THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING." When it could not fly it said, "THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING." When it was thirsty and there was no water around, it said, "THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING." Whatever the situation, the bird kept on repeating, "THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING" and therefore *the seven years got dissolved in seven days.* When I heard this story, I felt a tremendous shift in my way of feeling, thinking, accepting and viewing life. I adopted this verse in my life...WHATEVER the situation I faced, I started reciting this verse "THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING." *It helped me shift my view from what I did not have to what I have in my life.* For instance, when I’m having head pains, I THANK GOD that the rest of my body is completely fine and healthy and I notice that the headache does not bother me at all. In the same manner, I started using this verse in my relationships (whether with family, friends, neighbours, colleagues) finances, social life, business and everything with which I can relate. I shared this story with everyone I came in touch with and it brought a great shift in their behaviour too. This simple verse really had a deep impact on my life, as I started feeling how blessed I am, how happy I am, and how good life is! The purpose of sharing this message is to make all of us aware of how powerful the attitude of gratitude is. *It can reshape our lives.* Let us recite this verse continuously to experience the shift in our life. So be grateful, and

see the change in your attitude. Character is formed mostly when it is tested! Remember that a diamond was just a piece of coal that did extremely well under pressure! There are times when even your plans fail! Do not panic nor despair! This is just a chapter in your book, and not your whole story! If you have reached rock bottom, do not give up! Use it as bedrock on which to start to rebuild your life! Your true value does not diminish just because other people do not see your worth! God loves you! Keep safe and healthy! Have a great day ahead & God bless you!

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

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Greetings

Academy of Health Care Services’Malot Rivera celebrates birthday By Moses Billacura

Maria Rivera, fondly called “Malot”, turned another leaf and celebrated her birthday with her Academy of Health Care Services (AHCS) family, business partner Linny Aberia, and guests, on February 12, at the Holiday Inn Conference Centre along Gateway Boulevard. The evening was filled with so much fun as dances and songs were performed. There were also giveaways to lucky winners distributed during the raffle draws. The Alberta Filipino Journal led by publisher Jun Angeles was there to chronicle the event.

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Greetings

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2022

CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE: Moving Forward

Birthdays are everyone’s most cherished moment as this is when we celebrate the covenant between life and its Giver. Nobody is born alone. There are two causes of life that we have to acknowledge, appreciate, and recognize. The first is the Ultimate Cause or Giver, our God and the second are the proximate causes, our parents. Now, He who doesn’t acknowledge, appreciate, and recognize his or her life is also rejecting its Causes. Lucky are these individuals who truly celebrate life with significant people around them. May you all continue to share the gift of life with others. Active co-existence follows essence.

The birthday guy Jimmy Fontanilla

Jimmy Fontanilla turns 83 last January 18, 2022. But, his wife invites their friends to celebrate his very special day at the Palabok House on the 20th of January instead. No busy day, no bad feelings, no bad company, and no bad omen could have truly hindered to celebrate life. But still, government restrictions are observed during the simple gathering.

Yves and Lean’s 5h Anniversary (January 11)

Sean Jansel Macapagal’s 19th birthday (February 15)

Jimmy Fontanilla celebrates birthday with his friends at Palabok House

Odette Serrano birthday (January 19) “Odette celebrates her 48th Bday last January 19,2022 with her husband Arnel Serrano of Home Planning Centre and 2kids Tristan and Jillianne”

Happy Birthday Angel Mendoza

Happy birthday Bryan and Brent Dizon (February 14)

L-R: Albert Dizon (Dad), Erica Dizon (Mom), Brent and Bryan (Twins - birthday boys), Luzel and Ninia Dizon (Sisters)

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

FEBRUARY 2022 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Business

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