Diaryo Alberta October-November 2019 Issue

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Volume 10 â– Issue 5 | October-November 2019

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Budget 2019 Making life better for Albertans October 26, 2019 Government of Alberta News Release Budget 2019 protects Alberta’s core social services.

Budget 2019 maintains funding for health, education, seniors and social supports to ensure Albertans with the greatest needs continue to access these vital services. Key funding includes: • $20.6 billion per year to provide health services, including increases of $100 million for a mental health and addictions strategy, $40 million for an opioid response and $20 million for palliative care. • $8.2 billion per year for education services, which maintains current funding levels. • $3.9 billion per year for community and social services, an increase of 7.6 per cent from 2018-19 to help address human trafficking, as well as caseload pressures. • $1.6 billion per year for children’s services, increasing spending by 15 per cent by 202223. • Maintaining current payment levels for AISH, the Alberta Seniors Benefit and Special Needs Assistance programs. “This budget reflects our commitment to deliver the public services that Albertans expect and deserve. Increases in funding for mental health, addictions and social programs ensure those most in need will continue to have support.â€?

Travis Toews, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Government listened to Albertans about the need to deliver better services at better value. These reforms will deliver better value for Albertans while continuing to support the most vulnerable. Changes include: • The Alberta Child and Family Benefit, which will deliver about $290 million in benefits to more than 190,000 families on a full-year basis starting in 2020-21. It streamlines existing child tax benefits and directs more support to lower-income families most in need of support. • The changes to the Capital Plan ensure we are providing supports to vulnerable Albertans. We are spending $476 million on seniors, family and community housing developments and renewal, to provide the assistance and supports that communities need. This includes $38.4 million on projects that help Alberta’s youth and homeless including the Hope Mission and Yellowhead Youth Centre Redevelopment projects. “With Budget 2019, we are setting a path for a more sustainable future, while maintaining or increasing funding to ensure that core social services are focused on those with the greatest need.â€?

Travis Toews, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance

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Editorial

Publisher

Diaryo Alberta / Diaryo Filipino

KANATA!

Editorial Board DAS

Writers/Contributors Michelle Jeong Len Chan Sharina Dumaran Ann Duque Benjamin Tamayo Lito de Jesus Manuel Perez Madame KC Marianne Malaca Tata Gascon Charisse Almazan

situation engulfing the country.

Diaryo Alberta

The result of the election as reflected by the two graphics below is ripe with ominous speculations. The first (numerical result) gives us an idea of all the political parties performance and peoples’ preferences. It’s also reflects the dominant values held by the electorate (difference -/+). It is safe to say the combined votes for the progressives (Liberals, NDP and Greens) is skewed to the notion that big government is what this country need. Over 34 % of the electorate, though, still held conservative belief – that is less government intrusions and more personal responsibility.

The BQ gain speaks more of the province’s high value of and regard for their “distinctiveness and different-from-the-rest-ofCanada mentality”.

The next graphic is election’s results landscape. It clearly depicts the area of each party’s win. It also mirrors a very fragile

Based on these graphics the following inferences could possibly be in the horizon.

1. The name “Canada” likely comes from the Huron-Iroquois word “kanata,” meaning “village” or “settlement.” Natural Resources Canada. The color-coded map affirmed this definition. Canada is evolving into “balkanization” (is a derogatory geopolitical term for the process of fragmentation or division of a region or state into smaller regions or states that are often hostile or uncooperative with one another). Kanata for those who oppose oilsands. Village for those who’s sole goal is climate protection. Settlement for those who will, over their dead bodies, fight for their right to be distinct from the rest. Region for those who value proper management and usage of natural resources (oil and gas).

Barangay for those who’s goal is for governmentknows-it-all. This is one

Graphic Artist/Sketch Ingraph Limited

Layout

Ingraph Limited

Creative Director Antonio Amorado

Photographers

Lito de Jesus / Kaye Ocampo PROFOLIO PHOTOGRAPHY

The above inferences are not far from reality. Despair not, though. Personal responsibility and accountability are paramount in terms of dealing with the above scenarios. Responsibility and accountability come from the deep belief that man is capable of self refection. Reflection that produces discernment and action. A discernment of what is right and what is wrong. Action that reflects mutual respect and concers for the welfare of the village – we all call Kanata (Canada).

of the downsides of plurality. It’s a big challenge for every political party in the land. The people get what they elect for.

2. Implicitly, each Kanata will convince the country that what they believe is the best path forward for the future. For Have-not-Kanatas status quo is better. Government support and transfer payments are secured. A village used to welfare is rightly entitled to be supported by the rest of Canada’s inhabitants. A

settlement that knows everything and intrude to privacy of its residents’ stipples freedom, liberty and creativity. A settlement that has been an engine of prosperity choked out by the rest of its neighbors will strive more to be strong. To disrupt its economic contribution to the whole land is a sure invitation to social chaos and tragic consequence.

3. Social media exposure becomes the standard measure of leadership.

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Diaryo Alberta invites the community to share news, views & opinions, articles, feedback and pictures. All opinions and views expressed in the Diaryo are that of the individual contributors and should not be considered to reflect the opinions or views of Diaryo Alberta or its staff. Diaryo Alberta reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions and is not responsible for the return of unsolicited materials, artwork & other materials. No part of Diaryo Alberta may be reproduced nor reprinted without the expressed written consent of the publisher.

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The result of the election speaks volume on the influence of selfie and optics. Ethics, integrity, maturity are now just peripheral items of lesser value. Scary is the way young generations are exposed to this kind of permissiveness. Its probably more catastrophic than climate emergency, political correctness, gender-based politics and other progressive ideals.

A village void of ethics, integrity, morality and maturity is far more destructive to all villagers’ future.

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The Voice of the Champions Season 2 Winners Are...

The Voice of the Champions (VOTC) Grand Champion 2019 Adult: Jewel Nierva, 1st Runner up Dante Ramada and 2nd Runner up Chester Paolo Martin

The Voice of the Champion Kid Category 2019

Peoples choice award Facebook Likes & Shares: Chester Paolo Martin

Jeanae Elisha Ventura , 1st Runner up Derek Robert Arellano and 2nd Runner up Gabe Balicanta and Aj Luceno Peoples choice award Facebook likes a shares Elisha Ventura

Peoples choice award voted Dante Ramada

People’s choice award voted: Aj Luceno

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Community News

Alberta Culture Days (Sept 27-29, 2019) Sept 27, 2019 Multicultural Champions Talk

QUESTIONS? visit our website @ www.diaryoalbertasociety.ca

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Community News

Sept 28, 2019 Alberta Glowing Culture

Photo: Raymond Roy Photography

Mosaic of performers and artists.

Scottish dance at its best.

Photo exhibits

“Respect is the key to all cultural understanding” Dr. Arleigh Porte

Photo: DAS

Golden Sparkles signature sway.

Photo: DAS

Photo: DAS

Photo: DAS

Philippine indigenous attire

Val exchange student from Italy.

Photo: DAS

That’s what cultures are for….

Photo: DAS

Millennials’ steps

Photo: DAS

Photo: DAS

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Community News

Global Fest 2019 Human Rights Forum Sept. 25, 2019 Calgary Public Library

DAS Social Responsibility Project Pathway for Hope / Extreme Response Int’l. Taytay, Rizal, Philippines is one of the projects DAS is exploring to nurture and develop. Initially, DAS shipped a boxful of children’s books, beans for feeding program and coconut sugar.

For more info: https://extremeresponse.org/how-we-serve/pathway-for-hope/

While waiting for their mothers (attending livelihood seminar) these kids are enjoying the books sent to them.

More books, please!

(Front, r) Grace (DAS Board member) represented the society with other participants

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October - November 2019

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Provincial News

$9M more for Where to turn Seniors Supports when dealing with Budget 2019 includes an increase of $9 million for Seniors and Housing, ensuring Alberta’s growing seniors population is well-supported.

family violence

November is Family Violence Prevention Month – a reminder for all of us to show our commitment to the prevention of family violence, and make sure everyone knows where to turn when at risk of, or experiencing, family violence.

“It takes a community to work together to prevent and put an end to abuse.

Our government has taken action on preventing domestic violence in this province by passing Alberta’s version of Clare’s Law. This month, we also want to remind people of what supports are available to end family violence and build healthier relationships. There are always places to turn when you’re in need.”

Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Community and Social

Oct. 28, 2019 Alberta Government News Release The ministry will maintain valuable programs that Alberta’s seniors rely on, such as financial support and programs that help seniors pay for home repairs. The ministry will also continue to invest in affordable housing units across the province for seniors and low-income people.

Alberta has the lowest poverty rate among seniors in Canada, thanks in part to the province’s benefits and supports available for seniors with low income. These programs currently support 166,000 seniors across the province.

The ministry’s operating expense budget for 201920 will be $638 million (total operating minus capital grants, amortization and debt servicing).

It will rise to $639 million

in 2021-23 – an increase of 1.4 per cent, or $9 million, compared to 2018-19.

While government gets its fiscal house in order, it is maintaining seniors financial supports at current levels, ensuring the most vulnerable seniors can count on a stable source of income.

Budget 2019 is a balanced plan to create jobs, grow the economy and protect front-line services and supports for the most vulnerable. Government will continue assessing ways to best support Albertans most in need.

“We promised to maintain seniors benefits, and I am proud that Budget 2019 delivers on that promise.

Despite the challenging economic climate, our government is committed to protecting vital services. Our budget helps those most in need of seniors financial assistance, affordable seniors housing and other supports.”

Josephine Pon, Minister of Seniors and Housing

Budget 2019 highlights for seniors • Maintaining seniors’ benefits, including the Alberta Seniors Benefit and Supplementary Accommodation Benefit.

• Alberta Seniors Benefit budget is $309.9 million (2.9 per cent increase due to caseload).

• Maintaining two home-equity loan programs – the Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program (SHARP) and the Seniors Property Tax Deferral program.

• The SHARP loans budget was maintained at $11.5 million. The SHARP grant budget is $1 million to reflect the demand for this program.

• The Seniors Property Tax Deferral Program loans budget was maintained at $8.2 million.

• Investing in new and regenerated affordable housing units for seniors.

• Special Needs Assistance for Seniors budget is $26.3 million (4.8 per cent increase due to caseload).

Services Online tools This year’s digital campaign focuses on a wide range of year-round supports and services available to victims of family violence. These include: • The Family Violence Info Line (310-1818), a helpline available 24 hours a day in over 170 languages.

• Emergency shelters that provide a safe location to stay for people fleeing violent or abusive situations.

• Safer Spaces Certificates for victims of domestic or family violence needing to get out of a tenancy agreement.

• The Alberta SPCA pet safekeeping program for victims of family violence.

• Legal supports.

Resources including fact

sheets, a poster and social graphics are available for download or printing at alberta.ca/EndFamilyViolence.

Go purple The public is encouraged to wear purple during the month of November to show support for family violence prevention, and to use the hashtags #WhereToTurn and #GoPurpleAB when sharing stories on social media. People are also encouraged to share information on supports for victims of family violence throughout the year to help raise awareness and put an end to abuse.

More information on Family Violence Prevention Month and events taking place across the province can be found at alberta.ca/ EndFamilyViolence.

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Vaping: As an imaging scientist I fear the deadly impact on people’s lungs September 15, 2019 Author Grace Parraga Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Western University. Republished under Creative Commons licence.

Vaping causes severe illness in otherwise healthy young adults and teenagers. It causes a life-threatening, life-shortening and sometimes deadly lung toxicity and injury — with apparently irreversible damage that cannot be cured.

A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine on 53 confirmed cases of young e-cigarette users hospitalized with severe lung toxicity and injury clearly shows that this is the case. The average age of these patients was 19.

A relatively short history of vaping has led to hospitalization, weeks of intensive care, lung failure, the urgent need for a heart-lung bypass machine and then, after all attempts have failed, needless deaths in otherwise healthy young people.

As a lung-imaging scientist, I develop new ways to see inside the chest so that lung abnormalities can be easily measured and monitored in patients.

I see the devastating effects inside the lungs of cigarette and cannabis smokers. I also see how the airways are destroyed and how millions of air sacs appear demolished or completely wiped out, all of which results in severe breathlessness, miserable quality of life and then death.

Because of my experience developing new ways to image the lungs and seeing the impact of inhaled smoke and gases on lung health, I have been disturbed that government and other regulators have taken a hands-off approach to the risk of e-cigarettes.

I am alarmed that e-cigarette marketing is so pervasive, persuasive and widespread, especially when this marketing targets children and teenagers in whom lung growth and development has not yet completed.

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Oily substances found inside the lungs In some of the recent reports about patients with vaping-associated lung toxicity, oily substances were found inside their white blood cells, lung tissue and airways.

While these oils may be related to the e-cigarette nicotine and THC mixtures these patients used, it is not clear yet — and remains difficult to understand — how such serious, life-threatening lung disease can be set off by e-cigarette use.

I think it’s helpful to visualize this by imagining a pound of butter as a solid and by melting into a liquid and heating again at high temperatures, the butter becomes a gaseous vapour, which can be inhaled. The buttery vapour coating, while delicious on popcorn, forms a solid again when it cools inside the lungs and becomes a toxic initiator of lung inflammation and failure.

One quarter of high school students vaping E-cigarettes have been

promoted as a safe, cool alternative to cigarettes.

Not surprisingly, this marketing has worked well in children and teens.

During 2017-2018, the rate of high-school students using e-cigarettes in the united States doubled to 21 per cent, which is greater than the rates of tobacco smoking among children and adults alike.

Estimates for 2019 suggest that one quarter of North American high school students use e-cigarettes.

Vaping devices also provide the ultimate flexibility — mixing and matching inserts, oils and active ingredients is relatively easy to do. This means that products are being marketed and sold to kids who have the time and energy to invent new mixtures, have a high tolerance for risk and have a complex need for peer-approval to try them out too.

Late last month, the 18-year-old student athlete was hospitalized after using e-cigarettes for more than a year and a half.

Now his lungs are similar to those of a 70-year-old, doctors told him. https:// cnn.it/34IcGlO What could possibly go wrong? Why are we surprised by the current situation?

Aggressive marketing, lack of safety testing We have known for decades that lung damage

occurs because of chemical exposures in at-risk occupations and from chronic inhalation of gases and smoke, so I wonder why anyone would assume that e-cigarettes would not be dangerous and damaging too?

I wonder why resplendent and aggressive marketing of e-cigarettes is acceptable in corner stores and gas stations everywhere while cigarettes are rightly held, incognito, behind locked, opaque shelves in the same store.

Even worse, small “vape shops” also offer after-market replacement products for free — many of which have dubious origins and no safety testing. This has to be exposed, investigated and stopped.

Fad-flavoured e-cigarettes must be banned For all these reasons, regulation of vaping products,

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their advertisement and placement in stores need to be reconsidered and tightened up like tobacco products.

Fun- and fad-flavoured e-cigarettes that are directly promoted to children should be banned. Healthcare professionals and scientists need to shout out about the dangers, outside of their offices, labs and clinics — until things change.

Multinational corporations including Big Vape, Big Cannabis and Big Tobacco have a history of finding — and will continue to find — new and ingenious ways to profit from adults’, teenagers’ and children’s tragic decisions, addictions and mistaken understandings about inhaled product risks.

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Is your lover insecure? A simple question could transform your romantic relationship Authors Joanne Wood Professor of Psychology, University of Waterloo Kassandra Cortes Assistant Professor, Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University

Disclosure statement Joanne Wood receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Kassandra Cortes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Republished under Creative Commons licence.

Loving an insecure person can be frustrating. You always feel like you have to offer praise or reassurance. Not only can that be exhausting, but in trying to do what you think is helpful, you might actually be making matters worse.

When people with insecurities hear something good about themselves, they tend to doubt or even dismiss it, as much research shows. This means, quite perplexingly, that hearing positive feedback can often raise their anxieties, because it may clash with the more pessimistic views they hold of themselves.

Insecure people may wonder whether their partner truly knows them, or worry that they cannot live up to the partner’s expectations. At times, praise can even lead their minds to argue back; it can trigger unfavourable thoughts about themselves that contradict the praise.

What can loving partners do instead? Try conveying genuine curiosity, rather than compliments. Asking a simple question — “How was your day?” — can show concern without triggering a negative self-assessment.

At the University of Waterloo, we recently conducted a series of studies showing that asking this simple question can make insecure people feel cared for. We ran two survey studies involving 359 adults (aged 18 to 66) across the United States who were in romantic

relationships.

Fly under their insecure radar

To determine our research participants’ level of security and trust in their partner’s love, we gave them a questionnaire assessing how confident they were that their partner loves them, is committed to them and will be responsive to them in times of need. Another questionnaire tapped into their relationship satisfaction.

In two studies, we found that the satisfaction reported by those who usually felt more insecure in their relationships actually increased when their partners asked them about their day.

For people higher in security, who were already high in relationship satisfaction, being asked “How was your day?” was rarely the boost that it was for people lower in security.

Why is asking “How was your day?” effective? We anticipated that this expression of interest, if it is genuine, signals caring.

To test the idea, we conducted another study.

Participants read a scenario in which a couple, Mike and Sarah, had a pleasant, brief conversation after Sarah arrived home from work. Participants in one group read that during that conversation, Mike asked Sarah about her day.

Participants in a second group were not given this detail.

Those who read that Mike asked Sarah about her day predicted that Sarah felt more cared for than participants who were not given this detail. The benefit did not derive from Sarah describing her day; when participants read a scenario about Sarah describing her day, even though Mike had not asked, participants thought Sarah would not feel as cared for as when Mike asked her directly.

We suspect that this care signal works especially well for people low in security because it is subtle and nonthreatening.

It does not make them question why a partner is asking or whether they deserve it. Thus, asking about a partner’s day may fly under the insecure person’s radar.

Curiosity more effective than praise

There is nothing special about the four words, “How was your day?”

Rather, showing genuine interest is special.

In a final study, we brought 162 romantic couples (undergraduates or from the community, between 17 and 47 years of age) into the laboratory and separated them, ostensibly to work on different tasks.

We led participants to believe that their partner had written a note to them. In one group, the partners simply described their own experiences, whereas in the other group, partners described their own experiences, but also asked, “How did your task go? Did you enjoy it?”

Partners lower in security who received the note that asked about their experiences felt more cared for by their partners than those who were not asked.

In contrast, for people higher in security, being asked did not matter. We suspect that people high in security don’t need the signal of interest to feel valued.

We’re not suggesting you should stop praising your insecure partner altogether. The complete absence of praise could be harmful, especially if your partner asks for praise or reassurance. But praise may not accomplish what you want it to. Don’t count on reassurance to convince your partner that you care.

Instead, show interest in him or her by asking, “How was your day?”

Showing attention and interest in someone, especially in a society as filled with distractions as ours, can be the most important signal of caring there is.

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What a minority government could mean for affordable housing in Canada EDT Author Carolyn Whitzman Visiting Professor, Urban Planning, University of Ottawa Disclosure statement Carolyn Whitzman works with the Canadian Housing Research Network Hub based at the University of Ottawa, which receives funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. All opinions expressed in this article are her own.

Reprinted, under Creative Commons licence.

Along with climate change, affordable housing was one of the big issues of the recent Canadian federal election, with political parties scrambling to catch up with public opinion.

The widespread concern among the electorate should not have come as a surprise to politicians.

Only in three per cent of neighbourhoods across Canada can a full-time minimum wage earner afford a two-bedroom apartment.

In many of the ridings with the tightest races in Toronto and Vancouver, more than a quarter of renters are paying over 50 per cent of their household income on rent plus utilities.

Banks have calculated rental housing deficits in the tens of thousands in Canada’s largest cities, which are causing disastrously low vacancy rates.

This broad-based consensus on the need for more affordable housing led to Canada’s first national election housing debate, organized two weeks before the election by a coalition of unusual suspects from across the political spectrum: The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (the industry body for non-profit social housing) and the Cooperative Housing Federation of Canada joined up the with Canadian Real Estate Association and the Canadian Home Builders Association.

Nonetheless, affordable housing was not substantially addressed during the three federal leaders’ debates, a sign that parties may be ignoring the youth vote at their future peril.

‘Stay the course’ At the housing debate, a broad gulf was exposed not only between the two major parties, the Liberals and Conservatives, but also among Liberals and the three parties the newly elected minority government will need to have onside in the coming months and years.

The main message of the

Liberal Party housing platform is “stay the course.”

Justin Trudeau’s first term saw the return of the federal government to a national housing strategy after three decades of policy neglect and declining funds.

Just before the election call, Canada officially made housing a federally legislated right. This enables Canada to honour its international obligations under United Nations conventions. But how this legal change will play out in a global context of increasing commodification of housing, and the importance of adequate housing to global sustainability goals, is still unclear.

Much of the $55 billion that the Liberal government has committed to social and affordable housing will not be spent until at least one election from now, and is also reliant on federal-provincial/territorial agreements that, in the significant case of Québec, are not yet signed.

Doesn’t help the most vulnerable Third-party budget analysis also suggests that the National Housing Strategy does not substantially increase support for the individuals and families most vulnerable to homelessness.

The Conservatives took a radically different perspective when it came to housing policy, promising to further loosen restrictions on mortgages in proposals that seemed similar to the sub-prime lending practices that precipitated the global financial crisis of 2007.

In contrast, the platforms of the the NDP and the Greens promised to substantially increase non-profit housing production five-fold from the Liberal commitment of 100,000 new and renovated dwellings over the next 10 years.

That’s nowhere near close to the recommendation made in 1972 by Michael Dennis and Susan Fish, Progressive Conservative housing policy analysts, to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation that 45 per cent of all new housing production be non-profit. But the NDP and Green proposals would have still allow scaling up social housing to about 10 per cent of production, a proportion achieved between 1965 and 1990.

This scale of non-profit housing production would help eradicate homelessness (as opposed to merely halving the rate, which is the current federal 10-year aim), and would spur the substantial retrofitting of homes for energy effi-

ciency, a vital mechanism if Canada is to achieve carbon reduction targets.

Québec has it right The Bloc Québécois housing platform, which also recommends increased federal spending on social housing, brings up the legitimate point that unlike most other provinces and territories, Québec has had a strong affordable housing policy over the last three decades of neglect.

Its distinct — and successful — approach should be respected as part of any federal-provincial agreement.

Canadian cities that have been left to shoulder the burden of affordable housing and homelessness also want a seat at the policy table in relation to issues like developing community land trusts and implementing inclusionary zoning A gender-based intersectional analysis has been emerging, pointing out that women-led households are three times more likely to be living in housing stress, that racism in landlord-tenant relations is endemic and that Indigenous and new migrant families are more likely to need larger units than those currently being developed at the low end of the market.

Building bridges A Liberal minority government might increase the economic stimulus package embedded in investment in social and affordable housing, and in that way build bridges with the NDP, Green and BQ MPs. Doing so, in addition to clamping down on out-ofcontrol housing speculation, would respond to the concerns of urban voters who helped get this government get elected in Toronto, Montréal and other large cities.

The left-of-centre parties, in turn, could make hay from the fact that a minority government was forced yet again to bring in progressive policies due to their influence.

Unlike divesting in the Trans Mountain pipeline, investment in affordable housing would not further enrage Alberta and Saskatchewan. And it would further create distance from a Conservative approach to housing, which would only help in terms of the next election.

There are many winners in a scenario where a minority government enacts stronger supports for non-profit housing.

The biggest are those who would get secure and affordable homes.

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Cultures in Focus

All-knowing Allbertans! Implications for immigration policies Chinese takeout, tacos or curry? Our multicultural marketplace turns cultures into fetishized objects September 18, 2019 Author. Ela Veresiu Assistant Professor of Marketing, York University, Canada.

Republished under Creative Commons licence.

Does your weekly dinner routine revolve around ethnic cuisines? Have you tried taco Tuesdays, pho Fridays or spaghetti Saturdays? When eating out or ordering in, do you choose ethnic restaurants that offer delicious dishes like dumplings, curry or sushi?

Do you live in an ethnically nicknamed neighbourhood, such as Chinatown, Little Havana or Greektown? Have you ever attended an ethnic festival in your city? Some popular Canadian examples are Vancouver’s Chinese New Year Parade, Mississauga’s MuslimFest and Montreal’s Festival International Nuits d’Afrique.

If you found yourself nodding along to any of the above questions, then you are actively participating in a multicultural marketplace.

These multi-billion-dollar markets celebrate cultural diversity, combine market competition with social inclusion and champion the coexistence of different ethnic communities through individual consumption choices.

My colleague Markus Giesler and I are based at the Schulich School of Business at York University. We decided to dig deeper into these marketplaces to answer a nagging question: do multicultural markets discriminate?

To seek our answer, we conducted a multi-year, multi-stakeholder investigation of one of the world’s most renowned multicultural markets — Toronto.

Canada is often celebrated as a role model of openness, inclusion and respect of ethnic differences. These positive associations are the result of Canadians, starting with former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the champion of multicultural policies, tying the success of the national economy

to a multicultural society.

A perfect illustration of this link is the Canadian Heritage’s video showcasing the annual Canadian Multiculturalism Day. To better understand Canada’s multicultural marketplace, I interviewed a wide range of Canadians including politicians, market researchers, retailers and regular consumers.

These interviews were supplemented with industry data, including Canadian policy documents, political speeches, market research reports and multicultural marketing campaigns. In addition, I attended national industry events, such as Marketing magazine’s multicultural conference.

In a nutshell, our study’s findings, which are published in the Journal of Consumer Research, bring to light a multicultural marketplace that inadvertently turns visible minorities’ cultures into fetishized consumption objects.

How is this done exactly?

Ethnicities as consumption objects Canada’s multicultural marketplace encourages citizens to become consumers of ethnic products.

This type of consumerism superficially engages with different ethnic communities. Consumers engage in it through everyday consumption choices made while shopping at the supermarket, the mall or online.

By celebrating diversity through the marketplace, visible minorities and their cultures are turned into consumption objects.

This means that when we think of other ethnic communities living in our cities, we automatically think of their food, music, clothing and decorations.

In detail, our in-depth

investigation reveals four consumer socialization strategies: envisioning, exemplifying, equipping and embodying. These strategies are used by Canadian politicians, market researchers, brand managers and store owners to create this consumer mindset.

The first strategy of envisioning involves Canadian politicians publicly communicating the ethnic consumer as an ideal citizen type through their public speeches and community engagements.

The second strategy of exemplifying deals with market researchers defining the ideal ethnic consumer through their own data collection,

analysis, reporting and consulting work on the Canadian market and its consumers.

The third strategy, called equipping, comes from Canadian retailers and brand managers making sure that the multicultural marketplace has a wide range of diverse ethnic products, services and advertisements.

The final strategy of embodying includes Canadian citizens becoming ethnic consumers by not only regularly buying different ethnic products themselves, but more importantly by encouraging friends, family and colleagues to also buy ethnic brands and visit ethnic festivals.

Our findings uncover how multicultural marketplaces are not always as entertaining and innocent as they first appear. These markets tend to maintain ethnic divides rather than unite diverse communities.

They do so by fostering marketplace inclusion without necessarily redistributing resources. What this means is we are led to believe that ethnic group conflicts, if they occur, are best managed through spirited market-based competitions. For example, debates over which minority community hosts the better festivals, plays the best music, cooks the most delicious food or designs the most stylish fashion.

These surface debates take place over more complex public debates about power imbalances, racial inequalities and resource

distribution issues.

Today, Canada’s market-based multicultural policies expect visible minorities to brand, package, perform and sell their own ethnicity. But is this a fair expectation?

Our study is important not only for Canada’s future economic success, which relies on immigrants and consumption to fuel the economy, but also for all other immigrant-receiving countries.

Our work has important implications for immigration policies. In the wake of U.S. immigration debates, the European refugee crisis, and Brexit talks on the U.K. leaving the E.U., world leaders continue to struggle with how to best manage increased global migration flows.

We caution against adopting a purely market-based multicultural system that

turns individuals into ethnic consumers. Rather, in order to uncover fairer immigration policies, we urge politicians to no longer treat people as consumers.

Doing so may help us better understand to whose benefit and to whose loss immigration policies and immigrant experiences are shaped today.

Ultimately, our study offers both foreign-born and locally born citizens two critical points for consideration: 1) Just because your culture is represented in a multicultural marketplace through ethnic brands, products and services does not mean that your community is included in broader policy and economic decisions; 2) Consumers should not be complicit in keeping alive social inequalities.

Good character testimonies aren’t a defence for sexual harassment August 14, 2019 Author Martina Orlandi PhD Candidate in Philosophy, McGill University. Republished under Creative Commons licence.

Suppose you’re watching the news, and you learn that someone, let’s call her Mary, has been accused of murdering her colleague Sally. There is compelling evidence that Mary is guilty. Several of Mary’s colleagues come forward to defend her innocence. They insist Mary is a truly kind person. As a proof, they say Mary has never attempted to murder any of them.

Does the fact that Mary has not murdered her colleagues increase or decrease your confidence that Mary has murdered Sally? Probably neither.

The fact that Mary has never attempted to murder her colleagues says nothing about whether she murdered Sally. It’s irrelevant.

Similarly, if someone is accused of stealing your watch, the fact that they did not steal the watch of your friend sitting right next to you says nothing relevant about whether they stole yours.

As reasonable as these arguments may sound, their logic is often ignored when it comes to sexual allegations.

The issue of what people take to be good evidence is one that philosophers have debated for centuries. Philosopher David Hume famously said a “wise man … proportions his belief to the evidence.”

My research on irrational phenomena has led me to confront the relationship between evidence and biases of all kinds.

Philosopher Gilbert Harman argues in his book Change In View that people often refuse to revise our beliefs even in the face of strong counter-evidence. People rationalize to maintain their false

but dear beliefs. Even when they don’t, research has shown that people’s threshold for accepting a belief increases when it comes to dealing with one that’s particularly uncomfortable. Worse, irrational behaviour is not exclusively a prerogative of the uninformed.

Educated people are just as guilty of it, as recent research on anti-vaccination views show: researchers who interviewed more than 5,000 people in 24 countries found that people’s education has no significant relationship with anti-vaccination attitudes. The study also reports that attempts to debunk vaccine-related myths through evidence are ineffective or counterproductive.

The case of sexual allegations is another example of how often debates go off-track and become irrational.

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October - November 2019

A decent man? Actually, it’s OK to disagree.

In the wake of Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation of sexual assault towards Brett Kavanaugh, a letter signed by 65 women testified to his moral character and his good behaviour towards them.

More recently, after Lucy Flores and Amy Lappos brought Joe Biden’s inappropriate behaviour into the spotlight, Meghan McCain called Biden “one of the truly decent and compassionate men in all of American politics,” recalling the support she received from him after her father’s diagnosis of brain cancer.

Joe Biden is one of the truly decent and compassionate men in all of American politics. He has helped me through my father’s diagnosis, treatment and ultimate passing more than anyone of my father’s friends combined.

I wish there was more empathy from our politicians not less.

After Leeann Tweeden accused senator Al Franken of sexual misconduct, Jess McIntosh, Franken’s

spokesperson, said: “I’ve taken thousands of those photos with him and I’ve never seen any behaviour that was questionable. We were together non-stop — like, the only two people staying in a hotel — and nothing happened. I felt completely comfortable.”

Similarly, Karri Turner said “there was nothing inappropriate toward me.”

The implication is that because Kavanaugh, Biden and Franken behaved appropriately with some women, then this tells us something informative about whether the allegations from other women are true.

For their defenders, the implication is that Kavanaugh, Biden and Franken are good guys, and they are good guys precisely because they behaved properly with some women. Because they’re good guys and presumably only non-good guys sexually offend, this should decrease our confidence that they didn’t offend Ford, Flores, Lappos and Tweeden specifically.

A question of character?

Perhaps the reason why people think that these positive testimonies are relevant is that the action of sexual misconduct is linked to the perpetrator’s character. This idea connects with Aristotle’s famous claim that character traits tends to manifest repeatedly.

If we follow this idea, it suggests that sexually harassing someone conveys the message that they are the kind of person who is a sexual harasser.

Because character traits tend to manifest repeatedly, we implicitly think that if someone harassed one person, they are likely to have also harassed others.

So if it can be shown that not everyone they interacted with has been sexually harassed by them, then this may decrease confidence in the belief that they have harassed those women at that specific time.

But while it may be true that character traits tend to manifest repeatedly, repeatedly doesn’t mean

always.

American journalist Megan Garber has called this situation “the familiarity fallacy.” She explains how easy it is to rationalize abuse when committed by those we know personally. Garber says knowing someone doesn’t constitute a legitimate defense from accusations: “an abuser will not abuse everybody.”

A person may respect one person’s personal boundaries, yet disregard another’s. This may be due to perceived power over the second person due to their personal vulnerability, or their social identity.

Sexual harassment is not about sex, but is about asserting dominance.

Factors such as a person’s racialized identity, their class, their ability, their age, the amount of power they are perceived to hold in a particular situation may all also render people more vulnerable to being sexually harassed or otherwise having their personal boundaries disrespected.

Here are 5 ways we can argue better September 12, 2019 Author Hugh Breakey Senior Research Fellow, Moral philosophy, Institute for Ethics, Governance & Law, Law Futures Centre, Griffith University. Reprinted under Creative Commons License.

Argument is everywhere.

From the kitchen table to the boardroom to the highest echelons of power, we all use argument to persuade, investigate new ideas, and make collective decisions.

Unfortunately, we often fail to consider the ethics of arguing. This makes it perilously easy to mistreat others — a critical concern in personal relationships, workplace decision-making and political deliberation.

The norms of argument Everyone understands there are basic norms we should follow when arguing.

Logic and common-sense dictate that, when deliberating with others, we should be open to their views. We should listen carefully and try to understand their reasoning. And while we can’t all be Socrates, we should do our best to respond to their thoughts with clear, rational and relevant arguments.

Since the time of Plato, these norms have been defended on what philosophers call “epistemic” grounds. This means the norms are valuable because they promote knowledge, insight and self-understanding.

What “critical thinking” is to internal thought processes, these “norms of argument” are to interpersonal discussion and deliberation.

Why ‘ethical’ arguing is important In a recent article, I contend that these norms of argument are also morally important.

Sometimes this is obvious.

For example, norms of argument can overlap with common-sense ethical principles, like honesty.

Deliberately misrepresenting a person’s view is wrong because it involves knowingly saying something false.

More importantly, but less obviously, being reasonable and open-minded ensures we treat our partners in argument in a consensual and reciprocal way. During arguments, people open themselves up to attaining worthwhile benefits, like understanding and truth.

If we don’t “play by the rules”, we can frustrate this pursuit.

Worse, if we change their minds by misleading or

bamboozling them, this can amount to the serious wrongs of manipulation or intimidation.

Instead, obeying the norms of argument shows respect for our partners in argument as intelligent, rational individuals. It acknowledges they can change their minds based on reason.

This matters because rationality is an important part of people’s humanity.

Being “endowed with reason” is lauded in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights to support its fundamental claim that humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Obeying the norms of argument also has good effects on our character.

Staying open-minded and genuinely considering contrary views helps us learn more about our own beliefs.

As philosopher John Stuart Mill observed, He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that.

This open-mindedness helps us combat the moral perils of bias and groupthink.

What’s more, the norms of argument aren’t just good for individuals, they are also good for groups.

They allow conflicts and collective decisions to be approached in a respectful, inclusive way, rather than forcing an agreement or escalating the conflict.

Indeed, arguments can make collectives. Two arguers, over time, can collectively achieve a shared intellectual creation. As partners in argument, they define terms, acknowledge areas of shared agreement, and mutually explore each other’s reasons. They do something together.

All this accord with everyday experience. Many of us have enjoyed the sense of respect when our views have been welcomed, heard and seriously considered. And all of us know what it feels like to have our ideas dismissed,

misrepresented or caricatured.

Why we have trouble arguing calmly Unfortunately, being logical, reasonable and open-minded is easier said than done. When we argue with others, their arguments will inevitably call into question our beliefs, values, experience and competence.

These challenges are not easy to face calmly, especially if the topic is one we care about. This is because we like to think of ourselves as effective and capable, rather than mistaken or misguided.

We also care about our social standing and like to project confidence.

In addition, we suffer from confirmation bias, so we actively avoid evidence that we are wrong.

Finally, we may have material stakes riding on the argument’s outcome.

After all, one of the main reasons we engage in argument is to get our way. We want to convince others to do what we want and follow our lead.

All this means that when someone challenges our convictions, we are psychologically predisposed to hit back hard.

Worse still, our capacity to evaluate whether our opponents are obeying the norms of argument is poor. All the psychological processes mentioned above don’t just make it hard to argue calmly and reasonably. They also trick us into mistakenly thinking our opponents are being illogical, making us feel as if it’s them, and not us, who’s failing to argue properly.

How should we navigate the moral complexity of arguing?

Arguing morally isn’t easy, but here are five tips to help: 1. Avoid thinking that when someone starts up an argument, they are mounting an attack. To adapt a saying by Oscar Wilde, there is only one thing in the world worse

than being argued with, and that is not being argued with. Reasoned argument acknowledges a person’s rationality, and that their opinion matters.

2. There is always more going on in any argument than who wins and who loses. In particular, the relationship between the two arguers can be at stake. Often, the real prize is demonstrating respect, even as we disagree.

3. Don’t be too quick to judge your opponent’s standards of argument.

There’s a good chance you’ll succumb to “defensive reasoning”, where you’ll use all your intelligence to find fault with their views, instead of genuinely reflecting on what they are saying.

Instead, try and work with them to clarify their reasoning.

4. Never assume that others aren’t open to intelligent argument.

History is littered with examples of people genuinely changing their minds, even in the most high stakes environments imaginable.

5. It’s possible for both sides to “lose” an argument. The recently announced inquiry into question time in parliament provides a telling example. Even as the government and opposition strive to “win” during this daily show of political theatre, the net effect of their appalling standards is that everyone’s reputation suffers.

The upshot There is a saying in applied ethics that the worst ethical decisions you’ll ever make are the ones you don’t recognise as ethical decisions.

So, when you find yourself in the thick of argument, do your best to remember what’s morally at stake.

Otherwise, there’s a risk you might lose a lot more than you win.

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October - November 2019

YMOR

from the Readers: Madame KC

“Sana ang paghusga sa tao ay para ring pag-checheck ng test papers. Gaano man karami ang mga kamalian, sa huli mga tama pa rin ang binibilang” Dear Madame KC, Hello to you and to your readers!

Almost 7 years na akong kasal and have 2 kids.

Sadly, I wanted to get out of his life and give him what he wants. Hoping he`ll met someone na aabot sa standards nya. I admit me pagka iresponsable ako (siya naman kasi lahat nag dedesisyon sa bahay).

Hindi ko rin kase maalis yung shopping sa buhay ko but besides that, wala na. Hindi naman din ako nakapagtapos ng pagaaral. Pero may trabaho naman ako, minsan dalawa o tatlo pa nga. Hindi naman ako nanghihingi ng pera sa kanya. Gumawa naman ako ng adjustment para kahit paano hindi nya ako maliitin, para lang maayos kami as family.

Pero hindi pa rin kame naging okay.

Dumating na kame sa point na nagsumbatan, nagpalitan ng masasakit na salita at aktong maghihiwalay. Pero hindi ko kaya kase gusto ko sana kapag aalis ako ng bahay eh mauunawaan ng mga anak ko kung bakit kame maghihiwalay. Hindi ko alam kung nasasaktan rin sya sa sitwasyon namin, pero tingin ko hindi. Yung respeto ko sa kanya

pinapakita ko parin, di tulad nya na parang araw-araw ng buhay ko ginagawa nyang parang ang sikip at ang hirap huminga. Dinadaan daanan ka lang. May sasabihin ka hindi sya nakikining, kapag me sinabi sya dapat nakikining ka. Magbibigay ka ng opinyon balewala sa kanya, magbibigay sya ng opinyon dapat yun ang masusunod. Parang ang gusto nya eh total control sakin. Hindi naman sakin issue yun power or authority sa relasyon pero syempre gusto ko meron respeto sakin. Hindi yun kahit sa harap ng pamilya/ kaibigan namin nababastos ka na. Maririnig mo na nagisisi sya bakit ako pinakasalan nya, na kesyo kung may pagkakataon raw hindi ako yung pipiliin nya.

Ewan ko dahil lang ba sa wala akong natapos, hindi na mapapag-pasensyahan? Hindi naman ako nawawalan ng trabaho, I make sure na may maibibigay din ako.

I’m starting to hate this life. I just remain positive kapag nakikita ko yun dalawa kong anak.

Lissa

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Dear Lissa, Dapat malaman mo kung ano ba ang puno’t dulo ng pinag dadaanan ninyong mag-asawa. Ito ba ay dahil sa pera? Sa pag-uugali? Insecurities?May third party ba?

Ano mang lamat sa relasyon ay may pinagmumulan. Maging open ka sa mga nararamdaman mo sa iyong asawa. Hindi niya ito malalaman kung ikaw mismo ang nagkikimkim ng galit.

Kung mag hihiwalay kayo at sa tingin mo hindi kayo apektado mag-asawa, sa tingin mo ba hindi maapektuhan ang mga anak ninyo?

Hindi ba sila ang kawawa? Mahirap lumaki ang mga bata sa isang broken family.

If you and your husband can’t really talk things over between the two of you, then you might need marriage counselling (either from a marriage counsellor, your parents, elders sa church or ninong/ninang ninyo sa kasal). But if after and still it didn’t work out, at least both of you tried saving your marriage. There is no one to blame. Considering na may mga anak kayo, separation will be your last option. And most of all don’t forget to ask guidance from above.

Madame KC “God is the best listener. You don’t need to shout nor cry out loud. Because He hears even the very silent prayer of a sincere heart.”

Canadians have spoken!

Canadians elected a new federal government last month. This is the moment where one’s opinion counts. An opportunity that all eligible voters took and exercised with passion.

People deserve a government that is credible, upholds the law, ensures free expressions and encourages personal responsibility / accountability.

Competing parties done their best. The ruling party flooded the media with its moving forward narrative in the areas of gender, feminism and public spending. The opposition drummed up the importance of economic prosperity, personal responsibility and rule of law. One party that cares more on the health of the environment and climate gained grounds. The role of working class and big government remained the guiding light the fourth

party running. From Quebec a fifth party emerged.

It’s appeal rest on the sensitivities of ordinary Canadians with respect to social issues like immigration and economic opportunities.

Though these parties differed on some key issues, yet they have the same goal in mind. The welfare and well being of Canadians are at the helm of their governing priorities.

A question that helped one choose the best party was: In the event of chaos (war, calamities, poverty, terrorism, cyber crimes, etc. which are now common occurring facts of life), what party was capable of securing, providing and protecting Canadians?

Chaos in the forms of natural calamities or wars are no respecter of culture, race, gender, economy, pipelines, beluga, environment and human rights.

Chaos magnifies the basic

need of man – survival.

Survival is only possible when the basic needs of man are met – food, water, shelter, clothing, rule of law and secure society.

How to maintain and sustain these needs both in times of prosperity and chaos are the cardinal functions of any governing party.

It’s our choice. It’s our life, It’s our vote. Don’t be misled by optics, selfie, fame, celebrity status or form. What is behind the mask, skin colour, smile, – the things seldom reported or captured by camera - credibility, integrity, ethics, authenticity and humility – are the things that matter most. We need substance over form!

Now that Canadians have spoken, it is imperative for the new government to exceed all people’s expectations and promises made.

MannyChanic

Block Heater Manny Perez

First of all what is it and why? A block heater warms the engine coolant, which warms the engine block and the oil. Winter can be hard on your vehicle, and a block heater keeps your engine warm to protect several parts and components, and to make it easier for your vehicle to start.

Starting an engine when it’s severely cold stresses your engine. When it’s cold, your oil gets thick, resulting of at least a couple negative side effects.

First, thicker oil increases the amount of work required by the starter

to turn the crank engine.

That creates longer starting times which would drain your battery. Second, when oil is too thick, it can’t shoot through all the engine’s channels to lubricate critical components specially the upper part of the engine. The result is when your engine starts, those parts scrape against each other without any lubrication. When the engine starts, it pumps oil through the engine block to lubricate moving parts.

Less oil flow means more friction — and that means engine parts wear faster than they should. So, this will prevent us to start and warm up our vehicle for about 10 to 15 minutes. But when its plug in, vehicle will warm up in 5 minutes. That means you save gas and reduce

tailpipe emissions.

Whats the ideal temperature and how long? While many drivers plug their vehicles in every night in the winter, you only need to use your block heater once the temperature reaches – 15 C. According to Natural Resources Canada, 3 hours minimum to 4 hours maximum. Why we can’t just plug in overnight? Some studies found that block heater can heat up the engine maximum of 4 hours. After that, the extra heat is lost to the cold air outside. Ok guys now we have reason to go to Canadian tires or Home depot to buy block heater timer.

Well, stay warm this winter folks and enjoy your holidays.

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LUSH FASHION SHOW Sharina Dumaran

What a night of glam for LUSH! CALGARY International Fashion and Arts Week 2019 presented LUSH, which stood for Lifestyle, Unconventional, Selfless, and High Fashion.

The show was in support to the Calgary-Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the cure, presented by Spotlight Couronne International Inc. (SCI). The event was full of energy and excitement. Amazing designers John Ablaza, Kenny Lagada and INSIG. NIA showcased their artistic designs.

Even on a snowy Sunday afternoon, everyone still made it with high heels, suits and beautiful dresses. As you enter the room the show was very inviting. The decoration was fantastic; it reminded me of an enchanted garden. It was surrounded with backdrop of flowers, beautiful dresses on display and they even had a peacock at the entrance.

Lerma Oruna did an incredible job decorating the place.

The night was filled with anticipation as the photographers stood on the stage waiting for the models. Everyone was seated around the runway.

The runway was like a shinny mirror reflecting everyone that walked by.

It was hosted Gloria Gift native of Uganda from Toronto, her cheerful and upbeat personality put everyone in a good mood.

She was funny, engaging and pleasant. DJ Hanea Allado and Michael Agelo Allado music was fluid and enchanting, it made the show lively.

One of the cutest things to watch was the SCI kids.

They walked the runway like professional models, with their hands to their hips swaying back and forth. They walked confidently in the catwalk without being shy. They boldly looked the cameras as the crowd cheered them on. SCI is a Personality Development Training Camps and Productions for models and pageants to gain confidence. They help young professional develop character, healthy lifestyle and be a contributor to the community.

Kenny Lagada fashion was the first one to be introduced. Kenny is originally from Davao City. During his past time as a child he collected cut offs from news papers and magazines, that was start of his passion for design. His father was against him being gay and he had to hide playing Barbie dolls or playhouse. He started drawing and stretching during his free time and spent his weekend cutting out sketches from fashion magazine and newspapers. After high school he wanted to take Fashion Design and Fine Arts, but due to financial difficulties, he enrolled in Hotel and Restaurant Management. When he graduated his father said he will support him being a fashion designer. He applied in a big fashion house and started as an assistant. His job was to clean the shop, serve coffee to clients and fix the mess of the designers. His breakthrough in fashion was Sagala Gown Competion in 2012 in SM City Davao. He then started his own business Kenny Lagada Couture in Davao City. His designs have been featured locally and internationally. His creations are known for elegance and couture. He uses local fabrics found in Mindanao and Davao and gives it a little twist with beadings, textile infusion and weaving.

Second designer they feature was Insig.nia, it is proudly a Filipino-Canadian company, run and operated by Hanes Anotado.

She says, “Manufacturing is strictly only here in Calgary or in Philippines.

They employ both Filipino and Filipino-Canadians and so their pieces are really a testament of their craftsmanship of the Filipino heritage. They would like to be able to share that culture of couture of clothing to their Canadian friends. In the Philippines couture clothing is very popular and it is almost part of the Filipino Culture. Through Insignia she would like to bring that cultural experience abroad and also share it with other ethnicities. She believes our local artisans’ talents should be seen on much broader stage and so hopefully the company grows, more and more people will see their talents.”

Insignia couture collection

is elegant, unique and trendy. Their bold artistic designs would be for great special occasions such as wedding and parties.

Third designer was John Ablaza, born and raised in Caloocan, Manila. John was a trained and educated in Horiculture. In 1982 he landed a job as an interior decorator in Taiwan, a florist and decorator of Asiaworld Plaza Hotel.

His call for fashion ended interior decorating career, John flew back to the Philippines and launched his career in fashion design. He is Philippines first eco-couture designer.

For 30 years he has been creating high end fashion accessorized by natural materials such like tree bark, seeds and coconut beads. Ablaza’s creations are environmentally friendly, nature blended with glamour. John believes in being socially responsible, his proceeds support for children with autism and Down’s syndrome, cancer patients and street children on Cebu City. In Canada he supports Interim Places that provide shelter, counselling for abused kids and women. His work is known nationally and internationally, he has been featured in many magazines such Mod Magazine, Woman’s Home Journal and many more.

The show was amazing Limuel Hayag Vilela, Michael Siervo and All Seasons Décor did a fabulous job putting the event together. Some suggestions on their next event, to have food available, some family and friends who supported the models could have used some snacks. Even if it was sold on the side, it would have been nice to see a Filipino vendor, to showcase some hors d’oeuvres. Flashing lights would have been groovy to see. Intermissions were needed give people a break to powder up, go to the washroom and get drinks. A lot of people were getting up during the show. And lastly, the event should been held on a Saturday, due to school and work. Other than that, I had a great time, the models were very professional, place was very well decorated, music was enjoyable and the designer’s creativity was spectacular.

October - November 2019

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Entertainment