Alberta Filipino Journal - January 2021 Issue

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JANUARY 2021 • Volume 14, Number 01

Edge Grabador: Kaya Ko; Kaya Mo! P13

AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

"Living Book" Michael L. Siervo P15

One Great Initiative

Joe Corral

P29 ►

Connections through Stories

P6 ►

P14 ►

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Business

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

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

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Editor's Corner | Community | Business

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EDITOR’S CORNER Lito Mendoza Velasco

COVID, COVID, COVID: An Unreasonable Phenomenon That Carries Various Unsound Connotations and Restrictions COVID: Concoction Of Variant/Various Infectious Deadly-Diseases COVID: Composition Of Volatile Ineffective Drugs COVID: Complacency Offers Victory in Desire COVID: Completion Of Vicious Intention and Desire COVID: Controlling Order Victoriously Instigating Drudgery COVID: Coming Over Virtual Improvement Day-in-day-out COVID: Confusing Ordinance Virtually Implemented Daily Nothing can be the cause of the phenomenon when the phenomenon does not occur. From nothing, nothing comes. Except of course in the realm of God’s existence; because He is the Uncaused Cause.

In any situation, there must be a cause and effect relationship as to logic by which the antecedent and consequent relationship should be established in order to arrive at a sound generalization or conclusion. This pandemic has been gripping the whole world by leaving its people mentally disturbed. It makes me feel and think that these people passed away

not because of the virus but due to nervous breakdown. People died before their natural death arrives. Suicide has been considered as one of the options to end this mental torture and moral devastation. Unhealthy minds generate a social neurosis. Almost everyone has been hesitant and suspecting. Physical distancing has become a new form of harmony and expression of justice and charity. While, unconsciously or even in reality, it is developing the culture of anxiety as well as of insecurity. In the long run, it produces people who will choose to be indifferent and apathetic.

Excessive fear of the Covid-19 virus is deadlier than the virus itself. This pandemic’s cause is the hardest to understand. Its proof of existence or evidence is undiscoverable but its effect has already been enjoyed by the intellectuals. This becomes the Taipan’s or the most powerful men’s workshop wherein they could have been dictating the scientists and technologists to excel in their fields of expertise. It may be tantamount to military science whereby all the soldiers are profoundly trained about warfare tactics in order to win

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Ika-27 Taunang

Mga Parangal ng Calgary

Sa isang pambihirang taon, ang mga pambihirang Calgarians ay gumawa ng pagkakaiba.

Sa pamamagitan ng kanilang katangi-tanging mga nakamit at mga kontribusyon, maraming mga Calgarians ay pinagbuti ang pamumuhay. Ito ang iyong pagkakataon na kilalanin ang mga karapat-dapat na indibidwal, negosyo at mga organisasyon na nagpabuti ng kalidad ng pamumuhay sa ating komunidad Bisitahin ang calgary.ca/calgaryawards upang malaman kung paano mo maaaring mahahalal ang mga nakapagbigay-inspirasyon na mga Calgarian.

Ang mga nominasyon ay magsasara sa Pebrero 10, 2021 Tagatangkilik ng Parangal

Tagatangkilik ng Kaganapan

20-0008153

continued on page 10 ►

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AFJ Staff | Editors Corner | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

ANG BATAS NG KALIKASAN AT PAGBABALANSE NITO: Sino ang may kontrol?

By Lito Mendoza Velasco

Published by Angeles Publishing Company Inc. 246 Lindsay Crescent, Edmonton, Alberta T6R 2T2 Jose L. Angeles Publisher / Chief Operating Officer Sales and Advertising CP: 780-916-7677 Landline: 780-988-8889 Fax: 780-988-2221 publisher@albertafilipinojournal.com Lito Mendoza Velasco Editor-in-Chief / Associate Publisher 780-655-5126 editor@albertafilipinojournal.com Lianne Angeles Associate Editor Melanie Rose Atizado Angeles Administrator / Office Manager Sales and Advertising 780-993-5503 albertafilipinojournal79@gmail.com Mark Angeles, Mike Angeles Distribution Managers - Edmonton Andy Chua Marketing Manager - Edmonton +1 (780) 965-3549, fcchua@hotmail.com Stephen Burry Distribution Manager - Calgary 1 (587) 938-3100, Freedommigrate@gmail.com Manny Bautista Advertising, Sales and Marketing Manager 780-802-0848, canadianasset@gmail.com Rodel Paguirigan Advertising, Sales and Marketing Manager - Calgary 1 (403) 921-0148, rodelpaguirigan@gmail.com Melanie C. Gomez Website / Graphic Designer Photographers/Videographer: Moses Billacura, Noli Granado, Dario Juanillo Columnists: Marjorie Carmona-Newman, Tito S. Venida Ida Beltran-Lucila, Katrina Marielle U. Cereno Kristian Cereno, Marco Luciano, Moses Billacura Mervin Mendoza Cereno, Nicky Gocuan Giselle General, Riana Torrejon, Hermo Pagtakhan Januel Cedrick Ibasco, Fr. Jhack Diaz Bing J. Jaleco, Aubrey Reyes, Jonabel Cabasal, Jasmine-Grace Nacu The Alberta Filipino Journal is dedicated in memory of Rosalinda Linsangan Natividad-Cantiveros of Winnipeg as she engaged her entire life in service to the Filipino Community.

We welcome submissions-news, articles, pictures and letters. Letters must include signature and phone number; names can be withheld upon request. We reserve the right to edit for length and content. All submissions, unless arrangements are made, become the property of the publisher.

Reproduction of contents, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the expressed written permission from the Publisher/Editor. Opinions by columnist, writers, and readers do not in any way reflect those of the Publisher/Editor.

S

a pagkakataon ng mga hindi inaasahang sakuna, kalamidad, at pandemya ay meron agad tayong sinisisi!

Maaaring ito ay ang kawalan ng pakialam ng bawat-isa sa lipunan, mga pulitikong ang iniisip ay kung paano mananalo sa susunod na halalan, mga higanteng negosyante na kulang at kulang pa rin ang kayamanan, ang kakulangan ng suporta o si makatuwirang pagkontrol ng gobyerno sa mamamayan, at ang nakakarimarin, ay ang pagpaparusa na daw ng Diyos sa mga nabanggit na kadahilanan.

May dapat nga bang sisihin sa mga natural na kalamidad?

WALA! Dahil walang sinuman ang may kontrol sa Batas ng Kalikasan kundi ang KALIKASAN. Maging ang DIYOS na Lumikha ay hindi makikialam sa isang KALAYAAN na NAIPAGKALOOB na NIYA. Kung kaya, huwag nawa nating sisihin ang DIYOS sa ganitong kalagayan.

Pumutok ang Bulkan dahil NATURE talaga nito ang mag-release ng sobrang umiinit na kalupaan. Nakakatulong ang BULKAN sa pagsasaayos o pag-arrange ng Tectonic Plates of the Earth.

Sa katagalan kase ng pag-iral ng mundo o daigdig, natutunaw ng init sa ilalim ng lupa ang mga bato at magma na siyang naghahawak sa ibabaw nito. Ang resulta, tumatagilid ang sangkalupaan. Ang pamamaraan ng kalikasan para ibalik ito sa dating kaayusan o kalagayan ay yanigin ang sangkalupaan sa pamamagitan ng pagsabog ng bulkan at pabahain ang kalupaan. Medyo, mukhang marahas nga lamang. Pero, ang epekto ay pangmatagalan.

Sa punto de vista ng kalikasan o natura ng tao: Maging ang ating mga personal na desisyon ay hindi na pinanghihimasukan ng Lumikha. Ang Kalayaan natin ang

nagpapasiya. Kung ano ang mangyari sa ating buhay; desisyon na natin iyon at hindi KALOOBAN ng MAYKAPAL. PINAHINTULUTAN lamang ng Diyos ang nagaganap sa mga sarili nating buhay.

Bakit naman?

Dahil kung ang Diyos ang masusunod sa lahat ng mga kaganapan; malamang na hindi na Siya marapat na ituring na Diyos ng Kalayaan (Freewill). Sapagka’t hihinto Siya sa Kanyang pagka-Diyos kapag siya ay naging Diktador! Tandaan, wala sa Natura, Kalikasan, o Katotohanan ng Diyos ang maging pakialamero sa kalayaang naibigay na Niya. At kung ganyan ang Diyos, ayaw na natin ng Diyos di ba?

Subalit hindi nga Siya ganun! Lumikha Siya at ng magkamali tayo ay umakto pa muli Siya bilang Manunubos. Tinubos nga ang mga nais magpatubos at namatay ang mga tumanggi sa Kanyang Kalinga at Pag-ibig.

Dalawa ang Teorya sa mga SANHI ng KAGANAPAN: 1. Proximate Cause - Kapag sumabog ang bulkan. Ang Diyos ay Proximate Cause lamang at ang BULKAN mismo ang Ultimate Cause. Wala na Siyang direktang panghihimasok sa kaganapan ng natura o kalikasan.

2. Ultimate Cause - Nang ipanganak tayo ng ating mga magulang. Ang Diyos mismo ang Ultimate Cause. Siya ang Puno’tdulo o Sanhi ng ating buhay. Ang ating magulang ay maituturing na Proximate Cause lamang sa pagiging tao natin.

Dapat bang sisihin ang Diyos?

Dapat bang sisihin ang sinuman dahil pumutok ang bulkan at pagbaha dahil sa delubyo? Hindi!

Dapat ba naman Siyang pasalamatan?

Opo! Sapagkat kung ano man ang tinatamasa nating buhay ay direktang nagmula sa Kanya. Samantalang ang naging kasamaan natin ay sarili nating desisyon.

Ang paglaganap ng Covid-19: May dapat bang sisihin?

Bibigyan ko kayo ng mga scenario upang maging batayan ng pag-uusisa at pagninilay.

Hindi mahalaga kung saan ang mga lugar at pangalan ng mga taong sangkot sa aking ibabahagi. Gagamitin lamang natin ang mga ito sa pagsusuri at paghahambing upang makarating sa isang resonable o makatarungang konklusyon o paglalahat.

Unang kwento: Ang Panlalason sa kapwa ay ginawang hanap-buhay: Kapahamakan ng iba ang pinagkakakitaan.

Merong kwento sa Pilipinas tungkol sa paglalagay daw ng lason sa tubig o anumang inumin at pagkain. Nangyayari ito sa mga handaan o kung kahit ikaw ay makikiinom lamang. May mga tao na sadyang desperado sa buhay. Ito ang kanilang hanapbuhay. Sinasadya daw nilang lagyan ng makalalason ang ibibigay sa’yong inumin o pagkain.

Matapos ang ilang araw o buwan, makakaramdam ka ng pananakit ng tiyan, paninikip ng hininga, at pagsakit ng ulo. Boom!

Tumalab na ang lason sa katawan mo!

Mapapansin na merong lalapit sa’yo na kunyari ay may malasakit. Sasabihin na, pare, parang may karamdaman o sakit ka? May masakit ba sa’yo? Kapag sinabi mong meron.

Boom! Huli ka!

Ang kasunod na sasabihin sayo: “Pare, meron akong kakilalang mahusay na albularyo (herbalist o kaya ay kwak-kwak doktor). Baka nais mong samahan kita sa kanya o di kaya ay papuntahin ko siya dito sa’yo upang kaagad kang magamot. Delikado ang buhay mo pare ko. Pero, medyo mahal maningil pare. Depende sa lakas ng tama ng sakit mo.” Boom! Pera pala ang kailangan! Kikita ng malaki!

Ano ang punto ng kwento?

Yong gumawa ng lason o panlalason at katampalasanan sa’yo. Siya rin pala ang may nakahandang gamot o gagamot sa’yo.

Pangalawang kwento: Nauso ang computer. At dahil ito ay artificial intelligence, maaaring kailangan din nito ng pahinga at maintenance. Kapag nagtagal-tagal, magiging luma o obsolete na ang program at kailangan ng palitan. Boom! Papalitan? Naku, pera na naman! continued on page 9 ►

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

Sports

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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UAAP-bound Fil-Can basketeers stay in Calgary, Adamson U’s Virlou back home, Be fit with MCFit Fitness for Life 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.

C

algary-based Antonio Eusebio and four other Filipino-Canadians were supposed to be in the Philippines seeing action in the 83rd season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the 2020 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

I first got hold of this information when I saw Consul-General Zaldy Patron together with the basketball players in a post on FB. The players and ConGen Patron had that meeting when dine-in and indoor gatherings were still allowed last year.

Unfortunately, by December, the UAAP was cancelled and so Antonio, who is supposed to be playing for the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, and other Philippines-bound players had to stay in Canada.

Sayang talaga.

This is one of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Antonio has no choice but to continually work out on his own to keep himself fit and study online via the UP Online System.

Edmonton-based bodybuilder Mel Cantos with his son Jordan. (Contributed photo)

Consul-General Zaldy Patron with five Filipino-Calgarians who were supposed to play amateur and semi-pro basketball in the Philippines. (Photo by the Philippine Consulate General Calgary office)

“Yeah, I was so excited,” said Antonio when asked about playing in the UAAP in the Philippines.

For sure, this is the same feeling for the three other Fil-Can players who were supposed to be in the UAAP and the other one who is reportedly bound for the MPBL of Manny Pacquiao.

In my previous columns in 2019, we reported to our readers that two Filipino-Edmontonians, CJ Liwanag and Virlou Orquez, were recruited by the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and the Adamson University Soaring Falcons respectively.

And just like Antonio, CJ, who is the son of PSA referee Francis, and Virlou, son of Erdz who plays for Crosstown Auto in the postponed PSA Tournament, is currently on standby and just has to focus on online studies and do workouts on his own to keep himself fit while waiting for this pandemic to be over.

Virlou, who is back in Edmonton to spend the Christmas holidays with his family, said that there were plans to do a UAAP Bubble, similar to the PBA Bubble, but he heard that it would be too expensive to do it, so the organizers decided to cancel the popular and much-awaited league.

He said that from time to time, Adamson coach Franz Pumaren calls to check on how they’ve been doing with their online studies and if they are following the exercises designed for them.

Virlou is taking up a Business Marketing Degree at Adamson University.

We just hope that this pandemic will be over so that these players will get back into action and we as, basketball fans, can follow their progress.

Or if possible, health authorities can speed up vaccinations to include athletes, so that they can be back in action soon! *** OMNI Filipino TV’s Rhea Santos and Theresa Barrera

reported about a Filipino-Edmontonian bodybuilder, who is teaching home workouts through his FB page, MCFit Fitness for Life.

“I’m just here to help all Filipino bodybuilders para hindi sila malulon sa steroids,” said Mel Cantos.

Cantos is teaching not only those who are in Canada but people from other countries as well. He also has a pool of athletes competing this year.

The MCFit Fitness for Life page has drawn 2,000 plus members and he hopes it will reach 5,000 at the end of this month.

“We go live as well with my oldest son every week to answer questions and giving them some knowledge sa bodybuilding at supplements as well sa drugs involved sa bodybuilding,” said Cantos, who moved to Canada with his family when he was 16.

Cantos started to do bodybuilding

at the age of 13, inspired by how Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone looked.

“Naisip ko lang magpalaki din dahil alam mo naman satin sa Pilipinas laging kang bullied nong araw,” he said.

Because he was bullied, Mel has also posted on their group about how to properly deal with bullying, and “helping other kids not to go in the wrong direction”.

Aside from the outdoor recreational events that you do this pandemic season, you might as well check coach Mel Cantos’ MCFit Fitness for Life on FB. Be fit with MCFit Fitness for LIfe! *** For any sports news, info, announcement, please let our Sports Desk know by sending an email to mocolumnist@albertafilipinojournal.com.

Salamat po!

Edmonton Stingers Re-Sign Jermaine Small as Head Coach and General Manager Small led the Stingers to their first-ever CEBL championship in 2020.

Another exciting announcement from FC Edmonton!

FC Edmonton has re-signed defender Allan Zebie (ZEB-ee) to a contract for the 2021 season, the club announced today.

This will be the 27-year-old’s third season playing for FC Edmonton in the Canadian Premier League (CPL). Since 2019, Zebie has made 28 appearances with the club, and played 2382 minutes. Zebie also played with FC Edmonton when the

club was a member of the North American Soccer League (NASL). Zebie spent three seasons (2015-2017) playing for the Eddies in the NASL, making 58 appearances. The versatile midfielder also represented Canada in the 2013 CONCACAF U20 Championship tournament.

“Allan has proven that he can be a successful member of the team both in the NASL and CPL,” said Alan Koch, Head Coach. “I look forward to seeing his progression as we move forward as a club with our preparations for the 2021 season. His positional versatility, selflessness and commitment to the team will be a major part of the culture that we install in our new group this coming season.”

Born in Paris, France, Zebie (5’7”, 165 pounds) moved to Edmonton with his family when he was 15 years old.

He is a product of the FC Edmonton Academy, and after graduating from the Academy, Zebie had a brief stint oversees playing with English club Leeds United and Scottish club Rangers before signing a professional contract with FC Edmonton on January 22, 2015.

“I am delighted to be back for another season,” said Zebie. “It makes me proud to represent my hometown again, and I am looking forward to working hard, and helping to right the wrongs that the team made in 2020.”

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EDMONTON, AB – The Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced on Wednesday that the organization has re-signed Head Coach and General Manager, Jermaine Small, for the 2021 Season. In Small’s first full season at the helm, he led the team to a CEBL Championship; winning the CEBL Summer Series with a 7-1 record while also claiming the honor of the 2020 CEBL Coach of the Year.

“It is a great day when you can bring back a winner like Jermaine to lead your team,” said Stingers President, Brett Fraser. “Through the first two seasons, it has become clear that he is determined on building a legacy of champions for the region.”

Small took over as Head Coach and General Manager from Barnaby Craddock eight games into the 2019 Inaugural Season.

The team had a record of 4-4 at the time, but promptly went on to win nine consecutive games (a league record), before finishing second place with a 14-6 record in the regular season. While the team fell short of a championship in 2019, Small and the Stingers achieved redemption by winning the championship in 2020.

During the CEBL Summer Series, The Stingers lost their first game to the Fraser Valley Bandits before completing six victories in a row and then beating them in the continued on page 10 ►

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News | Points of View | Community

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

Filipinos in healthcare and the tone deaf government of Alberta MIGRANTS' VOICES

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.

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ust three days short of the new year, Joe Corral died from Covid-19. Jing, as his family and friends called him, was a 61-year old Filipino-Canadian healthcare worker at a long-term care centre in

southeast Calgary. He was described as a friend with a great sense of humour and an unparalleled work ethic. His friends also talked about his patience and compassion for the senior residents he cared for.

Meanwhile, a scandal over members of the United Conservative Party (UCP) travelling abroad for the holidays is in the spotlight.

MLAs Jeremy Nixon, Jason Stephan, Tanya Fir, Pat Rehn, Tany Yao and Tracy Allard along with high-level UCP staff Jaime Huckabay went on vacation in Mexico, United States and the UK. When asked, the Premier's office denied that they knew about the out of province vacations. It was only after the public outrage that Premier Jason Kenney publicly apologized and “accepted” the resignation and removed the MLAs from Cabinet positions. In a public statement, former Wild Rose MLA Scott Cyr, said Kenney's apology on Friday “rung hollow with many Albertans”, and "The premier's office is saying that they didn't know. This is insulting for everybody," he added.

While friends and families of Jing are still in mourning, two more health workers died in Alberta this month. Albertans and mostly health workers are making grave sacrifices while the UCP MLAs are tone deaf and disrespectful, ignoring the provincial Covid regulations their government created. NDP Deputy Leader Sarah Hoffman said in a news release “To the more than one thousand Alberta families who have lost a loved one to COVID-19 and everyone else who made sacrifices to follow the government orders and keep each other safe, a tan on a winter vacation for UCP MLAs is a slap in the face.” Hoffman called the decisions to travel “the height of arrogance and hypocrisy.”

Currently, there are 13,450 active cases in the province with an overall provincial death toll at 1,193. Jing and the second worker that passed worked in long-term care centres. There is disproportionate employment of Filipinos and people of color in the healthcare sector, mostly in long-term care centres.

Canada statistics states that Filipinos make up 1.2 per cent of the Canadian

Bro. Lito Reyes, PSD of Knights of Columbus expressed his appreciation to Fr. Marc and the Staff of St. Charles Catholic Church for allowing the visit of Jesus, the Black Nazarene.

workforce, however about 1 in 20 total health care workers in the country are Filipino. Filipinos also make up 90 percent of migrant caregivers providing in-home care through the Canada’s Caregiver Program.

Filipino health workers are still invisible. While there are extensive news reports of COVID-19 in long-term elderly care facilities, these reports ignored the risks that personal support workers (PSW) who are mostly Filipinos face. In fact, there are instances that PSWs were blamed for infecting their patients or they lacked training.

Albertans still have no idea how the vaccine will be rolled out.

Premier Jason Kenney previously projected that 4,000 people a day would be vaccinated. At that rate, in a province that has 4 million people, it will take almost 3 years before everyone in Alberta is vaccinated.

In a recent news article, Health Minister Tyler Shandro, hasn’t said exactly how quickly or when Alberta Health Services will be able to scale up vaccinations. The UCP government should focus on the vaccination campaign for all Albertans and terminate the MLAs that violated their own Covid policy on essential travel. That is the least they can do if they truly respect Joe Corral, the other health workers that died, and their families.

The committee of the event carrying blessed statue to the altar

K of C Nazareno Council Celebrates Feast of the Black Nazarene

O

The Mass was officiated by Rev. Fr. Marc Cramer

Resident Dcn. Bong Estoque emphasized the difference between Fanatics and Devotees.

www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

nce again despite the Covid-19 restrictions, K of C Nazareno Council celebrated the Feast of the Black Nazarene with a mass at St. Charles Parish church, last Saturday January 9, 2021. A limited number of devotees from the members of the Council honor and venerate the image of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo.

Grand Knight Ferdie Mendita led the celebration which was officiated by Rev. Fr. Marc Kramer and Deacon Bong Estoque of St. Charles Parish. Lito Reyes, PSD of the Knight if Columbus expressed his appreciation to the Council for keeping the tradition alive.

Grand Knight Ferdie Mendita KofC Nazareno Council #12904 acknowledged the presence of the devotees at the mass.

Replica of Jesus, the Black Nazarene

Photos by Dario Juanillo

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

Education | Sports | Philippine News

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

ENGINEER IN ACTION

Mervin Cereno, P. Eng. mmcereno@gmail.com Mervin Cereno is a Filipino immigrant in Canada. A FilipinoCanadian Engineer license to practice Engineering in Alberta.

He is employed in one of the most sought Engineering Consulting Firm based in Edmonton as a Structural Engineer that designs small to medium-rise commercial and multi-family buildings. He is a Volunteer and Advocates to help Filipino-Canadian Engineers to pursue their Professional Engineering License in Canada.

For advice on a specific case in pursuing your application whether in ASET or APEGA, please email me at mmcereno@gmail.com.

T

he practice of Engineering in Canada is a very dignified profession. Just like in any other country, engineers are considered to be at the forefront of development for each country’s future. In Canada, there is what engineers call The Iron Ring, which is given during the Iron Ring Ceremony.

The story behind the Iron Ring originated in 1900, when construction began high above the St. Lawrence River, on the Quebec Bridge that

The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer linked Winnipeg to Moncton on the National Trans-Continental Railway. As construction neared completion, on August 29, 1907, it collapsed under the weight of a locomotive loaded with steel.

Seventy-five people were killed and a subsequent inquiry showed that the accident was due to an error in judgment by the engineers who designed the bridge. Tragedy struck again during the second attempt to build the bridge on September 11, 1916, when a new center span being hoisted into position fell into the river, killing 13 men. The bridge was finally completed in 1917 and the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) officially opened it on August 22, 1919. Contrary to popular belief, the first rings were not made from iron taken from the collapsed bridge. However, the collapse of the bridge led to the tradition of the Iron Ring to symbolize the humility and responsibility of engineers.

The Iron Ring is worn by many Engineers in Canada, and reminds those who wear it of their ethical obligations associated with the Engineering profession in the service of the public.

The idea of a ceremony for the Obligation of Canadian Engineers dates back to 1922 when seven past-presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada attended a meeting in Montreal with other engineers. Rudyard Kipling responded to a call from the seven engineers with The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer, to be administered

by the Corporation of the Seven Wardens Inc. It was instituted with the simple end of directing newly qualified Canadian engineers toward a consciousness of their profession and its social significance and indicating to more experienced engineers their responsibilities in welcoming and supporting the newer engineers when they are ready to enter the profession.

The Obligation Ceremony is not connected to any other engineering organization nor any university, although many of them support the idea of the Obligation and may participate in the administration of the Ceremonies.

These Seven Wardens wanted to create a symbol as a reminder to the Engineer – and others – of the Engineer’s obligation to live by a high standard of professional conduct and to maintain humility.

Historically, Rings were wrought iron. Rings today are made of stainless steel. Obligated Engineers are asked to return their Ring after they leave active service as an Engineer and so several rings given to newly obligated Engineers have their part in the history of Engineering service in Canada.

The Iron Ring is presented to graduates and other qualified Obligants in a private ceremony, which is known as The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer. The ceremony was developed with the help of Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel-prize winning English author, and poet.

While the ceremony is not secret, it

The Quebec Bridge Above the St. Lawrence River Photo credit Martin St-Amant Martin St-Amant, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index. php?curid=11852066 Reference: https://www.camp6ironring.ca/ (ORIGINAL TEXT BY CAMP NO. 1, TORONTO) 91.07 https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-bridge-disaster-feature

is a private function. Guests are asked not to take photographs or make recordings during the ceremony.

The Iron Ring has been registered and may be worn on the little finger of the working hand by any engineer who has been obligated at an authorized ceremony of the Ritual of the Calling of the Engineer. The ring symbolizes the pride which engineers have in their profession, while simultaneously reminding them of their humility.

The ring serves as a reminder to the engineer and others of the engineer’s obligation to live by a high standard of professional conduct. It is not a symbol of qualification as an engineer – this is determined by the provincial and territorial licensing bodies.

EOCF online 50/50 returns across Alberta

Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation online 50/50 raffle presented by RE/MAX is back for every game of the 2020-21 season EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) online 50/50 raffle presented by RE/MAX is set to return to Alberta alongside the highly-anticipated 2020-21 Oilers season.

The record-setting online 50/50 raffle will give fans another chance to win big during every Oilers home and away game this season. The 50/50 raffle will also raise important dollars for the EOCF to reinvest in the community.

Oilers fans showed tremendous generosity and passion for the RE/ MAX EOCF online 50/50 raffle

when it launched on August 1, 2020, and continued that support in September during the Stanley Cup Final, creating a community legacy for Edmonton's NHL Hub City hosting.

Buying an online 50/50 ticket is a simple process, similar to most online purchases. Tickets sales open at 9:00 AM MST and end at 10:00 PM MST on the same day.

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) raffle license number is 570159.

The winning ticket number will be drawn at approximately 10:30

PM MST the day of the raffle and will be posted at EdmontonOilers. com/5050 shortly after the draw.

Tickets can be purchased by individuals 18 years or older, located within Alberta's provincial borders at the time of purchase.

All ticket sales are final and ticket buyers will receive a receipt via email after purchasing, which will list all numbers associated with the purchased tickets.

Funds from the 50/50 program are split between the winner and the EOCF, which will in turn reinvest or partner with groups to make a

difference in the community. The EOCF will be guided by helping those in Edmonton's downtown who need the most assistance, and by creating opportunities for all children in the community to play sports, in particular hockey, regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status.

PSC Case Versus Payroll Cheats Go To RTC The Department of Justice found probable cause on the complaint filed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the National Bureau of Investigation against former employees involved in a payroll padding scheme.

In a 23-page resolution signed

by Assistant State Prosecutor Moises Acayan, Sr. Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon and Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento, the filing of several

7

counts of qualified theft, attempted qualified theft, cyber-related forgery and computer-related fraud have been recommended against Paul Ignacio, Michaelle Jones Velarde and Lymuel Seguilla.

PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez have been resolutely following the case. Ramirez, after the fraud was discovered, immediately ordered a shake-up and reorganization of the sports agency. “It is a regrettable incident but it compelled us to

fast-track upgrades and consider a second-look at existing processes,” he explained.

Aside from the National Bureau of Investigation which has been helping the PSC from the onset, the sports chief also disclosed that they sought the help of the Office of the Solicitor General and the Anti-Money Laundering Council in ensuring that the funds are returned to the government.

As recommended in the DOJ resolution, cases will be filed in the Regional Trial Court of Imus, Cavite.

In July last year, Ignacio was discovered redirecting funds to his own bank account. He used to handle payroll preparation for the agency. During the investigation, two more employees were discovered working in connivance with Ignacio.(pr)

EDMONTON OILERS SCHEDULE Date Time Opponent Jan 13 8:00 PM Jan 14 7:00 PM Jan 16 5:00 PM Jan 18 7:00 PM Jan 20 5:00 PM Jan 22 5:00 PM Jan 24 7:00 PM Jan 26 6:00 PM Jan 28 8:00 PM Jan 30 5:00 PM Jan 31 7:00 PM Feb 2 8:00 PM Feb 6 8:00 PM Feb 8 5:00 PM Feb 9 5:00 PM Feb 11 5:00 PM Feb 15 7:00 PM Feb 17 8:00 PM Feb 19 7:00 PM Feb 20 8:00 PM Feb 23 8:00 PM Feb 25 8:00 PM Feb 27 5:00 PM Mar 1 8:00 PM Mar 3 6:00 PM Mar 6 8:00 PM Mar 8 7:00 PM Mar 10 6:00 PM Mar 12 7:00 PM Mar 13 8:00 PM Mar 15 7:00 PM Mar 17 8:00 PM Mar 18 7:00 PM Mar 20 8:00 PM Mar 22 5:00 PM Mar 24 5:30 PM Mar 26 5:00 PM Mar 27 5:00 PM Mar 29 5:00 PM Apr 2 7:00 PM Apr 3 8:00 PM Apr 5 5:00 PM Apr 7 3:00 PM Apr 9 5:00 PM Apr 12 7:00 PM Apr 14 8:00 PM Apr 17 8:00 PM Apr 19 7:00 PM Apr 20 7:00 PM Apr 26 6:00 PM Apr 28 7:00 PM Apr 29 7:00 PM May 1 8:00 PM May 4 8:00 PM May 6 8:00 PM May 7 6:30 PM

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News Update From Alberta Government

8

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

Ang mga mag-aaral ng K-12 ay babalik sa pag-aaral nang personal

A

ng lahat ng mga mag-aaral ay babalik sa pag-aaral nang personal, tulad ng nakaplano, sa Enero 11. Ang mga ipinaguutos na hakbang sa kalusugan ay mananatiling may bisa sa buong lalawigan malamang hanggang Enero 21.

Ang desisyon na bumalik sa pag-aaral sa loob ng klase ay batay sa pinakabagong katibayan na nagpapakita na bago ang taglamig, ang mga bagong rate ng kaso sa mga paaralan ay talampas at pagkatapos ay bumaba noong Disyembre, sa sandaling ang mga paghihigpit sa mga pagtitipon sa lipunan at mga aktibidad sa grupo ay nasa lugar.

"Nais kong kilalanin ang pagsisikap ng mga kawani ng paaralan, guro at magulang na sundin ang mga hakbang sa kalusugan at tulungan kaming panatilihing ligtas ang mga silid aralan para sa mga mag-aaral ng Alberta.

Nagtitiwala akong magpapatuloy ang pagsisikap na ito at makikita natin ang isang matagumpay na pagbabalik sa personal na pag-aaral na mapapakinabangan ng lahat ng mga mag-aaral.”

Jason Kenney, Premier "Ang mga paaralan ay may kritikal na papel sa pagsuporta sa pagkatuto ng mga mag-aaral pati na rin ang kanilang kalusugan sa emosyonal at pangkalahatang kagalingan. Noong Setyembre, ang karamihan sa mga magulang ay pumili ng personal na pagaaral para sa kanilang mga anak sa panahon ng pandemya at ang mga paaralan ay masigasig na sumusunod sa malawak na mga hakbang na inilagay para sa kalusugan. Ang

pagbabalik sa paaralan ay magbibigay sa ating mga mag-aaral ng pamilyar na pang-araw-araw na gawain sa pag-aaral sa klase at ibabalik ang pakiramdam ng pagiging normal para sa mga mag-aaral at pamilya sa gitna ng mga hindi pangkaraniwang panahong ito."

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education Ang lahat ng mga mag-aaral ay babalik sa pag-aaral nang personal, tulad ng nakaplano, sa Enero 11.

Ang mga ipinaguutos na hakbang sa kalusugan ay mananatiling may bisa sa buong lalawigan malamang hanggang Enero 21.

Ang desisyon na bumalik sa pag-aaral sa loob ng klase ay batay sa pinakabagong katibayan na nagpapakita na bago ang taglamig, ang mga bagong rate ng kaso sa mga paaralan ay talampas at pagkatapos ay bumaba noong Disyembre, sa sandaling ang mga paghihigpit sa mga pagtitipon sa lipunan at mga aktibidad sa grupo ay nasa lugar.

"Nais kong kilalanin ang pagsisikap ng mga kawani ng paaralan, guro at magulang na sundin ang mga hakbang sa kalusugan at tulungan kaming panatilihing ligtas ang mga silid aralan para sa mga mag-aaral ng Alberta.

Nagtitiwala akong magpapatuloy ang pagsisikap na ito at makikita natin ang isang matagumpay na pagbabalik sa personal na pag-aaral na mapapakinabangan ng lahat ng mga mag-aaral.”

Jason Kenney, Premier "Ang mga paaralan ay may kritikal na papel sa pagsuporta sa pagkatuto ng mga mag-aaral pati na rin ang

kanilang kalusugan sa emosyonal at pangkalahatang kagalingan. Noong Setyembre, ang karamihan sa mga magulang ay pumili ng personal na pagaaral para sa kanilang mga anak sa panahon ng pandemya at ang mga paaralan ay masigasig na sumusunod sa malawak na mga hakbang na inilagay para sa kalusugan. Ang pagbabalik sa paaralan ay magbibigay sa ating mga mag-aaral ng pamilyar na pang-araw-araw na gawain sa pag-aaral sa klase at ibabalik ang pakiramdam ng pagiging normal para sa mga mag-aaral at pamilya sa gitna ng mga hindi pangkaraniwang panahong ito."

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education Habang ang mga mag-aaral ay bumalik sa personal na pag-aaral, lahat ng mga Albertans, negosyo, organisasyon at tagapaglaan ng serbisyo ay dapat patuloy na sundin ang existing health measures kahit hanggang Enero 21. Ang aktibong pagsusuri ng pinakabagong data ng kalusugan sa publiko ay isinasagawa at gagamitin upang suriin muli ang kasalukuyang antas ng mga paghihigpit sa mga darating na linggo.

Ang mga negosyo, organisasyon at tagapaglaan ng serbisyo ay bibigyan ng hindi bababa sa isang linggong abiso bago ang mga pagbabago sa kasalukuyang mga hakbang sa kalusugan na maaaring makaapekto sa kanila. Ang gobyerno ay magpapatuloy na kumukunsulta sa mga apektadong industriya.

"Ang mga hakbang sa kalusugan na inilagay noong Disyembre ay

nakatulong upang mabawasan ang bilang ng mga aktibong kaso, ngunit hindi ito sapat. Ang mga bilang ng kaso, pagpapaospital at pagsubok sa mga bilis ng pagiging positibo ay nananatiling mataas. Maingat naming susuriin ang data sa mga darating na linggo upang matukoy kung anong mga pagpipilian ang dapat nating ibalik sa mga Albertans ang higit na kakayahang umangkop sa kanilang buhay, at bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga negosyo na magbukas muli.

Ngunit ang pinakamalubhang bagay na magagawa natin ay ang madagdagan ang mga pagkakataon ng isa pang paggulong, na magbabanta muli sa ating sistema ng pangangalaga ng kalusugan at mangangailangan ng higit na paghihigpit. Dapat tayong maging maingat at sadya, at iwasan ang pagpatuloy na pagtaas at pagbaba sa kawalan ng katiyakan na lilikha ng isang bagong paggulong."

Jason Kenney, Premier "Ang ating gobyerno ay magpapatuloy na makikipag-ugnayan sa mga negosyo upang magbigay ng mga kinakailangang suporta sa panahon ng pandemikong ito. Sa ngayon, higit sa 35,000 maliliit na negosyo ay nagamit ang higit sa $ 232 milyonng pondo sa pamamagitan ng ating muling paglulunsad at hinihikayat ko ang sinumang karapat-dapat na mga employer na mag-aplay ngayon. " Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation "Hindi kami maaaring umatras ng maaga at ipagsapalaran na mawala ang mga nakamit natin mula noong

naipatupad ang mga paghihigpit noong Disyembre. Hinihiling namin sa lahat na manatiling bahagi ng solusyon at patuloy na sundin ang mga hakbang sa kalusugan ng publiko hanggang sa makita natin ang mga numero na bumaba sa puntong maaari nating simulang buksan muli ang lalawigan.”

Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health "Ang mga ipinag-uutos na hakbang na ito ay nasa lugar upang mapabagal ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 at wala pa tayo sa posisyon na alisin o bawasan ang mga ito. Ang pagpapanatili sa mga hakbang na nakalagay ay nangangahulugang hinihiling natin muli sa mga Albertans na magsakripisyo - ngunit kinakailangan ang mga ito upang protektahan ang ating lalawigan. May kapangyarihan tayong lahat na gumawa ng mga indibidwal na pagpipilian upang sundin ang mga alituntunin sa kalusugan at makatulong na protektahan ang ating mga mahal sa buhay, kasamahan at kapitbahay. Hinihiling namin sa inyo na patuloy na gawin ang mga mabubuting pagpipilian.”

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health Ang gobyerno ng Alberta ay tumutugon sa COVID-19 pandemya sa pamamagitan ng pagprotekta sa mga buhay at kabuhayan na may tumpak na mga hakbang upang mabaluktot ang kurba, mapanatili ang maliliit na negosyo at protektahan ang sistema ng pangangalaga ng kalusugan ng Alberta.

Update 167: COVID-19 pandemya sa Alberta (Ene. Ang programa ng pagbabakuna sa COVID-19 sa Alberta ay kasalukuyang isinasagawa. Ang mga Albertans ay dapat ipagpatuloy na protektahan ang iba sa pamamagitan ng patuloy na pagsunod sa mga paghihigpit at pagbawas sa pagkalat ng COVID-19.

Mga babaguhing kaalaman • Sa nakaraang 24 na oras, ang nakilalang mga bagong kaso ay 843.

• Mayroong 919 katao sa ospital dahil sa COVID-19, kabilang ang 140 sa masinsinang pangangalaga.

• Mayroong 13,411 aktibong kaso sa lalawigan.

• Sa ngayon, 91,799 Albertans ang gumaling mula sa COVID-19.

• Sa nakaraang 24 na oras, mayroong 26 karagdagang pagkamatay na nauugnay sa COVID na iniulat: tatlo noong Disyembre 27, tatlo noong Dis. 28, dalawa noong Dis. 29, dalawa noong Dis. 30, isa noong Dis. 31, isa noong Enero.

1, dalawa sa Enero 2, apat sa Enero 3, at walo sa Enero 4.

• Ang tulin ng pagiging positibo sa pagsubok ay 8.2 porsyento.

• Sa ngayon, mayroong pagtaas ng 10,301 na mga pagsubok (2,857,374 kabuuan) para sa isang kabuuang 1,671,264 katao na nasubukan.

• Ang lahat ng mga sona sa buong lalawigan ay may mga kaso: o Calgary Zone: 4,545 mga aktibong kaso at 35,757 ang gumaling o South Zone: 257 mga aktibong kaso at 4,799 ang gumaling o Edmonton Zone: 5,794 mga aktibong kaso at 39,241 ang gumaling o North Zone: 1,311 mga aktibong kaso at 6,201 ang gumaling o Central Zone: 1,431 mga aktibong kaso at 5,663 ang gumaling o 73 mga aktibong kaso at 138 ang gumaling na kaso sa mga sonas ay kukumpirmahin o Karagdagang impormasyon, kabilang ang mga kabuuan ng kaso, ay nasa online.

• R values mula Disyembre 28 hanggang Enero 3 (agwat ng kumpiyansa): o Buong lalawigan ng Alberta: 0.99 (0.97-1.01) o Edmonton Zone: 0.92 (0.89-0.95) o Calgary Zone: 1.02 (0.99-1.06) o Natitirang bahagi ng Alberta: 1.06 (1.01-1.10) • Sa kasalukuyan mayroong 1,236 na aktibo at 6,075 na gumaling na mga kaso sa mga pangmatagalang pasilidad sa pangangalaga at mga lugar ng suporta / tahanan ng

tahanan.

• Sa ngayon, 784 sa 1,168 na iniulat na namatay (67 porsyento) ay nasa mga pasilidad na pangmatagalang pangangalaga o mga lugar ng suporta / bahay na tirahan.

COVID-19 na programa sa pagbabakuna • Ibinibigay ang mga bakuna across the province. Hanggang Enero 4, 26,269 na dosis ng bakuna sa COVID-19 ang naibigay sa Alberta.

• Ang hakbang hakbang na pamamaran ng Alberta sa pagbabakuna ay nakatuon muna sa prayoridad na mga manggagawa sa pangangalaga ng kalusugan at sa mga may pinakamataas na peligro ng malubhang kinalabasan. Patuloy na lalawak ang magiging karapatdapat na mabigyan ng bakuna sa pagdating ng maraming bakuna sa lalawigan at mas maraming dosis ang ibibigay sa mga nanganganib.

Pag-aabot sa mga koponan ng tagapag-alaga ng Covid • Ang comprehensive outreach program ay umaabot sa mga komunidad na may mataas na antas ng pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa Edmonton at Calgary.

• Batay sa referral ng Alberta Health Services (AHS), ang mga tao sa mga lugar na may positibo sa COVID-19 ay nararapat na manatili sa isang silid ng hotel ng 14 araw na walang bayad, kumpleto sa pagkain na naaangkop sa kultura at pansamantalang tulong na pinansyal sa halagang $ 625, sa sandaling nakumpleto na nila ang kanilang pagbubuklod sa sarili.

• Noong Disyembre, mahigit na 290 mga Albertans ang nakagamit sa mga silid sa hotel upang maihiwalay nang ligtas ang sarili.

Mga paghihigpit sa buong lalawigan upang mapabagal ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 • Bilang tugon sa pagtaas ng mga numero ng kaso, ang enhanced public measures na ipinagbabawal ang mga pagtitipong panlipunan, nangangailangang paggamit ng mask at paghihigpit sa mga negosyo at serbisyo ay nagpapatuloy na ipatutupad.

• Lahat ng panloob at panlabas na panlipunang pagtitipon - pampubliko at pribado - ay ipinagbabawal pa rin.

• Ang lahat ng umiiral na patnubay at ligal na utos ay mananatiling ipatutupad.

5, 4:45 pm)

Pagsubok para sa mga manlalakbay mula sa U.K. at South Africa • All travellers who have arrived from the United Kingdom and South Africa mula noong Disyembre 7 ay dapat agad makakuha ng isang pagsubok sa COVID-19, mayroon man silang mga sintomas o wala.

• Ang mga manlalakbay ay makikipagugnay nang direkta sa pamamagitan ng Alberta Health Services upang mag-book ng isang pagsubok.

• Gayundin, ang mga manlalakbay mula sa United Kingdom o South Africa na lumahok sa border pilot ay dapat kaagad mag-quarantine, kahit mayroon silang negatibong pagsubok o wala. Ang lahat ng mga bumabalik na manlalakbay na kasalukuyang nasa quarantine ay dapat manatili sa quarantine sa buong 14 na araw.

Mabilis na pagsubok • Rapid point-of-care testing ay nagsimula sa pangmatagalang pangangalaga at itinalagang sumusuporta sa mga pasilidad sa pamumuhay sa Edmonton Zone gamit ang mga nakatuon na mga continued on page 9 ►

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

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

FROM MIGRATION TO IMMIGRATION

info@ mcncanadaimmigration.com 780-758-2045 Marjorie Carmona Newman is a REGULATED CANADIAN IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT based in Edmonton, Alberta.

She is currently a member of CAPIC’s Policy and Lobbying Committee and previously served as Prairie Chapter representative for Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC) in the Governance and Nomination Committee and Education Committee. A recipient of CAPIC's Members Service Award for four consecutive years (2015-2019).

ccording to IRCC’s 20212023 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada plans to admit 401,000 permanent residents.

We expect Express Entry draws starting January 2021. The last draw was on December 23, 2020, where 5,000 ITAs were issued with a cut-off score of 468.

We also expect the Parents and Grandparents Program Lottery

by January 2021. The lottery was expected to take place at the end of this year but was delayed. This year, IRCC plans to invite 30,000 additional sponsors in another lottery.

The Home Child Care Provider Pilot received at least 2,750 applications sometime in November 2020. The pilot will re-open on January 1, 2021.

Travel restrictions are still in place between Canada and other countries until January 21, 2021.

For study permit holders, please be informed that IRCC continues

to update the list of Designated Learning Institutions with the COVID-19 readiness plan.

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program or AINP will implement two streams for Entrepreneurs in 2021, namely: the International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream and Foreign Graduate Start-up Visa.

Please note that The Alberta Government added dozens of additional occupational categories to the refusal to process list starting Nov 1st, 2020, removing the vast majority of occupations from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or TFW Program. The changes do not impact 27 occupations in the Agriculture, Caregiver, Technology and Emergency Response.

For Canadian citizenship applicants, online citizenship tests are available, but you need to be invited by IRCC. Virtual citizenship ceremonies are also available and

Records • Maaaring magamit ng mga magulang at tagapag-alaga ang mga resulta sa pagsubok ng COVID-19 para sa mga batang wala pang 18 taong gulang hanggang sa MyHealth Records (MHR) sa sandaling handa na sila.

• Magmula Enero 4, mga 494,545 Albertans ay may mga MHR account.

umaga hanggang 9 n.g.

• Ang mga taong tumatakas sa karahasan sa pamilya ay maaaring tumawag sa lokal na pulisya o ang pinakamalapit na detatsment ng RCMP upang magapply para sa isang Emergency Protection Order, o sundin ang mga hakbang sa Emergency Protection Orders Telephone Applications (COVID-19).

• Ang mga dokumento ng impormasyon at iba pang mga mapagkukunan sa pag-iwas sa karahasan sa pamilya ay nasa alberta.ca/COVID19.

from page 8

sentro ng pagsubok sa mobile.

• Ang mga malayuan at rural na ospital sa Alberta ay makakatanggap ng mabilis na pagsusuri sa huling bahagi ng Disyembre at unang bahagi ng Enero.

• Ang mabilis na pagsubok ay pinalawak na sa mga kanlungan at sentro ng mga taong walang tirahan sa Calgary at Edmonton.

Pagpapatupad ng mga hakbang sa kalusugan ng publiko • Binigyan ng gobyerno ang ilang mga Alberta Peace Officer at Community Peace Officer ng pansamantalang awtoridad na ipatupad ang public health orders.

• Ang hindi pagsunod sa mga ipinaguutos na paghihigpit ay magreresulta sa multa na $ 1,000 bawat ticketing na pagkakasala at hanggang sa $ 100,000 sa pamamagitan ng mga pamamaraan sa korte.

Ang Albertans mag-download ng tracer app • Lahat ng mga Albertans ay hinihimok na i-download ang ligtas na ABTraceTogether app, na isinama sa pagsubaybay sa contact ng probinsiya. Ang federal app ay hindi isang contact tracing app.

• Ang ligtas na pagsubaybay sa pakikipag-ugnay ay isang mabisang gawain upang ihinto ang pagkalat sa pamamagitan ng pag-abiso sa mga taong nahantad sa isang nakumpirmang kaso upang sila ay ihiwalay at masubukan.

• Magmula Enero 5, 295,575 Albertans ang gumagamit ng ABTraceTogether app, 66 porsyento sa iOS at 34 porsyento sa Android.

Sa average, 22 na mga bagong gumagamit ang nagrerehistro bawat oras.

• Ang ligtas na pagsubaybay sa pakikipag-ugnay ay isang pundasyon ng Alberta Relaunch Strategy.

Mabilis na pag-access sa MyHealth

9

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION – What to expect in 2021

A Marjorie Carmona Newman

Immigration Consultacy Service’s Updates | Editor’s Corner

Pagbabakuna sa trangkaso • Lahat ng mga Albertans, lalo na ang mga nakatatanda at mga nasa peligro, ay hinihimok na magpabakuna laban sa influenza.

• Mahigit sa 1,450,368 mga Albertans ang nakatanggap ng kanilang bakuna sa trangkaso.

Mga suporta sa pagkagumon at kalusugan ng isip • Magagamit ang mga kumpidensyal na suporta. Ang Linya ng Mental Health Help sa 1-877-303-2642 at ang Linya ng Tulong sa Pagkagumon sa 1-866-332-2322 ay bukas ng 24 na oras sa isang araw, pitong araw sa isang linggo. Mayroon din mapagkukunan ng tulong online.

• Ang Kids Help Phone ay magagamit 24-7 at nag-aalok ng propesyonal na pagpapayo, impormasyon at mga referral at suporta na batay sa boluntaryo, batay sa teksto sa mga kabataan sa pamamagitan ng pag-text ng CONNECT sa 686868.

• Online resources ay magbigay ng payo sa paghawak ng mga nakababahalang sitwasyon at mga paraan upang makausap ang mga bata.

Pag-iwas sa karahasan sa pamilya • Isang 24 na oras na Family Violence Information Line sa 310-1818 ay nagbibigay ng lingid na tulong sa higit sa 170 mga wika.

• Ang Isang Linya para sa Karahasang Sekswal sa Alberta ay matatawagan sa 1-866-403-8000, mula 9 ng

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again, you need to be invited by IRCC. IRCC announced on Sept 2020 that it has increased the number of decision makers on spousal applications in Canada by 66% to process spousal applications more quickly and reduce the couples’ wait times.

I think it is fair to say that Canada’s immigration system will not return to normal until the pandemic is over. I’m optimistic that with the emergence and arrival of the vaccines, the end of the pandemic is in sight.

Each year, Canada’s Prime Minister will provide his cabinet members with new mandate letters.

As of this writing, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has not received the new mandate from the Prime Minister. The new mandate will give us a better picture of the direction of Canada’s immigration

system and will outline the priorities of IRCC. I’m hopeful that 2021 will be a better year for IRCC and Canada’s provinces and territories in seeking to normalize the immigration system as compared to 2020.

If you have questions regarding the above article you may contact Marjorie at info@mcncanadaimmigration.com Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) A word of caution: You should not act or rely on the information provided in this column. It is not a legal advice.

To ensure your interests are protected, retain or formally seek advice from a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing of ICCRC. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RCIC’s.

from page 4

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

Mabilis na katotohanan • Ayon sa batas, lahat ng mga Albertans ay dapat dumistansya ng pisikal at ihiwalay ang sarili kapag may sakit o may mga sintomas.

• Ang mabuting kalinisan ay ang iyong pinakamahusay na proteksyon: regular na hugasan ang iyong mga kamay nang hindi bababa sa 20 segundo, iwasang hawakan ang iyong mukha, umubo o bumahin sa isang siko o manggas ng damit, at itapon nang naaangkop ang mga gamit na tisyu.

• Mangyaring ibahagi ang mga gawaing kagandahang-loob sa mga ganitong mahirap na panahong sa #AlbertaCares.

• Ang Alberta Connects Contact Center (310-4455) ay bukas Lunes hanggang Biyernes, 8:15 ng umaga hanggang 4:30 ng hapon.

EDITOR’S CORNER Pero, teka, may solusyon sila diyan. Makakatipid ka. Bibili ka nga lamang ng software para sa upgrading ng iyong computer unit. Walang anu-ano, biglang nag-shutdown ang PC (Personal Computer) mo. Anong problema?

Dinala mo sa technician. Aba, may virus-virus pala! Boom! Kailangan mong bumili ng anti-virus! Pera na naman pala ang kailangan!

Kikita ng malaki ang gumawa ng anti-virus na marahil ay mula rin sa gumawa ng computer!

Ang paralelismo: Nakita mo?

Pandemya-problema! Covid-19 saan ka nanggaling? Mga dalubhasa mismo ay nawindang o di kaagad lubos na maintindian kung ano ang tunay na dahilan o pinagmulan.

Lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno ay parang mga naging aso sa loob ng kanilang bahay. Kapag may kumahol na ibang aso sa labas ng bahay; nakikikahol din kahit hindi naman alam kung ano ang kinakahulan.

Kabi-kabila ang implementasyon ng restriction.

Eh, ano pa nga ba. Minsang nga, sila-sila ay di nagkakasundo kung kelan at paano ang gagawing panukala upang paghigpitan ang mamamayan.

Mask is a must! Wash your hands from time to time! Social Distancing!

No handshaking! No sharing of foods and shelter! No indoor parties! Only 10 are allowed to gather outside!

Only 20 persons during funeral!

Sa ayaw mo at gusto. Susundin mo ang ordinansa ng gobyerno na para ka ding aso. Tutupad sa batas para sa kapakanan ng batas (Abiding with the law or just complying for the sake of compliance).

Natawa ako sa only 10 are permitted to gather outside. Sa lamig ng panahon dito sa Canada ngayong winter season. Kayo bang sampo na magkakaibigan o magkakamag-anak ay magnanais magtipon sa labas?

Isa pa, dapat makipaglamay sa patay kase mas marami ang allowed during funeral?

Teka, ano ang punto?

Hindi ba ito ay hayagang manipulasyon ng mga higanteng negosyante? Hindi kaya, pinaglaruan lamang tayo? Bakit ng mauso ang Covid-19 ay wala na tayong masyadong narinig na ulat mula sa kanila kung ilan ang namatay sa cancer, TB, Ulcer, at iba pang uri ng sakit? Bakit halos lahat ay namatay na yata dahil sa Covid-19? Hindi kaya tinakot lamang tayo ng tinakot? Hindi kaya, Hindi kaya, kung sino ang gumawa ng virus ay sila rin ang gumawa ng vaccine?

Sa puntong ito, may dapat bang sisihin at panagutin?

www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

10

Religion | Points of View | Education

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

Sent to bring glad tidings “Is this man the son of Joseph, the carpenter?

Our Gospel is reminding us of the truth about life: “We cannot please everybody.” No matter how good a person you are, there will always be someone criticizing you.

People will praise you but they will also persecute you. My dear friends, take note of this: if people do not like your music then it is surely not for them. Like Jesus, amidst all of the thumbs downs we may receive, we have to continue to share the Good News. Rejection should not be the reason for the cancellation of our mission. Spread the Good News because it will open the eyes of those who are spiritually blind. It will liberate those who are bound to sin. Friends, the Good News is our effective means to contribute to the social and political liberation of the poor, the needy, deprived, oppressed and exploited.

Folks, do not be upset when people reject you. Nice things are rejected all the time by people who can’t afford them. Rejection does not

MAKE OUR 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.

mean you are not good enough. It just means the other person failed to notice what you have to offer.

Friends, we will experience more

Overcoming fear

H

ave you ever been scared of something? I certainly have and it wasn’t easy to overcome. We all have certain fears that we can’t seem to get over. Fear is classified as an unpleasant feeling that’s caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, and will cause pain or terror. Fear is common in every human being, and varies in certain situations. Fear can be triggered before taking an exam, being alone in the dark, and more.

For me, I get nervous and scared when writing exams. Failing is one of my biggest fears because it feels like not only am I bringing myself down, but everyone else around me.

But deep down, I know that as long as I tried my best, I did my part. I know that overcoming fear isn’t easy. We all know that. But there are certain things you can do to try to overcome it.

One of the most important things to do in order to overcome fear is to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. You have to understand that nobody else will believe in you and your abilities if you don’t believe in yourself. Believing in

SORE TRUTH

Aubrey Reyes Aubrey Reyes is a writer enthusiast.

She speaks out for what she believes in and during her free time, she likes to cook, read, play instruments, and write.

yourself can push you to do certain things you’re afraid of doing, including reaching your dreams.

The second thing you must do is realize and understand why you’re afraid. Knowing/brainstorming why you’re scared can help you get over it. Sometimes fear can be as silly as walking up to a cashier and asking

rejection than acceptance. You know what, not all of us can get an “I love you”. Not everybody will like us. As I looked back on my life, I realized that every time I was being rejected from something good, God was actually re-directing me to something better. Do not be discouraged when people say NO to you because God has many great YESes prepared for you. God does not close one door without getting ready to open another that leads to bigger and greater opportunities.

Sometimes, we have to go through the worst to get to the best. When life closes the door, God opens the window. (Malachi 3:10) Finally, let our life be like a scroll. Allow Jesus to open it and set it free. How do you know that you have been set free? You are set free when you become the source of blessings. You are set free when you bring glad tidings to the poor.

You are set free when the Lord is with you.

Blessings Fr. Jhack

for napkins. Sometimes writing these down can make you realize that it really isn’t something to be scared of.

Lastly, you have to take your time and be patient with yourself.

Some people give up trying to overcome a certain fear they are dealing with. However, giving up should NEVER be an option. You have to work in order to overcome the fear and obstacles in your way to achieve something. Giving up shows that you don’t believe in yourself as again, you’re letting fear take over your life.

Fear shouldn’t stop you from doing things in life, especially if it’s something beneficial to you. These include your future dreams. Everyone has their own understanding of fear and their own ways to get over it and handle it. Everyone’s minds work differently, but these are what personally helps me. Know that although everyone handles fear differently, we all experience it at some points in our lives. The best thing to do is to meditate and think optimistically, as well as believing in yourself.

from page 5

Edmonton Stingers Re-Sign Jermaine Small as Head Coach and General Manager championship finals with a final score of 90-73. The success in the CEBL Summer Series, combined with a stellar 2019 season, makes Small the winningest head coach in CEBL history. He currently has a record of 17-4 with the Stingers.

“First & foremost I'm extremely excited to return and continue building on our success,” said Stingers Head Coach and General Manager, Jermaine Small. “Thank you Edmonton for truly embracing me and becoming home for me. This is only the beginning and I can't wait to run it back and defend our championship come Summer, 2021.” www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

“Having worked closely with Jermaine throughout the Inaugural Season and the Summer Series, I am confident that he is the right person to lead our team to a dynasty,” said Vice President of Operations, Andreas Morse. “The relationships he has built with our players and the culture he has created will solidify the Stingers as a favourite in the CEBL. I look forward to building this team alongside Jermaine.”

The CEBL is preparing for its third season in 2021, following the success of the 2020 CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines, Ontario; which saw a record 1.2 million viewers across

Canada tune in to four days of live programming on CBC. About The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80% of its current rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G-League, top international leagues, the Canadian National Team program, and top NCAA programs as well as from U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season typically runs from May through August. More information is available at www.cebl.ca

Fantastic Filipino Books and Where to Find Them

I

t’s a time for resolutions and perhaps you’re considering reading more Filipino literature this year.

But where does one even find Filipino books? Fret not, I am here to give you a quick guide of where to start your search for your next Filipino read.

If you’re looking to purchase, buying from your neighbourhood independent bookstore is a great way to support your community.

They would most likely have a limited selection of Filipino books in English, and you might have to get items specially ordered. The best way to explore this option is to ask your local bookseller. I have yet to find a Filipino bookstore in Canada, but our neighbour in the South has some.

My favourite is Arkipelago Books, a specialty Filipino bookstore in San Francisco that has an online shop that delivers to Canada. They have a curated selection of Filipino books both in English and Tagalog.

Another option is chain bookstores such as Chapters and Indigo, which mainly carry books by authors from the diaspora such as Filipino-American and Filipino-Canadian authors.

Though a much limited selection, they also carry books by Filipino authors such as Jose Rizal and Nick Joaquin.

You can also find some children’s bilingual English-Tagalog books, resources for learning Tagalog, and some non-fiction.

If you’ve exhausted all of your other buying options, Amazon also carries Filipino books, some of which are hard to find anywhere else. But I do recommend checking other places before deciding to purchase from Amazon.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a free option, you can check out your local library. Bigger public libraries

Steeped in Stories: Ulat Aklat

Jasmine-Grace Nacu nacu.jgcn@gmail.com Jasmine-Grace Nacu, originally from Las Piñas, Metro Manila, is a former bookseller, current library assistant, and all around professional book lover based in Edmonton, Alberta. When she's not helping you find your next must read at your local library, she's spreading kindness by snail mail and writing reviews on @ steepedinstories on Instagram.

such as EPL and CPL have a much wider selection than one might think.

Their collections contain Filipino books both in English and Tagalog, and from all types of Filipino authors.

Titles for different ages and from different genres are available. A fun fact about libraries is that they love to share! So if your local library doesn’t have what you want, you could request an interlibrary loan, but parts of that service may be limited because of the pandemic. You could also suggest an item to be added to the collection. Talk to your local librarian to see what options are available to you. I hope this guide proves to be helpful and may the new year bring us more opportunities to read Filipino literature!

from page 3

COVID, COVID, COVID: An Unreasonable Phenomenon That Carries Various Unsound... the battle. But, how can they win the battle? Of course, they need to have enemies. Ah, this maybe the reason why there is what we called “Games of the Generals.” This maybe the reason why there are books I’ve read that some of the military high ranking officers form their own enemies.

Otherwise, upon whom will they apply the arts of war they have learned from the military schools? They are trained to achieve peace by striking down adversaries. Well, I also believe that there are some who genuinely take care of our welfare. They are there to maintain a peaceful society and protect us from colonial and external aggression.

Unreasonable reason for this phenomenon “Health is wealth.” This is great and we truly learned this from the past.

That is why, we take care of our health. That is why, we love the Country where healthcare is socialized and as they say, free (though, nothing is free). But, at least, we believe it’s free. We are truly put on guard for our health. That is why masks are a must! That is why we always sanitize our hands with alcohol. That is why we just communicate through the use of toe internet and other forms of virtual communication.

The question: Who truly enjoys this phenomenon?

“Wealth is health.” Look around and observe! Who owns the big distributors and manufacturers of masks our government is strictly mandating us to wear? Who owns and manufactures those sanitizers, gloves, gowns, etc. Who owns and are the producers of personal computers, cellphones, and internet connections? Don’t we realize that these may be some of the vivid proofs of monopoly and manipulation? Haven’t we noticed that they may be exerting most of their efforts to formulate and impose the mandatory vaccination because they were the creators of this morbid Covid? What do they really need? For the most powerful men in the world, wealth is the dose for their good health. I might be wrong. Sorry! Are you sure? There is only one thing I am certain, that is, there is a subjective uncertainty.

An early bird catches an early worm. But, in our situation, who is the worm?

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

Points of View | Business

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

11

On Navigating Family Relationships and Overseas Properties GENERAL POINT OF VIEW

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

W

henever I get a chance to talk to my grandmother, whether it is over the telephone, video calls, or the few times I managed to go back to the Philippines to visit, pleasantries are very brief, with hardly any chance to ask how she is doing.

Within the first few minutes, she’d jump to her go-to question:“Have you already paid the taxes for your land over here? You have to stay on top of it to make sure that there are no issues that would come up in the future.” As a businesswoman who had to struggle hard after growing up in poverty, I’m not surprised by this. Her primary motivation is being able to provide for the family. She is not the type to be affectionate.

These tangible words are her ‘love language’. She is quite proud to have been able to give at least one piece of land and one small business to each of her eight children, in addition to sending them all to college.

I remember during a difficult time in my high school years, when my grandma started yelling and scolding me. She threatened me by saying I will not inherit anything from her in the future if nothing changes in the situation we were in

at the time. Strangely enough, I did not feel scared about the concept of losing this potential wealth or property. I was just disappointed.

It felt like a blackmail tactic, and it was not helpful in resolving the problems we were facing that day.

I got an offer to see one of these pieces of land, and I went to a local law firm not too far from my neighbourhood here in Edmonton to get a special power of attorney.

The lawyer, not being a Filipino, warned me that he cannot 100% guarantee that all the language in the document I drafted is 100% effective, because he does not know how the laws work. I felt confident with what we got from the Philippine Consulate website, and I told him to just go ahead and finalize the document. Afterwards, I took a bus to the Consulate in Calgary to get it certified and have the red ribbon affixed to it. It was a challenging journey as I cannot drive, so I took the Red Arrow bus to Calgary, relied on my phone to navigate downtown, and bought transit tickets to get around. As a young adult, this was a first-time experience for me!

Last March, I got a phone call

from my aunt who lives in Canada as one of her sons, my cousin, is living in the Philippines. I was notified that there are unauthorized occupants in one of the farmlands that was under my and my brother's name. I was shown drone pictures showing these photos that was in a portion of this farmland. I thanked her for notifying me, although I am fully aware that there is not much I can do. I imagined that the local government in these towns are too busy with other more important things, like supporting everyone impacted by the pandemic.

During a dinner date with one of my friends, she shared her situation about her home country in Latin America. She and her brother own a piece of land and they have to make decisions on what to do with it. She is tempted

to sell it the fastest way possible, and not even bother about the complicated process of selling the property at a good price. For her, the property felt like a burden that is too distant to manage effectively.

I heard the same sentiment from many Filipinos, as it is difficult to find someone back home that is trustworthy at times.

I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to one of the biggest questions when dealing with such matters – is it better to keep the property, to sell it at market value so that the person who gave it in the first place felt appreciated, or give it to a family member at home who needs it more? I do hope that it becomes less of a cause of conflict and pain among family members who are already far apart from each other.

ADVERTISE WITH US 780-916-7677 publisher@albertafilipinojournal.com All photos and articles available online. Follow us

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12

Points of View | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

2020 YEAR in Review

CORONA VIRUS ALERT IN CANADA: Prevention is better than cure!

GLOBAL PANDEMIC: Corona Virus spreads increasingly worldwide.

FEBRUARY 2020 • Volume 13, Number 2

MARCH 2020 • Volume 13, Number 3

COVID-19 REIGNITES THE PINOY BAYANIHAN SPIRIT! APRIL 2020 • Volume 13, Number 4

TAAL: ANOTHER TEST FOR FILIPINO’S RESILIENCE JANUARY 2020 • Volume 13, Number 1 PINOY ORGANIZATIONS EXTEND ASSISTANCE TO KABABAYANS

PH flag flies high in Grande Prairie!

JUNE 2020 • Volume 13, Number 6

MAY 2020 • Volume 13, Number 5

RACIST ON THE LOOSE: ATTACKS ASIANS JULY 2020 • Volume 13, Number 7

OPERATE HOME-BASED BUSINESS RESPONSIBLY: Must Meet AHS’ Requirements

ANOTHER SHINING STAR OF A FILIPINO DESCENT!

Family Reunification: A GAME OF LUCK?

AUGUST 2020 • Volume 13, Number 8

SEPTEMBER 2020 • Volume 13, Number 9

OCTOBER 2020 • Volume 13, Number 10

FIRST RECIPIENT OF COVID-19 VACCINE IN ONTARIO IS A FILIPINA NOVEMBER 2020 • Volume 13, Number 11

www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

DECEMBER 2020 • Volume 13, Number 12 THE PULSE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, CANADA

Business | Para-legal Services | Inspiration

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

13

Filipinos’ Success Stories:

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

Edge Grabador

myself and my parents. Money was tight but I had to sacrifice to improve my education and job prospects.

5. What schooling did you have to take?

Answer. I did my International Qualification Assessment here in Canada and I have the classification as a Professional Interior as a career. The ability to combine my background Designer. To become a Realtor/Real Estate in Interior Design with assisting home buyers and Agent involves more schooling. I focused my time home sellers is a win-win for everyone! and concentration last year on understanding the new career I was getting into. I studied 3) What goal do you have in mind? seriously and passed the exam. I am now a Answer. While enjoyed my Interior Design job at Licensed Realtor/Real Estate Agent in Alberta. the furniture store, I kept on dreaming of becoming a Real Estate Agent. I met a Realtor who inspired 6. When did you decide to come to Canada? me and encouraged me to study to get licensed. I Answer. In 2004 while I was working in Saudi took the course and I am now a Licensed Real Estate Arabia as an Interior Designer, my two sisters Agent in Alberta. I am excited to assist my clients moved to Lloydminster. An opportunity arose with their home buying and selling. The positive and I was able to join them as a Foreign Worker work ethics, excellent customer service skills and through the Skilled Program. My parents and people skills I learned from all my previous jobs as sisters are still living in Lloydminster but a new immigrant, plus my passion with Interior eventually I would love to move my parents Design are all applicable valuable strengths to my here to Edmonton. new career.

7. What is your advice for your younger 4) What struggles did you have to go through? self?

Answer. I am fortunate that in Alberta, I met many Answer. Believe in yourself, do not compare amazing people who are willing to help a struggling yourself with others as everybody’s journey is Kababayan. I had to work many different jobs different. Follow your passion and never give while attending school at NAIT in Digital Media up even when things get tough. Stay focused, Information Technology. I worked shift works at work hard, and most of all, be humble and fast food places and did labour jobs to support remember where you came from.

FILIPINO JOURNAL INTERVIEW A New Version of You

1. When did you realize what your dream job was?

Answer. I still remember how fun it was when my Mom was arranging and moving furniture around our home. I was very young and yet I already felt how enjoyable it was when she asked me to help her. The trips to the furniture store were a treat! I think this experience started my love for Interior Design. Growing up, I always dreamt of being involved with Interior Design and of eventually becoming a Professional Interior Designer and owning my company.

2. What did your career path look like?

Answer. I had many different jobs in the past before I immersed myself into starting my own Interior Design company. I

All photos and articles available online. Follow us

studied Interior Design in the Philippines and eventually worked in Saudi Arabia in the same field. I came to Lloydminster, AB Canada as a Graphics Designer through the Skilled Foreign Workers program then successfully obtained my Permanent Residence then Citizenship.

Through the years, I took on many jobs just like any other immigrant. I worked at Tim Horton’s and McDonald’s, I did manual labour jobs with plumbing and drywall companies, and I did landscaping work and oil field work in Fort McMurray. While I was working as part of the maintenance staff at a welding shop, I tried welding and became a welder. I thought I would stay in that job for a long time until the company hit difficult times and had to let us go. The rest is history. I made it to Edmonton and met many different people who introduced me to friends.

All my past job experiences made me better and stronger for the next opportunity. I worked at a furniture store and my love of Interior Design ignited once again. I have designed for builders, private homeowners and business owners. The more I got involved with home designing, I became more excited about pursuing Real Estate

www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

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Arts and Culture | Community

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

Connections through Stories Creator’s Notes on Paglalayag: the Philippines to Canada Journey

ARTOSPECTIVE - an artist’s point of view

Ida Beltran-Lucila ida_b_lucila@yahoo.com

M

y curiosity on people’s lives heightened upon our arrival in Canada.

Without fail, with every Filipino I have encountered, the conversation would inevitably lead to stories of migration. And I am definitely not alone in this. “How long have you been here in Canada?”, “Which part of the Philippines are you from?”, “How did you come to Canada?”, are typical follow-up topics.

More than a decade of engaging in these kinds of conversation have not diminished the level of amazement, respect and at times, hilarity that I experience with the various stories. I have heard numerous stories of hope, misfortune, serendipity, fortitude and honour in the pursuit of a better life. Some stories validate the saying ‘reality is stranger than fiction’.

And this was the impetus for the project Paglalayag: the Philippines to Canada Journey - to chronicle the stories of migration of Filipinos to Canada. Paglalayag is the Filipino word for voyage or journey. The documentary relates the experiences of Filipinos: from those who arrived in the 1960s; the teachers, nurses, caregivers, temporary foreign workers; the contributions and achievements;

www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

and the importance of heritage with FilipinoCanadians. It also features Filipino artistry in music, dance and poetry.

The first documented wave of Filipinos came in the 1950s, with some articles stating that it actually was as early as the 1930s.

We have and continue to arrive, bringing skills, knowledge, experience and finances, contributing to Canadian society and acting as conduits to the Philippines. We are the third largest growing minority group in Canada. And yet, in the research conducted for this project, the limited information and documentation on Filipinos in Canada was a disappointing realization.

Stories reveal universal truths about the world. Through stories we see how very different people share the same life experiences and how human nature can transcend culture. Storytelling is an effective tool in enhancing intercultural understanding and communication. We all have stories to share. And the retelling of stories preserves it.

Paglalayag goes beyond the question of “Where are you from?”. It tackles the universal topics, across all migrant experiences of: what is it like to leave your home, and to live with uncertainty of finding another?

And what does it take to not only survive, but thrive, in the new land? The landscape is both an inspiration and a background to a universal story of people searching for a place to call home. It offers viewers a rich, poetic cultural experience that enables one to step into another’s shoes.

The documentary features 26 storytellers, 37 performers, 19 contributors, and 9 In Memoriam tribute honourees. It is a product of hundreds of hours of research, footage and consequent editing. It is a result of ingenious redesign - pivoting from an initially conceptualized stage performance to a video documentary due to the pandemic.

Interviews were conducted with thoughtful logistics planning, with considerations on not just getting information, but caring for each other, connecting emotionally while physically distancing, and keeping each one safe. The project was also developed in a year when various events made us confront issues of racism. More than ever, it stressed the importance of visibility of cultural minorities.

Paglalayag is also proof of the importance of a community contributing and working together. It brings to mind a quote by Helen Keller, “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much”. As the creator of Paglalayag, I am humbled by the people who have heeded my request, and generously shared their time, experiences, and talent. I appreciate their willingness to be vulnerable in sharing their life’s ups and downs. I am honoured to have been entrusted with their stories, their momentos, and photos. I am also extra privileged to collaborate with Migrante Alberta, and filmmaker Shawn Tse, who has guided me in this new medium, grasped my ramblings with regards to my vision, and executed an outcome that reflects my voice.

And with the sheer amount of information and materials gathered, I was faced with the daunting task of compressing it and selecting which of the shared experiences should be highlighted in this iteration. I recognize that there are still so many stories to be featured, and in no way do I profess that Paglalayag is a comprehensive reporting.

And our stories continue to be shaped, should continuously be documented and preserved, and be known.

I consider the whole process for Paglalayag, from research to filmmaking, as a process of discovery on so many levels. It is my desire that viewers will go through their own process of discovery in some shape and form, as well. Then let’s talk about it. Let’s share it. This is after all, our voices, and our stories. Let’s celebrate our history, our contributions and achievements.

Paglalayag: the Philippines to Canada Journey is supported by Canadian Heritage and Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women. Migrante Alberta provides a special feature on their work for migrant workers. To view the full list of storytellers, performers and contributors, go to philippineartscouncil. com/paglalayag .

The screening is on February 20-28, 2021. It is a free online screening, but registration is required at paglalayag.

eventbrite.ca to access the link. This allows one to watch the documentary at any time, from anywhere in the world, during the screening period. Donations are accepted via interac or Paypal to philippineartscouncil@gmail.com, which will benefit the programs of Philippine Arts Council and the Edmonton Philippine International Centre initiative.

To comment on this article, go to https://www.philippineartscouncil. com/blog .

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

Inspiration | Education

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

15

"Living Book" Michael L. Siervo By: Virginia Cawagas

January 30, 2021, 5:30 p.m. MST Zoom Webinar

We are pleased and honoured to present our January “Living Book” Michael L. Siervo.

Join us in tracing his journey through this “Living Book” series of LINGAP-Canada!

T

he journey of a thousand steps starts with one. This Is one of the mottos Michael Siervo lives by. He believes that every great journey, every big dream and every vision of better things starts with one thing, it is the courage to act.

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada from an immigrant family Michael learned early on the value of hard work, confidence, and courage. Although he excelled academically, he often found himself in situations where standing up for something tested his courage.

Whether it was countless fights in the streets, altercations with gangs, or defending against bullies in the schoolyard, he realized quickly that his journey would be one where he could not be a bystander. At the age of 20, after a martial arts accident, he was told he would never be able to walk again. He proved doctors wrong and was determined to prove that one can keep moving forward no matter what. He wanted to make an impact in the lives of others which would require confidence and the courage to step forward even when he felt he couldn’t. In crutches and a plastic splint, he ended up graduating from the University of Toronto. Physically he had limitations so he felt his best path to make a difference would be in business. He entered the

competitive world of investments and financial services. Observing that he was a young visible minority he questioned why he didn’t see representation within the higher ranks of his industry. This was when he took his first meaningful step towards his journey to be a symbol of positive change.

In 2007, speaking in front of 200 industry professionals, explaining the impact of social media as a tool to reach and help many Canadians, he was laughed at. He did not look like the typical leader. He was not middle aged and white. Rather than shying away, he leveraged his one obvious asset at the time, youth, diversity, and creativity. His creative ideas helped him climb the ladder in several top Fortune 500 Companies.

Remembering the Immigrant work ethic and the Filipino toughness he learned as a kid, he became the youngest and first visible minority to earn a Vice President title for the largest and oldest financial institution in Canada. During his tenure he took multiple territories from $19Million in assets to over $3Billion. His success in business allowed him to expand in multiple ventures ranging from financial services, real estate, restaurants, automotive, fashion, consulting, and digital marketing. He was recognized as an Emerald Award Winner and Top Sales Leader for two

Michael Siervo: Ready Set RISE

of the largest financial institutions in Canada.

In 2018, Michael was recognized by the True Beauty Foundation for Community Leadership and the following year he was recognized for his community work by Empower Media becoming the first Chairman for the Filipino Chamber of Commerce Alberta. Among other awards, he became the first and only multiple Golden Balangay Award Winner, an award that recognizes the work of high performing Filipinos across the country. He also won the GBA

Executive of The Year and prestigious World Vision Award for Community Leadership and has been actively involved in the Calgary Fashion scene and has sat on several charitable boards.

In 2021 he launched 2 inspirational podcasts to help highlight the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

He believes in a very simple mindset he named Ready, Set, Rise and specific formula called FSF (Five Steps Forward) which he preached to those mentors. He is scheduled

to launch his first book in March 2021 that discusses the key strategies anyone can do to not only take the first step toward achieving their goals but taking the key 5 steps over and over towards becoming the best version of yourself.

Michael is inspired and intrigued by the underdog story, a story he knows very well. He believes that everyone’s journey is someone’s inspiration and that we must have the courage to take the first step towards our goals.

Change your life in 2021!

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Business

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

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

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Business

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Points of View | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

Comparing Different Ways to Get Mental Health Support By: Giselle General

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or this community resource article, I would like to share my personal experiences about getting mental health support. I would like to compare the different methods to get support for emotional hardship that I have experienced in my life, in the hope that this can guide someone who is considering getting therapy or counselling.

For us Filipinos, getting medical support is not something we are used to doing except for serious issues. In addition to avoiding clinics, hospitals or even the dentist, the thought of going to a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist is an even more awkward idea. The pandemic also doesn't help because we are experiencing limitations on how we get support.

First, is in-person. I'm glad that my first experiences in therapy were through in-person appointments to help me become familiar with the process.

A therapist or counselor’s office actually doesn’t look like other medical clinics such as that of a physiotherapist, dentist or doctor. It’s more like an office space, with inviting decoration and a soft couch where you can sit really comfortably. For those who are experiencing severe trauma, it is definitely more valuable to have in-person appointments. This is because the nonverbal cues from the patient is a very important

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component of the interactions between the medical provider and the client. If you feel emotionally overwhelmed and burst out crying, or your face is expressing something you just don’t have the words for, it’s easier to receive a glass of water, a box of tissues, or have a person in front look at you kindly during that moment and wait until you are ready again.

The challenge for in-person appointments is travel, timing, and location. It certainly requires more coordination. I was lucky that my employer allowed me to leave work early on a regular basis during my scheduled in-person therapy appointments.

Second, video call appointments.

The pandemic pushed me to switch to video appointments. Luckily, I was seeing the same psychotherapist who I met a few times in person already, so a familiar face and voice, even though the meeting was just through a computer screen, was comforting.

To make video appointments successful, I recommend treating it as seriously as an in-person appointment. So that means, having a private space with just you, no interruptions with family. Doing this in the bedroom and locking the door worked for me. Try to have a stable internet connection and put the phone or computer on a desk or table so your arms won’t get tried holding your gadget. Try to connect five minutes before

the appointment time, to give you time to test your webcam, mic, or speakers.

I cannot speak for people who have attempted video therapy as their first-ever therapy or mental health experience. That being said, don't let this stop you from trying.

For people who are introverted or might feel uncomfortable with very close eye contact, this might be a successful way to start.

Third is over the telephone.

This is the form of therapy I was most skeptical about because it is unsettling being vulnerable and opening up to someone who you cannot even see even just through video. However, I was pleasantly

surprised with how it turned out.

I think what helps is that all the preparation principles for video appointments apply. It is important to have a private space where you don’t get interrupted, such as your own bedroom.

I also recommend telephone appointments for mental health challenges that are not as severely traumatic, as in challenging emotional topics that can cause you to break down and burst out crying. This is because it can be difficult for your therapist to pay attention to the change in your facial expression as they can't see you.

I hope that this is a helpful overview on mental health support.

The resources I have used are as follows: - Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton – Supports for Sexual Assault Survivors https://www.sace.ca/ - Redtree Psychology – Professional Psychologists, paid out of pocket http://www.redtreepsychology. com/ - Hello Mental Health – Telephone Psychotherapy Covered by Alberta Health https://www.hellomentalhealth. ca/ And if you would like to explore different options for other kinds of support, use the 211 directory through their website https://ab.211. ca/ or by calling or texting 211.

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

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Immigration's Update | Legal Matters

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GOOD NEWS FOR WORKERS, VISITORS AND STUDENTS FACING EXPIRED STATUS By: Violeta G. Boquiren

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FFECTIVE December 31, 2020 the exemption of foreign nationals from certain requirements to apply for the restoration of their status as students, workers, or visitors has been extended to August 31, 2021.

The policy now includes FN who were in Canada from January 30, 2020 to May 31, 2021. This is an expansion from the original eligibility requirement that was announced on July 14, 2020 and took effect on July 21, 2020, which only included foreign nationals whose status expired after January 30, 2020 and were unable to restore their status within the 90-day period allowed by the regulations.

Workers, students and visitors who had valid status on or after January 30, 2020 but whose status expired on or before May 31, 2021 will have until August 31, 2021 to apply.

FN who have been out of status for more than 90 days can benefit from this change. To be eligible the: • FN must have been in Canada with valid temporary resident status (student, worker or visitor) between January 30, 2020 and May 31, 2021.

• FN must have remained in Canada from the time of entry but lost their status within the period between January 30, 2020 and May 31, 2021.

• application to restore status must be submitted with the work, student or visitors’ record application, and the correct application fees must be paid.

This change also allows a FN applying for a work permit to start working while waiting for a final decision on their restoration application IF they meet the criteria to request the “Interim Work Authorization”. To meet the criteria, the FN has to: • submit an employer-specific work permit application (LMIA-based), or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment; • must have held a valid work permit in the 12 months prior to the date on which they submitted their application; and • must have submitted a request for the interim work authorization through IRCC’s Webform.

You may not be eligible for an interim work authorization if you did not hold a valid work permit for the last 12 months prior to your application. If you changed your status from a worker to a visitor, and you are now applying for a work permit, you may not be eligible. In this case, you have to wait for the approval of your work permit application and the restoration of your status before you can start to work.

If you are applying for an open work permit, you may not be eligible for the interim work authorization because your application is not supported by an LMIA or an LMIAexempt offer of employment from a specific employer.

It is very important to note that the interim work authorization is not automatically issued by IRCC and you cannot make that request with your application. You must submit your request by using the Webform (www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/ web-form.asp) after you submitted your application. You must wait for

the letter approving your request, before you start working.

NOTE** This article is for general information only and should not be taken as legal advice. Due to the rapid changes to Immigration’s

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Public Policies and Ministerial Instructions, legal advice from a qualified Lawyer should be sought.

Your individual circumstances may require further assessment to determine your eligibility to apply.

www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

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Opinion | Business

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.

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

Sound Pieces Of Advice From A Septuagenarian

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asked a friend who has crossed 70 and is heading towards 80 what sort of changes he is feeling in himself? He sent me the following: 1. After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children and my friends, I have now started loving myself.

2. I have realized that I am not an “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.

3. I have stopped bargaining with vegetable and fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.

4. I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.

5. I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane and relive their past.

6. I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. In the realm of humanity, peace is more precious than perfection.

7. I give compliments freely and generously. Compliments are a

mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And, a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never-never turn it down, just say "Thank You.” 8. I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.

9. I walk away from people who don't value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.

10. I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat; neither am I in any race.

11. I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.

12. I have learned that it is better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships, I will never be alone.

13. I have learned to live each day as if it is the last. After all, it might be the last.

14. I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself.

Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be! I decided to share this here as a Reminder. Why do we have to wait to be 60 or 70 or 80, why can't we

practice this at any stage and age?

Life is what we make it! Let us fill our Life with magical moments and wonderful experiences this 2021, not things. Have Wonderful Stories to tell, not stuff to show.

Life is too short and anything can happen anytime in the blink of an eye so let us be thankful to the Good Lord and enjoy each and every second with our loved ones, our family and our true friends!

Let's focus on the most important aspects that matter most in our Life: Among them are our spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social, financial health, and well-being.

Living a balanced life (physically,

mentally, socially, financially, and spiritually) is the secret to a happy and healthy life. Simple Joys and Simple Living are still and are always the best! God bless us all!

Xania Shinbine: YEG Company Spotlight: Bubs & Belly JAN THE MAN’S NOTE

with myself. I wasn’t sure if it was smart to be starting a business in the middle of a global pandemic, but it is with the encouragement and support of my friends and family, that I was able to start Bubs & Belly.

Bubs & Belly is inspired by my two dogs, Kai and Elliott. Our name came from their nicknames, Bubs (for Kai) and Belly (for Elliott).

I knew that my business needed to include my fur babies and I knew that I wanted to give back to the rescue that gave them to me. So making accessories for pets with matching accessories for their humans made the most sense. However, our pet accessories are not only for dogs, we make products in a variety of different sizes so that any pet can wear our accessories. If we don’t have a size that you need, just contact us and we’ll be more than happy to accommodate your request. It is really important to me that we offer products for everyone; all genders, all sizes and all animals.

When you support Bubs & Belly, you’re also supporting SCARS

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

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ver the course of this pandemic that has lasted almost one year, I have been featuring local YEG Filipino business entrepreneurs and their small businesses to further show the unique offerings Edmonton has to offer and emphasize the importance of shopping local!

This month I am excited to feature Filipina Entrepreneur Xania Shinbine and her company, Bubs & Belly, which specializes in handcrafted adornments for humans and pets!

The following is an excerpt from Xania and the company’s details: www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

Company Logo: Bubs & Belly

(Second Chance Animal Rescue Society), the animal rescue that gave me Kai and Elliott. 10% of all our sales will be donated to SCARS so that other animals have a chance to find their forever homes.

Follow us on Instagram @ bubsandbelly and visit our website www.bubsandbelly.ca to view our products! Thank you for reading, we look forward to helping you and your pet look pawshionable!

For 10% OFF your purchase please use the code FILIPINOJOURNAL10 at checkout.

CONTACT INFORMATION Instagram: @bubsandbelly Facebook: @bubsandbelly Email: info@bubsandbelly.ca

Filipina Entrepreneur: Xania Shinbine

Bubs & Belly is a one woman, two doggo show. We’re dedicated to offering you the best in handmade pet and human accessories, with a focus on cuteness, quality and exceptional customer service! My name is Xania Shinbine and I am the Founder and CEO of Bubs & Belly. Our handmade goods can be purchased online at www. bubsandbelly.ca. Currently, we only ship to Canada and the United States

but we hope to expand to worldwide shipping in the near future!

I’ve always dreamt of being my own boss and becoming an entrepreneur, but with a full time job it never felt like the right time.

Then COVID happened, and like thousands of other people in the province, I lost my job due to the global pandemic. I applied to countless other jobs, with no success. I felt lost and I wasn’t sure what to do THE PULSE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, CANADA

Fashion | Points of View

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Defining Design FILIPINAVIGATION

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

Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of her greatest inspirations.

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his month, I was delighted to speak with Cassie Parco. Cassie and I first met in Washington, DC when I was vacationing with my cousins. She is brilliant, beautiful, and I have never seen someone with a more creative social media. Naturally, these qualities are what make her a great UX Designer. I hope you enjoy my interview with Cassie Parco below!

1. Could you tell me about yourself?

I’m Cassie and a User Experience (UX) Designer for a health insurance company in Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to UX, I had a pretty extensive background in public health – I got my Masters of Public Health in Philadelphia then moved to Washington, DC for work. Outside of UX, I love cooking/ baking, spending time with my family, being outdoors, and traveling (I do miss it!).

took an online UX bootcamp for about 6 months before I landed my first UX position.

3. Tell me about the projects you’re most proud of and why. What was your role?

Last summer, I re-designed an existing microsite for a client.

I worked with the stakeholders to understand the needs of the project and how the users will interact with the website. It was my first real project I was assigned to—aside from projects outside of my UX bootcamp program—so I was both nervous and excited. The UX process can be challenging because you’re working with a lot of moving parts and different perspectives, and as a UX designer you’re trying to advocate for your users. It took about a month for me to design the site before it was handed off to the developers. I actually gave birth right after I was finishing up the site, so I didn’t get to see the final product until after I came back from maternity leave.

I remember the moment I saw the site up and running. It was a proud moment knowing that I was the designer behind the scenes!

4. Where do you find inspiration?

I gather inspiration from various mediums. Social media, Dribble, Behance, and other UX designers’ work. UX is so broad – nowadays,

2. How did you get into the field?

In all honesty, UX fell into my lap! I was at a point in my career where I was trying to decide what my next step was, and I knew that I wanted to incorporate my creative side into a profession. I had received an email about an introductory UX workshop and figured, why not? I A photograph of Cassie Parco remember coming out you can find a UX position in of the workshop thinking it was a sign and saying, “Maybe this is it!”, almost every field. Almost every so I delved into everything UX. I had UX designer that I’ve met, in informational meetings with UX person or virtually, has given me designers, took intro UX courses, a different story of their design and watched tutorial videos. After process. I love reading through months of research, I decided to other designers’ portfolios and completely make the switch and seeing the work that they’ve done.

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I also like talking to people from other professions/backgrounds who can give different perspectives and insights.

What’s fascinating is that UX is everywhere. We are all users of different products (an app on our phone, the coffee maker, the ATM machine). For me, a great UX experience is when you interact with a product that you don’t have to think about too much – it’s almost intuitive and seamless. When you come across a “bad” experience or product, you begin to dissect how your experience could be better.

As a UX designer, you want to design a product that gives your user that seamless experience. It goes beyond making a page look nice and organized. The next time you come across an app or website where you have a negative experience, think about how you can make it better!

5. What advice would you give to Filipinx youth who are interested in a career in UX design?

A UX designer’s role has been around for so long but I think the actual UX title is an emerging and evolving position. Companies are starting to see the value in UX designers, so if you really want to consider it as a profession, I would highly suggest getting your feet wet in any way that you can. Since the pandemic, most of the UX events I wanted to attend in person switched virtually, so I would definitely take advantage of attending these events. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to other UX designers and get a feel for what they do day to day.

I’ve found that most of the designers I’ve reached out to were willing to take 20-30 minutes out of their day to share their experiences.

I know that if I was younger and told my parents I wanted to be a UX Designer, I wouldn’t receive as much support compared to if I told them I wanted to be a nurse or doctor because “it’s not a stable or practical job”.

It might be a hard buy in from your parents and family when you tell them you want to be a UX designer, but I think if you believe in yourself and put in the work, the end result can be positive.

6. Do you have anything additional you’d like to say?

I’m happy to share more about my experience with future UX Designers out there! Feel free to reach out! You can view my portfolio at www.cassieparco.com

Pinoy resilience to see us through VIEWPOINT

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

2020 has come and gone, but the echoes and ripples of that year still linger. Everyday, we hear about rising cases of Covid 19 in most of Canada’s provinces and cities.

A new variant of the virus first identified in the United Kingdom is spreading fast, one that is more transmissible though not more virulent.

As we happily leave 2020 behind, we must still face the challenges of 2021 and beyond.

Finding a way to live as normal a life as possible while the world continues to reel from Covid 19 will not be an easy task. Alberta’s economy will remain sluggish, and the recovery that we all hope for may not be forthcoming this year.

Banks point out that Alberta’s economy was the hardest hit among the provinces. Even before the pandemic, Alberta was already struggling as a result of the global oil crunch. And as the world’s economies try to recover from the effects of the pandemic, oil prices are seen to remain below $50 per barrel.

This presents a bleak short-term

outlook for Alberta. There won’t be any expansion of capacity, and the province’s oil and gas industry is expected to be cautious, at best, in terms of capital spending.

Unemployment is projected to be between 9.5 and 11 percent, banks said. This means a scarcity of jobs, at least until economic activity starts to pick up. That would likely start by the third or fourth quarter of this year, when the vaccination rollout would be on high gear and main population gets inoculated.

Premier Jason Kenney boasted of the largest job training program in the province’s history in anticipation of the economic rebound. He said the training program aims to help Albertans who have been “dislocated” from the oil and gas industry.

For Filipinos, it will be a question on resilience. How well we can manage our expectations and stay focused on living through a pandemic will be key to getting back to our (new) normal lives.

The sad reality is that there will be fewer jobs than there were before the pandemic and after the oil crunch.

But then, Filipinos have always been known for their resilience. Remember that proverbial comparison to the bamboo tree?

As Alberta struggles through its economic woes, we must channel our “inner bamboo tree,” if only to remind ourselves that we have always survived through thick and thin with our sanity, if not our sense of humour, intact.

We’ve always made do with what we have—it’s in our DNA. Not a few of us have, by this time, found a side gig or two to make ends meet. We’ve probably cut down on our monthly padala by $20 or $30, but will still definitely find a way to send money back home. What’s important is to remain focused on staying ahead of the pandemic by following all the healthy safety protocols.

Happy New Year might still have a different ring to it, but trust the Filipino to find a way to make it so.

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22

Philippine Consular Info Updates

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

PHILIPPINE CONSULAR INFO SERIES

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

Statement On The Passing Of Filipino-Canadian Healthcare Worker Joe Marie Parrenas Corral

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he Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Calgary joins the Filipino-Canadian community in Calgary in mourning the passing of Mr. Joe Marie Parrenas Corral, the FilipinoCanadian healthcare worker who died of COVID-19 complications on 28 December 2020.

As a Health Care Aide at the Bethany Riverview, a long-term care facility in Calgary, Mr. Corral provided care for its senior residents.

Mr. Corral’s death highlights the risks faced by the healthcare workers who bravely perform their duties amid the pandemic. The PCG pays tribute to Mr. Corral for his selflessness and dedication to his profession.

Consul General Zaldy Patron personally talked to Mr. Corral’s daughter this morning to offer the PCG’s condolences to her and his brother. The PCG is now assisting her in claiming the death benefits of her father in the Philippines.

The PCG takes this opportunity to urge the members of the Filipino-Canadian community in Alberta and Saskatchewan to adhere to the public health measures in these two provinces and contribute to the collective efforts to prevent and reverse the spread of COVID-19.

Deadline Extended for Submission of Nominations for the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organization Overseas (PAFIOO)

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he Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) extends the deadline of submission of nominations for the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organization Overseas (PAFIOO) from 31 December 2020 to 31 May 2021.

This is in consideration of the on-going COVID-19 global pandemic, which has afflicted countries across the globe and restricted mobility of people, as well as the requests of some Filipino communities overseas and diaspora organizations. The CFO is fully aware that the priorities of the countries right now, including the Philippine diplomatic posts, is in protecting the health and welfare of the people, and providing assistance to those afflicted with and affected by the disease.

These valid concerns prompted the CFO-Awards Secretariat to extend the nomination period to give a chance to qualified overseas Filipinos to participate, especially those OF health workers and other frontliners who sacrificed a lot in helping fight this pandemic.

The PAFIOO is a biennial search to honor and recognize overseas Filipinos and other individuals or organizations who contribute to Philippine development initiatives, or promote the interests of overseas Filipino communities. The awards are also given to overseas Filipinos who have exceptionally distinguished themselves in their work or profession, and have thereby brought pride to the Filipino nation. A distinct www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

Philippine Consulate General, Calgary www.philcongencalgary.org

Christmas Care Kits given to Filipino Families in Calgary 7 January 2021, Calgary – While most Filipino families in Calgary were not able to go out and enjoy the recent Christmas holiday the usual way due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 30 Filipino families received Christmas care kits that were delivered right at their doorsteps, brightening up their Christmas celebration.

The care kits were distributed by the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Calgary and the Vancouverbased Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

The recipients of the care kits were Filipino workers and their families who have recently moved to Calgary and are being assisted by the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) while they are settling down in the city. A CIWA representative delivered the Christmas care kits to the individual residences of the Filipino families.

CIWA, a non-profit organization that manages a Filipino Community Development Program, is one of the PCG’s partners in Calgary.

In the early part of 2020, the PCG, POLO and OWWA also reached out to Filipino temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in Alberta and Saskatchewan who were displaced from work due to the pandemic, to inform them about the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment’s one-time financial assistance program known as DOLE-AKAP. A total of 293 Filipino TFWs in Alberta and Saskatchewan received USD $200.00 each under the DOLE-AKAP program last year.

category in the awards is also reserved for foreign individuals or organizations, for their exceptional contributions to the Philippines and for advancing the cause of overseas Filipino communities.

Since its inception in 1991, the awards have already been bestowed upon 485 individuals and organizations overseas based in 52 countries and territories.

Interested overseas Filipinos and the public must first submit their nomination documents to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General that has jurisdiction over the place of residence/operation of the nominee, as the CFO-Awards Secretariat may only receive nominations endorsed by their respective Philippine diplomatic posts.

Endorsed nomination documents must be received by the CFO – Presidential Awards Secretariat on or before, or postmarked no later than 31 May 2021 to qualify for the screening by the Awards Committees.

The Awarding Ceremony is tentatively scheduled in December 2021.

For more information and updates regarding the PAFIOO visit www.presidentialawards.cfo. gov.ph and Like and/or Subscribe to the Gawad ng Pangulo Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ gawadpangulo/.

The Awards Secretariat may be also reached through e-mail: presidentialawards.cfo@gmail.com for any inquiries and clarifications related to the awards.

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

Showbiz

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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SHOW-MY Janine papasok sa ASAP, teleserye at movie sa Star Cinema

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SALVE ASIS

(Pilipino Star Ngayon)

ilang Kapamilya, makakaasa umano ang fans ni Janine Gutierrez na malapit na siyang mapanood sa musical variety show na ASAP bilang host, at nakatakda rin siyang gumawa ng teleserye sa Dreamscape Entertainment at pelikula naman sa Star Cinema.

Last Friday nga ay nag-hello na siya sa Kapamilya matapos pumirma ng kontrata sa ABS-CBN.

Ara Mina pakakasal na sa ex ng movie producer!

Andrea, nagpakita ng abs habang nagba-viral sina Derek at ellen Suitor na billionaire, ‘di raw totoo

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abang nagba-viral ang sinasabing landian night nina Derek Ramsay and Ellen Adarna, kasama ang iba pang neighbors like Ruffa Gutierrez nagparamdam naman si Andrea Torres sa social media kahapon.

No caption, pero idinisplay niya ang kanyang toned abs.

Actually parang pumayat siya.

After ng breakup nila ni Derek ay walang sinasabi si Andrea kung ano ba talagang rason ng kanilang breakup.

Si Derek lang ang nagsasalita samantalang si Andrea diumano ang may dapat ipaliwanag sa nangyari sa kanila ng aktor.

Ngayon daw ay sinasabi ng ilang close kay Andrea na may suitor itong billionaire na foreigner na ayaw paniwalaan ng isang kakilala ng family ng Kapuso star.

Andrea Torres/IG

SNL ni Papa P, I Got U at Sunday Kada, babu muna sa ere Rated Korina, Oh My Dad at LOL, matitira

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therealaramina/IG

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apagkamalang si Buboy Villar ang fiance ni Ara Mina.

Sa unang tingin daw kasi ay look-alike ng batang amang aktor ang nag-alok ng kasal sa sexy actress na si Dave Almari­nez, president and CEO of the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) na may rank na undersecretary.

Anyway, finally nga ay engaged na si Ara. “Today I have received the most perfect gift from God. A prayer I have always been sincerely trusting Him to bring into my life.

“Dave, thank you for being my answered prayer.

“Thank you for not giving up on me. You are the reason why we have stronger days together. God led us to each other for a greater purpose.

“Let us both live it with faith and love

“Yes, I will marry you!

“I was totally clueless of what this day would bring.

“And your surprise made me feel more loved and cherished than I did yesterday. You are all awesome!” ang post ng sexy actress sa kanyang Instagram account.

Kung sabagay may similarities kasi sina Buboy and Mr. Almarinez.

Samantala, movie producer ang ex ni Mr. Almarinez na si Ms. Rina Navarro na kasama ni Bea Alonzo sa I Am Hope Foundation.

Siya ang producer ng pelikulang Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo.

Minsan ding na-appoint si Ms. Rina sa isang ahensiya under the office of the president na connected sa films pero nagresign si Ms. Navarro.

Si Ara naman ay may anak sa ex niyang si Bulakan Vice Mayor Patrick Me­neses.

abu na ang programang Sunday Noontime Live (SNL), I Got You at Sunday Kada... ng Brightlight Productions na napapanood sa TV5.

Last episode na ng tatlong programa today.

Ito ang ini-annouce ni Mr. Albee Beni­tez, CEO, Brighlight Productions kahapon.

“We wish to invite everyone to watch out for the season enders of Brighlight Productions’ Sunday Noontime Live (SNL), I Got You and Sunday Kada on January 17.

“Sunday Noontime Live (SNL)’s delighful run is about to end and we await future endeavors from its outstanding stars and phenomenal newcomers.

I Got You will re-air its concluding, exciting finale episode in response to numerous requests.

“Sunday Kada will explore new locales, exciting locations and more laughs in the near future.

“Meanwhile Lunch Out Loud (LOL) with Billy Crawford, Alex Gonzaga, and the rest of the zany

gang along with veteran broadaster Korina Sanchez-Roxas of Rated Korina and resident hearthrob of Oh My Dad! continue to brighten our Mondays and Saturdays.

“We are truly grateful for all your support which inspires us to create new and exciting programs.

“Brighter days continue as we collaborate with TV5 and ou other industry partners.

“We cannot wait to shre on upcoming shows from your partner in quality entertainment - Brighlight Productions.”

Hosts ng SNL sina Piolo Pascual, Catriona Gray, Maja Salvador among others.

Ang Sunday Kada... ay ang grupo ng dating Banana Sundae habang ang I Got You ay sina Beauty Gonzales and RK Bagatsing.

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24

Philippine News | News Updates

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

After connecting north and south of MM with Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles Skyway 3, SMC starts Is On The Right Target work to link east and JUST LISTEN west of metropolis

N

MANILA --- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his economic team formally opened the new Skyway Stage 3 expressway on January 14, a game-changing infrastructure project by San Miguel Corporation (SMC) that is seen to provide a major boost to the country’s post-pandemic recovery.

Duterte, together with SMC president Ramon S. Ang, led the ceremony to officially open all seven lanes of Skyway 3, which seamlessly connects the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), via 18 kilometers of elevated toll road, the longest in the country.

It is also expected to significantly decongest EDSA and other major Metro Manila roads.

Duterte was joined by Executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, finance secretary Carlos Dominguez, public Works and highways Secretary Mark Villar, transportation secretary Arthur Tugade, budget and management secretary Wendel Avisado, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and National Task Force against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon.

Ang credited President Duterte for his strong leadership and political will, which he said played a significant role in settling rightof-way issues that delayed the massive infrastructure project for years.

“Because of the strong leadership of President Duterte, and with the help of his hands-on cabinet secretaries and economic team, we were able to finally resolve right-of-way issues and complete Skyway 3,” Ang said.

“This is a game-changer for our economy, especially now that we are still dealing with the pandemic. By providing seamless access between north and south, we also unlock the true potential of our provinces,” Ang added.

With the full opening of all seven lanes of the 18-kilometer Skyway 3 from Buendia, Makati to NLEX, ang Ang said that a huge number motorists will now have an alternative to EDSA. Since its soft-opening last December 29--free to the public until Feb. 1—some 71,000 vehicles per day have been passing through Skyway 3, using only four lanes initially opened.

“At full capacity, with 7 lanes available, Skyway can easily handle 50% of Edsa traffic, or 200,000 vehicles per day. Together with the existing Skyway 1 and 2, the Skyway system now has 38 kilometers of elevated expressway with 36 on- and off-ramp access

points. This will greatly contribute to decongesting Metro Manila traffic,” Ang noted.

To fastrack construction, SMC purchased all the properties along the project’s right-of-way, in order to meet the owners’ requirements.

The company also funded the reconstruction of three bridges, the San Juan Bridge, Concordia Bridge, and Sevilla Bridge. Though not part of Skyway, these old bridges near its alignment had to be demolished and rebuilt as they had deteriorated over time and had become a safety hazard.

Ang committed to Duterte that SMC’s efforts to help the country and the economy, will not stop with the Skyway Stage 3 project.

“We will continue work to further decongest Metro Manila by linking east and west of the metropolis, through the Pasig River Expressway (Parex) project,”Ang said.

The Pasig River Expressway project is a 19.4-kilometer, six-lane elevated expressway along the banks of the Pasig River that will complete the north-south, east-west link, connecting R-10 in Manila, Edsa, and C5 and decongesting Rizal, Cainta, and Marikina. It will provide faster, alternative access to the business districts Makati, Ortigas, and BGC. He said the project can be completed by 2023.

Meanwhile, Ang said work has also started for the construction of the Manila International Airport project in Bulacan province, a sustainable solution to decongesting air traffic congestion in the country.

Touted as the single-largest investment ever in the Philippines, the airport project will connect to major thoroughfares in the metropolis.

It will have four-parallel runways and modern, world-class facilities.

Ang set the opening date of the massive airport project for 2025.

Two major expressways connecting to the airport will also open by 2023.

Meanwhile, the ongoing Skyway Extension project, which will extend Skyway’s reach in the south, to Susanna Heights, Muntinlupa, is set for completion this year.

Both the Parex and Bulacan airport projects are to be connected to the Skyway system, further extending the country’s infrastructure network.

Ang also highlighted the jobcreating capabilities of new, major infrastructure projects. Apart from the workforce required to build them, they also give rise to many smaller industries and boost local economies.

The Bulacan airport project in particular, is estimated to generate 30 million direct and indirect jobs, Ang said.

“All of these, Mr. President, will solve our decades-long problem of land and air traffic congestion. Together,

ewly designated Philippine Ambassador to Canada the Honourable Rodolfo D. Robles wants to focus on the Credentials, Exchange & Scholarship (CES) program as his primary mission to help Filipinos in Canada.

In our recent interview with Ambassador Robles on our weekly program The Fourth Estate on Tala Luvz Radio Worldwide, which airs every Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 pm, he shared what his plans are for Filipinos in Canada.

For the benefit of those who do not really understand the mandate of the Embassy, Robles explains that “under the Philippine Constitution, there is a mandate to ensure our independent foreign policy which includes 3 pillars. The first is to secure our National Security, the second is to enhance or stabilize our economic stability, and the third is to care for the welfare of the Filipinos”. To Robles, the welfare of Filipinos here in Canada are also important.

As a land of immigrants, Canada has welcomed about 1 Million Filipinos and this number continues to grow.

“In my first three months here I have met with a lot of Filipino leaders all across Canada virtually because of the current situation but I realized that they live a very busy life, some of them working, others are restaurant owners and some of them are in the technology sector and have greatly contributed and have become an important part of the Canadian Economy, and I am very proud of their performance. As for Trade, there is a joint committee between the Philippines and Canada where they will discuss the Free Trade Agreement of the two Countries,” says Ambassador Robles.

For so many years, the issue of Professional Credentials being recognized has not been resolved.

We asked Ambassador Robles what plans he has to close the gap so that Filipino doctors, nurses, and engineers who come to Canada

can be recognized in their field of expertise.

“You know Nicky, that is the most import question you have asked me today. I think that will be my Principal Objective and Mission before I leave my post as Ambassador.

As I go around I learned of many doctors who are working as nurses and nurses working as caregivers.

This is a very important problem that needs to be addressed. Let me

we are building the foundation for future economic growth that’s inclusive and sustainable. We are also investing in many other industries across the regions, from food and beverage production, agriculture, power security and soon, renewable energy. This is the best way we can meaningfully contribute to nation-building. We are committed to sustainably re-invest what we have, create more business opportunities, generate more jobs, and spread growth across the archipelago.”

Ang, who was celebrating his birthday, also dispelled speculation that he is eyeing a political run. “Perhaps because of our company’s efforts to help our country, many are thinking I am planning to enter politics. I have no such ambition. All these projects we’ve

completed, and all the new ones we’re about to start, are part of our long-term vision we first articulated more than a decade ago, when we said we wanted to be a true partner in nation-building,” Ang said.

“We have always believed that SMC can do a lot to help our country, by investing in industries and sectors that will accelerate its growth. We love our country, it’s the only one we have, so we should all do what we can to lift it up and help Filipinos.

This pandemic has only made that commitment deeper and stronger.”

Meanwhile, Ang cited Secretary Villar and the Metro Pacific Tollways Group, operator of the NLEX, and business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, for making possible the extension of

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.

tell you my personal approach to this. Right now, we are doing the groundwork to this for what I call #CES, (Credentials, Exchange & Scholarship). Right now we have scholarships going on and we have asked our Post in Calgary, Vancouver and Other offices to gather information on Universities offering scholarships, which is a very limited number.

This way we can work out an exchange student program between the Philippines and Canada.

Politically this is not done by the Federal Government but by the Provincial Government and has to be negotiated with different Provinces and Universities.

This will be done from university to university and there are already scholars studying in Canada from the Philippines, and vice versa. My Goal is to reach out to every Province in Canada to establish the relationship with the Universities here and in the Philippines for Scholarship & Exchange Student Programs.

As for the issue of credentials, Robles says his initial approach is to have a Quota. That is, an opening that allows our doctors, nurses and medical practitioners to be treated as such professionals. He adds, “I do not expect so many but if I could start with 15 doctors and 15 nurses in each province, then it would be a good start.”

I was really happy to hear this from our good Ambassador because I know a lot of you have been asking what the Philippine Government has been doing to help in this case. It is very clear that Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles knows he has a good mission in his hands and that is to get Philippine credentials recognized not only in the medical field but eventually in all other fields. But before it can happen, the groundwork must be done and there is no question that our envoy is on the right target.

the original endpoint of Skyway 3, to just before the NLEX toll plaza.

“Finally, we now have a seamless connection between SLEX and NLEX. I thank Secretary Villar and the MVP group led by Mr. Pangilinan for making this direct link to NLEX possible,” he said.

He also paid tribute to engineers and workers who worked on Skyway 3, and all stakeholders who helped make the project a reality.

“What you see here is the product of the talent and skills of our very own Filipino engineers and workers.

It is the result of years of hard work and collaboration between the government and the private sector,” he said.

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

Opinion | Points of View

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Should Trump be impeached?

I

n three days, three events occurred that changed the political landscape of the U.S. for the next two or four years, or perhaps, for decades to come. On January 5, the state of Georgia – long a Republican bastion – elected two Democrats to replace two Republican senators.

Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff defeated Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue to fill their Senate seats. The two new senators will take their oath between January 15 and January 22, 2021 upon certification of their elections by the State of Georgia.

When that happens, the Senate’s 100 seats will be divided evenly, 50 Democrats -- which includes two independents, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Maine Sen. Angus King, who caucus with the Democrats -- and 50 Republicans. It would then require Vice President Kamala Harris acting as Senate President to be the tie-breaker in the event that the Senate is split in half when voting on a legislative bill. Because the Democrats will have a numerical majority of one vote, the majority floor leader will go to a Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is currently the minority floor leader. And what will happen to the current majority floor leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell?

Well, he has to step down and take the place of minority floor leader, basically a powerless position. That would be big fall for McConnell who had for so long held up the passage of legislative bills that Democrats have filed, which is more than 400 bills since 2016 when Trump took over the presidency. Now it’s Schumer who will have the same power that McConnell had.

Warnock makes history as the first Black senator to ever represent the state. He’s just the 11th Black senator in history. He’s also the first Black Democratic senator from the South since Reconstruction and only the second overall. (South Carolina’s Tim Scott, a Republican, is the other.)

Prior to the joint session, Trump called Vice-President Mike Pence, who was going to preside as Senate President during the joint session on January 6 for the purpose of counting the Electoral College votes. The president pressured him to make sure that the votes counted would favor him instead of Biden. But Pence told Trump that only lawmakers could decide whether to accept or reject the Electoral College votes won by Biden. Trump told Pence that he could change the votes, which is false.

Trump in a tweet rebuked Pence, saying: "Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution.

Siege of Congress On January 6, Trump standing behind a podium in front of his supporters, who gathered on Capitol Hill, exhorted them to march to the Capitol Building. In the ensuing hours, the chanting mob – which had grown to thousands -- attacked the Capitol and managed to gain entry while the security police merely watched them go inside the building. As it turned out, it became an attempted coup d’etat or was it pre-planned all along?

I believe it has always been planned to take over the Legislature, and with the Executive Branch already

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.

in the hands of Trump, the take over of the government would be a fait accompli. The mob chanted “Hang Mike Pence!”

Trump claimed that he deployed the National Guard “immediately,” which was a lie; the National Guard did not arrive until past 5:00 PM. Officers were filmed taking selfies with rioters and appearing to help them move back barricades and open doors. It was evident then that the Capitol Police was in cahoots with the rioters. They even directed them to the office of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

While the rioters were entering the building, Pence adjourned the joint session, which was in the midst of counting the Electoral College votes. Pence was rushed out of the building. Senate aides were able to grab the boxes containing the Electoral College certificates as lawmakers evacuated the building.

The lawmakers scrambled out of the building, running for dear life. The rioters had a heyday ransacking the lawmakers’ offices as the security officers watched the carnage, some of which were seen shaking hands with the rioters.

The National Guard eventually arrived in several buses at sundown.

But it was too late. The damage was done. During the siege, security forces discovered a truck near the Capitol containing bombs and other explosives. Evidently, the attempted coup failed.

Electoral College votes At past 11:00 PM, the joint session resumed with the counting. By 3:35 AM, the counting was completed and Pence read the results, which was 306 for Biden and 232 for Trump. Pence then declared Joe Biden elected as president and Kamala Harris as vice president. It’s the culmination of a series of events that almost stopped the counting process.

I must say that Pence did a great job in certifying the electoral votes. There were apprehensions that he would block or change votes in the states that were challenged by “objectors” led by Sen. Ted Cruz and Congressman Josh Hawley, both Republicans.

The following day, Trump conceded the 2020 election and called for “healing and reconciliation,” which reminded me of when Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s newly elected president in 1994, formed a commission to bring together the people – blacks and whites together – under a post-apartheid

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government. Well, President Trump, after what you have done for the past four years dividing the American people, you don’t have any legitimate claim to lead the healing and reconciling the people and the country.

You’re way past midnight, sir. The mob that you unleashed resulted in the death of five Americans and dozens of injured. It was heinous and despicable to say the least.

But true to his self-serving style, he said he was “outraged” by it. And he has the nerve to say, “The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol had defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay.” Huh? Trump concedes Well, Mr. President, do you realize that it was you who instigated the insurrection? It was you who commanded your supporters to lay siege on the Capitol? You should take the blame for the five Americans who died. You should take responsibility for the damage to the Capitol and surrounding property. And you should apologize to the American people for bringing shame on the U.S. government in the face of world condemnation for a dastardly act of self-destruction. Shame on you, Mr. President.

And finally, Trump conceded, “a new administration will be inaugurated on January 20th. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power.”

Then came the social media’s reaction to Trump’s assault on the Capitol. Facebook and Instagram took steps of banning Trump indefinitely. On Friday, Twitter followed suit by permanently banning Trump from using its platform.

With these social media going dark on Trump, he’s now left with nothing to tell the whole world what’s in his mind, which basically can be classified as “garbage.” Like they said, “Garbage in, garbage out.”

What follows next would determine Trump’s political future. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she would file a privileged resolution in the House of Representatives to impeach Trump for “Incitement of Insurrection.”

Pelosi said that Trump could go either by resignation, invocation of the 25th Amendment or by impeachment. Since Trump refused to resign, the 25th Amendment is viable only if Vice-President Pence and at least half of the Cabinet members would agree to remove Trump. However, Pence balked at invoking the 25th Amendment, which leaves Pelosi with impeachment as last resort.

Pelosi has circulated the draft of the impeachment resolution and was able to get 180 co-sponsors. Pelosi plans to file the resolution on January 11 and would put a vote on it on January 13, where it is expected to pass.

The big challenge is in the Senate where 2/3 of those present are required to pass it.

That means 67 senators are required if all 100 senators are present. The question is: Can the Democrats convince their Republican counterparts to vote for impeachment?

While Trump’s impeachment would not affect the political landscape at the moment, it has far-reaching implications in the future of Trump after he leaves office. For one thing, if Trump were impeached, he would be disqualified from running for office in the future. He wouldn’t even qualify to run for dog catcher. He would also lose a lot of perks including secret service protection.

However, if he resigns, he’s eligible to run for president in 2024. If I were Trump, I would resign. He could then devote the next four years to rebuilding his base. It would also be the honorable thing to do, that is, if he knows what “honorable” means.

At the end of the day, the question that lingers in my mind is: Should Trump be impeached even after his term ends on January 20?

25

Misogyny: Yesterday and Today Susan B. Anthony.

Alice Paul. Lucy Stone.

These are some names of the people who were advocates in fighting for women's rights. Today, there are those who see women as equal to men, there are still some who believe that men are superior. Should women have equal rights with men? Should women do the same work given to men? How did people adjust to a patriarchal society back in the day?

Today? The inequality Kristian Cereno between men and women, Kristian Gabrielle Cereno is a where people believe that Grade 11 student at Archbishop men are far more superior MacDonald Senior High School. than women, has been His hobbies include writing poems, composing songs, drilled into the minds of acting and drama. He also has people by philosophers a love of music and plays piano and colonists; these beliefs and guitar and will soon learn to are still present in our play the violin. Hockey? – Leave it to the Canadians. society today.

Philosophers back in the day exercised their beliefs of a patriarchal society by writing poems, plays, and essays to impress their beliefs on other people.

Misogyny has evolved over the years. Great philosophers, writers and socialists subscribed to the belief of a patriarchal society. This influenced society greatly. In today's society, the term "misogyny" is now called "sexism." Over the years, women's rights often get oppressed by the patriarchal society. Therefore, feminist movements were established. Feminists protect women from crimes like rape, sexual harassment and domestic violence.

According to statistics, one in four women experience domestic violence from all around the world, and one in five women are raped in the United States. The statistics show how misogynistic beliefs are still present today because men believe they can dominate and force themselves onto women – because men believe they are superior. Feminists also promote women's rights. One of those rights was women's suffrage. On January 27, 1914, a group of women protested about women suffrage in Canada, which was led by a well-known writer and suffragist Nellie McClung. They succeeded, and the bill was passed in 1916. As time passes, women's rights become more relevant, thus changing patriarchal society's beliefs.

Because of the patriarchal beliefs, men consider women as inferior to them. One may have heard of the phrase, "That's a man's job" or "That's a woman's job." The difference inspired these comments because of the role of men and women in society in the past. Take the Philippines as an example. Before the Spaniards colonized the Philippines, women were respected.

One of the first things that men learn is to respect women – in the act of kissing a woman's hand as an example. If a man does not respect a woman, he is labelled as a negative part of society.

Before the Spaniards came, women could hold high positions like becoming a priestess or healers which were considered to be some of the most respected positions. However, during the 16th century, Spaniards colonized the country. They degraded and stripped women of their rights. The Spaniards taught the Filipinos that a woman's job is to cook, weave and take care of children. On the other hand, a man's job is to fight in the war and become soldiers. The Spaniards saw and treated women like objects. They got sold for money, and were raped and harassed. During that time, Gabrielle Silang, a woman who became tired of this oppression, fought for freedom from the Spaniards. Despite her failure, because she was captured and beheaded, she started a movement and an awakening for Filipinos, especially women, to fight for freedom.

A patriarchal society was exploited through the years where women did not get a say in anything. Although, some women stepped up, which changed the society that we have up until today. Through writings, movements and advocacies, women's rights became more relevant and considered in society. Susan B. Anthony once said, "There shall never be another season of silence until women have the same rights men have on this green earth." Through the courage shown by women, equal rights are now exercised by people. However, there is still belief in the patriarchy, which is still a controversial issue that people face today. The belief of the inequality between men and women may have been drilled into people's minds. However, as people advocate more for women's rights, patriarchal society will soon give way to a society where men and women are equal.

THROUGH A TEENAGER’S EYES

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26

Poetry | Mind Twisters

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

Karapatan Mo, Karapatan Ko Tungkulin Mo, Tungkulin Ko Pare-pareho Tayo

CR OSSWOR D

ni Jonabel Z. Cabasal

Noong tayo’y nasa sinapupunan hanggang mundo’y masilayan Sinimulang inalay ang mga tinatawag na “karapatan” Parehong mga magulang tayo’y binigyan ng pangalan Tayo rin ay inalagaan nang higit pa sa anumang yaman.

Gaano man kahirap ang buhay na kanilang tinamasa Sina ama at ina sa ati’y nagsakripisyo at nag-aruga Ang lahat ng mga pangangailangan ng mga anak ay inuna Inalala mga karapatang alam nilang dapat nati’y matamasa.

Sa gulang na anim tayo’y dinala sa paaralan Upang mabigyan ng sapat at nararapat na kaalaman Edukasyong kailangan inihandog ng mga matitiyagang guro Na sadyang kailangan upang ating mga pangarap ay matamo.

Mga batang Pilipino, karapatang alamin mga karapatan niyo Mayaman man o mahirap, pakatandaan na lahat ay pareho Kaya nga nama’y bawat batang Pilipino’y sadyang mapalad .

Mga karapatan, pamahalaan sa konstitusyon ay inilahad.

Sa likod ng mga karapatang inilaan ng mga maykapangyarihan May mga tungkulin din tayong dapat magampanan Panatilihing malusog ang pangangatawan, sarili ay alagaan Huwag maging suwail o suliranin sa bayan o sa lipunan.

This poem is about what each of us can do to battle the pandemic. I was inspired to write this poem because I often hear people’s complaints regarding wearing masks. When I entered a store and noticed that the cashiers were not even sanitizing the debit machines after a customer used it, I had to remind them. It was a public place and if you notice the same, you have the right to remind them to sanitize in order to avoid the spread of germs and viruses. This is the so-called social responsibility.

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ACROSS

1. Tap gently 4. Office acronym 8. Pare 12. Birthday count 13. Steven King dog 14. Emerald ___ 15. Golf hazard (2 wds.)

17. Apex 18. Stadium part 19. California city 21. Caper 23. Trunk 26. USPS manager 30. Supporting 33. Bed linen

Kung tayo’y makikiisa at makikisama sa hangaring “kaunlaran” Tiyak ating makakamit ang mga layuning pangkalahatan Gumawa ng tama, pahalagahan ang kahusayan at karangalan Huwag ipagwalang-bahala ang kinabukasan ng mga kabataan.

Mga mahal kong kababayang Pilipino saan mang sulok ng mundo Igalang mga karapatan ng kapwa mo at kapwa ko Mga tungkulin natin gampanan ng buong puso Mag-isang diwa, isang adhikain para sa matiwasay na pamayanang Pilipino.

HOROSCOPE After four weeks of hustling, you’re ready to have some fun and excitement, both of which you’ll get when the sun enters Aquarius on Tuesday! The sun now shines in your sector of friendship, bringing more energy to your social life. This is a great time to begin new friendships while maintaining your independent nature. Look for innovative ways to make your wishes come true or help out with social causes.

It’s Aquarius season and you’re ready to get your hustle on! On Tuesday, the sun enters the sign of the Water Bearer and your career sector. For the next four weeks, you’re focusing on original and innovative ways to get ahead and help build your reputation. You could appear a little rebellious as you go against the grain, but it will pay off in the long run.

Expand your horizons, Gemini! On Tuesday, the sun enters Aquarius and lights up your sector of philosophy. For the next four weeks, you’ll be deep in thought as you explore different cultures, beliefs, and ideologies. Start planning a trip or read books and watch documentaries about different cultures. You could come away with a new understanding of certain issues.

It’s time for major transformation when the sun enters Aquarius on Tuesday. The sun will be in your sector of intimacy for the next four weeks, shining some light on previous “taboo” issues you wished to keep in the dark. This might be an uncomfortable time as you confront changes that test bonds and perhaps result in you having to be more independent and take care of yourself. Letting go isn’t easy, but trust that you’re moving on to better things.

The week starts with good vibes when the sun enters Aquarius and your sector of partnerships on Tuesday. If you have a business idea that is just crazy enough to work, share it with one of your close friends. Together, you might be able to turn that dream into reality. Stranger things have happened, Leo!

As the sun enters eccentric Aquarius and your sector of routine on Tuesday, you might be tempted to try new ways of doing things instead of your tried-and-true methods. Could you be more productive at work if you changed just one thing?

Could you sleep better if you added something to your workout? Think it over.

December 2020 Crossword's Solution

Copyright @ www.horoscope.com

Your week starts on a lovely, delicious note when the sun enters Aquarius on Tuesday, shining its glow in your pleasure sector. For the next four weeks, you may feel extra creative as you look for unique ways to express yourself. Enjoy these magnetic moments, Libra, but don’t get too carried away.

Your private life gets a little unpredictable when the sun enters Aquarius and your family zone on Tuesday. For the next four weeks, expect things to go a little sideways as family drama becomes the norm and you rebel against tradition. Don’t burn any bridges, but don’t take any nonsense either.

You have a lot on your mind and you’re not afraid to say it. For the next four weeks, you’ll let everyone know exactly what’s on your mind, starting when the sun enters eccentric Aquarius and your sector of communication on Tuesday. Whether it’s in person, on the phone, or via text, you’re determined to share your ideas with others no matter how out there they may seem. There are no bad ideas here, Sagittarius.

Your season ends as the sun leaves your sign for Aquarius on Tuesday. However, this isn’t a downer because the sun will be shining its light on your sector of value for the next four weeks. This is a great time to focus on personal resources and nontraditional ways of making some cash. Do we sense a side hustle, Capricorn?

Happy birthday, Aquarius! For the next four weeks, it’s all about you! Once the sun enters your sign on Tuesday, you have the sun, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn all hanging out in your sign. That’s some pretty big energy, Water Bearer. You could feel extra productive as you come up with interesting ideas and fun ways to express your individuality. There’s nothing you can’t do!

Get out your cozy blanket and your journals because you’re about to get introspective, Pisces. On Tuesday, the sun enters Aquarius and shines a light on your sector of privacy. The next four weeks could be a period of quiet intensity as you get to the root of your hidden pain. Grief might come out in strange ways, but allow it to come out.

DOWN

1. Italian staple 2. Once more 3. Belief 4. Play a part 5. Ride the waves 6. Slightly open 7. Vatican VIP 8. Baby grands, e.g.

9. Accompanies 10. Graceful tree 11. Grant's foe 16. Faucet problem 20. Radio noise 22. Fellow leading actor 24. Briny deep 25. Association (abbr.)

27. Hush!

34. Wilt 35. Chloroform, e.g.

38. Florida bay 39. Pigment 43. Not wide 47. Lasso 48. Bring up 50. Artillery shell fragments 52. Rustic hotels 53. Competed 54. Before, poetically 55. Singer ___ Seeger 56. Body of water 57. Squeal

28. Links gadget 29. Bumped into 30. Plump 31. Stop ___ dime (2 wds.)

32. Leftover piece 36. Thinly distributed 37. Business abbr.

40. Recluse 41. Musical drama 42. Lease again 44. Invitation inits.

45. Columbus's state 46. Small songbird 48. Pull apart 49. Wind dir.

51. Append

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!

December 2020 Issue Sudoku's Solution

Copyright @ www.puzzles.ca

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

Immigration Solutions

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Starting 2021 on the right foot!

IMMIGRATION: A Beacon Of Hope

Stephen Burry Stephen Burry is the Lead Consultant and owner of Freedom Migrate Immigration Solutions Limited, an immigration consultancy firm based in Calgary, Alberta. Stephen is licensed with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC). He can be reached at 403-520-2277 or call/ text at 587-938-3100. Email: freedommigrate@gmail.com Website: www.freedommigrate.ca ASK AN IMMIGRATION PROFESSIONAL – 2021 January Edition: Our most frequently asked questions in a series called Questions for an Immigration Professional. **All names and details have been changed to protect identity**

Question from Angelica in Fort McMurray, AB: I arrived in Canada in 2009 as a refugee and was refused refugee status. I did not understand the exclusion order at the time and have stayed inside Canada. I have been out of status since 2009 and have no hope left! I stay with family and must constantly be looking over my shoulder in fear that I will be deported. Since being here in Canada, I gave birth to a beautiful son in 2018 and fear that I will not be able to provide him with an education here in Canada and will be forced to go home!

Answer: Hi Angelica, hope is not lost!

2021 is a year of rejuvenation and renewal for everyone, including you.

This is certainly a serious situation that must be addressed! The first step is to overcome your status issue and work towards building a compassionate case for permanent residency.

Keep the faith!

The first step we always take in status issues like yours is to obtain a disclosure from the government requesting all your documents, officer notes, and communications on your file with immigration. We never want to work on correcting your situation while working blind by not having all the information.

If you live at an address that IRCC is unaware of, you may have had communications that you never received.

Step two is to determine what file works best for you! There are usually two options in this situation.

Because your refugee file decision happened many years ago, you may have an opportunity to apply for a temporary resident permit and humanitarian and ompassionate considerations for permanent residency.

Likely, you have an enforcement action against you – which means that if you do not work to resolve this issue, eventually enforcement will catch up with you and remove you and your child from Canada.

The temporary resident permit allows you to restore your status in Canada – temporarily – so you can take actions to resolve your status long term!

Next, we would build and submit a humanitarian and compassionate considerations application asking the government for an exemption to allow you to apply directly for permanent residency. There are many grounds that are considered in such a file: the best interests of a child – your beautiful son, your establishment in Canada, and the reasons that prevent you from returning to your home country.

Not all hope is lost! This situation is a profoundly serious one – but doing nothing about it can be even more serious.

Canadian studies may go to waste!

Question from Leo in Edmonton, AB: I graduated from a business management program back in 2018 and I was issued a two year post graduate open work permit that will expire very soon! My original plan was to get six months of work experience in my field and then qualify for a provincial nomination.

Then COVID-19 ARRIVED! I have only been able to find labour jobs – paying me just enough to cover my expenses and send a bit of money back home to my family. Because of the pandemic, I have not been able to get the work experience I need to get permanent residency.

Help! I feel like my education will be a waste if I cannot use it to get permanent residency here in Canada for myself and my family.

Beginning A New Year

by Jonabel Cabasal

I

think we could all agree that 2020 was a difficult and trying year, with jobs and businesses being lost on a weekly basis and tragedies of suicide actually exceeding the losses from COVID-19. It’s time we count our blessings and check on our family, friends, neighbours and those who have neither of those. I speak of the less fortunate and by no fault of their own, homeless in our city.

The pandemic has turned an already existing problem into a fast growing and dire situation. The city has stepped in to temporarily shelter our less fortunate but this is like applying a band-aid to a serious wound.

We are told throughout our lives by clergy of all faiths to help those less fortunate lest you find

yourself in similar circumstances one day. One only needs to visit often frequented streets in our city centre areas to witness the makeshift tarp shelters to get a sense of the desperate situation of thousands in our city. I implore you to donate to your local shelters and various aid organizations. To be a humanitarian by action, and not just with words this year.

Mustard Seed and the Hope Mission are just two main examples that do God’s glorious work on the front lines. Be the example to your family, friends, church and society.

I leave you with one small quote from the Christian Bible, but there are many from all faiths.

Love is universal and is what makes us human.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11 7 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. 9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly[a] on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. 10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

Answer: Leo, we understand your frustration – and so does the government.

In normal circumstances, postgraduate work permits are not renewable. Hence, before COVID-19 came along, you would either have to find the qualifying work experience or change conditions/go home.

But we are certainly not in normal circumstances. On January 8, 2021, the Minister of Immigration announced that former international students who hold or held a post-graduate work permit will have the opportunity to apply for an open work permit!

This is a unique chance to get an additional 18 months to gain the necessary experience to qualify for permanent residency! This is in response to concerns just like yours.

Rest easy knowing Freedom Migrate offers full representation for the entire process. We help you build your case and prepare you for the permanent resident application to follow. Our prices are very reasonable, and we work hard to build a competitive application for you!

Have a question? Send us your submission to freedommigrate@ gmail.com or call our office at 403-520-2277 or text 587-938-3100 from anywhere in Alberta!

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Religion | COVID-19 Hotlines

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY FREEDOM TO DO THE WILL OF GOD James 1:25

OUR TEXT James 1:25 “But who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deeds.”

INTRODUCTION What is freedom? Is it only for freedom that we are set free? Or we are set free to do the will of God? Freedom, if you still don’t know its definition, is not a sensation that we can get high on our emotions leading us into a frenzied and uncontrolled celebration. Freedom is not an outward reality as people think it is. Those who think freedom as an outward reality do not know anything about being free. Why? It is because true and genuine freedom is an inward or spiritual reality manifested outwardly by a cheerful obedience to the will and commandments of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What did our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ set out to do when He was here on earth? In the Gospel, according to the Apostle Luke, we find in the fourth chapter, verses 18-19 these words: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

My dear brethren of Christ International Fellowship Ministries, this is the mission statement from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ about His Ministry. It also provides a foreshadowing for how His Ministry will be received. The rest of the Gospel according to the Apostle Luke unfolds how the Lord fulfilled this mission, and yet was continually misunderstood and rejected by the people He worked among.

My question to each and every one of you is this: Has this Mission Statement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ changed throughout the ages?

FROM A VANTAGE POINT

Tito S.Venida

- We should approach the Word of God (both to read it and to hear it), as those who know: “It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Romans 1:16-17

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.

c) Satan: “Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him. We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” ( John 8:41, 44). d) Bondage: “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness” (Romans 6:19-20). e) Spiritual death: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).

THE FACTS ABOUT FREEDOM

2. To the saved, it is not: a) Of license: “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16). b) Of bondage again: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). c) Of the flesh: “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty, only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Galatians 5:13-14).

FREEDOM IS UNRESTRICTED ACTION. 1. To the unsaved, it is restricted by: a) Sin: “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” ( John 8:34). b) Inability to hear: “Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word” (John 8:43).

THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENTIVE LISTENING James 1:23 “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.”

- The Word of God may be learned from its being compared to a glass, in which a man may look at his natural face.

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- The Word of God shows us what is wrong with us that we may repent and that we may make amend.

- The truth, as it is in the Lord Jesus Christ, flatters no man.

- It is therefore important that we listen attentively to the Word of God so that the corruption of our nature, the disorders of our hearts and lives will be presented before us.

- Thus, when we listen attentively to the Word of God, we shall be set free. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” ( John 8:32).

it, and commend it, and write it, and preserve what we have written.

- That, which all these are in order to and which crowns the rest is we must be doers of the Word.

- Bare hearers, my dear brethren, are self-deceivers. They argue sophistically to themselves. They persuade themselves that filling their heads with notions is sufficient.

- Their hearts are empty of good affections and their lives are fruitless of good works. Self-deceit will be found the worst deceit at last!

THE NECESSITY OF CAREFUL EXAMINATION James 1: 25a “Who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer…”

- The Gospel of Christ is a law of liberty and freedom.

- It is a perfect law. Since it is perfect, nothing should be added to it nor subtracted from it.

- In hearing the Word of God preached to us by a true servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must look into this perfect law for counsel and direction.

- It is necessary that we examine it carefully so that we may, as a result, make godly decisions.

-Then only do we look into the perfect law of liberty as we should when we continue therein—when we dwell in the study of it, till it turn into a spiritual life, engrafted and digested in us and are careful not to forget it. That is, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15

THE RESULT OF SINCERE RECEPTION James 1:21b “And receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

- In hearing the Word of God, we are to receive it with sincerity.

That is to assent to the truths of it. Consent to the doctrines of it.

- We must receive it with meekness according to the nature of that Word, which is engrafted into our souls.

- We must, therefore, yield ourselves to the Word of God, with most submissiveness and humbleness: this is to receive it with meekness.

- Being willing to hear our faults, and taking it, not only patiently, but also thankfully with an honest desire to be transformed by the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- Listen, in our hearing, we should aim for the salvation of our souls.

THE INDISPENSABILITY OF DILIGENT PRACTICE James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

- Hearing is a prerequisite to doing.

The most attentive and the most frequent hearing of the Word of God will not do us any good, unless we are also doers of it.

- If we were to hear a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were the preacher, yet, if we rested in bare hearing, it would never bring us to heaven.

- Therefore, the Apostle James insists much upon it (and without any doubt, it is indispensably necessary) that we practice what we hear.

- There must be an inward practice of meditation and an outward practice in true and genuine obedience to the Word of God. - It is not enough to remember what we hear, and to be able to repeat it, and to give testimony to

THE REWARDS OF TRUE AND GENUINE OBEDIENCE James 1:25b “…but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

- Those who thus do, and continue in the Word of God, are, and shall be, blessed in their deed; blessed in all their ways, according to the first Psalm.

- He that meditates in the Word of God, and walks according to it, the Psalmist says, shall prosper in whatsoever he does.

- And he that is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work which God’s Word sets him about shall be blessed.

- This verse does not say, for his deeds, that any man is blessed, but in his deed.

- That is the way in which we shall certainly find blessedness, but not the cause of it.

- This blessedness does not lie in knowing, but in doing the Will of God (John 13:17), “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.”

- It is not the talking but the walking that will bring us to heaven. Amen!

Ikaw ba ay kasalukuyang nakakaranas ng kagipitan dulot ng • Pagkawala ng trabaho • Pagkabawas ng oras sa trabaho • Naging positibo sa COVID-19 • Naging malapit na contact sa taong positibo sa COVID-19 • Ikaw ay nakakaranas ng stress o tensyon • Ikaw ay di na naka-isolate subalit nakakaranas pa rin problemang pinansyal at pangkaisispan nadulot ng COVID-19 • Ikaw ay nabibilang sa grupo ng mataas na antas ng panganib (high risk)

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JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Philanthropy | Community

29

Victims of Typhoon Grateful for COPAA's Pantawid Calamity Funds The Congress of the Philippine Associations of Alberta's (COPAA) Fundraising campaign’s first recipients drawn were from Quezon Province and Cagayan. A thousand dollars were given to 10 victims of typhoon Ulysses in an area that was submerged due to floods that wrought havoc upon the farmers of barrio Canda Ilaya of Lopez, Quezon. This is the first of the year-round draws for recipients of the fundraising initiatives by COPAA. At a makeshift Barangay shelter, a group of volunteers headed by Wilda Bovier and Lucie Avellaneda, batchmates of president Jun Angeles of COPAA distributed P4000 in cash to each of the 10 families that qualified to receive Pantawid funds. A heartfelt 'thank you' voice video was recorded during the ceremony. Tuguegarao of Cagayan is the second recipient of the funds.

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Community | Heroism | Media Partners | Greetings

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JANUARY 2021

Tony's Wheels Tony’s Wheels is a new picture book authored

by Mila Bongco-Philipzig and illustrated by Michael Parillas. The story is of a boy with polio from the Philippines who becomes a Canadian para-athlete at a national level. It is based on the true story of Antonio Flores, who has been appointed the first Advocate for Persons with Disabilities in Alberta.

The book can be pre-ordered at http:// www.anakpublishing.ca/TonysWheels.html where you can also preview some of the pages.

People in Edmonton can avoid shipping and handling by clicking on the "Free Pickup" button. The books will be available in Edmonton around the first week of February.

For more information on Antonio Flores, please visit: https://philippinecanadiannews.com/canada/ breaking-filipino-paraolympian-appointedalberta-disability-advocate/?fbclid=IwAR0it awMDRs4dM65TVmoyMPps1Bu660Cpce5 VFqrmFLht16z4Xdf1H2guns

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!

Francis Rodriguez and Marvich Matira Environmental Services University of Alberta Hospital

January 14, 2021

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Nic Laserna Environmental Services University of Alberta Hospital

Photos by: Julius Matedios

Photo by: Dario Juanillo

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

JANUARY 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Business

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