The Filipino community organizations in Edmonton have been silently plagued by disunity due to personal differences.
And unfortunately, long-time existing organizations would split because of that.
However, our “Bathalas” are smiling upon us these days as we bear witness to two Filipino organization leaders extending their hands to each other to form a united Filipino front.
The Congress of Philippine Associations of Alberta (COPAA) and the Council of Edmonton Filipino Associations (CEFA) presidents have finally agreed to talk and work together to end misunderstanding and disunity among their ranks, for the sake of the community.
This event has become the highlight of
the month-long 126th Philippine Independence celebrations in Alberta Province.
It was first an initiative by a long-time newspaperman, a few years back, who encouraged the Philippine consul-general to broker talks between the two leaders. It materialized at the end of the “Kapihan ni Consul-General” in Edmonton that one evening. And after that, there was silence.
Only this year and this month of June did the long-awaited moment come, to the joy of Filipino community members.
Philippine Independence Day celebrations have been held in Alberta Province since the 1970s but this year has become more special with the shaking of hands by the two Filipino community leaders.
COPAA president Jose “Jun” Angeles Jr. and CEFA president Jose Antonio “Tony” Surtida have finally set the greatest example to the Filipino community. It is time to unite!
May this unity encourage other Filipino organizations to start talking to each other and heal the wounds of misunderstanding for the sake of the betterment of our community.
Mabuhay!
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246 Lindsay Crescent, Edmonton, Alberta T6R 2T2
Jose L. Angeles
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publisher@albertafilipinojournal.com
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Moses Billacura
Sports Editor / Photographer / Videographer April “Lianne” Angeles Associate Editor
Dario Juanillo
Contributor / Photographer / Videographer
Mark Angeles, Mike Angeles, Jorge Polecina
Distribution Managers - Edmonton
Stephen Burry, Maria Vizconde
Distribution Managers - Calgary
Jerry Caingcoy Calgary Correspondent
Melanie C. Gomez
Website and Graphic Designer
Michael Moya
Comic Artist
Columnists:
Marjorie Carmona-Newman, Giselle General, Bing J. Jaleco, Fr. Jhack Diaz, Julia Magsombol, Kristian Cereno, Mervin Mendoza Cereno
Contributing Writers:
Andy Chua, Romeo Honorio, Oliver R. Rabara, Katrina Cereno, Leonila Samarita Jess De Leon (Red Deer Correspondent)
We
The two-day outdoor market was held June 8 & 9 to celebrate Philippine Independence Day and Philippine Heritage month. Founded by Jason and Ailynn Wong in 2020, this market started with just 10 vendors and today, that number has grown to over 50. Their goal is to showcase and share Filipino talent with the broader community. Look out for the upcoming Barkada Night Market and the Pasko Market.
They say that home is a place where you can feel welcome — and that’s exactly the experience that Sari Sari Mercado YEG offered to all the Filipinos living in Edmonton this June, making it a unique and memorable event.
June 12 is a national holiday in the Philippines. Araw ng Kalayaan, "Day of Freedom," is about commemorating the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898 — after three hundred years under Spanish rule.
Since then, Filipinos have always celebrated this day, highlighting the traditions, cultures, and homes they have always known.
Sari Sari Mercado YEG, a Filipino market event in Edmonton, was a two-day outdoor market that showcased a diverse range of Filipino-owned businesses. From clothing and jewelry to a variety of delicious food, it was a true celebration of Philippine Independence Day.
There were booths along 72 Avenue — it had similar vibes to street markets in the Philippines. There were many Filipinos speaking our language at the market, which also made us feel at home.
I tasted the sisig dish from 6A’s & J, and it was flavourful, which made me remember my grandma and the other dishes she would always cook. It was comforting.
YEG Pajamas caught my attention as well. The colourful printed pajamas made me remember the clothes I would wear when I was a kid. The clothes I would wear all day while playing with my cousins.
My friend and I spotted the small tindahan "shop" near the DJ. Tindahans are usually situated by the houses of the store owners. We talked about how our parents would constantly ask us to buy something from these stores as kids, and we’d keep the change and buy something for ourselves (usually candies, soft drinks, or chips).
Julia Archelene Magsombol
juliaarchelenemagsombol @gmail.com
Alberta Filipino Journal welcomes Jess De Leon, our news correspondent from Red Deer, Alberta. We look forward to your articles and hearing of your contributions to our Alberta Communities.
But after walking around the market, we knew that we could never buy our past and go back to experience all of it again. We reminisced about all the good memories from our youth.
We went home, and the Filipino songs continued to play. We were happy. We realized that we had revisited our youth in the Philippines in Alberta — our homes had become one. And it was an ideal home that we could always go back to, feeling welcome.
For more information about Sari Sari Mercado YEG, visit https://www.instagram.com/ sarisarimercado.yeg/?hl=en Julia Archelene Magsombol is a freelance journalist
Erratum: In our March 2024 issue of Alberta Filipino Journal, on page 12, the photo of Jarod Andaya with the caption “Jarod Andaya and parents Rusell and Edith Andaya.” was published with an error, the image was not cropped properly and the article was contributed by Jess De Leon. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and have corrected the image for future publication. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to continuing to bring you accurate and well-crafted content.
Alberta is a global leader in sport, and it’s thanks to the athletes, coaches and officials who dedicate themselves to excellence in their craft.
The Alberta Sport Recognition program was established in 1987 to acknowledge the outstanding achievements and commitment of coaches, officials and volunteers in the province.
Recipients of the 2023 Sport Recognition Awards represent the best in sport from across the province, from exceptional athletes to hard-working coaches and officials. Through their unwavering dedication to sport, these individuals are contributing to Alberta’s reputation as a global leader in sport and help make our province the best place in the world to live, visit and play.
“These high-performance athletes, coaches, and officials have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in international and national competitions and
are deserving of recognition for their efforts. I am proud of their contributions and grateful for their leadership in making Alberta a province that lives the spirit of sport.”
Joseph Schow, Minister of Tourism and Sport
“The award recipients have demonstrated dedication, passion and excellence which have set them apart as true champions in their respective fields. Many have reached the pinnacle of performance and each of the recipients has demonstrated unparalleled commitment and skill, inspiring others to reach for excellence in all they do.”
Dale Henwood, chair, Alberta Sports Hall of Fame
The 2023 award recipients are:
Junior Male Athlete of the Year – Nikita Ciudin – Sprint Canoe
Junior Female Athlete of the Year – Julia Bartlett – Biathlon Junior Team of the Year – Team
Tao – Curling – Johnson Tao, Jaedon Neuert, Ben Morin, Adam Naugler, Zach Davies and Skip Wilson (coach)
Open Male Athlete of the Year – Jeremiah Lauzon – Athletics Open Female Athlete of the Year – Alexandria Loutitt – Ski Jumping
Open Team of the Year – Team Canada 3x3 Basketball – Michelle Plouffe, Katherine Plouffe, Paige Crozon, Kacie Bosch, Jamie Scott, and Kim Gaucher (coach)
Coaching Recognition Award: Rachel Koroscil – Biathlon Coaching Recognition Award: Marty Birky – Basketball Technical Official Recognition Award – Barb Bush – Springboard Diving Technical Official Recognition Awards – Matthew Kallio –Basketball Quick facts
In 2002, the Athlete and Team of the Year awards were added to the awards program
to acknowledge high performance athletes and teams who are promoting Alberta on the national and international stage, and recognize their pursuit of sport development goals.
The Coach Recognition Award recognizes coaches for their outstanding achievements in developing Alberta’s amateur athletes.
The Official Recognition Award recognizes outstanding achievements in and commitments to officiating.
Award recipients were selected by a committee and considered results from the 2022/2023 competition season.
Manila, Philippines –International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) congratulates Yuka Saso on her incredible victory at the US Women's Open. Her extraordinary talent, dedication, and perseverance have led to this achievement. We couldn’t be prouder.
Yuka's second championship win is an inspiration to aspiring athletes everywhere. Coming in from behind, she never lost focus and determination, instead staying true to her routine and playing her game that ultimately led to a magnificent finish. Exhibiting
as well her love for the game, Yuka embodies the true spirit of a champion.
A long-time supporter of Yuka, ICTSI has always believed in her potential and commitment to excellence. Her success reaffirms our dedication to fostering outstanding talent in sports -- a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, and the unwavering support of those who believe in her.
We are honored to be part of Yuka Saso's journey and look forward to celebrating more of her talent and her triumphs.
By Moses Billacura
The Edmonton Oilers won on June 18th against the Florida Panthers, keeping their hopes alive in winning the Stanley Cup.
After losing three straight games, the Oilers bounced back with two straight wins and fans hope that the series will get even on June 21st.
The Alberta Filipino Journal staff were among the Oilers fans who celebrated the Game 5 win at the River Cree Resort.
Another win by the Oilers on June 21 (that would be the day the Alberta Filipino Journal newspaper copies will hit the streets) will make it 3-3 and force a deciding Game 7. Fingers crossed.
Alberta’s government is reopening applications for the Every Kid Can Play program so non-profits can create more opportunities for kids to play the sports they love.
Alberta’s government understands the critical role sport and recreation play in Albertans’ lives, especially for children. Sport teaches healthy habits and fundamental life skills such as teamwork, leadership, confidence and commitment. Learning these skills at an early age sets children up for success, all while having fun with friends.
To continue knocking down barriers to youth participation in sport, Alberta’s government has provided $8 million to the Every Kid Can Play Program. The Every Kid Can Play program includes support for community and non-profit organizations that remove barriers for families across the province and help make kids’ sport and recreation activities more accessible and affordable for Alberta families.
“We know that active, healthy kids become active, healthy adults. That’s why it’s important for barrierfree access to sport and recreation programs in our province. I encourage sport and recreation organizations to apply for Every Kid Can Play funding to help provide quality, affordable programs for our youth. Together, we can keep sport and recreation activities affordable and accessible in every corner of the province.”
Joseph Schow, Minister of Tourism and Sport
Every Kid Can Play provided direct financial support to more than 8,500 children and youth in the past year and supported more than 110 child and youthfocused community sport and recreation programs
throughout Alberta. Programs that have received support from Every Kid Can Play include: Swim Alberta, which supports the I Can Swim Program across the province; the Cousins Skateboard Community Association, an Indigenous-led not-for-profit focused on connecting young people with themselves, their culture and their community through skateboarding; and the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers that helps youth that are new to Canada access sport and recreational activities.
“Last year, KidSport Alberta supported 17,186 kids facing financial barriers into a season of sport and this would not have been possible without the support of the Every Kid Can Play Program.”
Kelly Oehlerking, executive director, KidSport Alberta
Starting now, provincialscope organizations can receive funding of up to $100,000 per organization per year for programs running up to two years. Community-level nonprofit organizations can receive up to $25,000 per organization per year for funding. This year, applications for community-level organizations have expanded to include organizations that are members of provincialscope organizations, allowing more support for communitylevel programs. The deadline for provincial-scope sport organizations and communitylevel non-profit organizations to apply is July 31. (Ministry Tourism and Sport News Release)
SSFCA Basketball Tournament Awardees
Team CNC vs Team Mallari Finals
Team Mallari fell off in the finals finishing with 83 points 36 points from Khodie Piodo 22 from Raffaello Mallari
Brent Ogrimen 28 points combined with Hanzel Amargo 31 points.
finishing 85 points as a team to win Gold
MVP - Hanzel Amargo
Mythical Five
Carson Fisher
Brent Ogrimen
Khodie Piodo
Raffaello Mallari
Jonics Hallares
Champions - Team CNC contracting cleaning services
ltd.
1st Runner Up - Team Mallari of Spruce Grove
2nd Runner Up - Team Estibal of Westlock
Jr. Division
Champions - Team Grizzlies 1st Runner Up - Team
Raptors
Text & photos by
Pia Liberty
June 15, 2024. We proudly raised our flag to commemorate the 126th Philippines Independence Day. Various Filipino Canadian community organizations and distinguished guests from the city and from Philippine Consulate, including our very own courageous Pinoy RCMP joined us in this celebration.
On behalf of the Philippine Business Society of Alberta - PBSA, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following:
Deputy Consul General Vic Mario Dimagiba, Jr.
Philippine Consulate General in Calgary
Government Officials:
- Mayor Amarjeet Sohi (Edmonton City Mayor)
- Mr. Okwuchi Nnani and Mr. Nic Go (Representatives from the Office of the Premier)
- Mr. Kelly Mccauley (Member of Parliament - West)
- Mr. Nathan Ip (MLA Southwest)
- Mr. Rod Loyola (MLA Ellerslie)
- Mr. Lorne Dach (MLA Edmonton McClung)
- Ms. Jennifer Rice (Councilor
- Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi)
Courageous Filipino RCMP Troop:
1. Cst. Joel Sarmiento Gualberto
- Bonnyville RCMP
2. Cst. Julius ABREAU - Blackfalds
RCMP
3. Cst. Joseph BENEDICTOAirdrei RCMP
4. Cst. Rose VARGAS - Redwater
RCMP
Filipino Canadian Community Groups:
1. Edmonton Philippine International Centre (headed by Harlijk Maharlika Mirasol)
2. Philippine Arts Council (headed by Ida Beltran-Lucila)
3. Philippine Bayanihan Association in Alberta (headed by Ms. Annie Chua - Frith)
4. Council of Edmonton Filipino Associations (headed by Tony Surtida)
5. COPAA (headed by Jose Jr Jun Angeles)
6. Filipino Retirees’ Association in Alberta (headed by Otelia B. Koehler)
7. Filcas Leduc (Headed by Roger Villa)
continued on page 11 ►
from page 10
Flag Raising by PBSA
8. Association of VizMin
9. Nasipitnons in Edmonton (headed by Alan Alabat)
10. TAFCCE
11. Association of Batangeños in Alberta
12. FWAA (headed by Marietta Uson Santos)
13. Saya Saya Group
14. Koro Filipino (headed by Chito Atienza)
15. Pinoy Roots Rondalla Society (headed by Angie Guerzon Gilbert Rosete)
16. Filipino-Canadian Saranay
Association of Alberta
17. Camiling Society of Edmonton
18. Filipino Service Support Society (headed by Marilda Francisco Kane)
19. United Bicolanos of Edmonton (headed by Nelson Barranda)
20. Humanitarians of Edmonton
Rendering True Service (headed by Anna Crosman)
21. JIL
Special thanks to these talented performers:
1. Mr. Jimmy Buena
2. Ms. Isabelle Cabayag
3. Melvin Juntila
4. Rafi Jag
5. Bhey Pastolero
6. Pinoy Roots Rondalla
7. Koro Filipino
8. Association of VizMin Youth Group
9. Little Mr. & Ms. Philippined Edmonton
10. Ms. Margaret Elegrino
11. And to all of the various groups who graced the events with folk dances
To our dynamic Masters Ceremony:
Ms. Marjorie Jojie Newman
and Mr. Glenn Elle
To all of the PBSA Executives, BODs, food donors, volunteers, participants and to the City of Edmonton,
Thank you for your unwavering support and for coming together to celebrate this significant day. Your presence and participation underscore the unity and strength of our Filipino community.
See you all again next year and mabuhay tayong lahat!
With sincere appreciation, PBSA
Registration Fee: CAD150 per person Includes: Texas Scramble 18 holes, shared power cart, Carved Prime Rib Lunch, Texas Scramble Wine Bottle, Proximity Holes, Hole-in-one, and many more
Name: Pnone #: Email: Send e-transfer of CAD150 per player to: golfnazareno@gmail com
Contact Name: Robert Croteau. If more names are registered, please use fill in the blanks below (This years Charity Golf Tournament net proceeds will again go to Edmonton and Area Cha rities)
Bro Dario Juanillo, Chairman jprod 08@yahoo.com ,
We have always encouraged the Filipino community to reach out with any questions and/or suggestions on EPIC's operations and now particularly, about our decision to cease operations at the former Celtic Hall location. We refrained from disclosing details in a formal statement out of respect for our former sub-landlord. But the details and conditions of the lease were thoroughly discussed in EPIC’s Annual General Meeting last February 2024. Recently, there has been inaccurate information circulating on the events that transpired. In response, we are providing more information to ensure the community has an accurate understanding of the circumstances leading to EPIC’s decision to leave the former Celtic Hall in favor of the Edmonton Intercultural Centre.
The Edmonton Philippine International Centre (EPIC) was established to unite the Filipino community by offering spaces and opportunities for Filipino-Canadians to celebrate our culture within our province. The idea resonated within the Filipino community, inspiring the formation of a non-profit organization to bring this vision to life - a response to a community need expressed in various community engagement activities notably the February 2020 launch. The Filipino community was very much an integral part of the journey - from EPIC’s robust and growing membership and the array of civic, social and cultural events in the Centre.
In late 2022, EPIC was approached by Umbrella Kitchen, a sub-landlord of the property which included the former Celtic Hall. They envisioned opening a Philippine Village and sought to partner with EPIC as the non-profit arm of the building. To sustain EPIC, royalty from the other businesses in the building was pledged to EPIC. The partnership would have involved EPIC managing the Main Hall and programming, contingent upon several building and maintenance issues being resolved by the sublandlord. Unfortunately, these conditions were not met. After several months of negotiation, both parties mutually agreed to terminate the contract.
This move marks a pivotal moment in EPIC's history,
highlighting both the challenges and opportunities faced by the organization. The decision to leave the old location, a growing central hub for the Filipino community in Edmonton, was driven by the need for a more suitable and sustainable space that aligns with the evolving needs of the community. EPIC consulted lawyers, engineers, and property managers, making sure we are armed with information that would best guide us moving forward., This is good governance practice, protecting EPIC and its members from risk, i.e. financial and safety liabilities. In this way, EPIC is simply performing its governance responsibility to its members.
EPIC acknowledges the deep sentimental value and historical significance of the first location to many community members. Efforts are being made to ensure a smooth transition and maintain continuity in the programs and services provided. The organization is committed to honoring its legacy while embracing the future with renewed energy and vision.
As EPIC embarks on this new journey, it remains steadfast in its mission to promote Filipino culture, support community cohesion, and empower individuals. As we have announced before, the move to the Edmonton Intercultural Centre, effective May 1, 2024, allows EPIC to focus more on delivering impactful projects and meaningful initiatives for the community. We are excited with the synergy and the possibilities of collaboration & interconnectedness with 12 other multicultural organizations in the building. EPIC will continue to find a place to fulfill the aspirations of the Filipino community to have its own physical and social hub.
EPIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maharlika Mirasol II
President Virginia Sumalinog
Internal Vice President
Lito Velasco
External Vice President Oliver Rabara
Secretary
Maria Cecilia Camba
Treasurer
Rei Vincent Magtarayo
Director
Ariane Latade
Director
Source: Edmonton Philippine International Centre facebook page
As we approach the middle of the year at my workplace, I start to get reminders about my work benefits outside of my salary. For many workers, this can mean the part of our work benefits that cover extra medical expenses such as massage therapy or prescriptions, health spending accounts, wellness spending accounts, and others.
In my case, I knew that I maximized the additional Health Spending Account allowance that I have. To my surprise, there was an additional $500 or so under the separate category of Wellness Spending Account that I hadn’t touched at all. I completely forgot about it. I have until next year to spend it, which is a relief.
This is one of those adult life skills that I wish I was taught back in university, or right before I officially entered the workforce. Perhaps it should have been included in the CALM (Career and Life Management) courses that teenagers have to take in Grade 11, in addition to making your first resume, doing a personal budget, and paying taxes. The skill of completely understanding the additional benefits we get from our employment and maximizing it to its fullest potential can help people save more of our take-home money, save time, and even appreciate what we are earning from our employers.
In my former job, I didn’t pay too much attention to it until they made some big changes with our benefit provider. When I received the new booklets, that was when I realized that I was missing out on these extras that get reset in the new year.
For some of the typical items covered by these additional benefit packages, like dental or eye care, many times the process can be automatic and as a result, you don’t have to pay as much, or none at all.
In order to make the most of these benefits, it is very important to carefully read what they cover. Thanks to my diligence in doing this, I learned that for one of my former jobs, not only were eye appointments and regular eyeglasses covered, but additional accessories that help those with visual needs, such as prescription sunglasses and prescription goggles for 3D headsets. I was thrilled to cover these costs for my husband.
One year, as part of the more flexible Wellness Spending Account, I noticed that because of all the changes in 2020 as far as working from home, I can claim for expenses for technological equipment that I use while working remotely. As a result of this, I managed to purchase a sit-and-stand desk for my home office as well as replace my two computer monitors.
For my current employer, the tricky part is doing the administrative steps to file and make a claim. Many people dislike doing paperwork, and I’m guilty of this as well. However, I try to remind myself that I am gaining back hundreds, even up to
thousands of dollars by sucking it up, and keeping and filing the claims with the receipt.
Sometimes, these benefits and financial coverage can carry over to the next year, and then you lose it.
As we reach the midpoint of the year, it's the perfect time to take stock of your work benefits and ensure you're making the most of what’s available to you. Many employees overlook valuable perks such as pharmacy coverage, employee discounts, Health Spending Accounts (HSA), and Wellness Spending Accounts (WSA), only to realize too late that these benefits reset annually. This means missed opportunities and, essentially, leaving money on the table. Here’s why it’s crucial to check your benefits now and how you can easily navigate the often tedious claims process.
### The Value of Your Work Benefits
**1. Financial Savings:**
Work benefits are designed to supplement your income and reduce out-of-pocket expenses. For example, pharmacy coverage can significantly cut down the cost of prescription medications. Employee discounts might apply to products and services you regularly use, offering substantial savings over time. HSAs and WSAs can cover a range of expenses, from medical bills to fitness programs, alleviating financial stress.
**2. Health and Wellness:**
Taking advantage of your HSA and WSA can enhance your overall wellbeing. Regular check-ups, dental visits, eye exams, and even mental health services can be covered. Additionally, wellness accounts often support activities such as gym memberships, yoga classes, or nutritional counselling, promoting a healthier lifestyle.
**3. Maximizing Your Compensation Package:**
Benefits are part of your total compensation package, and not utilizing them means you're not getting the full value of your employment. By making the most of these perks, you're essentially boosting your effective salary.
### Tips to Manage the Tedious Aspects
**1. Educate Yourself:** Start by thoroughly understanding what benefits your employer offers. This might involve reading your employee handbook, visiting your HR portal, or having a conversation with your HR representative. Knowing exactly what’s available will make it easier to plan how to use them.
**2. Set Reminders:**
One simple way to stay on top of your benefits is to set reminders. Schedule a mid-year and year-end check-in on your calendar to review and use your benefits. This proactive approach ensures you don’t forget as deadlines approach.
**3. Organize Your Paperwork:** Create a dedicated folder—physical or
digital—for all your benefit-related documents. Keeping everything in one place will save you time when you need to file a claim or reference a benefit. Apps and tools like Evernote or Google Drive can help you organize and access these documents easily.
**4. Automate Where Possible:**
Some benefits allow for automation. For instance, setting up automatic prescription refills through your pharmacy coverage can save you time and hassle. Similarly, check if your HSA or WSA offers direct deposit reimbursement to streamline the process.
**5. Utilize Available Resources:**
Many employers provide tools and resources to help manage benefits. This could include online portals with tutorials, FAQs, or even dedicated customer service lines. Don't hesitate to use these resources—they exist to make your life easier.
**6. Delegate if Necessary:**
If the paperwork seems overwhelming, consider asking for help. This might mean enlisting a family member to assist with organizing documents or even hiring a professional service if your benefits are particularly complex.
### Take Action Now
As we move into the second half of the year, take a moment to review your work benefits. Make a checklist of what you’ve used and what’s still available. Plan how you can utilize these benefits over the remaining months to ensure you don’t miss out. Remember, these perks are part of your compensation package and are designed to support your financial, physical, and mental well-being. By taking a few proactive steps now, you can maximize their value and avoid the year-end rush.
In summary, being diligent with your work benefits doesn’t have to be a chore. With a bit of organization and the use of available resources, you can seamlessly integrate these valuable perks into your routine, enhancing both your financial and overall well-being. Don’t wait until the end of the year—start today and make the most of what’s rightfully yours.
This year, Philippine Independence Day celebrations kicked off on June 1 at the Mabuhay Park in Edmonton.
Various organizations took part in the event including the Alberta Filipino Journal.
Singers and dancers promoting Original Pilipino Music and dances provided color to the festivities.
Mabuhay Technical Working Group’s Annie Chua-Frith thanked all the participants for making the event successful.
According to Jun Cacayuran of the Filipino Canadian Community Association in the Rockies and AFCLA G10, celebrations were also conducted in other towns like Banff, Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Parkland, Taber, Airdrie and Lethbridge. (Photos and text by Moses Billacura/AFJ)
Friday, 24 May 24
East & West Productions & Sarap
Sarap Entertainment
By Andy Chua
The former member of Viva Hotbabes sizzled in Edmonton and did not disappoint in her first show in town. Maui entered showbiz at 14 with a demure and wholesome image, but it was her sexy roles in later years that catapulted her to fame and she became the “Pantasya of Bayan”.
She took a break from the limelight when she opted to focus on raising her two cute boys.
Twenty some years later, she resumed her career and enjoyed success in both acting and now doing shows abroad. Her 10-city Canadian tour has Edmonton as one of its stops. What a delight for her infatuated fans, as even with the years going by, her beauty remains the same.
The show started with a few front acts – JC Monsod, Lizzie Gomez, Will Munoz and Ella. It was emceed by Jimmy and Mj, who did a good job of managing the order of the night. Games were played, with the winner awarded a chance to participate in the show.
At around 9:00, the show started with the dazzling Maui singing Jennifer Lopez’s “Dance Again”. So, she isn’t just a pretty face and beautiful body but a great voice as well. Wearing a sequin blazer and mini skirt, Maui wowed us all with her youthful appearance. She followed the song with “A Thousand Miles”, fitting songs for her personality – young and free.
Maui, mature and classy, made sure that everyone was aware that the show was for fun and entertainment purposes only. There were some cheeky parts, but she made sure that no partner left offended. After a few conversations with the audience, she called on the winner of the game and sang “Kiss Me”. As the song implies, the
winner was allowed to plant a quick peck wherever she gestured to.
Her next song was Kim Chiu’s “Mr. Right” and again, she called on the next winner for the song. She finished the night with “Bulaklak”, a song she is tightly bound to with her group, Viva Hotbabes.
Our publisher, Jose “Jun” Angeles was in attendance and participated in one of the games. Other notable personalities in town who joined us for the evening were Dok Rod of Great Smile Dental office, JT Balmores of Jeepney Jaytee, Marlon Tausa of East & West Production, Dok Chum of SkinLueur, Philip Aseron of King Philip Resort, and Jester Talusig, a friend of mine.
Text and Photos by April “Lianne” Angeles, with photo contributions by Sandy Lubuguin
Afew artists and their works from Contemplating the Tapestry of Filipino Canadian Connections, an exhibit curated by Ida Beltran Lucila and held at the Millwoods Seniors and Multicultural Centre, May 29, in celebration of Asian Heritage Month. This is a project by the Philippine Arts Council, in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary and with the support of Alberta Immigration and Multiculturalism.
Catch the second leg of the exhibit at the Dr. Jose Rizal Hall of the Philippine Consulate General Calgary until June 29, with some artists in attendance on the last day. This exhibit celebrates Philippine Heritage Month and 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Canada.
By: Giselle General
Homelessness and poverty are an ongoing reality in this city, leading to many people with no food to eat. Fortunately, there are several places where people in need can access a warm meal.
Some of them may have different operating hours, for example, being closed on weekends or certain months in the summer and winter, so it is worthwhile to check their latest schedule.
1. Boyle Street Community Services
Address: 10116 105 Ave NW
Meals Offered: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hours:
Breakfast: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Lunch: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Dinner: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
2. Bissell Centre
Address: 10527 96 St NW
Meals Offered: Breakfast and lunch
Hours:
Breakfast: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Lunch: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
3. The Mustard Seed
Address: 10635 96 St NW
Meals Offered: Dinner
Hours:
Dinner: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
4. Hope Mission
Address: 9908 106 Ave NW
Meals Offered: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hours:
Breakfast: 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Lunch: 12:00 PM -1:00 PM
Dinner: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
5. Salvation Army
Address: 9618 101A Ave NW
Meals Offered: Lunch
Hours:
Lunch: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
6. Jasper Place Wellness Centre
Address: 15210 Stony Plain Rd NW
Meals Offered: Breakfast
Hours:
Breakfast: 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
7. Operation Friendship Seniors Society
Address: 9526 106 Ave NW
Meals Offered: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (for seniors)
Hours:
Breakfast: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Lunch: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Dinner: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
8. YMCA
Address: 10211 105 St NW
Meals Offered: Breakfast
Hours:
Breakfast: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
9. Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples
Address: 10821 96 St NW
Meals Offered: Lunch
Hours:
Lunch: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
10. Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS)
Address: 9310 82 Ave NW
Meals Offered: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (for youth)
Hours:
Breakfast: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Lunch: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Dinner: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
11. George Spady Society
Address: 10015 105A Ave NW
Meals Offered: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hours:
Breakfast: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Lunch: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Dinner: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
If you are someone who is fortunate enough and have good food to
eat and are not in need, you may be wondering how this list would be valuable to you. I have a few reasons:
• You can volunteer or donate to these organizations. This list can serve as inspiration and community service. Perhaps one of these organizations are conveniently located close to you and would be a suitable place to donate to or volunteer for, either as an individual or as a group. The generosity of others is what helps these organizations keep doing the important work they do.
• You can direct people there. If you are a business that deals with members of the public,
there may be an unexpected time when a person in need who is living on the streets enters your business. If you are unable to provide them directly with food or drink for whatever reason, this list can help you offer actual alternatives where a vulnerable person can get the nourishment they need. Having this list on
your business’ bulletin board or with the staff cashier can be useful for when it is needed. I hope that this resource is useful for anyone who encounters people with no food to eat. The list of these organizations is updated by the 211 directory on a regular basis and can be found at edmonton.cmha.ca/ brochure/211resourcelists.
Fifteen years ago, Meinrad Villano emigrated to Canada from the Philippines to work as a Guest Experience Expert of the Delta Hotels Edmonton Centre Suites. He was not prepared for the dramatic change in climate—it was a chilly -50 degrees Celsius. Despite the weather, he knew he had found his second home at the front desk because he loves engaging with guests and associates and creating experiences that keep them returning to the hotel again and again.
Meinrad remembers names, faces and preferences as soon as he sees a return guest. He will
often walk out from behind the front desk to greet guests with a handshake, handing them a bottle of water and asking about their day. In a recent review, a guest wrote, “With all the guests staying at the hotel, Meinrad made me feel very special with the personalized treatment he gave! He is one of the reasons I would not hesitate to stay at this hotel again.”
Meinrad best embodies the Delta brand’s three elements of service: Warm, Wise and In Control. He will warmly welcome guests and make sure he handles any challenges from start to finish. He has an “I can
make it happen” attitude with every guest or associate.
For Meinrad, “above and beyond” service is simply his way of caring. If a guest asks for directions to a nearby restaurant, Meinrad will walk them there. Recently, a guest in a wheelchair missed her taxi to the bus station. Concerned she would miss her bus, Meinrad pushed her through the city to get to the station—an eleven-minute walk. Last year, wildfires in nearby Yellowknife displaced hundreds of people. Red Cross evacuees flocked to the hotel. Meinrad treated every guest with kindness and respect during a particularly challenging
experience and helped relay all critical communications to the overwhelmed guests.
Meinrad is a shining example of service for his fellow associates. He invests time and attention to knowing guests’ preferences and then responding accordingly. Even if he’s not working, the
front desk team can deliver exceptional service because of his meticulous notetaking about guest preferences. It sets the whole team up for success. General Manager Barnie Yerxa says, “When hiring, my first thought is, ‘how can we get more Meinrads here?’”
Annual ceremony honors Marriott associates for exemplary achievements and outstanding service to communities, guests and each other
BETHESDA, MD, May 16, 2023
— Marriott International is proud to celebrate the winners of the 2024 J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence at the company’s annual ceremony, which brought together associates from around the world. Established in 1987 and named after Marriott’s founder, the J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence honors the company’s finest associates who are recognized for their achievements, service mindset, and commitment to excellence.
At the awards ceremony, the 10 individual winners, three Marriott properties and two Marriott Business Councils from around the world, took the stage to share their incredible stories with fellow associates and Marriott leadership. The awards focus in several areas, including honoring outstanding community engagement, workplace inclusion initiatives, exemplifying the company’s core values, driving innovation, empowering the future generation of leaders, and creating a TakeCare culture of promoting physical, mental, and financial wellness.
“I am inspired by the incredible stories and exemplary character of this year’s Awards of Excellence winners,” said Anthony Capuano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International. “These honorees embody our company values and are a shining example of service excellence. They
embolden us all to strive to be the best individuals, community members, and leaders we can be, and I am so proud of their tremendous accomplishments.”
Mr. Capuano kicked off the celebration with Chairman of the Board David Marriott and Board Member and Global Cultural Ambassador Emeritus Debbie Marriott Harrison, who served as the emcees throughout the event.
The 2024 J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence winners are:
• Irma Cruz, Loss Prevention Supervisor, W Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico
• Jennifer Chenggish, Front Office Supervisor, Four Points by Sheraton Surabaya, Pakuwon Indah, East Java, Indonesia
• Bahieh Musa, Front Desk Lead - Night Audit, Courtyard by Marriott Charlottesville, Charlottesville, Virginia
• Meinrad Villano, Guest Experience Expert, Delta Hotels Edmonton Centre Suites, Alberta, Canada
• Julia Borrego¸ Housekeeping
Public Space Attendant, Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center, Tulsa, OK
• Anna Pazdera, Executive Head Chef, London Heathrow Marriott Hotel, Hayes, United Kingdom
• John Hofer, Engineer, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, Truckee, CA
• Dawit Anteneh, Central
Plant Stationary Engineer Supervisor, Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, Denver, CO
• Jose D. Leon, Assistant Banquet and Event Manager, Boston Marriott Cambridge, Cambridge, MA
• Jessie Wang, Executive Housekeeper, Sheraton Chengdu Lido Hotel, Sichuan, China
• Alice S. Marriott Award for Community Service: JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, Cusco, Peru
• Debbie Marriott Harrison TakeCare Award of Excellence: Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
• J.W. Marriott, Jr. Diversity Excellence Award: Costa Rica
Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belén, Heredia, Costa Rica
• David S. Marriott Next Gen Business Council Award: Marriott Business Council Vietnam & Cambodia
• Stephen Garff Marriott Award of Excellence for Culture: Hawaii Business Council, Maui, Hawaii
To learn more about the awards program visit https://www. marriott.com/culture-andvalues/awardsof-excellence.mi.
About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of nearly 8,900 properties across more than 30 leading brands in 141 countries and territories.
Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world.
The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www. marriott.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @ MarriottIntl on X and Instagram.
goal of accepting 20,500 complete applications. Only those who submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020, were invited.
Third: Upon receipt of the Invitation to Apply, the sponsor and the principal applicant must submit the complete application package by August 2, 2024. There is no exception to the deadline as per the invitation to apply.
What does it mean to be a sponsor?
As a sponsor, you must commit to support the people you’re sponsoring (your parents and grandparents and their accompanying family members, if applicable) for a certain period, even if your situation changes. As a sponsor, you are expected to sign an undertaking and a sponsorship agreement.
The undertaking and sponsorship agreement
As a sponsor, you must sign an undertaking. In the undertaking, you’ll commit to:
For the 2024 intake, starting May 21, 2024, for the next two weeks, IRCC sent out invitations to apply for permanent residence (ITAs), to randomly selected sponsors. IRCC sent out 35,700 invitations with the goal of accepting 20,500 complete applications.
Those who received an Invitation to Apply have until August 2, 2024, at 11:59 pm EST to submit a complete application package.
If you did not receive an invitation to apply, you can’t submit a permanent residence application for your parents or grandparents.
So how does the program work?
First: Check if you (the sponsor) meet the eligibility requirements as a sponsor. To become a sponsor, you must submit an interest to sponsor form. This form is currently closed, meaning you can’t submit an interest to sponsor form at this time. It was last available from October 13, 2020, to November 3, 2020.
Second: Upon closure of the online form, IRCC reviewed the form submission and removed any duplicates. IRCC randomly selected and invited potential sponsors to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents. The invitations are sent by email and IRCC posts the invitation status on their website.
In May 2024, IRCC sent out 35,700 invitations with the
The two Caregiver pilot programs, namely the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot, will end on June 19, 2024. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Hon. Marc Miller announced new and enhanced caregiver pilots. This will allow caregivers to continue to come to Canada, as IRCC is working on making the caregiver pilot programs permanent.
in Canada’s home care sector will be eligible to apply if they meet the following criteria: -attain a minimum of level 4 based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) -hold the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma -have recent and relevant work experience -receive an offer for a full-time home care job
These new PR on arrival pilot programs mark an important step forward in Canada’s efforts to meet the evolving home care needs of its diverse population. More information will be available before the full launch of the pilots, including full eligibility criteria and details on how to apply.
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Contact Marjorie at info@ mcncanadaimmigration.com
A word of caution: You should not act or rely on the information provided in this column. It is not legal advice. To ensure your interests are protected, retain, or formally seek advice from a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing of CICC. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RCIC’s.
- financially supporting the people you’re sponsoring for a period of time, which is called the undertaking period. The undertaking period to sponsor your parents and grandparents is 20 years. If you live in Quebec, it’s 10 years. The undertaking period starts the day the people you’re sponsoring become permanent residents.
- making sure the people you’re sponsoring won’t need to ask the government for social assistance. If they receive social assistance during the time you’re responsible for them, you’ll have to re-pay the amount. You won’t be able to sponsor anyone else until you’ve re-paid it. Once your sponsored family members become permanent residents, there is no way to cancel or shorten the undertaking period. You’re responsible for the people you’re sponsoring for the entire 20-year (or 10 in Quebec) period, even if the people you’re sponsoring become Canadian citizens.
- your relationship with the people you’re sponsoring changes.
- you or the people you’re sponsoring move to another province or country.
- you have financial problems (for example: job loss or debt).
- you sent us a request to withdraw your sponsorship application and we received it after the people you’re sponsoring became permanent residents. You can only withdraw your sponsorship application before the people you’re sponsoring became permanent residents.
The new pilot programs will provide home care workers with permanent residence (PR) on arrival in Canada. They will also be allowed to work for organizations that provide temporary or part-time care for people who are semi-independent or recovering from an injury or illness. This new pathway means that caregivers can more easily find proper work with reliable employers and have clear, straightforward access to permanent resident status as soon as they arrive in Canada. Through these new pilot programs, candidates interested in working
Ang karahasan sa pamilya ay maaaring magkaroon ng iba't ibang anyo at maaaring makapinsala sa mga tao kahit na sila mismo ang nakaranas nito, makita o marinig ito, o alam na ito ay nangyayari. Sa ilalim ng bagong Divorce Act, ang karahasan sa pamilya ay anumang pag-uugali marahas, o pananakot, o isang pattern ng mapilit at pagkontrol ng pag-uugali, o pag-uugali na nagiging sanhi ng pagkatakot ng isang miyembro ng pamilya para sa kanilang kaligtasan o sa kaligtasan ng ibang tao. Bagama't maraming uri ng pang-aabuso ay mga kriminal na pagkakasala, ang ilang hindi kriminal na paguugali ay isinasaalang-alang pa rin karahasan sa pamilya sa ilalim ng Divorce Act.
Ang mga bata ay maaaring makaranas ng karahasan sa pamilya sa iba't ibang paraan, tulad ng pagkakaroon ng karahasan at pang-aabuso na nakadirekta sa kanila, nakikita o naririnig ang isang taong marahas sa isang miyembro ng pamilya, o nakikita ang isang miyembro ng pamilya na natakot o nasugatan. Ang lahat ng ito ay itinuturing na karahasan sa pamilya at pang-aabuso sa bata sa ilalim ng bagong Divorce Act.
Mga Halimbawa ng Karahasan sa Pamilya Narito ang ilang halimbawa ng karahasan sa pamilya sa ilalim ng bagong Divorce Act: Pisikal na pang-aabuso, Pagsuntok, pagsampal, pagsipa, pagtulak, pagkaladkad, pagsasakal, paghila ng buhok, pagkagat, pagsaksak, pagkulong sa isang tao sa isang nakakulong na espasyo, paghawak o pagtali sa isang tao
Tandaan: Kapag kumilos ang mga tao upang protektahan ang kanilang sarili o ang ibang tao, ang kanilang mga aksyon ay hindi itinuturing na karahasan sa pamilya.
Mga pananakot na pumatay o manakit ng ibang tao Nagbabantang sasampalin o susuntukin ang isang tao, pagbabanta na babarilin ang isang tao Panliligalig at paniniktik Pagtawag, pag-email o pag-text sa isang tao nang paulit-ulit; pagsunod o pagmamasid sa bahay o lugar ng trabaho ng isang tao; pagsubaybay sa isang tao sa pamamagitan ng mga app, software o video camera; pagsubaybay sa mga aktibidad ng isang tao sa social media
Pagkabigong maibigay ang mga pangangailangan sa buhay Hindi pagbibigay ng pagkain sa mga bata Hindi pagpapaalam sa isang tao na makakuha ng pangangalagang medikal na kailangan nila, pagkuha ng wheelchair ng isang tao
Sikolohikal na Pang-aabuso
Laging sumisigaw, pumupuna o sinisiraan ang isang tao; pagkontrol sa oras, kilos, damit, at hairstyle ng isang tao,
Hindi hayaan ang isang tao na makita ang mga kaibigan o pamilya, Hindi hayaan ang isang tao na isagawa ang kanilang relihiyon o kultura
Pagbabahagi ng matalik na larawan ng isang tao nang walang pahintulot o nagbabantang gawin ito
Pagbabanta sa isang taong nakikipagugnayan sa mga awtoridad sa imigrasyon na paalisin sila sa bansa
Pang-aabuso sa Pinansyal
• Pagpipilit sa isang tao na magtrabaho o hindi hayaan silang magtrabaho
• Pag-block ng isang tao sa pagaccess sa kanilang bank account
• Pag-iingat ng pera mula sa isang tao o pagkontrol kung paano nila ito ginagastos, na nagkakaroon ng mga utang sa pangalan ng isang tao nang hindi nila nalalaman
Mga Halimbawa ng
Karahasan sa Pamilya
Mga banta na pumatay o manakit ng hayop o makapinsala sa ari-arian Nagbabantang sasaktan ang alagang hayop ng pamilya, nagbabantang susunugin ang tahanan ng pamilya Aktwal na pumatay o nananakit ng hayop o nakakasira ng ari-arian Pinipilit at pagkontrol sa karahasan sa pamilya
Ang pamimilit at pagkontrol sa karahasan sa pamilya ay isang pattern ng mapang-abusong paguugali na ginagamit ng mga tao upang kontrolin o dominahin ang isa pang miyembro ng pamilya. Ang nagkokontrol na miyembro ng pamilya ay maaaring gumamit ng kumbinasyon ng emosyonal, sikolohikal, sekswal, pananalapi o iba pang anyo ng pang-aabuso, tulad ng pagpili ng damit ng kapareha, pagkontrol sa kanilang pera, o hindi pagpayag sa kanila na magtrabaho o makakita ng mga kaibigan. Ang pang-aabusong ito ay madalas ding sinasamahan ng pisikal na karahasan.
Pang-aabusong Sekswal
Ang paghawak sa isang tao nang walang pahintulot, pagpilit sa isang tao na makipagtalik o gumawa ng isang sekswal na gawain, paggawa ng isang tao na manood ng pornograpiya, paghipo sa isang bata nang sekswal, paghikayat sa isang bata na hawakan ang kanilang sarili nang sekswal.
Bakit ako inaabuso?
Ang pang-aabuso ay hindi nangyayari dahil ang biktima ay gumawa ng isang bagay upang "karapat-dapat ito." Kahit na nakagawa ka ng mga bagay na maaaring ikagalit ng iba, hindi nito binibigyan ang sinuman ng karapatang abusuhin ka. Ang mga pagkakaiba ng opinyon, hindi pagkakasundo, o salungatan sa relasyon ay hindi nagbibigay ng karapatan sa isang tao na abusuhin ang ibang tao. Tsaka hindi lang ikaw ang inaabuso. Nangyayari ang pang-aabuso sa lahat ng lipunan, lahat ng uri, lahat ng kultura, pananampalataya, at
lahi. Wala rin itong kinalaman sa edad, hitsura, katalinuhan, edukasyon, o socio-economic status ng biktima.
Karahasan sa Pamilya at mga kaayusan sa pagiging magulang para sa mga bata
• Ang mga batang nakatira sa karahasan sa pamilya ay nasa panganib para sa parehong panandalian at pangmatagalang pinsala. Kahit na ang karahasan sa pamilya ay hindi nakadirekta sa kanila, nakakapinsala para sa mga bata na makita o marinig ang karahasan sa pagitan ng ibang mga miyembro ng pamilya o malaman na ang isang miyembro ng pamilya ay inaabuso.
• Ang mga batang nakakaranas ng karahasan sa pamilya ay maaaring magdusa ng pisikal at sikolohikal na pinsala. Maaaring baguhin ng karahasan sa pamilya ang kanilang pag-unlad ng utak, na posibleng humahantong sa pag-unlad ng emosyonal, kognitibo, asal at panlipunang mga problema na maaaring tumagal ng mahabang panahon.
• Sa batas ng pamilya, lahat ng desisyon tungkol sa mga bata ay nakabatay sa kung ano ang para sa pinakamahusay na interes ng bata. Ang bagong Divorce Act ay may listahan ng mga salik na dapat isaalang-alang ng mga hukom kapag nagpapasya kung ano ang para sa pinakamahusay na interes ng isang bata, at ang pinakamahalagang salik ay palaging ang pisikal, emosyonal at sikolohikal na kaligtasan, seguridad at kagalingan ng isang bata.
Mga opsyon sa imigrasyon para sa karahasan sa pamilya
Kung ikaw ay nahaharap sa karahasan sa pamilya at natatakot kang iwan ang iyong mapang-abusong asawa o common-law partner dahil sa takot na baka mawala sa iyo ang iyong immigration status o ang iyong pansamantalang katayuan ay nag-expire na, maaari kang mag-apply para sa Temporary Resident Permit (TRP).
Bibigyan ka nito ng legal na katayuan sa imigrasyon sa Canada. Hindi mo kailangang tumestigo laban sa iyong nangaabuso para makakuha ng TRP. Walang bayad para sa paunang TRP sa mga kaso ng karahasan sa pamilya. Depende sa iyong sitwasyon, posibleng mag-apply para sa isa pang TRP sa pagtatapos ng unang panahon.
Kung kukuha ka ng TRP, maaari ka ring makakuha ng saklaw para sa pagpapayo sa trauma at mga benepisyo sa pangangalagang pangkalusugan. Maaari ka ring mag-aplay para sa permiso sa trabaho na walang bayad.
Nag-aaplay para sa isang TRP
Maaari kang makipag-ugnayan
sa IRCC Client Support Center sa 1-888-242-2100 (TTY: 1-888576-8502) para sa karagdagang impormasyon sa TRP. Dapat mong piliin ang opsyon para sa mga biktima ng pang-aabuso at sapilitang kasal na direktang makipag-usap sa isang ahente. Maaaring talakayin ng ahente ang iyong mga opsyon sa iyo. Upang mag-aplay para sa isang TRP ng karahasan sa pamilya, maaari mong punan ang isang aplikasyon para sa isang TRP at isama ang sumusuportang ebidensya tungkol sa iyong sitwasyon/pang-aabuso. Ipadala ang aplikasyon sa isang tanggapan ng IRCC na pinakamalapit sa iyo. Siguraduhing markahan mo ng “FV” ang panlabas na sobre upang makatulong na mabilis na matukoy ang iyong aplikasyon. Makikipag-ugnayan sa iyo ang isang opisyal ng imigrasyon upang bigyan ka ng impormasyon tungkol sa isang pansamantalang resident permit batay sa iyong ibinigay na ebidensya. Kung kinakailangan, ilalagay ka nila sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga grupo ng suporta na tumutulong sa mga biktima ng karahasan sa pamilya.
Mga benepisyo ng isang TRP
Makakatulong sa iyo ang isang TRP takasan ang pang-aabuso ng iyong asawa o common-law partner bigyan ka ng oras upang magpasya kung gusto mong umalis sa Canada o isaalang-alang ang iba pang mga opsyon sa imigrasyon tumulong na tiyaking hindi ka hiwalay sa iyong mga anak sa Canada habang nagpapasya ka sa iyong mga susunod na hakbang at kumita nang walang takot sa karahasan sa pamilya (gamit ang permiso sa trabaho). Kung gusto mong manatili sa Canada nang permanente, maaari kang mag-aplay para sa permanenteng paninirahan sa makatao at mahabagin na mga batayan. Pinapabilis ng IRCC ang oras ng pagproseso para sa mga naturang aplikasyon upang alisin ang mga indibidwal na nahaharap sa karahasan sa pamilya mula sa kanilang mga mapang-abusong sitwasyon sa lalong madaling panahon.
Pinabilis na mga desisyon sa pagiging karapat-dapat Kwalipikado ka lang para sa isang pinabilis na desisyon kung nakakaranas ka ng karahasan sa pamilya sa Canada ng isang asawa o common-law partner at umaasa ka sa iyong mapangabusong asawa o common-law partner para panatilihin ang iyong katayuan.
Mga halimbawa: Ikaw ay nasa Canada at naghahanap ng permanenteng paninirahan na nakadepende sa pananatili sa isang tunay na relasyon may mapang-abusong asawa o commonlaw partner. Nakadepende ka sa
adamvm912@yahoo.com
Adam Mella is currently a Nurse educator at Grant MacEwan University. He has more than 14 years of experience as a RN and educator in Alberta. He graduated with a master of nursing from the University of Alberta and a doctorate in Healthcare Administration from the USA. He is a proud Filipino who advocates for holistic health and well-being. His other advocacies are the integration of IEN (internationally educated nurses) into Alberta, relational leadership, and student-centred education.
pananatili sa mapang-abusong relasyong iyon upang mapanatili ang iyong katayuan sa Canada. Isa kang dayuhan na hindi masuri para sa permanenteng paninirahan dahil binawi ng iyong mapang-abusong sponsor ang kanilang aplikasyon sa klase ng pamilya. Maling sinabi sa iyo ng isang mapang-abusong asawa o common-law partner na nagsumite sila ng aplikasyon para sa klase ng pamilya, at ito ay nasa proseso, ngunit sa katunayan, hindi sila nag-apply. Ikaw ay isang pansamantalang residente na gustong mag-aplay para sa permanenteng paninirahan sa pamamagitan ng isang tunay na relasyon, ngunit nagiging mapang-abuso ang relasyong iyon, at maaaring wala ka pang aplikasyon sa proseso. Tiyaking malinaw mong inilalarawan ang iyong sitwasyon ng karahasan sa pamilya sa iyong aplikasyon.
Paano mag-aplay para sa permanenteng paninirahan – makatao at mahabagin na pagsasaalang-alang
• Para mag-apply para sa pagproseso sa ilalim ng karahasan sa pamilya, piliin ang kategoryang “FV – In Canada – Humanitarian and compassionate considerations” kapag nag-apply ka online sa pamamagitan ng Permanent Residence Portal. Isulat ang mga titik na “FV” sa iyong application cover letter at email sa VancouverBro@ cic.gc.ca.
• Siguraduhing isulat ang mga titik na "FV" sa linya ng paksa na kahilingan sa pagpoproseso ng "FV" at isama ang email address ng iyong client account sa katawan ng email
• Kung ikaw ay nasa isang sitwasyon ng karahasan sa pamilya at mayroon nang isang aplikasyon sa proseso, maaari mong sabihin sa IRCC tungkol dito para sa IRCC na isaalang-alang ito sa pagproseso ng iyong aplikasyon. Makipag-ugnayan sa opisina na mayroong iyong aplikasyon, o makipag-ugnayan sa aming Client Support Center sa 1-888-242-2100.
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Proteksyon laban sa family violence act
Kung nakakaranas ka ng karahasan sa pamilya at kailangan mo ng agarang tulong, tumawag sa 9-1-1.
Ito ay isang batas ng Alberta. Sa ilalim ng Batas na ito, maaari kang mag-aplay para sa isang Emergency Protection Order kung makaranas o natatakot ka ng agarang pinsala mula sa isang miyembro ng pamilya.
Kasama sa mga miyembro ng pamilya ang mga taong: ay ikinasal na sa iyo nakatira o nanirahan sa iyo sa isang matalik na relasyon kabahagi ka ng isa o higit pang mga bata, ang iyong mga magulang o mga anak ay may kaugnayan sa iyo sa pamamagitan ng dugo, kasal, o pag-aampon
Legal Aid Alberta
• Matutulungan ka ng Legal Aid Alberta na makakuha ng Emergency Protection Order para pigilan ang isang marahas na miyembro ng pamilya na makipagugnayan sa iyo o lumapit sa iyo at sa iyong mga anak. Ito ay isang libreng serbisyo.
• Para sa tulong, tawagan ang programa ng Emergency Protection Order sa mga sumusunod na lokasyon: Lugar ng Edmonton: 1-780-422-9222 Lugar ng Calgary: 1-403-297-5260
• Kung nakatira ka sa labas ng mga lugar na ito, tumawag sa pulisya anumang oras o bisitahin ang iyong pinakamalapit na courthouse sa oras ng negosyo.
• Ang batas ni Claire ay nagpapahintulot sa mga tao na gumawa ng matalinong
mga pagpipilian tungkol sa mga potensyal na nakakapinsalang relasyon. Binibigyan nito ang mga tao ng karapatang magtanong kung ang kanilang kapareha ay may kasaysayan ng karahasan sa tahanan. Ang pulisya ay maaaring aktibong magbunyag ng maykatuturang impormasyon sa mga taong nasa panganib, nang walang aplikasyon
• Ang Residential Tenancies (Safer Spaces for Victims of Domestic Violence) Act ay nagpapahintulot sa mga biktima ng karahasan sa pamilya na tapusin ang isang kasunduan sa pangungupahan sa tirahan nang walang pinansiyal na parusa. Para magawa ito, ang mga nangungupahan ay dapat kumuha ng Certificate Confirming Grounds to Terminate Tenancy, at gamitin ito para magbigay ng hindi bababa sa 28 araw na abiso sa kanilang landlord.
• Ang nangungupahan ay kailangan pa ring magbayad ng upa sa panahon ng paunawa. Ang mga empleyadong kwalipikado para sa domestic violence leave ay maaaring tumagal ng hanggang 10 araw ng unpaid leave bawat taon ng kalendaryo. Ang anumang araw ng bakasyon na hindi ginamit ng isang empleyado ay hindi maaaring dalhin sa isang bagong taon ng kalendaryo.
This presentation is for public education and does not offer legal advice. This is a United Cultures of Canada Association project graciously funded by the Department of Justice Canada—Victims and Survivors of Crime Week.
Information in the presentation is taken from the following websites: www.justice.gc.ca https://www.canada.ca/en/immigrationrefugees-citizenship/services/immigratecanada/family-sponsorship/fees-permitsvictims.html
https://www.legalaid.ab.ca/services/family-violence-matters/ Escaping Abuse Benefit (Household Start-Up) (alberta.ca)
Escaping Abuse Benefit – Get help with costs to leave | Alberta.ca
Edmonton, June 7th 2024 — Sister Annata Brockman Catholic Elem/Jr. High School came alive with color, music, and dance as it celebrated its 6th annual Filipino Day. The event showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Filipino community through a mix of traditional and modern performances by enthusiastic students, and through the sharing of cuisines.
Students dazzled the audience,
and displayed their skills through a myriad of performances that ranged from traditional to modern pop.
From the grade 5’s rendition of Zack Tabudlo’s Gusto, to the Jr. High students’ performance of Filipino pop (P-pop) such as Patintero, Pantropiko, and Salamin - their energetic dance moves captivated the crowd, and highlighted the influence of contemporary Filipino music and dance.
The spotlight then shifted to traditional Filipino songs and folk dances to reflect Philippines’ diverse history and culture. Performances included the singing of “Leron Leron Sinta”, the balancing act of “Sayaw sa Bangko”, and the rhythmic hand-weaving and synchronized stick dances of “Binatbatan” and “Binislakan”.
A highlight was the "Cariñosa," a graceful courtship dance performed
with hand fans and handkerchiefs.
Students also performed “Subli,” honoring the Holy Cross and showcasing Filipino spirituality.
The celebration also featured “Tinikling,” the national dance of the Philippines which involves pirouetting between clapping bamboo sticks to the remixed rhythm of Filipino rondalla music, and Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic.
The event concluded with a collective performance of Pinoy Ako by Orange and Lemons, featuring all Filipino Language and Culture Club students from grades 4-9, along with the staff.
In addition to the dance performances, the event featured an array of Filipino cuisine, offering delicacies such as lumpia, pancit, leche flan, and adobo. Cultural exhibits and presentations displayed traditional Filipino attire, artifacts, and artworks, providing a deeper understanding of the Philippines' rich heritage.
The Filipino Language and Culture’s lead teacher Jericho Lucas
expressed his pride in the students’ performance and the community participation. “Filipino Day here at Sister Annata Brockman is a celebration of unity and diversity. It is a way for Filipino students to embrace and connect with their heritage, and for non-Filipino students to understand and connect with their friends through understanding their culture. As we learn and understand different cultures, we learn more about ourselves, and begin to understand one another,” he said.
The event not only celebrated Filipino culture but also fostered a sense of community and inclusiveness among students, parents, and staff. As the festivities drew to a close, attendees left with a greater appreciation of the Filipino traditions and the joy of sharing cultural experiences.
Sister Annata Brockman School's Filipino Day remains a cherished tradition, promising even more vibrant celebrations in the years to come.
Choosing a career in nursing is not only about finding a job; it’s about making a difference in peoples’ lives. When you take your nursing career to rural Alberta, you’ll see day in and day out how you are supporting the community around you. As a nurse in a rural setting, you’ll have endless opportunities to expand the scope of your practice and experience how fulfilling it is beingan integral part of a close-knit community.
Enhanced
One of the most rewarding aspects of working as a nurse in rural Alberta is the broad scope of practice. Rural nurses often perform a wider range of tasks compared to those in urban centers due to the smaller, team-based approach. By working rurally, you can gain experience in clinics, emergency, or long-term care, which can help you grow your knowledge and skills. As a rural nurse, you’ll be influencing the health and well-being of your community each day.
Getting Connected
In rural settings, nurses can develop deeper relationships with people in their communities. Unlike the fast-paced, often briefinteractions in urban hospitals, rural nursing allows you to get to know your patients and their families through ongoing interactions. You’ll find yourself becoming a valued and respected member of the community, someone who is not just a healthcare provider but a neighbour and a friend.
Rural Alberta offers a quality of life that is hard to match. Spend less time battling traffic around town and more time getting to enjoy all that rural life offers. The natural beauty of Alberta’s rural areas provides countless opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling, among others. Each rural community has its unique charm and special attractions, from the hoodoos in Drumheller to the rich history of towns like Wainwright.
Strong Sense of Community Living in a rural area means being part of a close-knit community where everyone knows each other. This sense of community can be incredibly supportive in and outside of your work as a nurse. Whether it’s by attending community events, local festivals, or simply day-to-day interactions with your neighbors, rural living offers a fulfilling lifestyle.
Bridging Your Education: The BIEN Program
If you’re considering continuing your nursing career in Alberta, the Bursary for Internationally Educated Nurses (BIEN) program funded by the Government of Alberta and administered by the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) is here to support you. This program is designed to help internationally educated nurses transition smoothly into the Canadian healthcare system, ensuring they meet the necessary standards and are fully prepared to practise in Alberta.
To ensure your eligibility in the BIEN program, you must be enrolled in a full-time education bridging program, offered at one of Alberta’s approved post-secondary institutions, and successfully finish and graduate from studies within the scheduled timeline set out by the institution. The BIEN program provides financial support to assist you with the transition to working in rural Alberta, in exchange for a return of service period once you have graduated and obtained Alberta licensing credentials. Through BIEN, you can have help covering tuition and living expenses while you bridge any gaps in your education and experience, making you a competitive candidate for nursing positions in rural Alberta. For more information on the BIEN program and how to apply, visit RhPAP’s website: RhPAP. ca/BIEN.
Nursing in rural Alberta offers a unique and rewarding career
path, allowing you to grow professionally while being connected in a community. The expanded scope of practice, deep patient relationships, and the enriching lifestyle of rural living are waiting to welcome you. With programs like BIEN to support the costs associated with bridging your education and moving to a new community, making the move to rural Alberta as a nurseis easier than ever. Embrace the chance to explore, work, and live in rural Alberta.
About RhPAP:
The Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) is an initiative that aims to enhance the quality of healthcare in rural communities across Alberta. RhPAP collaborates with rural communities, healthcare professionals, educational institutions, and government bodies to address healthcare workforce challenges and improve access to healthcare services in rural areas. To learn more about RhPAP, please visit RhPAP.ca.
Archie Caraang, who made his name in the music industry as “DJ Kwake” received the Visionary Award from the Congress of The Philippine Associations of Alberta (COPAA) at the 126th Philippine Independence Day Celebration at Westin Hotel. Julito Reyes, the first and previous recipient, presented the trophy along with Archie’s children.
Alberta Filipino Journal photographer Moses Billacura captured some photos during the Philippine Independence Celebration, June 15, at The Westin Edmonton in Downtown Edmonton, successfully organized by the COPAA.
Alberta Filipino Journal photographer Moses Billacura captured some photos during the Philippine Independence Celebration, June 15, at The Westin Edmonton in Downtown Edmonton, successfully organized by the COPAA.
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and his lovely wife Sarbjeet Sohi posed with photographer Alberto Garcia in front of the image of Mt. Pinatubo eruption displayed at the Westin Hotel on Saturday, June 15,2024. This was to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the eruption. Mayor Sohi, the guest of honour, attended the 126th Philippine Independence Day celebration organized by the Congress of the Philippine Association of Alberta(COPAA). Alberto’s daughter, Mabel, was also invited to create live portraits during the gala night.
Sunday, June 9, 2024
By Andy Chua
Photos by John Rho L Quirante
“WHATS UP EVERYONE! WE ARE THE ERA!
We would love to take this chance to properly introduce ourselves to all of you and what better way of doing so than a night full of live music, dancing and partying.”
After a couple of months since their departure from the well loved Aces Band, former members Angelo, Ana Jane, Rofelle & Ellerie formed a new band –
The ERA. Whilst their previous band continued performing gigs thereafter, the separation was hardly felt. The former members continued their support and have been seen performing with their old band. Alas! As the caption above states, the new band finally had a formal introduction
The ERA Band Introduced Angelo Lariosa Delima, Vocalist. Known as the singing dad, he was influenced by music from a young age, particularly by his mother. He has a deep passion for
R&B, Soul, Ballad, and Pop music. The former vocalist of Aces Band also performs solo at events and restaurants.
Ana Jane, Vocalist. Ana began singing at the age of 5, and is heavily influenced by Rihanna and Beyonce, two of her musical heroines. She started singing solo in 2011 until 2022 when she joined a band. The former vocalist of Aces Band continues her vibe and leadership with this new band.
Rofelle Antonio, Vocalist. Rofelle always knew from a very young age that she wanted music
to be a huge part of her life. Her love for R&B, OPM, classics and now, pop music, continues to grow as she evolves into the type of artist she aspires to be. While she embraces her platform as one of D’ERA’s vocalists, she also enjoys taking on opportunities as a solo singer at different events within the community.
Papa Jedder, Bass Player. He taught himself to play the guitar at the age of 14 and formed “Alagad Ni Taning” as its bass player. He was a vocalist and songwriter in a NU Metal “Pewz”. As a bass player, he has joined and played for bands “Random Collection” and “Detour” with Eloy & Deaf Note.
Edward D. Caluag, Lead Guitar. Edward picked up guitar playing at the age of 15 and performed around bars a clubs in Bulacan before moving to Canada. He joined “WarRock”, then “Kainos” & “SouthPro” before D’Era.
Bryan G. Manosa, Keyboards. He started playing in High School,
and until his College years, he played for show bands at bars and for other events. In Edmonton, he joined “Kainos”, which became “SouthPro”.
Ellerie “Eloy” Macalintal, Drums. Ellerie has been playing since 2005, and specializes in R&B, Pop, alternative and classic rock. He was part of several bands in town including Octave 7th, Detour Band and Aces Band.
The Gig OTR (On The Rocks) is a large contemporary bar on Jasper Avenue that regularly showcases live bands. The ambiance was great, with the center bar at the end. With an elevated stage, ample room to dance, and enough personnel to service the bar at full capacity, the night looked promising. One would think it was a weekend and not the day before Monday.
At nine o’clock sharp, the band started with “Just The Way You
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.
AS summer starts to settle in, we find ourselves reading with trepidation news articles about wildfires, thunderstorms, and the continuing threat of climate change. Alberta is once again coming face to face with nature’s retribution, and it is certain that this year will be worse. Amid the carbon tax blowback on which Justin Trudeau and the Liberals continue to labor, the conversation inevitably goes back to how Canada, and the world for that matter, can address climate change. It is unfortunate that Alberta’s reckoning of climate change is really tied to the carbon tax. That’s a huge disconnect on what climate change really is—a threat to the very future of Albertans. I believe that the climate change issue should be politicized if that is an effective way to put the focus
The ERA @ OTR (On The Rocks) Are” by Bruno Mars, followed by “She’s All I Wanna Be”, “Nonsense”, “Sugar”, “Sweet”, and “You Belong with Me”. The crowd could not help itself and sang along and danced. The band continued with “Something Just Like This”, “Diamonds”, “Don’t Make It Look Easy”, and “Domino” before Angelo ended the first set with his signature tune, “Counting Stars”.
The required break from the venue was perfect for the band to mingle with supporters and guests.
The second set featured more R&B songs that people loved from the trio of vocalists that perfectly complimented each other. They started off with “Angel of Mine”, then to my surprise sang the most popular song in the Philippines: “Raining in Manila”. This delighted guests, because like the other popular song “Manila”, this showcases our musical strength in the echelons of Pop Music. To appease the line dancers, the band played “Man, I Feel Like A Woman”. They powered through with “That’s What I Like”, “Demons”, “Flowers”, “Style”, “This Love”, “Positions”, and “Levitating” before they ended the set with yet another great cover of theirs – “Crazy In Love”.
With another much needed break, we were approaching midnight but the audience would not want to miss anything.
The third and final set started with “Feather”, then “I’m Yours”, “Me, Too”, “Rude”, “Leave The Door Open”, “Looking at Me”, “Break My Heart”, “Moves Like Jagger”, “Houdini”, “Please Don’t Stop The Music”, “Don’t Start Now”, and “Treasure”, and they ended the night with another Bruno Mars tune “Locked Out of Heaven”.
on what needs to be done. Instead, its politicization seems to have resulted in the opposite, turning off many Albertans and blurring the focus on the existential threat of climate change. Climate change should be a call to action; instead, it is met with scorn and indifference, at least in some parts of our province and among “fans” of Mr. Trudeau and Ottawa.
I won’t go into the carbon tax debate, on its effectiveness, or lack thereof, as a tool to address climate change. There have been opposing views, and most of these views have merit either way. But one thing has become crystal clear: that whatever government programme, and the policies embodied in the programme, is in place, it needs to embraced by majority of Canadians. A buy-in is perhaps one of the most critical
elements in the fight against climate change. And yes, that includes us Albertans.
We must remember that while policies like the carbon tax are highly unpopular and even inconvenience us each time we gasup our vehicles, the logic behind it—to tax pollution— seems sound. In fact, policies to address climate change will often be unpopular and will most likely inconvenience us further because such policies will be counter intuitive.
I believe Albertans will agree that climate change impacts all of us. But let’s just cite one vital Alberta industry—agriculture. Climate change is affecting weather patterns, that is a fact. Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips recently said the trend of recent warmer winters corresponds with bigger, more damaging wildfires. And droughts are expected to ravage
It was a fun atmosphere full of energetic fans and supporters. I have heard from the bar that this is their best Sunday attendance in a while.
The Goal
I have asked the band what their goal or aspirations are, and this is their response:
The main focus was to create a band that ultimately had the same values and goals. An example is the ambition to create original music and branching out to other bars and venues around the city to help promote Filipino music/bands.
As for the future, the band is scheduled for more bar gigs, with the next one scheduled for July 12 at Bunkers Sports.
farmlands across the province when temperatures hit during the height of summer.
What is worrisome, even infuriating, is the perception that Alberta’s government still doesn’t seem to appreciate the urgency, though Premier Danielle Smith appears as having a full understanding of the gravity and severity of climate change. Sadly, there is some truth in the accusation that the Alberta government appears to be too accommodating to the oil and gas industry. Blocking efforts, for instance, to directly address climate change. The campaign to put a cap on emissions, or to support investments in renewable energy, have fallen by the wayside—and will continue to fall if Premier Smith and the UCP have anything to say about it.
We must accept an inevitable truth: we are all in the same boat as far as climate change is concerned. And so we must all learn to paddle in the same direction and cadence.
The month begins with powerful conversations as fastmoving Mercury enters Gemini on June 3 and activates your third house of communication. Remain curious, Aries, and ask questions. The new moon in Gemini on the sixth brings an opportunity for you to create abundance by sharing your brilliant ideas with others. This is a time to use your voice and express yourself.
The month begins with strength as Mercury enters Gemini on June 3 to enlighten your second house of stability. Important conversations about work can take place, so be sure to get clear on your values and advocate for yourself. rewarded!
The month begins on a high note as curious Mercury enters your sign on June 3, Gemini. In the process of getting to know yourself, you’re learning the value of being fully expressed. The new moon in your sign on the sixth opens you up to a new path. Inspiration comes easily and you’re tapped into your authenticity!
The month begins with rejuvenation, Cancer, as Mercury enters Gemini on June 3 and brings conscious awareness to your twelfth house of relaxation. Through deep introspection, you have the opportunity to initiate healing conversations.
The month begins with popularity, Leo, as Mercury enters Gemini on June 3 and activates your eleventh house of friendship. Your social circles expand, and you’re in high demand when you share your big-picture visions.
The month begins with empowerment, Virgo, as Mercury in Gemini activates your tenth house of achievements on June 3. Your communication creates impact with others, and your reputation is growing positively. VIPs who want to invest in you are noticing your dedication during the Gemini new moon on the sixth. Recognition for your natural-born talents flows abundantly.
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The month begins with excitement, Libra, as Mercury enters Gemini and your ninth house of adventure on June 3. You could dive into an area of study that has captivated your imagination. The inquisitive Gemini new moon on the sixth invites you into a journey of growth and learning. Remember to be present and have fun!
The month begins with change, Scorpio, as Mercury enters Gemini and activates your eighth house of transformation on June 3. You could be initiating imperative conversations about long-term commitments in both love and business. On the sixth, the Gemini new moon helps you release old habits and embrace a healthy new start.
The month begins with connection, Sagittarius, as Mercury enters Gemini on June 3 to awaken your seventh house of relationships. Initiate conversations to build important alliances. Teamwork is the key to success in all of your partnerships. The Gemini new moon on the sixth will bring beautiful news for your love life.
The month begins with self-care, Capricorn, as Mercury enters Gemini on June 3 and awakens your sixth house of wellness. It’s an excellent time to streamline your work habits and harmonize your work/life balance. You could be breaking old patterns and receiving important news about work during the Gemini new moon on the sixth.
The month begins with abundance, Aquarius, as fast-moving Mercury enters Gemini on June 3 and activates your fifth house of pleasure. You could find yourself enjoying a more playful atmosphere. A lighthearted approach to romance feels fun. The Gemini new moon on the sixth brings an influx of positivity and good news.
The month begins with intention, Pisces, as Mercury enters Gemini on June 3 and activates your fourth house of emotions. This is a time to listen to your intuition. Heartfelt conversations can lead to powerful breakthroughs. The new moon in Gemini brings a focus to your family life and home on the sixth.
1. Amaze
4. Peeved
7. Assist a crook 12. “Welcome” rug 13. WSW’s opposite 14. Warning torch 15. Goes up 17. Musical show 18. Water, to Jacques 19. Use coupons 20. Play divisions 22. Pub brews 24. Sharpen 25. Unusual fish 30. Attract 31. Sidekick
1. Physician”s group (abbr.)
2. No longer is 3. And so forth (2 wds.)
4. List of choices
5. In addition to 6. French article 7. Once more 8. Ran,as dye 9. Roof edge 10. Accurate 11. Appear 16. Spring holiday 19. House-selling business 20. Carpenter’s tools 21. Buddy
32. Stink
33. Most intelligent
35. Eat in style
36. Painful
37. Odds and ____
38. Verify
42. Tiny bit
43. Defraud
44. Sports player
48. ____Witherspoon of “Legally Blonde” 49. Pod vegatable
50. Mama sheep
51. Television awards
52. Perfect gymnastics score
53. Director____ Howard
22. Facet
23. Fido’s rope 26. Trying experience
27. Rudolph, e.g. 28. Forward 29. Supplements
34. Sips
38. Land measure
39. Those there 40. Abound 41. “_____Rider” 42. Comparison word 44. Fitting 45. Ess follower
46. A couple
47. Yet, to a poet
MICHAEL MOYA is a first generation Filipino-Canadian born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. He is a self-taught artist who works in both traditional and digital art. Michael is an aspiring komik artist and author, and his current running series are “Monkey and Turtle”, “Maliit! Eiji-Chan!” and “Bawang the Aswang.” He has an avid interest in Filipino folklore and mythology, and hopes to promote Filipino culture through his works to a broader audience.
Email: mmoyaart@gmail.com
Instagram: michaelmoyaillustrations
Facebook: michaelmoyaillustrations
Twitch: moyaart
In today’s gospel, Jesus told His disciples to take nothing on their journey. Friends, there is happiness in nothingness. What is Jesus’ wisdom behind this direction? First, take nothing because the accomplishment of our mission does not depend on material riches. We have to trust in the Providence of God and in people’s generosity. Based on my experience, God always sent me an angel supporting my mission. I believe that those who leave everything in God’s hands will eventually see God’s hand in everything. Friends, let us live in certainty that whatever happens to us is the result of Divine Providence. God will always provide. It just might look different from what we have in mind.
Secondly, the gospel is teaching us about detachment and letting go of things that are not necessary. Let go of the unessentials. Friends, take nothing on your journey because what matters is our mission, not our possessions. Don’t be owned by what we own. Bring the message, not the package. Bring nothing because the mission is very urgent.
Finally, we must learn the value of letting go because it will make our journey light and right. Sometimes, we can’t attract people because we are much too concerned about our investments and treasures. We cannot heal diseases or cast out demons with food, money, etc. Only Jesus does. Jesus is the Good News. It is good news when health is restored. It is good news if there is no mourning due to physical separation. It is good news when leppers are cleansed. It is good news when demons are driven away. Spread the good news and do it for free. “You received without payment, you give without payment.” Friends,
travel light and bring only Jesus. Bring what truly matters. When we serve the Lord, we should stop worrying about clothing, food, money and shelter. God will provide. God is our mighty refuge. Jesus is our security. Our God is a generous giver. Trust Him.
Blessings, Fr. Jhack
By April “Lianne” Angeles
Katherine Gerola first heard of Art Battle in 2019 from "Things to do in Edmonton". She had just come to Canada the year before that, and because winter lasts almost half of the year here, she said she was eager to find something to participate in, especially if it was something involving art.
This year, the event took place on June 8 in the Yellowhead Casino’s Pearl Showroom. There were DJs spinning upbeat music, a lively MC, drinks, and a crowd of spectators milling around the artists, who were challenged to complete paintings in just 20 minutes. I asked her about how the atmosphere impacted her work, and she said that as the event progressed, she learned to isolate herself from her surroundings in order to focus. “I'm not easily distracted by loud music and lots of people,” Katherine admitted, “but what gets me pressured is to please my companions. Whether it's friends or family members, being a people pleaser, I always want to make my supporters proud.
There was no theme assigned, and artists had to freestyle their creations. With such a limited time frame to work with in each round, there was a lot of pressure, but Katherine enjoyed the challenge to do better each time. “My hands were shaking too much that it was sometimes impossible to paint a straight line. But, it works out for my style of art, as nature has no straight lines anyway.” There was a lot of practice and planning that went into what she finally decided she could complete in 20 minutes. At the same time, she said it was important that whatever she came up with had to be something that people would want to vote for.
When asked about how she felt during each voting period, as well as her reactions to advancing to the next rounds, Katherine said she had mixed emotions, and that the suspense was nerve wracking. She would close her eyes, cross her fingers, and hydrate as her throat would dry up from anxiety. Funnily enough, she was pretending to fiddle around with something in her bag when they announced her win in the final round. Her victory did not sink in until hours after the event, but she made sure she gave a hug to everyone who was there to support her.
With that victory, Katherine is heading to the Art Battle championship in Toronto. Ontario is not yet done with their provincial finals, so the event is tentatively scheduled to be held next month on July 25th. Artists from all over Canada will be there to represent their province/ territory.
“I'm grateful for my family that supported me from the beginning. They're my solid fans (forced),” Katherine jokes. “To my fiancé who tirelessly believes in me, even with my lost battles (he’s my official driver too), my in-laws who always travel an hour from Camrose to attend every battle, and my friends and fellow artists that vibe with my weirdness. Lastly, I am grateful for my newfound Pinoy art community that encourages me to just get out there, make friends, and have fun with our passion.”
In past years, the Art Battle’s national championship event has been broadcast online. Viewers across the country can register to vote for the winner who will represent Canada at Art Battle International. Let’s all come together to support Katherine, shall we?
UniGlass South (formerly known as WeFix Auto) turned one year old this year and celebrations were held, June 9, at the Westridge Wolf Willow Country Club Community League in Edmonton.
Chris and Laarni Ayson with their family expressed their gratitude to their loyal clients for supporting their auto shop business.
“Thank you, really, for your kindest support,” said the Aysons.
Celebrations are memorials of events fostering the intergenerational transmissions of the culture. These are demonstrated in the complexities of the arts, like songs, dances, and the visual arts; pageantry and costumes; bounties and cuisine; or reenactment of historical events through theatrical performances . Interestingly, all human beings always try to find time to celebrate, regardless of the human conditions (economic status, demography, environmental conditions, political states, concepts of time management , health, and productivity). We often design and consume ' celebrations ' and whatever we choose, they impact our overall health and spirit, illustrate our identity as a people, and achieve our goals as a political organization.
This June, in Canada, Filipino migrants and immigrants celebrate the 75th year of Philippine-Canada bilateral relations and the 126th Philippine Independence Anniversary. This two-in-one high-impact celebration is presented by the Philippine Arts Council and the
Philippine Consulate General (Calgary) from June 3-29, 2024 billed as "Contemplating the Tapestry of Filipino-Canadian Connections". Let us 'Gaze Beyond' at the essence of the celebrations by hearing the voices in the works of Edmonton-based Filipino visual artists and High School students.
Antonio Ludovico, painted an impressionism of Walterdale Bridge viewed from McKinney Park by the North Saskatchewan River. He associated the marble skies of the Philippines in October tinted in peach, lavender, indigo, mint, and tangerines with the same time of the year in Canada, where we enjoy the bright colors of autumn red, yellow, and orange along the lush riverside of Edmonton. He wanted to create a Canada - inspired painting by a Filipino artist.
Noel Balbin, pyrographed (wood-burned) the portrait of Whang-od Oggay on a slab of Canadian birch. The legendary 107-year-old 'mambabatok' (tattoo artist) embodies the endangered art of the hand-tapped tattooing tradition. She is celebrated as a 'living legend' (Vogue Magazine Philippines, 2023) who proudly procreates the Filipino identity by continuously practicing and transmitting the precolonial art of tattooing.
Oliver Rabara, painted a cubism piece portraying the Filipino drinking culture. Entitled "Tatlong Santo" (The Three Saints) they are represented by a bottle of gin (San Miguel), a bottle of Red Horse beer (santong Kabayo), and the tilapia (St. Peter's fish). He demystified social realities about macho culture, drunkenness, and the mockery of Catholicism. In a positive light, the Filipino diaspora is always characterized by liquor consumption practices in celebrations. Interestingly, the Filipino drinking culture during big or small occasions always paves an avenue for stronger cultural bonds and exchanges.
April Angeles, drew in charcoal an impoverished young girl selling 'Sampaguita' (The Philippine national flower). Witnessing her lolo purchase all the Sampaguita from a child street seller transmitted the values of kindness and generosity when her lolo justified that he did that to save the child from the tediousness of street selling. Momentarily, poverty and greed were illustrated in the labor of the child. Her hard-earned penny from the Sampaguita reflects hard work and resilience. Eminently, Sampaguita also symbolizes 'adoration' (floral offerings in rituals and altar incense) and 'admiration' (lei for hospitality and graduation garlands).
Jjay Jimenez, illustrated the "Guitarist" in pen and ink overlaying the Philippine and Canadian flags in the background. He entitled it "Rock unity" as a universal call to sort all differences through music. His
other character illustrations depicted the "T-raw", his original creation of a Filipino superhero inspired by the Tamaraw (water buffalo). He hopes as a new immigrant to continue his musical and visual artistry and calls upon the young generations to appreciate original Filipino comic characters. He hopes to reawaken the love for Philippine comics among migrant Filipinos in Canada where comics still thrive and are loved.
Harlijk Mirasol, decoupaged a 'Barong Tagalog' (a heavily embroidered national dress made from piña and ramie) and splashed acrylic paint over the whiteness of the fabric. His work symbolizes the intact spirit of Filipinism even in places of migration. However, he fears the unwitting absorption of contrasting cultural values by our younger generations, marring their character and identity.
Katherine Gerola, painted a Philippine flag with embedded images of festivals, country symbolisms (Pearl of the Orient Seas), heritage tourism (Banaue Rice terraces), and the honorary gesture of "mano po" (gentle hand laying on the forehead of the child ). She also made a decoupage entitled, "The Golden Philippine Map" advocating for the protection of our cultural and natural resources, and our sovereign rights, especially in this time of geo-political aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
Other brilliant artists in the exhibit who enriched the diverse interpretation of the 'celebrations' include Cedric Usman, Domi, Eoshanelle Francisco, Esther Dimalanta, Giselle General, Marianna Abano, Mark Lopez, Michael Moya (stage backdrop), Michael Parillas, Mila Bongco Philipzig , Sandy Lubuguin, Shaun Manuntag, Ting Pimentel Elger and the St. Oscar Romero High School Students led by Jimmy Buena.
Winding up, the artworks exhibited have expressed the fertile tapestry of Filipino culture. The collective production in publicizing the ' celebration ' manifests the spirit of synergy in cooperation. As migration keeps going, we strive to vivify our nationhood in a foreign land and we always try our best to celebrate together and be joyful. Kudos!
Eries Construction has been doing residential and commercial building and renovation projects since 2012.
And its recently completed project was the Leah V Skincare and Laser Clinic. Leah V Clinic has two clinic sites in Calgary and opened
its Edmonton site clinic on June 15.
“We have been doing residential and commercial building and renovation projects for a good number of years now, thanks to our hard working team,” said Eries of Eries Construction.
Leah V of Leah V Skincare and Laser Clinic announced that they are now welcoming those looking for their services from laser hair removal to Nightlase. They can book free consultations by calling (587) 839-7979 or sending an email to contact@leahvskincare.com. (Moses Billacura)
Romeo Honorio romyhonorio@gmail.com
Romeo is the author of two books
(Open Visa and Covid-19 Fundemic) His third book, Fundemic Moments, is due before the end of the year. His is the Chair of Diaryo Alberta Society based in Calgary, AB, Canada Many regarded him as Community Resource Person He is an avid gardener.
Interestingly, two things come to mind every time we hear the news about the city of Fort Mac, Alberta. Oil and fire.
After the devastating forest fire, along Highway 63 approaching the town, rescue workers heard a whistle. They moved closer to a ditch at the foot of Steinhauer bridge. To their surprise, the source of the sound was under a lump of ashes the size of a full-grown human. Indeed, a human skeleton gave the workers a chill. Again, a faint sound of a whistle sounded off just under the corpse. A boy, around two years old, was face down and
covered by the burned flesh of his father. Gasping for air, his movement was restricted by the weight of his dad. There was no time to call the coroner and the police. The workers rescued the boy and brought him to the hospital with burns and bruises. With a whistle in his left hand and a
bottle of water in his right, he survived the unthinkable. Days later, the boy was released and reunited with his mom at the evacuation centre.
The community was baffled and dumbstruck by the story. The father and son were trekking back home from their weekend outing in the outskirts of town.
There was no way out from the ravaging fire coming their way. The father’s mindfulness and willfulness must have been what saved his son.
The highest human value is the preservation of life. The above anecdote portrayed the very essence of fatherhood - provider, protector, and possibility. The father provides for the family’s survival (knowledge, skills, shelter, food, environment, honour, etc.). At all times, he protects his family from harm and assures them of safety. He brings up his family (children) to the highest level of moral and ethical responsibility and accountability – to himself, their family, and community.
Today, families are being burned to the ground by the embers of Godless ideology, socio-economic decline, political ineptitude, and culture war. Fuelled by social media, we seek answers mostly from the wrong sources - fake news, incompetent political leaders, and power and profit hungry establishments.
Being mindful of their values, roles, and the present realities, fathers can redeem the time to rebuild a God-fearing, just, responsible, accountable, and morally, ethically, and mentally sound citizenry.
Allbertans Mindfulness Society (AMS), the not-for-profit social arm of Aquinas College was launched on June 2, 2024, in Calgary. It aims to support and encourage everyone (especially our fathers) to consider, practice and engage in mindfulness. Happy Father’s Day to all our great and mindful fathers!
ALLBERTANS MINDFULNESS SOCIETY: “Life’s present tense worth living” Canadian Wheelchair Society Update
Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish made from fermented vegetables such as Napa cabbage and Korean radishes, seasoned with a variety of spices and other ingredients like chili powder, garlic, ginger, and salted seafood. It is a side dish that accompanies nearly every meal in Korea.
Health Benefits: Kimchi is recognized as a powerhouse of health benefits. The fermentation process involved in making kimchi produces probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that improve gut health. These probiotics can aid digestion, enhance immune function, and contribute to overall well-being. Kimchi is rich in essential vitamins A, B, and C, is low in calories and high in dietary fiber, which supports digestive health.
Kimchi is also packed with antioxidants that combat oxidative stress, reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Ingredients like garlic and ginger, commonly used in kimchi, possess anti-inflammatory properties that help in lowering inflammation and promoting overall health. Regular consumption of kimchi can contribute to better gut health, a stronger immune system, and a lower risk of various inflammatory conditions.
How to make kimchi: Well, I haven’t tried making it to be honest. I thought it would be better to just buy it ready to eat. I already tried a few brands available out there and I am happy to have found one that suits my taste buds just recently. It is Jongga brand from T&T Supermarket. It is mildly spiced and not as salty as the ones I tried before, which is the reason I like it. You might want to try it too.
How to serve: Traditionally, kimchi is enjoyed as a side dish that complements almost any meal, adding a tangy, spicy kick. It pairs well with grilled meats and can enhance the flavors of soups, stews, and fried rice. Kimchi has gained
international acclaim in recent years, becoming a trendy ingredient in global kitchens. Its unique bold taste and health benefits make it a perfect addition to fusion dishes, such as kimchi tacos, kimchi pizza, kimchi pancakes or pasta. Believe it or
not, kimchi is making its way into desserts and drinks too, like kimchi-infused cocktails and ice cream. It is a star ingredient that adds a burst of flavor and excitement to dishes.
If you haven’t, maybe it’s time you start experimenting by adding it to your dishes and have fun doing it. Kimchi offers a unique combination of health benefits and culinary versatility that makes it a valuable addition to any diet. Enjoy. ♥
Birthdays are everyone’s most cherished moment as this is when we celebrate the covenant between life and its Giver. Nobody is born alone. There are two causes of life that we have to acknowledge, appreciate, and recognize. The first is the Ultimate Cause or Giver, our God and the second are the proximate causes, our parents. Now, He who doesn’t acknowledge, appreciate, and recognize his or her life is also rejecting its Causes. Lucky are these individuals who truly celebrate life with significant people around them. May you all continue to share the gift of life with others. Active co-existence follows essence.
Pictures paint a thousand words and if we have to count the pictures, it will be in the millions.
Doc Rod celebrated a fun-filled birthday extravaganza at Palabok House restaurant. The celebration lasted a week and included time to generously feed the hungry. It is a yearly birthday event of generosity. Congratulations, Doc Rod, and may your tribe prosper in perpetuity.
Congratulations to Julianne Marie Chua, who attained a B.A. in Political Science from MacEwan University. With her is her proud Daddy Andy, Brother Anson, and her love, Reign.
AFJ wishes to extend a warm welcome back to Dario Juanillo as Contributor, Photographer and Videographer. Congratulations Bro Dario and Sis Ludy Juanillo on your 30th wedding anniversary, held at Chateau Louis last June 8, 2024. It was a beautiful wedding ceremony officiated by Deacon Pedro ‘Bong’ Estoque, with members of the Knights of Columbus and community leaders among the invited guests.
Happy Birthday Bro. Julito Reyes
