Alberta Filipino Journal - March 2018 Issue

A conviction to be radically changed is bravery!

Erica Cawagas - 2017 Cultural Diversity in the Arts Recipient P6

Ida Beltran-Lucila: 2017 Edmonton Artists Trust P4 Fund Recipient

AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

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Canada’s Backbone: Budget 2018 For Growth and Equality

Alberta Legislature to Declare June as Philippine Heritage Month

On March 6 Minister Sohi joined local researchers and innovators a the Telus World of Science to discuss how Budget 2018 supports science and research.

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The Importance of Lent to the Filipino Community P12

Albertans of Philippine heritage are proposing to the Legislature the declaration of the month of June as Philippine Heritage Month, to recognize the presence and contribution of the Filipino community in the province.

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MARCH 2018

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COMMUNITY | ARTS | BUSINESS

MARCH 2018

Ida Beltran-Lucila: 2017 Edmonton Artists Trust Fund Recipient

By Jose “Jun” Angeles

E

ach year, the Edmonton Arts Council and the Edmonton Community award the Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund to exceptional local artists. Established in 1997, the award “recognizes an artist’s work and contribution to the community and provides financial stability to renew, develop, create or experiment.

The recipients for both the 2017 Edmonton Artists Trust Fund and Cultural Diversity in the Arts Project Grant were announced last February during the Edmonton Arts Council’s Winter Socials. Filipino dancer, teacher, director, arts administrator and writer Ida Beltran-Lucila, was one of 10 recipients, and the only Filipino to date, to receive the Edmonton Artists Trust Fund, from a pool of 100 nominations.

Ida was a principal dancer of Ballet Philippines, the resident dance company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. She has trained with acclaimed teachers in Manila, and from the United States and Europe.

As a dancer, she performed with the Beijing Ballet in Beijing and toured in Asia and Europe. She was a dance teacher of a high caliber, having trained dancers who have carved professional careers for themselves both in the Philippines and abroad. Ida pioneered a dance therapy program in Manila and was a recognized authority on dance therapy. As arts administrator, she was the Associate Artistic Director for Chameleon Dance Company, Teatro Silencio (a dance company of deaf dancers), Philippine Ballet Theatre, and Ballet Philippines.

She is the founder and President of the Association of Ballet Academies,

Philippines and Vice-Chair of the Dance Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. She has also headed Philippine delegations to international festivals in China, Canada and Germany.

Before moving to Canada, she held the position of Executive Director of Ballet Philippines. This is the breadth of experience and knowledge that she brought from the Philippines to Edmonton.

Ida’s first impact and involvement in the Edmonton community was when their dance company in Manila,

Chameleon Dance Company was invited to perform in Edmonton for the Northlands Klondike Days and other local shows in 2002. Upon her family’s move to Edmonton in 2005, she was immediately involved in teaching dance, i.e. classical ballet, modern ballet and folk dance, to the local Filipino cultural organizations and Edmonton School of Ballet, and later on with the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers as Guest Ballet Teacher for five years, and the Victoria School of the Performing Arts. She has also provided free dance classes in the effort to promote dance as a recreational, therapeutic and educational tool. In addition, she served as Artistic Director of the Edmonton Festival Ballet and choreographed for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Under the Sky. Together with husband Jojo Lucila, they formed the Chameleon Dance Edmonton, which became a strong dance force with a repertoire of modern transformations of Philippine traditional dances and themes. In the three years under their artistic direction, the dance company had a successful debut concert, was featured in the Feats Festival of Dance, collaborated in a full-length production with Citie Ballet, did guest performances in several local concerts, and participated in the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland.

Ida believes that art is a unifying factor for Filipinos. She has spearheaded collaborative projects like the Philippine Arts Festival, the Edmonton Filipino Fiesta and Kalinangan for Alberta Culture Days. Included in Ida’s body of work is her advocacy for Philippine

art and artists as demonstrated by her continued writing for local publications on the subject, and being the constant voice for it. She sat onan Advisory Board for Akash Broadcasting’s bid for a radio station in Edmonton, pushing for Filipino programming on the airwaves.

In 2016, she founded the Philippine Arts Council Alberta where she also serves as the Executive Director. The council was formed to establish a network of Filipino artists, strengthen relationships between artists in Edmonton and globally, to work collaboratively and more strategically in financial planning and sourcing, with the goal of sustaining the Filipino arts scene here and abroad, and in creating and enlarging an audience for the Philippine arts scene.

In partnership with local producers, she recently launched The Learning Table, a workshop and roundtable discussion series, involving performing arts students/young artists with established visiting performers from the Philippines. This series provides an opportunity for these aspiring artists to learn from experienced and established ones, pave the way for a

more enriching career in their chosen art, and allow them to connect with artists from their home country and their works, thereby expanding their cultural awareness.

Ida’s work in Edmonton stems from a desire to share her art and for other people to experience the same fulfillment as she had in the many stages of her artistic career. However, this has not hindered her professionalism, her dedication, and perseverance inher craft. Her projects have stretched the range and capacity of the involved artists - providing artistic challenges, taking on untrodden paths, and going beyond perceived artistic boundaries.

Ida has provided a vision on how arts is a vital force in the development of a person and a community. She is a recognized authority in dance and Philippine arts and culture and was awarded the Hiyas (Gem) Award by the Karilagan Dance Society. With her passionate interest in dance and culture, Ida continuously looks for opportunities to use art as a tool to improve and uplift individuals and the community. The award of the Edmonton Artists Trust Fund is a fitting feather to Ida’s cap in this quest.

MARCH 2018

EDITOR’S CORNER | BUSINESS

FORWARD MARCH IN MARCH 2018

F

ew yet worth-observing about March are the significant celebrations or events that you, your family, and the society can use as inspirations for learning more about the challenges of life with equanimity. It is the month you can explore and search about great concepts, ideals and ideologies, philanthropy, historical facts, entertainments, and organizing.

You can proceed with ease and precision to whatever exploration when you are well-equipped with the proper, salient knowledge and skills about reviewing the relevant facts and backgrounds of the particular endeavour you aimed to achieve.

For instance, a society can always be transformed by a single philanthropic act.

Transformation as well as reformation takes place when channelled through friends, local organizations, schools, and even in the workplace. You might plan to organize worthwhile activities involving and coordinating with them.

Historically Relevant facts and events being festively commemorated until this time happening in March, to name a few, are the following: ѧ 8PSME #PPL %BZ .BSDI

ѧ *OUFSOBUJPOBM 8PNFOŃ T %BZ .BSDI

EDITOR’S CORNER

by Lito Mendoza Velasco

ѧ 4U 1BUSJDLŃ T %BZ .BSDI

ѧ *OUFSOBUJPOBM &BSUI %BZ .BSDI

ѧ .BLF VQ ZPVS )PMJEBZ %BZ .BSDI

ѧ * BN JO $POUSPM %BZ .BSDI

ѧ /BUJPOBM &UIJDT .POUI ѧ /BUJPOBM 'PSFJHO -BOHVBHF .POUI ѧ 1PXFS PG 1PTJUJWF ҲJOLJOH .POUI ѧ /BUJPOBM /VUSJUJPO .POUI ѧ /BUJPOBM ,JEOFZ .POUI ѧ )POPVS 4PDJFUZ "XBSFOFTT .POUI Inevitably, people,from any walk of life, have to move deliberately.

Fill their calendars with activities

and appointments. Because of that, they are called homoviators or a traveller in life. To recognize and be recognized are innate in man. To guide and be guided, to form and be transformed or reformed, to respect and be respected, to lead and be led, are man’s primordial privileges, rights, and duties. The events and activities mentioned above, which the present generations are enjoying, were once being organized by the philanthropists.

These were the fruits if their labours.

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Can we do the same?

We now discover the answer: It’s a Yes! Just help and support one another.

Develop a positive crab mentality.

Translate our weaknesses into strengths.

Be collaborative and pro-active rather than reactive. Promote rather than demote. Build and organize rather than ruin and disorganize. .BSDI JO "MCFSUB JT B Promotion Month. We do introduce and in the process of promoting, appealing for group and individual’s support to bring into the legislature the proposition that the Philippine

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Heritage Month be legally declared and celebrated yearly in the month of June. .BSDI JT BMTP B QSPNPUJPO month for the Philippine Media Association of Alberta. I aims to consolidate the Filipino Media Enthusiasts and Practitioners in this province.

March is again a month to recognize our old and newly discovered young writers Kristian Cereno, Katrina Cereno, Julia Isabel San Agustin, Riana Torrejon, and Januel Cedrick Ibasco.

Welcome to Alberta Filipino Journal!

Let’s all take a forward march JO .BSDI

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

ARTS | IMMIGRATION

MARCH 2018

Erica Cawagas - 2017 Cultural Diversity in the Arts Recipient Erica Cawagas was one of 17 recipients of the 2017 Cultural Diversity in the Arts project grant, as announced by the Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) last February. This project grant was established by the City of Edmonton through EAC “to recognize that artists from all parts of the world enrich Edmonton’s cultural scene.

Grants will support the activities of individual, Edmonton artists for a specific time towards a specific project.� Erica’s grant is in support for “Emma - the Musical� of which she is the Musical Director and will QSFNJFS PO +VMZ BU UIF .ZFS Horowitz Theatre.

As the daughter of piano and rondalla teacher Roujea Cawagas Cates, it was inevitable for Erica to be caught in the music world. She started with the piano but it was only when she got hold of a guitar that she found this sense of rightness, of finding her soul instrument, the medium that would express her feelings and thoughts that she dared not express verbally. She also discovered that she could play by ear.

Since then, Erica has played with the Filipino Canadian Saranay Rondalla group, and participated in Kiwanis Music Festivals. For post-secondary,

Artospective - an artist’s point of view IDA BELTRAN-LUCILA ida_b_lucila@yahoo.com

she studied Music Composition at the Grant MacEwan University with the intent of performing in cruise ships, as a means to travel around the world. This shifted though when during the course of her studies, she discovered that she would much rather compose than perform, and was enthralled in the process of putting together different instruments.

Erica describes her music as complex, melancholic and contemporary but influenced by the romantic period.

Right after finishing her Music Composition diploma, Erica went to Manila. There she did musical scoring for UNICEF children’s books, with Anne Curtis doing the live reading; and for the MathDali show under the Knowledge Channel

Foundation. It was during this time that work on the Emma - the Musical commenced.

Emma - the Musical is based on Erica’s great grandmother’s stories on the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Written by her aunt Chie Floresca with music

by Erica, Emma was originally intended as a mini-presentation for their great grandmother’s 95th birthday. Unfortunately, she passed away before her birthday. As a way to honour their matriarch, they resolved to make her stories a fulllength musical.

And this is where Erica has been devoting most of her time these days till its premiere here in Edmonton in July.

For someone who right off the bat declared that she does not do

well expressing herself verbally, a face to face interview must have been uncomfortable, at the very least. In conversations, Erica tends to focus on facts and details, and appears hesitant to open up about emotions, fortifying her initial declaration.

This is how you appreciate what her music is to her and how important a role it plays in her life.

Music is her shield. “People can listen to my music and they can say what I want to say for me.� This hesitancy to verbally communicate, however, may be the only place she falters. For Erica is a person with dogged determination. With her music for Emma, in particular, she was able to galvanize a group of young singers/cast, long before the rest of the production aspects came into play. Working with her in my capacity as artistic director of the musical allows us artistic leeway, with musical arrangement requests being done right on the spot.

Her sheer determination to mount this musical lead to her assuming a producer role on top of being a musical director. And her ambition enables her to acknowledge the necessity of overcoming her introvertness.

Erica is at the cusp of her music

journey. Emma - the Musical is her biggest and most personal project so far. It is an ambitious project that not only benefits her artistic career but contributes to the Edmonton repertoire of Asian musicals. With Emma, she not only wants to share her great grandmother’s stories, but to bring to the forefront a period of Philippine history that is not often talked about. And for Erica, there will always be the aspiration to tour the musical to different cities and to stage it in a greater magnitude, with full orchestration. These, hopefully, may just become a reality soon.

Tickets for Emma - the Musical are on sale through Ticketfly. For more information, check the Emma - the Musical Facebook page. Emma - the Musical is under the Artistic Direction of Ida Beltran-Lucila, with Choreography and Musical Staging by Jojo Lucila, Script by Chie Floresca and Musical Direction

by Erica Cawagas. The musical is presented by the Filipino-Canadian Saranay Association.

To comment on this article, go to http:// thelucilaproject.blogspot.ca .

Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada Recognizes March as Fraud Prevention Month Canada’s Minister of Immigration, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen released the following statement in recognition of Fraud Prevention .POUI .BSDI “The Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canadians and newcomers from falling victim to fraud. I’m pleased to note that this month marks the 14th anniversary of Fraud Prevention Month, the annual education and awareness campaign, which was launched by the federal government in 2004 to encourage Canadians to recognize and report fraud.�

This month, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will undertake a number of activities to help inform the public of how to recognize scams and fraudulent websites, how to properly choose and immigration or citizenship consultant and how to report fraud when it happens. And today, as this important month of awareness kicks off, it is an opportune time for all of us to keep in mind the many ways

From Migration to Immigration MARJORIE CARMONA NEWMAN info@mcncanadaimmigration.com 780-758-2045

Marjorie Carmona Newman is a REGULATED CANADIAN IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT based in Edmonton, Alberta. She currently serves as Prairie Chapter representative for the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC) in the Governance and Nomination Committee and Education Director for CAPIC Prairie last year. Marjorie is a three-year recipient of CAPIC's Service Award.

we can protect ourselves against immigration and citizenship fraud and scams. Here are some examples: ѧ $BOBEBŃ T JNNJHSBUJPO system is based on fairness. It is very important for every applicant to remember this. Applications submitted to IRCC are processed on a case by case basis. No one can claim that he/she has special connections with ICCRC, no one can

promise that your application will be extended preferential treatment, and no one can guarantee that it will be approved. ѧ :PV BSF OPU SFRVJSFE UP IJSF a representative when you submit an immigration or citizenship application to IRCC.However, if you decide to hire a representative, choose your Canadian immigration representative very carefully and

make sure that your representative is authorized. ѧ %P /05 BU BOZ UJNF JO your immigration or citizenship application be tempted into using false documents. It is a serious crime to misrepresent yourself by making false statements or submitting false documents when dealing with the Government of Canada and doing so can jeopardize your application or immigration status.

Remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stay safe and be aware.

If you have questions regarding the above article you may contact Marjorie at info@ mcncanadaimmigration.com Sources: Immigration Refugee and Protection Act (IRPA) Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

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MARCH 2018

PARA-LEGAL SERVICES | COMMUNITY | BUSINESS

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Looking beyond #MeToo – reections on International Working Women’s Day Migrants' Voices MARCO LUCIANO mluciano2@gmail.com

Marco Luciano is the Global Council Representative of Philippine based Migrante International.

He is also the current Secretary General of its chapter Migrante Canada.

T

he hashtag “Me Too� (#MeToo) has beenall over the Internet since October of last year. It was a response by women,most of whom were celebrities, in the wake of the allegations of years of sexual misconduct by movie tycoon Harvey Weinstein. Actress Alyssa Milano initiated the hashtag. She suggested that women who were sexually harassed use it to show how widespread the problem is. In an article for Wired Magazine, writer Jesse Hempel said, “On its surface, #MeToo has the makings of an earnest and effective social movement.

It’s galvanizing women and trans people everywhere to speak out about harassment and abuse. It’s causing everyone to weigh in on systemic sexism in our cultureâ€?. “In truth, however, #MeToo is a tooperfect meme. It harnesses social media’s mechanisms to drive users (that’s you and me) into escalating states of outrage while exhausting us to the point where we cannot meaningfully actâ€? he added. .BSDI JT *OUFSOBUJPOBM 8PSLJOH 8PNFOŃ T %BZ 0O UIJT EBZ JO thousands of women workers under

the International Ladies Garment Workers Union left their factories on strike and marched through New York City to demand shorter work hours, just pay, and the right to vote. In Europe, women also left their work and rallied for their right to suffrage. Since then, every year, women all over the world celebrate and commemorate that day. This year, many commemorations highlight how women are fighting back, especially on social media. However, the hashtag campaign seems to fall short and is not inclusive. The campaign is driven by the media focusing on prominent and middle-class women.

In the February article by Paul Wilcox for The Liberation magazine, he said that “The capitalist media has focused on prominent women who have shown great courage in speaking out, but has virtually ignored the millions of working class women who are far more vulnerable to sex crimes, with far fewer resources and whose daily fight is for survival�. He talks about a system that perpetuates misogyny. “In class society

men in power have abused women in myriad ways with no fear of consequences.

Under capitalism, those with the money and power are like kings and they consider women their property�.

In that case, what about the migrant workers? In particular, the caregivers in Canada that often live with their employers. A majority of caregivers in Canada are Filipino women. With little to no protection from the Philippine government, the Canadian government takes advantage of the education, expertise, and skills of hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers to fill its labour shortages.

The Canadian government made negative changes in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), including the Live-in Caregiver Program. These changes have done little to protect and promote migrant workers’ rights. Migrant workers are still tied to their specific employers and the pathway to permanent residency is now more difficult to navigate. In fact, the recent announcement by Immigration Canada to stop giving pathways to permanent residency

by November 2019 created panic among caregivers. The situation of migrant workers is still marked by precariousness and multiple vulnerabilities.

Filipino women migrant workers endure the long years of family separation from their children and when the time comes for family reunification, it is a big challenge and remains one of the biggest social costs of migration.

It is necessary to note that from

2015, women opting to go abroad to work increased by 41%. These women go to up to 192 countries around the world and become exposed to harsh and precarious labour, employment and immigration situations abroad.

The Philippine Labor Export Policy or LEP surely sells the labour of women like a commodity to capitalist countries like Canada to become pawns in a revolving door of cheap, exploitable and disposable labour.

During his campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte promised that change would come once he was elected.

However, for women, these promises have been completely forgotten. He has shown himself to be someone who has no firm word. He would say one thing but retract it as a joke later on.

He is unashamed, remorseless and unapologetic about his misogynist views on women. It is revealing of whom he truly serves, and it is

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definitely not the Filipino people. “The struggles of Filipino women in Canada is linked to the struggle for fundamental change in the Philippines� said Cynthia Palmaria, a founding member of Gabriela Ontario and now based in Edmonton with Migrante Alberta. “Our women, and Filipinos in general will not be forced to leave their families to work abroad if we have good jobs and good livelihood back home� she added.

While social and mainstream media focus on "culture change" and "morality", destroying misogynist culture and abuse, migrant and immigrant women are also calling for the root causes of migration, restraining migration policies, lack of access permanency, detention and deportation policies, labour rights and access to decent work and decent wages, etc. to be addressed. Certainly, for most poor and working-class women and migrant women of color, systemic and societal structures need to be challenged to move beyond "Hollywood".

Happy International Women’s Day!

Filipino women join the march to commemorate the International Women's Day in Edmonton Photo by Paula Kirman

RELIGION | ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL STAFF

The Way, The Truth, The Life John 14:5-7

INTRODUCTION Life rarely behaves as we want it to behave or as we expect it to behave.

The older we get the longer the list of questions in our life on why things have occurred the way they have. Sometimes we face frustration, even anger, when things happen the way they do. Sometimes we are just afraid.

When times come when we do not know the right questions to ask, as well as the answers, we have to do what the disciples did in John 14. First, they had troubled hearts. Here is a law of life: even when we are close to the Lord Jesus, our hearts can be troubled from time to time.

Get used to it.

The only answer for a troubled heart is for us to do what the disciples did: listen to the Lord Jesus teach. Today, we do it by reading our Bible and by listening to Bible preaching. After a bit we are then able to begin to ask questions.

Questions are good. God does not mind our asking Him questions. Even dumb questions are good. The Lord Jesus even used these types of questions to teach eternal truth. When we ask the Lord Jesus questions, there are no dumb questions.

The question that is asked is not about heaven. The Lord Jesus told them about heaven in the previous verses. The question is, rather, how to get to heaven. And an even greater principle is included here.

Even though we know we will eventually get to heaven, the way, or path, that we

From a Vantage Point TITO S.VENIDA

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

are to follow sometimes seems to lead us in directions that are not heavenward.

Because of the pain, or loneliness, or frustrations, or a myriad of other emotions, we can begin to understand why the path He has chosen for us is so uncomfortable.

THEME: WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING: I. WE CAN ASK THE LORD JESUS TO HELP US, vs. 5.

A. So Often We Don’t Know Why; We Just

Published by Angeles Publishing Company Inc. 246 Lindsay Crescent, Edmonton, Alberta T6R 2T2 Jose L. Angeles 3XEOLVKHU &KLHI 2SHUDWLQJ 2IĂ€FHU Sales & Advertising CP: 780-916-7677 Landline: 780-988-8889 Fax: 780-988-2221 (PDLO SXEOLVKHU#DOEHUWDĂ€OLSLQRMRXUQDO FRP Lito Mendoza Velasco (GLWRU LQ &KLHI $VVRFLDWH 3XEOLVKHU 780-655-5126 HGLWRU#DOEHUWDĂ€OLSLQRMRXUQDO FRP Melanie Rose Atizado Angeles $GPLQLVWUDWRU 2IĂ€FH 0DQDJHU Sales & Advertising Lianne Angeles Proofreader Melanie Gomez Web + Print Designer Photographers/Videographer Noli Granado, Dario Juanillo Columnists: Marjorie Carmona-Newman, Tito S. Venida Ida Beltran-Lucila, Katrina Marielle U. Cereno Kristian Cereno, Marco Luciano, Moses Billacura Mervin Mendoza Cereno, Giselle General, Rosalyn Estoque, Perry Diaz Contributing Writers: Julia Isabel San Agustin, Elaine Tan, Januel Cedrick Ibasco Fr. Nilo Belvis Macapinlac, Riana Torrejon The Alberta Filipino Journal is dedicated in memory of Rosalinda Linsangan Natividad-Cantiveros of Winnipeg as she engaged her entire life servicing the Filipino Community.

We welcome submissions-news, articles, pictures and letters. Letters must include signature and phone number; names can be withheld upon request. We reserve the right to edit for length and content. All submissions, unless arrangements are made, become the property of the publisher. Reproduction of contents, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the expressed written permission from the Publisher/Editor. Opinions by columnist, writers, and UHDGHUV GR QRW LQ DQ\ ZD\ UHĂ€HFW WKRVH RI WKH 3XEOLVKHU (GLWRU

Don’t Know – Period!

1. Thomas’ question is the honest mark of a disciple.

2. Thomas does not make any demands.

3. Thomas asks with a sense of humility.

4. Thomas admits his ignorance.

NOTE: That's an astonishing thing to do in the midst of this bunch who were desirous to have the "chief seat." Without such humility and honesty real discipleship is impossible.

Thomas’ question, "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?"( John 14:4,5), evoked the Lord Jesus’ revelation that He was speaking not about knowing direction or a location but about knowing a person: "Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" ( John 14:6).

NOTE: The marks of someone who is not a disciple. a. They do not exhibit humility. b. They do not ask honest questions.

B. We Need The Right Kind Of Knowledge.

1. There are things to discover in our spiritual life.

2. We must examine how God works in our lives.

3. We must pay attention to God’s dealings with us.

C. How Can We Know The Way? 1. How: a. By what means? b. In what way?

2. Can: a. Greek – dunamai. b. Be able to do something. c. Have power. d. To be capable.

3. Way: a. A course of conduct. b. A journey. c. A traveled road.

II. WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD JESUS, vs. 6.

A. The Lord Jesus Responds By Talking About Himself.

NOTE: This is a rare occurrence. Normally, the Lord Jesus talked in the third person, e.g., The Son of man, etc.

1. I: a. Greek – ego b. Emphatic c. No question, I 2. In this one statement, the Lord Jesus sums up His divine nature.

NOTE: The Lord Jesus has called Himself: 1. The Living Water (John 4:10).

2. The Door (John 10:7).

3. The Good Shepherd (John 10:11).

4. The Resurrection (John 11:25 5. The Life (John 11:25).

B. The Lord Jesus Is The Way: NOTE: Over 600 times the Bible talks about "way."

1. "Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot DPNF +PIO

2. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

3. "And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem" (Acts 9:2).

4. "The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, which show unto us the way of salvation" (Acts 16:17).

5. "And the same time there arose no small TUJS BCPVU UIBU XBZ "DUT

6. "And the way of peace have they not LOPXO 3PNBOT

C. The Lord Jesus Is The Truth: 1. Certainty.

2. Free from pretense, falsehood, deceit.

3. Reality.

4. That which is true in any matter under consideration.

5. The utter dependability of the Lord Jesus.

When we go to the doctor, we want a prescription for exactly what we will need in order to get well. We would be quite startled if the doctor said, "These pills ought to cure you if you’re sincere.

After all, we believe in health, don’t we?"

Or would we trust ourselves to a surgeon who had received no specialized training but was simply a really good person who meant well? Of course not! We know that truth is narrow. We will trust our life only to someone who knows exactly what he or she is doing.

D. The Lord Jesus Is The Life: 1. A Contrast: a. The Lord Jesus is not a second Moses

MARCH 2018

who wants to show the way. b. The Lord Jesus is not a second Elijah who wants to show the truth. c. The Lord Jesus is the life.

NOTE: Living without God’s plan for our life is like sewing with a needle but with no thread, or writing one’s biography with a pen empty of ink.

2. A Life: a. Mere physical existence matters little. b. The only life worthy of the name is that which the Lord Jesus brings.

NOTE: The Lord Jesus is the: a. Way to God; b. Truth of God; c. Life of God. NOTE: In Greek there is a definite article before each word setting them off as absolutes. a. The Way; b. The Truth; c. The Life.

NOTE: The opposites: a. The Way vs. the broad way; b. The Truth vs. ignorance; c. Life vs. death.

E. The Lord Jesus Is The Only Way For Us To Come To The Father.

1. Come: a. Action or motion from one place to another.

Truth is very narrow. If we were hiking in the forest and came to a wide river, and we learned that there is one bridge down the river a mile or two away, we wouldn’t stomp in disgust and moan about how that was such a narrow way to think and that the bridge should be right there, where we were.

Instead, let us be thankful that there was a bridge, we would go to it and cross over it. b. Make one’s appearance. c. Become known.

NOTE: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that XPSL JOJRVJUZ .BUUIFX

2. Unto: a. By. b. Near. c. To. d. With.

3. By – Through.

4. Me: a. If God has no avenue of communication with us apart from His Word (Incarnate and written), we have no avenue of approach to God apart from the One who became flesh for us. b. Some say, "How exclusive!"

1. No, “How inclusive!�

2. God has provided Himself a Lamb!

We all need to follow the Lord Jesus. For He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but

by Me" (John 14:6).

Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living. I AM the way, which all of us must follow; I AM the truth, which all of us must believe; I AM the life for which all of us must hope.

The Lord Jesus is the inviolable way; the infallible truth; the never-ending life.

The Lord Jesus is the straightest way; the sovereign truth; life that is true, life that is blessed, and the life uncreated. If we shall remain in His way, we shall know the truth, and the truth shall make us free +PIO

III. WE CAN KNOW THE GREATEST LOVER OF OUR SOUL, vs. 7.

A. The Lord Jesus now moves the emphasis from going to knowing the Father.

1. He moves from the future tense to the present tense.

2. God’s presence here and now.

B. If we have known the Lord Jesus (Salvation): 1. We will become acquainted with Him. 2. We will come to know Him. 3. We will perceive Him. 4. We will understand Him. C. Henceforth: 1. At this very time on.

2. Just now beginning.

3. This moment on.

D. We Know And We See The Father: 1. Two ways: a. Now by knowing Jesus. b. Now by seeing Jesus.

NOTE: When someone properly explains something to us we say, “I see.�

2. We become acquainted with Him by experience. a. Know; b. Perceive; c. See with the mind; d. Take heed; stare at.

MARCH 2018

BUSINESS | HEALTH

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

9

When Varicose Veins Become a Concern

Elaine Tan Health Practitioner Quality Care Group of Companies Alberta Medical Supplies

H

ave you noticed any enlarged veins on your legs and feet?

Varicose veins are swollen and enlarged veins that are usually purple or blue and may bulge and look twisted. The veins have one-way valves that help keep blood flowing toward your heart. If the valves are weak or damaged, blood can back up and pool in your veins. These symptoms occur when the valves

in your veins become damaged, and it becomes difficult for the blood to move up your legs toward your heart against gravity. The blood then starts pooling around your ankles and in your calves, thus the swelling of the veins occurs.

Although they can form anywhere in the body, they are most often located in the legs. Aside from just being a cosmetic concern, varicose veins may lead to more serious circulatory problems.

Chronic venous insufficiency is a condition that can lead to more serious issues, including varicose veins, Deep Vein Thrombosis and Lymphedema. If you have chronic venous insufficiency, you typically experience swollen ankles and the feeling of heavy legs at the end of the day.

A person with varicose veins may also experience aching legs,

muscle cramps, swollen feet and ankles.

Varicose veins tend to be inherited, and become more prominent as a person ages. This is very common for individuals whose

jobs involve prolonged standing.

Other predisposing factors include obesity, hormonal influences during pregnancy, puberty and menopause

Those with a history of blood clots can also be affected.

Treatment may involve selfcare measures or procedures by your doctor to close or remove veins. Exercising, losing weight, elevating your legs when resting, and not crossing them when sitting can help keep varicose veins from getting worse. Wearing loose clothing and avoiding long periods of standing can also help. If varicose veins are painful or you don't like the way they look, your doctor may recommend the use of compression stockings.

The most conservative approach is to wear customfitted compression stockings (or socks) which are a special kind of elastic hosiery that supports healthy blood circulation and helps prevent a variety of health conditions, including chronic

Alberta Medical Supplies (AMS) Management Names New Manager, Marketing Manager

By Moses Billacura

EDMONTON --- Alberta Medical Supplies (AMS) has announced the promotion of two employees for this year.

Elaine Tan, a practicing physician in the Philippines before immigrating to Canada, has been appointed manager of AMS while Mia Mulingtapang was named marketing manager.

AMS co-founder and marketing director Kris Salumbides, finance director Jacob Christian, operations director Jesse Tallon and Human Resources (HR) head Wilma E. Payne jointly made the announcement which was warmly welcomed by the staff and sister-company staff from Quality Sleep Care, CanPay Medical Inc. and Medicus Family Health Clinic and Pharmacy.

Filipino-Canadian comedian Mikey Bustos (center) visits the Alberta Medical Supplies branch, February 15, in Edmonton and company co-founders Kris Salumbides, Jesse Tallon, Jacob Christian, their managers and staff had a lot of fun.

(Photo by Moses Billacura)

venous insufficiency, spider veins and varicose veins. The pressure that these stockings put on your ankles and legs compresses the surface arteries and veins, helping the vein valves function properly and blood to flow back to your heart without obstructions.

Compression stockings can provide many benefits, especially in situations that aggravate venous conditions such as prolonged standing or sitting, traveling on a long flight or on other means of transportation with limited leg room and even during pregnancy.

Alberta Medical Supplies offers a complete line of Compression Socks.

Our highly qualified technicians are trained and certified to get your measurements. Our team is looking forward to assisting you and answering all your inquiries.

1MFBTF WJTJU PVS TUPSF BU "WF /8 &ENPOUPO "# 5 - / PS DBMM VT BU

“The founders and owners of the company saw their potential and with their background, they feel it’s time to give them the opportunity to lead,� said Payne.

Tan started with Medicus and moved to AMS to help manage the medical supplies equipment company while Mulingtapang will be more visible in the community, promoting AMS to various events in the province. “I am thankful to AMS for giving me this opportunity with this new role in the company as we move forward this year and deliver quality service to our clients,� said Tan. Salumbides said that they are lucky to find hard-working and qualified staff to join their company. “With Elaine’s background as a doctor in the Philippines and Mia’s drive in marketing, we will keep growing,� said Salumbides.

AMS has been serving Albertans since 2015 and has become a trusted source of medical supplies.

10

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

SPORTS

Thanks Lube City for making my wife happy, new martial arts teacher at UFC Red Deer, Pinoy boxer seeks another win and this Pinoy billiards champion SPORTS JOURNAL MOSES BILLACURA mo.sports@gmail.com

Moses Billacura was a sports correspondent for national newspapers in the Philippines since 1992 and served as sports editor and columnist for a community paper before moving to Canada in 2010. He loves photography, manages pinoyedmontonnews.com and cheers for the Edmonton Oilers.

I

t has been a stressful week, actually several weeks already, and out of the blue, Lube City Express Oil Change supervisor Warren Guillen phoned and asked if me and my wife, Marj, are interested to watch the Edmonton Oilers.

It’s like making an offer that you cannot refuse. Of course, “Yes!�, I told him, hahaha. You see dear readers, my wife bought an Oilers jersey and requested the Canadian Tire guy to have the McDavid name and 97 number placed at the back (you actually have to pay extra for those) even when told by the guy “what if he won’t sign up with the Oilers?�. Yet my wife replied with a smile, “He’ll be an Oiler�.

Marj, an ice hockey convert and a fan of Connor McDavid, No.17 in the Canada Juniors then, saw it

coming. Connor signed up indeed a few days later. She must have a crystal ball! And for full disclosure, her other favorite is Nova Scotian Sidney Crosby of the Penguins.

That night, Marj finally had the chance to see his favorite player Connor in the flesh. I could not help but take videos of her reactions, hahahahaha.

It was really fun and that night, the Oilers won in overtime against the visiting NY Islanders, thanks to McDavid’s awesome shot!

Thank you Lube City Express Oil Change and supervisor Warren!

It was a memorable night indeed. *** In another surprise, world kickboxing champion and longtime martial arts instructor Steve Grandeza has joined UFC Gym Red Deer as one of its instructors.

I just could not believe it!

Hearing his voice on the phone and seeing him on UFC Gym Red Deer’s Facebook account confirmed his presence.

Grandeza, who comes from family of martial artists in the Philippines, like other Filipinos have decided to try their luck by going abroad, joining other Pinoys in Alberta Province (the Journal says we are around 106,000 plus Pinoys in the province) in seeking better opportunities for our family.

To our Kababayans in Red Deer, master Steve is currently holding classes at the UFC gym, Unit 210, 500 Timberlands Drive.

Bring your kids too! Trust me, he is very good at teaching them. *** Here’s my last surprise.

There’s a Pinoy who just won a billiards tournament in Edmonton.

His name is Jayson Handugan, originally from Cavite and now based in Leduc, who won in the recent Top Shots Handicapped 9-Ball organized

by Top Shots Billiards and Ping Pong in Mill Woods.

He said another Pinoy was also in competition, Jerome Cablores who will try his luck in the next tournament.

A total of 45 players took part in the event, he said.

Not bad for a Pinoy making waves in the billiards scene in Edmonton.

Congratulations Kabayan! ***

Canlubang wins 10th PAL Seniors Interclub

Finally, this coming April 7 at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino in Calgary, Pinoy Alvin Tam is fighting Luis Zambrano in a "Dekada Fight Night" undercard.

Alvin, who is from Benguet

MARCH 2018 Province, said that his opponent is a "brawler", a style which he likes, so it is going to be an exciting fight next month.

After suffering three straight defeats, Tam defeated Arturo Garcia Lujano last January 27 and hopes to improve his 14 win and six loss record by beating Zambrano.

We wish you all the best Alvin!

"As of March 13, promoters had a change of opponent for Alvin Tam. He will be facing Julio Cesar Ramos(11-5-0) instead."

Micos Liquor-Leduc Warriors silence Assassins, 110-74 LEDUC --- Micos Liquor Store-Leduc Warriors opened their campaign with a 110-74 win by silencing the "TTBTTJOT JO UIF 134"" Leduc Basketball League, March 11, at the Leduc Junior High School, here.

Sweet-shooting Ian Gonzales opened the game with a quick threepointer from the top of the key off a pass from newly-acquired center Warren Guillen and the boys of

manager Alexis Dimaculangan never looked back.

"We love to win and this is a good start for us," said Dimaculangan whose squad won the title in the last season.

In the other games, the Leduc )PPQFST EFGFBUFE "EFTTB while Dina Tigasin outscored Wasalak, .PTFT #JMMBDVSB

,DQ *RQ]DOHV 1R RI 0LFRV /LTXRU 6WRUH /HGXF :DUULRUV LV FORVHO\ JXDUGHG E\ Alain Samson (No.20) of the Assassin in the opening day of the 2018 PRSAA Leduc Basketball League, March 11, at the Leduc Junior High School. Micos-Warriors won this game, 110-74. (Photo by Moses Billacura)

CFH beats Batangas Pride, 115-79

CANLUBANGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 10TH SENIORS TROPHY. The PAL Seniors Interclub champions trophy (Championship Division) returns to Canlubang at the close of the 32nd Seniors Interclub at Bacolod. Shown holding the trophy is Canlubang team captain Luigi <XOR WK IURP ULJKW WRJHWKHU ZLWK RWKHU &DQOXEDQJ JROIHUV Ă DQNHG E\ 3$/ H[HFXWLYHV 7KH\ DUH IURP OHIW 'LQD 0D\ )ORUHV ,QWHUFOXE H[HFXWLYH FRPPLWWHH 'DPDVXV :RQJ 5ROO\ 9LUD\ 'DYH +HUQDQGH] $EH $YHQD /XLJL <XOR %R\HW 6DUDJR]D -RVH 0DUL +HFKDQRYD =DOG\ 9LOOD DQG %RQJ 9HODVTXH] ,QWHUFOXE FKDLUPDQ SU

BACOLOD CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Canlubang captured its 10th Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub title in 12 years Sunday and offered it to a team member who passed away last December. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is for Mike,â&#x20AC;? said Canlubang captain Luigi Yulo, referring to Miguel Preysler, a former national player based in Spain.

After a forgettable performance last year in Davao, Preysler vowed to return, but nine months following his return to Spain, he died of stomach cancer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know about his condition, but it was uncharacteristic of him to play badly,â&#x20AC;? said Yulo, SFGFSSJOH UP UIF QPJOUT 1SFTZMFS made in the first round at Mt. Apo. Canlubang rode on Abe Rosalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50 points to beat Luisita by eight points.

Rosal was even par through 16 holes before picking up on the

17th and settling for bogey on the UI PGG UIF HSFFOTJEF CVOLFST The Sugar Barons also drew 46 from Zaldy Villa and the 44 from either Rolly Viray or Damasus Wong UP SFUVSO XJUI BOE PWFSBMM Seven points behind before the start of the round, Luisita failed to mount a rally and virtually threw in the towel as early as the 12th hole.

As the players walked to the tee NPVOE PG UIF UI IPMF -VJTJUB TLJQQFS Jeric Hechanova walked over to Yulo to offer his hand in congratulation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Their young players are the ones who came through,â&#x20AC;? said Hechanova, referring to Abe and Pem Rosal, Wong and Villa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will rise from this defeat and try to win it back next year.â&#x20AC;?

Eddie Bagtas, who fired 52 points at Binitin in the second round, struggled with 44 points.

Benjie Sumulong was Luisitaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top scorer with 50 followed by Rodel Mangulabnan with 45.

Del Monte outscored both

Canlubang and Luisita in the GJOBM SPVOE XJUI QPJOUT CVU still settled for third with 549.

Yoyong Velez shot the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best score of 52 to win the individual crown. Del Monte also collected B QBJS PG T GSPN 3BVM .JOP[B and Arnido Callo.

Since winning its first crown in 2006, Canlubang has lost only twice, a testament to its pool of talents and experienced coaching staff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We thought that Luisita made a poor decision sitting out Bagtas in the third round,â&#x20AC;? said Yulo. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He should have played at Binitin.â&#x20AC;?

The Interclubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Platinum sponsors this year are Primax Broadcasting, RMN and Fox, while major sponsors are BusinessWorld Publishing, Rolls Royce, TV5, Philippine Standard.

Other sponsors include Boeing, Under Armour, Eton Properties and Asia Brewery.(pr)

EDMONTON --- Changes for Hope collected its second win at the expense of the Batangas Pride, 115-79 in the 1IJMJQQJOF 4QPSU "TTPDJBUJPO 14"

Spring League, March 10, at the Father Michael Troy gym.

Brian Leyte topscored for CFH with 27 points while John Celeste led the losing cause for the Batanguenos with 27 markers in Division 2A. In the other games of the tournament supported by Crosstown Auto Centre and Quickly Bubble Tea, 1IFOPNT TUPQQFE 'JOF -JOF with Allan de Vera leading the scoring with 25 points; Blitz defeated SBP, 64-56 with Bon Valencia topscoring with 17 points; Tropang D downed Veterano, 97-77 with Fred Ballesteros

canning 22 baskets; Gems beat PSA, 106-64 with Milo Villamor hitting 24 points; Gallery Dental outgunned Barako, 75-49 with James Paroginog leading the charge with 16 points; BRKD outscored PSA Free Agents, 74-69 with a big help from Russell 4IBSJFG T QPJOU QFSGPSNBODF BOE Amirax clinched its second win by CFTUJOH $BNFSPO )PNFT PSA president Gary Perpetua said three more teams were able to beat the deadline bringing the total participants to 60 teams this season.

"It's going to be busy and we are happy with the number of teams taking part in our tournament," said Perpetua.(Moses Billacura)

Changes of Hope's Gerald Perpetua (No.3) escapes from a guarding John Celeste (No.24) of Batangas Pride as he and teammate John Villamor (right) chase the ball for a fastbreak play in the 2018 Philippine Sport Association (PSA) Spring League, March 10, at the Father Michael Troy gym. Changes for Hope won, 115-79.

(Photo by Moses Billacura)

LIFESTYLE | EDUCATION

MARCH 2018

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

11

How a Beauty Product Can Help Save the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Problems

M

any of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest problems are sadly still getting worse by the day, but one company from a tropical country in Asia is striving to make a difference through quite an unconventional yet interestingly brilliant wayâ&#x20AC;Śby selling beauty products.

Meet Human Nature, a multi-awarded brand of genuinely natural personal care, cosmetics, and home care products from the Philippines whose love story revolves around love for people, love for communities in need, and love for the planet.

Trying to help save some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problems one beauty bottle at a time, is it really possible?

Advocate Goodness--Human Nature also spearheads and supports various advocacies. One of which is their campaign dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Goodness Risingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which raises funds to help communities who have either been affected by natural calamities, armed encounters and the likes.

Care for the earth ---Each Human Nature product is formulated by a skillful team of scientists based on the latest technology in green chemistry and natural manufacturing. With NPA certified, cruelty-free, biodegradable products that contain absolutely no harmful chemicals, the brand makes sure that what goes back to our living ecosystems through our drains are clean and safe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many companies have jumped onto the green bandwagon so it is all the more important that Human Nature sticks to rigorous standards of quality, truthfulness and social responsibilityâ&#x20AC;? shares Human Nature president Anna Meloto-Wilk.

Provide livelihood--As a company that cares, Human Nature aims to raise the quality of life for low-income farmers and urban workers in the Philippines. The company invests in farming communities, helping them master the technologies to produce the luscious tropical ingredients used in their natural products. By doing this, the company strives to multiply the income of these farmers, whose income BWFSBHFT KVTU B MJUUMF PWFS KVTU B EBZ

Visit www.humanheartnature.ca Email LAB international Inc. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; customer.service@humanheartnature.ca Follow humannaturecanada on Facebook and Instagram

The women behind Human Nature Canada. L-R: Alma Angeles, LilingSamarita, Taj Chan andBengLasquety. Picture taken by My Life Photography.

Think global ---Human Nature also works with international partners who are committed to spreading the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision and mission globally. Here in Alberta, it was LAB inTernational Inc. who heeded the call when they launched Human Nature Canada in October 2015. What started as an effort to make a difference in the lives of fellow Filipinos has now become an undertaking for LABT to share and spread the goodness with the country they love and now call their own.

Human Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s genuinely natural products all went through Health Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Product Safety Laboratories and have passed the licensing requirements to distribute the products in Canada.

12

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

RELIGION | ANNOUNCEMENTS | HEALTH | GOVERNMENT

The Importance of Lent to the Filipino Community

A

s we are less than a month into March, this means the season of Lent is well underway. The season of Lent is a time of reflection in each one of our lives, and in how we as individuals can grow closer to God. Furthermore, Filipinos are well known around the world in believing and praising God. This month, I would like to explore a few traditions that occur in the Philippines during the Lenten season that Filipinos celebrate worldwide.

A common tradition that the Philippine community and Christians/ Catholics follow during Lent is the practice of abstinence, that is abstaining from meat, preferably red meat (Maarandilla). â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fastingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; during Lent is also present in which individuals have a specific practice of eating, such as eating one meal instead of three in one day. These two practices are vital in exemplifying oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sorrow for the sacrifices our Lord Jesus Christ made for mankind. Moreover, a common practice that go on throughout the world is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Maundy Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, also known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Holy Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;,where the priests during

JAN THE MANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTE JANUEL CEDRICK IBASCO Januel Cedrick Ibasco is a proud Filipino-Canadian. A current student at the University of Alberta studying a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. Sportsmanship is the big slice of his cake. Highly-spirited when playing golf, volleyball, and basketball. He loves reading, writing, volunteering at church.

Looking forward to take up law after his undergraduate degree.

the celebration wash the parishionersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; feet as a representation of what Jesus did for his disciples. Presumably, this holy day comes before Good Friday, the day of Jesus Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Crucifixion leading up to his resurrection presented on Easter Sunday. Churches all over Edmonton become filled with the many Filipinos accumulating this great City of Edmonton that help unite one another in their praise and sorrow of our Messiah. Next, I will be depicting a few more Lenten traditions that the Philippine community and Christians/ Catholics find important during the month of March.

Another tradition that is practiced by the Philippine Community during lent is called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pabasaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, where a group of people gather together and sing the Passion for Christ (Maarandilla). This practice is done by many Filipinos not only in Edmonton, but around the world to acknowledge the many sacrifices Jesus made for his people.

The last vital tradition I will mention is called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Salubongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which means â&#x20AC;&#x153;to meetâ&#x20AC;?, this practice involves the image of Virgin Mary and how there is a

Two Tagalog-speaking pharmacists join Medicus Clinic

By Moses Billacura

Medicus pharmacists Flavie Ann Clet (left) and Ken Vee Alsaybar are the new staff ready to take care of the prescription needs of patients in Edmonton at the Medicus Family Health Clinic and Pharmacy.(Photo by Moses Billacura)

Child BeneďŹ t supports families most in need Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Services Minister Danielle Larivee is urging SDUHQWV WR Ă&#x20AC;OH WKHLU WD[HV WR EH HOLJLEOH IRU Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLDO VXSSRUWV LQFOXGLQJ WKH $OEHUWD &KLOG %HQHĂ&#x20AC;W Parents can get access to free tax preparation clinics offered to eligible taxpayers year-round by community organizations. Eligible families are automatically enrolled to receive the Alberta Child Benefit and other supports that make their lives better and more affordable.

Alberta Child Benefit payments are mailed or direct deposited by the Canada Revenue Agency in as many as four instalments annually. Eligible families will receive their February instalment on Feb. 27. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Alberta Child Benefit is

MARCH 2018

helping families afford winter clothes or enrol their kids in extra-curricular activities for the first time. We want all eligible families to be able to access this life-changing support. I encourage families across Alberta to find out about free tax preparation clinics in their communities.â&#x20AC;?

Danielle Larivee, Minister of Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Services â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Alberta Child Benefit is an important and critical poverty reduction policy. It provides families on fixed incomes and working poor across our province with additional

black veil placed over her head showing her sadness because of her sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death (Maarandilla). Next, an image of Jesus is carried during the procession of a church celebration where the two meet, hence the term â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Salubongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This convention is usually practiced by the Philippine community to show the importance of Mary seeing Jesus one last time before the Resurrection.

Lastly, let us all use this time to get closer to God and strengthen our faith with the Lord. During this time, we can all move towards the path Jesus leads us on by fasting, praying, and treating people with respect. All in all, the month of March is a crucial time in making an effort to ask for repentance in the hopes of achieving Resurrection.

EDMONTON --- Two Tagalog-speaking Pharmacists have joined the Medicus Family Health Clinicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pharmacy department.

Patients can directly call the pharmacy EFQBSUNFOU BU BOE UBML UP FJUIFS Flavie Clet or Ken Vee Alsaybar. They can also bring their prescriptions and the staff can readily help them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are glad to get the services of two Pharmacists to serve our patients this year,â&#x20AC;? said Medicus co-founder and marketing director Kris Salumbides.

Flavie Clet has also received training to serve smokers who have been wanting to quit smoking. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can help them with that too,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Medicus started its operations in June last year, supporting the community in providing medical professional staff who can speak proficiently in Tagalog and in English.

Salumbides said they are glad to open the health clinic in order to answer to the clamor from patients who would like to see or talk to health professionals that can speak their native language. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That way, we can serve them better,â&#x20AC;? said Salumbides.

dollars to meet their basic needs such as school supplies and more nutritious food and helps to lift families out of poverty.

We know that there are families who are not filing their taxes and therefore are not receiving the child benefit. In this context, tax filing is a poverty-reduction activity.â&#x20AC;?

Franco Savoia, executive director, Vibrant Communities Calgary Alberta families earning less than $41,746 per year in family net income are eligible to receive the Alberta Child Benefit.

The maximum annual benefit is $1,114 for GBNJMJFT XJUI POF DIJME BOE VQ UP for families with four or more children.

Related information ѧ "MCFSUB $IJME #FOFGJU ѧ 5BY 1SFQBSBUJPO $MJOJDT ѧ "MCFSUB $IJME #FOFGJU BOE "MCFSUB 'BNJMZ Employment Tax Credit (PDF) Media inquiries ѧ "BSPO .BOUPO

Press Secretary, Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Services

RELIGION | BUSINESS

MARCH 2018

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

13

Faith Shared Is Fate Paired

The Gospel tells us that St. Jude was a brother of St. James the Less, also one of the Apostles. They are described in the Gospel of Matthew as the “brethren” of Jesus, probably cousins.

Katrina Cereno is a senior high student at St. Francis Xavier.

She spent her efforts in writing and interested to arts, photography and music. She’s looking forward to be a future engineer. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her family.

“But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” ( Jude 20-21)

St. Jude is the Patron Saint of Hope and impossible causes and one of Jesus’ original twelve Apostles. He preached the Gospel with great passion, often in the most difficult circumstances. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he made profound differences in people’s lives as he offered them the Word of God.

87

St. Jude is traditionally depicted carrying the image of Jesus in his hand. This recalls one of his miracles during his work spreading the Word of God. King Abagar of Edessa asked Jesus to cure him of leprosy and sent an artist to bring him a drawing of Jesus. Impressed with Abagar’s great faith, Jesus pressed His face on a cloth, leaving the image of His face on it. He gave the cloth to St. Jude, who took the image to Abagar and cured him.

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, St. Jude traveled throughout Mesopotamia, Libya, and Persia with St. Simon preaching and building up the foundations of the early Church. St. Jude died a martyr’s death for his unwavering faith. His body was later brought to Rome and placed in a crypt under St. Peter's Basilica.

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COMMUNITY

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

MARCH 2018

Photo potpourri by the Journal

$OEHUWD )LOLSLQR -RXUQDO HGLWRU /LWR 9HODVFR IDFLOLWDWHV WKH PHHWLQJ RI WKH Ã&#x20AC;UVW 3KLOLSSLQH 0HGLD $VVRFLDWLRQ RI Alberta(PMAA) Consultation Meeting, Feb.17, at the University of Alberta.

(Left-right) Minister Christina Gray, MLA Rod Loyola, MLA Nicole Goehring had a fun time consulting members of the Filipino community, March 5, of a plan to have a Philippine Heritage Month celebration in June.

Photos by Moses Billacura

Some of ladies who joined the Batangueno Post-Valentine's Day Party, Feb.17, at the Corpus Christi Parish Hall.

Journal publisher Jun Angeles gets a free dance instruction during the Batangueno Post-Valentine's Day Party, Feb.17, at the Corpus Christi Parish Hall.

$WWHQGHHV WR WKH Ã&#x20AC;UVW 3KLOLSSLQH 0HGLD $VVRFLDWLRQ RI $OEHUWD 30$$ &RQVXOWDWLRQ 0HHWLQJ )HE DW WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI $OEHUWD

Lawyers Joseph and Katrina Angeles enjoy reading the Alberta Filipino Journal during the Batangueno Post-Valentine's Day Party, Feb.17, at the Corpus Christi Parish Hall.

$OEHUWD )LOLSLQR -RXUQDO SXEOLVKHU -XQ $QJHOHV QG IURP OHIW JLYHV KLV SRLQWV RI YLHZ GXULQJ WKH Ã&#x20AC;UVW Philippine Media Association of Alberta (PMAA) Consultation Meeting, Feb.17, at the University of Alberta. Also shown are Robert Torrejon, father of Journal columnist Riana, Nicky Gocuan, formerly with Philippine Star, Michael Vicente of Trending.Ph and Mervin Cereno of the Journal.

Mikey Bustos performs in Edmonton, Feb.16, as part of his "I Wear Speedos Tour".

6RPH )LOLSLQR RUJDQL]DWLRQ OHDGHUV DQG 0/$V &KULVWLQD *UD\ 5RG /R\ROD DQG 1LFROH *RHKULQJ SRVH for posterity, March 5, after a consultation meeting to have a Philippine Heritage Month celebration in June.

Filipino-Canadian comedian Mikey Bustos gives Journal columnist Riana Torrejon a rose during his "I Wear Speedos Tour", Feb.16, in Edmonton.

Quality Sleep Care and Alberta Medical Supplies co-owners Kris Salumbides and Jacob Christian with their staff during the "I Wear Speedos Tour" of Filipino-Canadian comedian Mikey Bustos, Feb.16, in Edmonton.

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MARCH 2018

EDUCATION | BUSINESS

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

15

How does High School Education in Alberta Help Your Children Become an Engineer Like You? FROM DREAM INTO BEAM MERVIN MENDOZA CERENO mmcereno@gmail.com

Mervin Cereno is a Filipino Engineer, Academician and Entrepreneur who choose to migrate in Canada. He got his Provisional License* as Professional Engineer from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientist of Alberta (APEGA) only after 8 months from the time he landed to Canada in March 2016. Presently, he is pursuing Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree at the University of Alberta. For pieces of advice and queries on licensing procedure in Alberta you can contact him through email at cereno@ualberta.ca. *Provisional License are granted after satisfying all the requirements of the APEGA Board of 'LUHFWRUV H[FHSW WKH 2QH <HDU &DQDGLDQ ([SHULHQFH LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;HOG RI HQJLQHHULQJ

I

n the past, most internationally allow the student to free up time educated engineers who landed in their university course schedule in Alberta as an immigrant and save money. experienced a lot of challenges in Advance Placement Courses order to work as engineers.

From Grades 10 to 12, students High school education in the Philippines is somewhat different compared to the high school curriculum of the Canadian Education System.

In the last issues of the Alberta Filipino Journal, I wrote articles on how internationally educated engineers can address these issues and eventually become engineers in Alberta.

For most Filipinos, the education of our children is the most treasured accomplishment we can give them.

It is in our culture that we push our children to continue and eventually get their post-secondary degrees.

Post-secondary degrees are the University or College Degree equivalent in the Philippines. For engineers in the Philippines, it takes 5 years to complete once an individual has graduated from high school (4th year HS) and it is about 200 credit units to complete engineering education.

With the implementation of the K-12 education in the Philippines, Grades 11 and 12 are equivalent to the 2 years College curriculum in the Philippines with the focus on the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chosen track, whether it is in Engineering, Business or the Medical Profession.

In Canada, the post-secondary (University) education starts with the preparation for the courses or subjects they will be taking from Grades 10 to 12, which is senior high school.

To be admitted into the Faculty of Engineering in each University, students who are applying directly from a high school in Canada must have successfully completed the following and satisfies the minimum grade average for each of the core courses: The students must complete the 5 Alberta Grade 12 courses or their equivalents: &OHMJTI .BUI .BUI 1IZTJDT BOE $IFNJTUSZ International Baccalaureate (IB) Transfer Credit Some senior high schools offer IB Programs. When senior high school students take this path, they can receive a university-level credit for IB work completed in high school. Transfer credit can

have the option to take the courses as AP. With the Advance Placement (AP) transfer credit, the student will also receive university-level credit for AP work completed in high school, meaning the student has the option not to take that course in university and proceed to the next level course as its pre-requisites.

It is a fact that most Filipinoborn children studying in Alberta excel in their high school education.

This is a testament of the cultural values that embody each Filipino

when it comes to the importance of Education. As we always say, we should not settle for anything less, let us encourage our children to pursue a university degree.

16

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

GREETINGS | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

MARCH 2018

MARCH BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS: More Birthdays to Celebrate!

Jose Jr Jun Angeles

Lito Velasco

nd vely wife a with his lo Kuya Jun ters granddaugh

0DUMRULH 1HZPDQ DQG daughter Marianne

Charlotte and Family

Marjorie and Family

Angela and Family

Charlotte Adolfo

Angela San Pedro!

Humble Dreams, Debt-Free Living

Hello my Brother Lito, It was a blessings and God's plan to meet you last night with the good hearts kababayan at spiral vistro and tfc restaurant.

Want to send you our church activities, address and ministries.

Thank you very much and you may edit and correct, I appreciate so much.

In Christ, Robert+ Welcome : â&#x20AC;&#x153; Anglican Network â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Holy Trinity [Filipino] Edmontonâ&#x20AC;?

Church address: 10162 152 ST NW Edm. AB Worship Service: &WFSZ 4VOEBZ "GUFSOPPO QN UP QN

Free coffee and snacks after service.

Priest in charge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rev. Crims Robert Gomowad Email: anchtfil@gmail.com Youth Ministry Youth Ministries is the youth group at ANiC- Holy Trinity [Filipino]. Our mission is to see our young people inspired, nurtured, and discipled towards a greater relationship with Jesus and their world. We meet regularly throughout the year for Friday Evening bible studies, choir practise and on Sunday afternoon for worship service.

The youth ministry at ANiC - Holy Trinity are with music volunteer teacher, Brother Jay Galutan along with Linda â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Youth Ministry adviser. Together we seek to create

a Christ centered environment that is Trustworthy, Honouring, Radiant, Intent, Vibrant, and Engaging.

Sunday School for Children Ministry!

The Sunday School at ANiC- Holy Trinity is for children aged 4-6 (pre-school) and 7-12 years. It is an interactive place of both learning and fun. Our Volunteer teachers, Cathrine & Shirley use creative methods to minister to all the children, bringing elements of liturgy and age appropriate lessons to life. There is a rotation of qualified teachers, but more are always welcome!

Welcome everybody!

I am a Cameguinian "Amapola," married to a Sorsogonian. Giving up my job at Cagayan De Oro Provincial Hospital to join Pete at his capital Province where he worked as C.E. with the provincial government. We have 2 sons, Ian & Ivan, we were happy and contented with our life eating boiled banana and tuyo, when our country became chaotic, rebels were everywhere.

I asked my 2 sisters in Montreal who were practicing their profession to sponsor my family of 4, three months later we landed in Montreal.

Our profession were stalled; we moved to Toronto, stayed over two years, then moved here in Edmonton, this is it, our own kind of town.

For 19 years we rented DJUZ PXOFE IPVTF Y DIFBQFS Pete worked with the Alberta Government, I worked 12hrs/day in two different nursing homes, and kept saving so we can buy our "mansion" (just kidding).

Our dimes saved was a little bit short, so we borrowed few housand dollars from the bank to buy this ancient but strongly built "bahay kubo" by "Beverly Hills" (Norwood area). In a year we paid it all back full, when Pete took his early retirement package.

Yupee, we were debt free.

Eight years living debt free, I started feeling sick, I ignored it for 7 months, when a saintly robed figure, appeared in my dream telling NF (P GPS NBNNPHSBN XBWJOH times his arms." I did booked for it.

After biopsy, I was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer.

Mastectomy done, chemotherapy followed for 6 months, one each month. I quit my job, did not claim U.I. Pete assured me, we will manage since no mortgage to pay, and we have been practicing "bulk buying groceries." He added, "Just don't go shopping spree." I laughed so hard, holding my balding head. Thanking God for the warning, I am still here.

Lately though, I frequented E.R. difficulty breathing, diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Once admitted, a kindly blond nurse asked me "What's your secret for not having a single line in your 100 year old face?" I replied "Oh! Just enjoying a debt free living," and besides that "the Donald" guy, he is my cousin." We both ended up holding our tummy, and misty eyed, laughing.

by Nora Villafuerte TUSFFU &ENPOUPO "MCFSUB

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MARCH 2018

POINTS OF VIEW | COMMUNITY | BUSINESS

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Through a Teenagerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eyes KRISTIAN CERENO Kristian Cereno is a Grade 9 Student of St. Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catholic School in Edmonton. His hobbies include writing poem, composing songs, playing volleyball and in the long run, hoping to learn hockey the Canadian wayâ&#x20AC;Ś.

To be a Leader

I

n order for you to become leader, you should be a learner first and understand the responsibilities and/or qualities that would not be easy to carry out. A leader is not just measured by his/her influence and excellence in speaking but also measured by his/her faith in God. From my experience and chances to prove myself as a student council member, leader in group discussions and projects, a captain in a volleyball team, a family member, a writer in a newspaper, an altar server, a citizen and a Youth Bible Group member. As part of the Leadership team in our school, we have had activities that benefited our school spirit of faith, excellence and service. A leader can be an inspirational model. For example, Mother Teresa is a great example of an inspirational leader. She helped

the marginalized people to stand up on their feet and continue on with life. A great leader should be openminded to the people around him/ her. Leaders should be open minded on all the suggestions that people would say. A leader should always be positive because a leader would be very influential to their team. Being an optimist leader would make the viewpoint of the team optimistic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this follows the value of confidence.

A communicative leader would be a great addition to the team. A leader would always talk about ideas and communicate to his/her members. A leader would not just keep quiet and say nothing because the leader is the guidance of the whole team. A leader should always be transparent and honest. If your followers sees you as this, they would not be afraid to

Photo potpourri by the Journal

Photos by Moses Billacura

Erica Cagawas(left) and Ida Beltran-Lucila, who is also a Journal columnist, are recipients of the Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) grants this year for their projects. The grants were announced, Feb.15, at the MacEwan University.

Edmonton Arts Council grant recipients Erica Cagawas (3rd from left) and Ida Lucila Beltran (4th from left) are joined by their family and the Alberta Filipino Journal staff, Feb.15, after the EAC ceremony at the MacEwan University.

state their ideas and be comfortable to work with you because they know who you are. This follows the value of being trusted. A brave leader would have courage and boldness.

Leaders are also humans, they also take risks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they also do mistakes, but we are all humans, we all make mistakes. A leader may not be perfect but whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important is that they are trying to be perfect. Enthusiasm, this does not just apply to the leader but also to the members of the team.

If no one is enthusiastic, nothing would happen. We all have to keep trying until we get it right. They say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;practice makes perfectâ&#x20AC;?, I believe that no one is perfect so I believe that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;practice makes progressâ&#x20AC;?. A leader would not be a leader if he/ she did not start as a listener. Thus, to be a great leader, you have to be

a great follower because by listening to people, you will learn how to do it right and eventually become a leader.

17

To be a good leader, success would not just be right in front of your face so, you will have to undergo failure. I was also told some advices and lessons for doing wrong things however, I learned because of that. I have also done mistakes that brought my self-confidence down.

Like what Michael Jordan said, a famous basketball star, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can accept failure, everyone fails at something.

But I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t accept not trying again.â&#x20AC;?

Remember that also famous people made mistakes like Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs and Michael Jordan, but they became successful people/ leaders. Although I started off as a learner and still being a learner, I can exemplify some things of maturity, being a child of God and being an influential leader.

from page 1

Alberta Legislature to Declare June as Philippine Heritage Month Filipinos have been migrating to Canada since the late 1960s. In the 2016 $BOBEJBO $FOTVT JNNJHSBOUT PG 'JMJQJOP EFTDFOU XFSF QFHHFE BU This figure did not include non-residents or those on temporary work permits.

Alberta is one of the favoured destinations of Filipinos because of its diversity and growing economy. There has been an unprecedented growth of Filipinos in the Province of Alberta. In the same census year, the population of Filipinos HSFX VQ UP UIF SE JO UIF DPVOUSZ OFYU UP 0OUBSJP BOE #SJUJTI $PMVNCJB June is the most significant time for a Philippine Heritage Month as the Philippine diaspora worldwide commemorate and celebrate the June 12, PGGJDJBM EFDMBSBUJPO PG JOEFQFOEFODF PG UIF 1IJMJQQJOFT GSPN 4QBOJTI colonial rule.

It will also fall in line with the legislation in the Province of Ontario and the proposal to the Federal government to declare June to celebrate Philippine Heritage.

18

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

LEGAL ASSISTANCE | BUSINESS | PROMOTIONS

MARCH 2018

Community Resource Article: Legal Resources for Those Who Cannot Afford Lawyers GENERAL POINT OF VIEW GISELLE GENERAL gqgeneral@gmail.com

Giselle General came from the cold, mountainous region on the Benguet province, and immigrated to Canada as a teenager in 2007. After completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, she now dedicates KHU EXVLQHVV WUDLQLQJ WR WKH QRQSURĂ&#x20AC;W VHFWRU ERWK LQ HPSOR\HG DQG YROXQWHHU capacities. She works at the Edmonton Community Legal Centre, which provides free legal help to low-income Edmontonians. She channels her creativity by writing in her personal blog, General Point of View, and has recently published a book of her poems and artwork titled The Humanity of Me.

I

t is unavoidable to have some challenges in life where legal advice is needed. There are many people, for understandable reasons, whoare unable to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for the full services ofa lawyer or law firm. Here is a list of resources that can help inform or mitigate the cost of legal services. These can also be used to aid in determining when to seek legal assistance.

1. Online Resources to Educate: It can be valuable to read these booklets or watch the videos they offer. The language in these resources are meant for those who are not lawyers, making it easy to understand. In each website their resources are sub-categorized

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into different areas of law. a. Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta: https://www.cplea.ca/publications/ b. Native Counselling Services of Alberta: http://ncsa.ca/resources/ The Government of Alberta Website: Information about legal processes and the different levels of court are available right on thiswebsite. A few key links are below. a. https://www.alberta.ca/rightsjustice-law.aspx b. https://www.alberta.ca/waivefiling-fee.aspx Legal Centres in the Area, by Independent Charities: These are non-profit organizations that provide legal help to those who are low-income

in the area. Criteria may vary depending on oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sfinancial situation and the area of law they need help with. a. Edmonton Community Legal Centre: www.eclc.ca b. Calgary Legal Guidance: www. clg.ab.ca c. Lethbridge Legal Guidance: www. lethbridgelegalguidance.ca d. Medicine Hat Legal Help Centre: www.mhlhc.ca e. Grande Prairie Legal Guidance: www.gplg.ca f. Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic (Red Deer): www.communitylegalclinic.net g. Community Legal Clinic - Fort McMurray: www.facebook.com/ communitylegalclinicFortMac/ Legal Centres in the Area Runby Law Schools: The law schools in Edmonton and Calgary also offer legal services, that are runby law students. These services are for also for those who cannot afford legal aid. a. Student Legal Services of Edmonton: http://www.slsedmonton.com/ b. Student Legal Assistance Calgary: http://slacalgary.ca/ Legal Aid Alberta: Legal Aid is a province-wide program that helps eligible Albertans with different areas of law such as criminal, family, child welfare, and more. Their website is www.legalaid.ab.ca Alberta Limited Legal Services Project: For those whomay be able to afford some of the fees that a lawyer would charge but not the whole amount all at once, this is a service whereina lawyer can be hired on a limited scope. The website is: albertalegalservices.com/ If someone needs legal help but lives in a more remote area such asa small town, it is contacting nearest organization in that area. There may be other services that are also available right at the courthouse. Hopefully, this is a valuable starting point in resolving oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal issues while considering financial limitations.

MARCH 2018

RELIGION | BUSINESS

Words of Eternal Life

true Man, "the righteous for the sake PG UIF VOSJHIUFPVT 1U XIP IBT taken upon Himself our sins and by His free choice, as He was without sin and totally immune to it, has decided to also face our temptations. St. Augustine wrote: "Christ took his flesh FR. NILO BELVIS from you and in return gave you the MACAPINLAC salvation that resides in him; he took nilmac2003@yahoo.com your death for himself and gave you his life; he took the share you deserved and gave you the honor that was his.

My dear friends in the Christian world, The first Sunday of Lent leads us Consequently, he took your temptation Prayerful Lenten season! directly to the wilderness of our spiritual and gave you his victory." (Comm in life and we need to acknowledge our Ps., 60). It is not asked of us, therefore, Our journey of faith for 40 days human weakness and vulnerability. to make this journey simply by 'doing this Lenten season is crucial to our We need God and His necessary graces likewise'. There would be nothing new spiritual growth as God's people who for us to persevere. Jesus is our model in that, because, whether we like it or are pilgrims on earth to heaven. Let us and guide, let us turn to Him in silent not, our daily life is already like this observe it and not be stocked up in a prayer. "The Spirit drove Jesus out into with all its hard work and hopes! We ritualistic manner but in the spirit of the wilderness and he remained there for are asked, in fact, to welcome what love and freedom. It should be rooted forty days, and was tempted by satan" is new about Lent: the Other on this in our love for the Lord and this will .L )BWJOH JOUSPEVDFE UIF path, who is our companion, who has lead to grace coming to us manifold. season of Lent with the imposition of already journeyed on the path of the Let God's grace illumine our souls ashes, the Church points out the path Exodus, and who has associated us, by through confession knowing that sin for us to journey along. She also tells our Baptism, with His Victory. darkens the image of God in us and us the nature of this journey and how even disfigures it. Thank you to your we might go about following it. generous hearts in responding positively The Gospel reading shows us to the day of confession here in our how the journey of Lent consists in Archdiocese of Edmonton last February letting ourselves be led into the desert, 20th. We can also look forward to the allowing ourselves to remain there for Sacrament of Reconciliation unfolding forty days, and challenging ourselves as well as penitential services across to face the temptations of Satan. It is the Archdiocese. For details, kindly like the Exodus of Israel towards the see the diocesan website.

Promised Land; it is the exodus of The season of Lent is full of grace- humanity with each of us journeying filled moments that combat temptations as pilgrims towards heaven. We don't and make our faith fervent again. look forward to this journey for its by Moses Billacura Expect distractions and temptations own sake, but we are led along it by that they may lead you to give up but Another. The journey is sign posted EDMONTON --- ANCOP Edmonton don't surrender. Temptation is not a by our combat with the temptation Area coordinator Greg Parillas has sin but to give in is the down fall of our of Satan and - with all that implies in a very good reason to smile these souls. Remember, God counts on how terms of fatigue and suffering. It is a much we struggle. In your prayer invite long journey with only our sure hope days as two more students under the God to accompany you, be attuned to allowing us to undertake it with faith â&#x20AC;&#x153;Child Sponsorship Programâ&#x20AC;? received support from the management of the prompting of the Holy Spirit. and courage.

Though God respects our human The nature of this Lenten journey Quality Sleep Care (QSC), Alberta freedom, He is never tired of reaching is revealed in the collect, the opening Medical Supplies (AMS), CanPay out to us for our sakes and for our prayer, addressed to God, Our Father, Medical Inc. and Medicus Family redemption. For no one can save that â&#x20AC;&#x153;we may grow in understanding Health Clinic and Pharmacy. himself or herself, we totally rely on of the riches hidden in Christ and by â&#x20AC;&#x153;ANCOP Edmonton is very God's loving act of salvation and we worthy conduct pursue their effectâ&#x20AC;?. grateful for their support,â&#x20AC;? said need to cooperate. To rely solely on This Lenten journey is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;sacramental Parillas, who first met Filipino human flesh will lead to failure. We signâ&#x20AC;? of our conversion. What does businessman and company cocannot reap the harvest unless we this mean? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sacramental signâ&#x20AC;? means toil and do our portion of hard work. that on this road, that is common to founder Kris Salumbides, then The trees and shrubs will not sprout every person, God has preceded us eventually the other co-owners Jesse unless there is water, moisture, soil, and has done something for us and Tallon, Jacob Christian to pitch in minerals and sunlight. We need to now He asks us to play our part. He the idea of backing their program. wait, and patience is the key until the has already fulfilled this journey of â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are dedicated to uplift the time of harvest. In the springtime of conversion for us. lives of poor families in developing your spiritual life you will bloom and The model to follow is Jesus countries through shelter, child be filled with joy that comes directly Christ. "The Spirit drove Jesus out into education and humanitarian relief from God. You will never regret. the desert." It is Christ, true God and

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL We are all called to stay close to Christ, giving over everything to him - our flesh, our sin, our humiliations, and our temptations - so that we can receive so much more. He offers us His Salvation, His Life, His Glory, His Victory!

Let us therefore, give everything to the Lord in the great gift of sacramental Confession, in Eucharistic adoration and in frequent Communion, where Jesus takes our entirety and gives us His Very Self. Let us trust everything to our â&#x20AC;&#x153;greatest friendâ&#x20AC;?, that God has placed at our side. Let us pray fervently for our catechumens and candidates that they may not only fully embrace the richness of our Catholic Faith but they may totally embrace God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit who loves us first and initiated us to walk humbly in this noble vocation to love.

And so we offer all our sacrifices and hardships to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, because she who is the treasurer of heaven,

19

will distribute to humanity the merits of her Son. Obtain for us, we pray, O Mary, that we will keep our eyes fixed on Christ so to defeat, along with Him, the temptations of Satan and thus we may enter into the victory of the Easter Resurrection and gain the gift of Eternal Life through Christ, our Lord. Amen. May the burning love of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of His Mother enrich you with spiritual gifts and heavenly favours! God truly loves you dearly! In advance, may the Resurrected Christ smile upon you on Easter and lift you up in all your struggles and difficulties in life. Believe Him, Trust in Him, Love Him. For truly He will enrich you with heavenly blessings! In the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus wounded out of love for us, let us place our confidence in Him. Amen Yours in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fr. Nilo Macapinlac, pastor

ANCOP Edmonton coordinator grateful to Quality Sleep Care, Alberta Medical Supplies, Canpay, Medicus Health Clinic management for support

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Sleep Care Group, we are just happy,â&#x20AC;? said Parillas.

ANCOP or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Answering the Cry of the Poorâ&#x20AC;? is a non-profit and with the coming in of Quality organization that started in 2001

by the Couples for Christ(CFC) to â&#x20AC;&#x153;restore the poorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope and dignityâ&#x20AC;? and organizes a yearly â&#x20AC;&#x153;ANCOP Walkâ&#x20AC;? to help generate funds. (Moses Billacura)

20

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

POLITICS | BUSINESS

Filipinos Success' Stories:

Kaya Ko, Kaya Mo! If I can, You surely can! %\ 0DUMRULH &DUPRQD 1HZPDQ

MEET THE WOMAN BEHIND SKIN LUEUR AESTHETICS AND LASER CENTER CHOLOMELEY â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chumâ&#x20AC;? ARDANIEL is the CEO of Skin Lueur Aesthetics and Laser Center. She was born in Midsayap, Cotabato. Doc Chum as I fondly call her is a graduate of American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine (AAAM) in May 2015, where she received a certificate in Aesthetic Medicine after completing necessary courses of study and clinical workshops and in November 2016 received her Diploma.

In 2000, she achieved her academic degree of Doctor of Medicine Cebu Doctor's University in the Philippines. Prior to migrating to Canada she practiced at Cebu City Medical Center and Seamen's Hospital Cebu.

Received her training in Surgery at Gov Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center. Doc Chum is still an active Associate Member of the Philippine Academy of Aesthetic Surgery (PAAS).

It's quite interesting to learn that her first dream is to be a soldier to serve her countrymen and protect the people, a dream influenced by her Father who is a retired colonel from the Philippine National Police (PNP). Although next to being a

soldier, her dream was to become a doctor or a lawyer, instead she ended up pursuing medicine.

After moving to Canada, she decided to open a cosmetics clinic that became Skin Leur. Her motivation to open Skin Lueur for her clients are: to achieve their beauty goals, to help them regain their self confidence and outlook in life; to bring out the best in them, and for her clients to enjoy life to the fullest. When clients are happy with the service that she provides and achieve the results, she finds the fullest accomplishment. she is proud with the relationship she has built with the Filipino community in Edmonton. Doc Chum explains, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I build along the journey in thriving for success in life. For it is one thing to do the task but it's another thing to gain people and community who will last for a lifetime. And

I'm proud to be surrounded with friends and my family daughters and loving husband.".

In times of struggles and difficulties, she finds solace in prayers and is an active member of Jesus is Alive, a Filipino Christian Community. She shares her favourite Bible verse from John 10:25: "Do not be afraid do not be discourage be strong and courageous." In regards to overcoming the difficulties she encountered moving to Canada, then subsequently in pursuing her dream business, the key components every entrepreneur should have are diligence, perseverance, a supportive family and lots of prayers.

MARCH 2018 Her advice to those who want to pursue a career like hers is to "Pursue the profession; connect with people with same skillset; learn from others not only from the Filipino community; follow the correct pattern for there are no shortcuts in running a business. Get all the qualifications. Key qualities you need to acquire are: diligence, perseverance and hard work and lots of prayers."

Doc Chum is happily married to Jeffrey Ubal and they are blessed with two children Hanna Margeaux Gabriel, 11 years old, and Kizette Carleigh Gabriel, 11 month old.

Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Backbone: Budget 2018 For Growth and Equality

O

n February 27, our government QSFTFOUFE #VEHFU It recognizes that it is Canadians who make our economy strong and lays out our plan to deliver more prosperity and equality for us

all. I am pleased to share with you some of the elements of the Budget that I am most proud of.

When we formed the government, we promised to work hard to build a stronger middle class and create

opportunities for Canadians.

The first thing we did to grow the economy and create jobs was to lower taxes for middle class Canadians, leaving more money in their pockets to spend in their own communities. We created the Canada Child Benefit that provides support to low income and middle income families, lifting thousands of children out of poverty. We also started making historic investments in infrastructure, building better roads and public transit systems and refurbishing affordable housing.

These policy changes and investments, along with the approval of pipelines to get our resources to international markets,are being felt here in Alberta. Our provincial economy continues to rebound.

Last year,Alberta gained 55,000 jobs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the best job growth since 2014. This year our province is projected to regain its place as the fastest growing provincial economy in the country. Despite these positive signs, we know there is more work to be done. ҲSPVHI #VEHFU XF BSF creating opportunities that draw strength from our diversity to build a country where every Canadian has a real and fair chance to work, to contribute, and to succeed. One

of the best ways we can do this is by better supporting women and girls and help create conditions where they can thrive.

Over the past forty years, one-third of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic growth has been linked to the increased participation of women in the work force. Unfortunately, over the last decade, that growth IBT CFFO TUBHOBOU #VEHFU focuses on addressing this issue by increasing parental sharing benefits, by helping more women get into skilled trades, and by supporting female entrepreneurs. We will also tackle the gender wage gap by introducing pay equity legislation to ensure women are paid fairly for work of equal value.

This is not just the right thing to do, but also the smart thing for our economy. Greater diversity in the workforce boosts productivity and profitability. A study done by RBC Economics estimates that if Canada had a completely equal representation of women and men in the workforce, we could have increased the size of the economy by 4% last year. ҲSPVHI #VEHFU XF BSF also creating new opportunities for Canadian innovators.We will invest CJMMJPO JO UIF OFYU HFOFSBUJPO PG

Canadian research and researchers.

8F XJMM BMTP JOWFTU CJMMJPO UP provide researchers with access to the tools and infrastructure they need to carry out their work at universities, polytechnics, colleges and research hospitals, including some of the state-of-the-art facilities here in Edmonton.

Central to our commitment to building an equal, competitive, sustainable, and fair Canadais addressing the unacceptable inequalities faced by First Nations, Inuit and .¨UJT QFPQMF ҲBUŃ T XIZ #VEHFU invests across government to close the unacceptable gaps in services and outcomes. We are working in partnership with Indigenous communities to remove barriers to success, while investing in the infrastructure, skills, high-quality education, and resources needed to ensure all Indigenous people can participate in the economy and strengthen their communities. #VEHFU JT GPDVTFE PO continuing to grow the economy by investing in Canadians and will contribute to a stronger, more prosperous Canada where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential. I encourage you to read more at www.budget.gc.ca.

MARCH 2018

POINTS OF VIEW | BUSINESS

The Other Filipinavigation

T

his skin has betrayed me once again. Prickly, itchy. I scratch it, and check my fingernails after to see if the color has worn off. No such luck. If it could only be a jacket, giving me the choice of when and where I would like to wear it.

I eye the fairness of my peers and how the light reflects on their skin, as if to say hello. When it falls upon my own complexion, it urges me to hide in the darkness.

“Could we change Rosa to Rose?” (Your name needs to be more English for us to hire you.)

“Your English is really good.” (Why can’t everyone lose their accents like you?)

“You’re pretty for an Asian.” (I’ve never

RIANA TORREJON torrejonriana@gmail.com Riana Torrejon is a twelfth-grade student who is a passionate advocate for human rights. In her spare time, she loves to write and sing. She also runs her school’s Student Council, chairs for ECSD’s Student Senate, and is an actress for Emma the Musical. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of her greatest inspirations.

thought otherwise.)

“Where are you from? No, like where are you really from?” (You’re the other.

Other than me.)

(Other than Canadian)

And then I come home to my family.

I see the time they spend volunteering to help others, the smiles they generously give out to everyone they pass on the street despite the looks and comments

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL their skins may trigger. The skin they wear is waterproof, ensuring that all comments thrown at them roll off.

However, judging from the sweat trickling down their foreheads, this skin does not seem desirable as well. This plastic-like material is painful to witness. It’s not their own skin.

I want to wear my skin proudly because I was born with it. It is one of my first inheritances. It should fit me as easily as a baby does in its mother’s arms.

I do not recognize the itchy sweater I wish to take off as my own, nor do I want to succumb to a waterproof coat that suffocates one in sticky heat.

Once again, I look at myself, but now I am all alone. I am away from outside noise. It is just my mirror and I. I look into my eyes and all I see is the love I have for this country, a factor independent of the skin I want to wear and to own.

21

My skin is me and your skin is you, but this country is us. Nobody is other, other than Canadian.

Let us stop piercing each other with these phrases. Microaggression is not how we move forward.

Let love take over instead.

Love is louder. Let me love my skin.

I love my country. There is no other for I am Filipina and Canadian.

Connotations to many common things said relay these messages. Micro-aggression and systemic racism can be fought, starting with our words. Language is powerful in that it can both build and break people. Let us remember to love one another by changing our conversations, keeping in mind how it may make the receiving end feel. Canada’s promise of a beautiful mosaic is what distinguishes it.

22

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

BUSINESS | HEALTH

MARCH 2018

MARCH 2018

BUSINESS | HEALTH

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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BUSINESS | FOODS

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

everyone is welcome to shop at

co-op POLLY MANGO DRINK 2L

SALE 99

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CO-OP LUCKY DRAGON RICE 18.1KG

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