FCM Issue #9 Creating a Legacy by Filipino Canadian Magazine

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Issue #9 | 2018 |

You want to make an impact on others You want to discover and fulfill your mission in life You want to live to your full potential You want to take action towards your goals You want to learn how to leverage your relationships You want to achieve your SUCCESS in life, career, or business You do not want to waste any more of your time

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FCM THE TEAM

CONTENTS

FCM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FILIPINO CANADIAN MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY | FICA Media Inc. EDITOR | Abel Pagaling CO-EDITOR | Annabelle Cayetano Pagaling MAGAZINE DESIGNER | Eric Cordero DIRECTOR OF SALES & EXPANSION | Arce Morales DIRECTOR OF MARKETING | Kathy Arellano BDIC TEAM | Caterina Diaz, Steven Ogoc, Hanea Allado Madeahl Yamyamin, Nue Hechanova PHOTOGRAPHY PARTNER | PROFOLIO PHOTOGRAPHY www.profoliophotography.com CONTRIBUTORS FOR THIS ISSUE | Ariell Xavier Arevallo, Abel Pagaling, Abe Brown, Apple Cebedo, Julia Lim, Maria Asprer

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in FCM are not necessarily the views of the publisher. To submit an article to FCM, Email: info@filcanmagazine.com.

FCM - FILIPINO CANADIAN MAGAZINE FICA MEDIA INC. 207, 264 Midpark Way SE, Calgary, Alberta Canada T2X 1J6 Toll free: 1-888-844-1633 www.filcanmagazine.com info@filcanmagazine.com Facebook: facebook/filcanmagazine Twitter: @filcanmagazine Instagram: @filcanmagazine CEO | Abel Pagaling COO | Eric Cordero EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR | Vicky Cordero SOCIAL MEDIA ADMISTRATOR | Annabelle Pagaling FINANCE DIRECTOR | Juvanie Cabbab Bowen

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Phone: 1-888-844-1633 advertise@filcanmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe, email: info@filcanmagazine.com Written consent must be obtained from the publisher to reproduce any of the contents.

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Four Ways Filipinos Can Impress Their Bosses

How Can I Build My Business In A Challenging Economy?

By Abel Pagaling

By Abe Brown

Our Canadian Journey: Struggles, Faith, and Triumph

The Winning Edge

By Maria Asprer

By Ariell Xavier Arevallo

14 5 Ways to Get Motivated By Apple Cebedo

Young Winnipegers Working Through the Making a Challenges of Raising Filipino Kids in a Canadian Society Difference Through By Abel Pagaling â&#x20AC;&#x153;Volunteeringâ&#x20AC;? By Julia Lim

Cover Story:

A Meeting With Marlon Antonio In Pursuit of Excellence By Abel Pagaling

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FCM - Filipino Canadian Magazine was the officlal media partner of the BusinessWise conference that was held on March 17, 2018, at the CLC - Champion Life Center (www.clccalgary.com). It was a successful event with amazing speakers from various industries. Speakers: Tim Kwan, Angie Ostojic, Abel Pagaling, Eldee Reyes, Michael Siervo, and a special guest Jerry Caingcoy founder of TFCC - The Filipino Champions of Canada.

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MESSAGE FROM FCM

The High Cost of Not Living to Your Potential

oday more than ever, there is a definite need for us to live our potential and take advantage of the vast opportunities available to us. There has never been a better time to realize what we are fully capable of achieving. The world has opened up, and the opportunities are boundless. Technology and innovation have made our world smaller. Racial and gender barriers are disappearing. The internet has made information accessible to virtually everyone. Education can be done anywhere thanks to the internet. News reaches us within seconds via powerful social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Each day, there is a massive flow of knowledge and information as new data, discoveries, and observations are made around the world. With all these advancements and freedom that we enjoy, why is it that a vast majority of us are not living to our potential? Why are we not achieving our goals? Imagine for a moment that you own a Boeing 747 airplane with a capacity to carry 400 passengers. Now imagine flying this massive plane across the Pacific with only ten passengers. This would be a very costly flight and the financial loss to you would be significant. Imagine again coming back home with only 20 regular passengers. Then imagine the same thing happening for ten days… And then a month… One year… Five years… And 20 years, until finally, your plane’s lifecycle ends. Unfortunately, many of us are like the owner of this jumbo plane. We own a vehicle called “life” that we pilot each day, but we’re not living it to our full potential. We’re flying “empty,” wasting away our most important resources – “time and attention.” We let life pass on by just to “get by.” We live to survive and pay the bills instead of living to create a life by our own design. We’ve traded our legacy for our paycheck and called it “income security.” We’ve allowed our companies to limit how high we can go. We’ve let our boss determine our income.

Our career potential is dependent not on our abilities, but on who will leave the company or retire so we can fill the “open” position. We’ve let our work title and position determine our contribution at the workplace, not allowing ourselves to “think outside of the box” for fear of rocking the boat or losing our job. In short, we allowed ourselves to carry only ten passengers when we know we are capable of so much more. As you read on our top articles for 2017, I hope you’re reminded that you have great potential in you. And as you read Marlon Antonio’s story, picture yourself traveling your own success story. In the coming issues, I will continue to discuss the high cost of not living your potential. Think of it as a series of lessons from a coach.

Your coach, Abel Pagaling, NLC – Next Level Coach

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Four Ways Filipinos Can Impress Their Bosses By Abel Pagaling

he current high employment rate shows there are more employees than there are jobs available. At the same time, global competition is putting pressure for businesses to be lean and profitable. This means businesses will look at everything within their operation to ensure they have the most efficient process and the BEST employees. Processes that don’t add value will be scrapped. And employees who underperform or just meet the expectations will find themselves looking for another job sooner or later.

constantly.

With a tight job market, you don’t want to be the one knocking on businesses’ doors. Ask those who have been out of the job and they’ll tell you how tough it can be for many of them to land that next position before the employment insurance runs out.

If your boss asks you about an item in your line of work, you need to be able to give an expert answer.

Here are four ways to impress your boss the RIGHT WAY so you don’t become part of the statistics. 1. Focus on the outcome, not on your activities. Looking busy to fill your time in the workplace is a non-starter if you want to stay employed. Being busy with work activities will not necessary remove you from the “lay-off ” list, although it might put you at the bottom. What you want is to be on the “essential employees” list. These are the people your company can’t afford to lose. To be on this list, you need to deliver results, which means you need to focus on the outcome, not on your activities? Be clear on the value you are adding to your organization. You need to deliver results

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For example, if you’re asked to complete an item at 3 pm, complete it by 2 pm, and ask for another task or project to work on. You might not get a new item, but the gesture will impress your boss. He knows you’ll get the job done and that you’re not wasting company time. 2. Show up over-prepared for your role. Know your material, and know it well.

Too many employees prepare only for scheduled meetings. If you want to impress, you need to be a walking expert on what you do. There’s nothing more impressive to an employer than over-prepared staff who know her work inside and out. Anticipate questions your boss might have for you. Speak his language. Be his go-to person. Strive to be worth more than the company is paying you. 3. Work with change. Competition creates change, which means you will encounter change sooner or later. This could be a new workflow, new technology, or a new boss. Don’t be the employee who resists change because “it doesn’t make sense” to you. If you have a new boss, establish a good relationship right away. If there’s a new tool or software you need to start using, do your homework and learn it quickly. If you want to impress your boss, learn more than what’s required.

The bottom line is when there is change, get the ball rolling ASAP. Be adaptable. There is no “good” change or “bad” change. There’s only change. How you respond to the change is what will make it “good” or “bad.” Embrace change and see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Remember, “How you see it, is how you feel it.” In the workplace, delivering results is what keeps the lights on. And when the lights are on, you have an employer. Impress your boss with you action, not your negative reaction. Work with the change. 4. Give new ideas. Bosses are primarily tasked with two things.. results, and how to deliver them.

The first three suggestions dealt with results – focus on the outcome, be over-prepared, and working with change. But to impress your boss, suggest new ideas. Look for ways to improve your results, your team’s results, then your department’s results. Be the “outside of the box” thinker. One bright idea could significantly improve your team’s performance. Have several of those every year and you will make it easy for your boss to carry out your quarterly or yearly performance reviews. It will also make it difficult for her to put you on the chopping board list. Your job is your livelihood, but it can also be your adventure. Be the employee that your boss will run towards, not run away from. Impress your boss the right way and who knows, you might get the higher position from a former employee who just “did” what they needed to do.

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How Can I Build My Business in a Challenging Economy?

By Abe Brown

business upward?

lot of businesses are struggling right now. Even if the economy seems a little more solid, risks continue to abound, and the landscape is always shifting. As a coach, I hear questions like these daily: Do you have any solid coaching advice for managing the risks, getting through the "lows" and moving my

Today, we are facing a challenging economy. In the spring, a farmer has to till the soil, deal with the weeds, and begin planting the seed, while cultivating and waiting for a harvest which comes later. In the same way, businesses need to work with diligence in the low end of the business cycle so that they reap a harvest later. What is the main difference between today and 20 years ago? It’s the fact that there are literally millions of voices, and millions of choices. 20 years ago, the voices were limited, and the choices were even more confined. So, as businesses, how do we stand out? By focusing on building our Brand Essence. A brand is the unique and distinctive visual, emotional, and cultural image that you associate with a company or product. We need to spend time celebrating our uniqueness: your voice. Your voice consists of the problems you’re solving, the questions you’re answering, the solutions you’re providing, and the wounds you’re healing. It incorporates your unique communication style and flavor. Your Brand is the entire experience customers have with you. It’s what you stand for, a commitment you make, and your personality. And while it includes your logo and colors, those are only the creative components of your Brand that may change from year to year. Your Brand lives in every interaction with clients. Here are three ways you can enhance the essence of your Brand: 1) Be Distinctive – Find a couple of ways to enhance your Brand tangibly – and focus there. Unless your business has one or two “big ideas”, it will pass like a ship in the night. 2) Be Consistent – Repetition works. Potential clients must see your Brand dozens of times. That’s why companies advertise. They understand repetition. 3) Be Seen as an Expert - If you establish yourself as an expert in your field, you will not need to find your clients; they’ll find you. Find the 1-3 specific areas where you can excel. Focus on being seen as an expert in those areas. Reach out with blogging, speaking, writing, presenting, sharing, connecting, and advertising. Be seen as an expert.

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One final thing as coaches within the Certified Coaches Federation. It is critical we are not just seen as experts, but that we actually are experts. In other words, please don’t neglect your personal and professional development as a coach. Invest in your growth as a coach, early, often, and intelligently. Boldly explore our Certified Master Coach Practitioner Training (https://certifiedcoachesfederation.com/ certifications/certified-master-coach-practitioner/), or the Healthy Wealthy and Wise Coaching Program (http://healthywealthyandwise. lpages.co/healthy-wealthy-and-wise-coaching-program-welcome/), which literally has every tool and training you need to develop as a “next-level” coach, and also gives you a coach yourself. Every quality coach not only coaches others but receives coaching themselves. Michael Eisner, the CEO of Disney, said, “A brand is a living entity - and it is enriched or undermined cumulatively over time, the product of a thousand small gestures." What is your personal Brand? As a leader, what do you want to be known for? You can’t be known for everything, so be clear on what you want to be known for. In this challenging time, like the farmer, diligently work the soil by building your Brand. The harvest will absolutely come.

Abe Brown is the Coach’s Coach, and the President of the Certified Coaches Federation (www.certifiedcoachesfederation.com). He is also the Founder and President of Momentum Coaching (www.momentumcoaching.ca). The Certified Coaches Federation has trained and certified over 13,000 Life and Executive Coaches in the last 10 years, and Momentum Coaching has experienced triple digit growth for several years. The Certified Coaches Federation is the premier Coach Training and Certification organization in the world. With Momentum Coaching, Abe does Leadership and Executive Coaching, and works with organizations around strategic planning, cultivating fully engaged employees, and facilitating coaching and training programs.

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Get Off Your Butt: 5 Ways to Get Motivated By Apple Cebedo

ach one of us has our own health and fitness journey, and each one of us struggle in achieving our goals. One of the biggest struggles we face is the lack of motivation to start living a healthier lifestyle. We all know itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better for us to eat healthy and exercise, but we all struggle to push ourselves into actually doing it. Motivation plays a huge factor in achieving our goals and it all starts in the mind. The more positive our thoughts are, the more positive our actions are, and the more successful we will be!

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Here are 5 ways to get motivated: 1. Find your WHY. Think about ‘WHY’ you want to be healthy. Is it to lose weight? Gain/build muscle? Increase flexibility? Eat better to avoid illness? Those are all great physical goals. But think about your mental and emotional goals as well. Do you want to achieve a certain level of accomplishment? Do you waste time by making excuses and would like to change that? Do you want to be more confident? Do you want to SUCCEED? Your ‘Why’ will be the center of your goals and will be the purpose for you to change your life. It will help motivate you to do ANYTHING. Think about it. You can change the way you think if you let yourself! What is YOUR Why? 2. Set one, small goal. Set goals and start small. Drink one more glass of water every day this week. Eat out only once a week. Walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator at work. Have only 2 cookies instead of 3. Progress takes time and it’s better to set smaller, achievable goals and accomplish them one by one rather than setting a big goal that’s too complicated and you won’t even know where to start. Not only will you be more successful in doing so, it will be less stress for you and you will see results quicker, which will motivate you even more!

reminder on your phone for when you have to drink water and eat a proper meal. Make sure you eat breakfast every morning to kick start your day. Prepare your meals ahead of time. Remind yourself every day that it matters to you. 4. Draw inspiration from positive sources. “Life is too short…” You’ve heard this phrase time and time again. Be yourself and don’t allow negativity to affect your life. If it doesn’t lift you up, leave it on the bottom. It will stay there, but you won’t. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Do activities that make you happy. Go to places you’ve always wanted to go. Just live! Nothing holds you back more than your own insecurities. Conquer them and be brave. You will love yourself more for it. 5. Believe in yourself. Motivation starts internally – from within yourself. It all starts with YOU. Nobody will do it for you but YOU. If YOU want success, YOU have to work for it. If YOU want to change your lifestyle, YOU have to do it. If YOU want to be better, YOU have to do more than ‘good’. Your accomplishments are yours, your successes are yours, your happiness is yours. Be proud of your journey – no matter how small or big your achievements will be, or how long it may take, or how many sacrifices you will make. The journey is the most exciting and rewarding part of it all, the destination is just a bonus. So keep pushing, keep going, and keep being a better YOU!

3. Prioritize. “Health is wealth.” Yes, it’s a cliché, but it is 100% true. When you are healthy, you can do anything you set your mind to. But you have to tell yourself that it’s important, otherwise, you won’t do it! Prioritize your health and you will be amazed at the results that follow. Schedule your workouts in your calendar. Set a

Apple Cebedo is a Fitness Trainer, Nutritionist, and an Independent Beachbody Health Coach based in Calgary, Alberta. She is passionate about health, fitness, nutrition, and hopes to motivate and inspire others to live healthier, happier lives. If you are looking for help to get started with your health and fitness journey, she can be contacted via email at abcebedo@gmail.com.

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Engineer Lourdes (Lulu) Lugue

In Pursuit of Excellence:

Polluted water does not stand a chance against this passionate Filipino Process Engineer (This article was originally posted at www.thefilipinochampionsofcanada.com) By Abel Pagaling

n the Filipino community, we have many talented singers, entertainers, and my favorite, boxers. These individuals have worked hard and excelled in their craft. I’ve observed that they fill the social media space. The “stars” of the entertainment scene dominate the spotlight and fans follow them with great interest. Just look at the “Likes” and “Comments” on Facebook or Instagram whenever a new photo or a story about an artist is posted. But outside the entertainment scene, there are Filipinos – engineers, accountants, doctors, nurses, public servants – who are making significant impact in our communities. They are the quiet representatives of the Filipino community. They overcame significant challenges so they too, like the stars in the entertainment industry, can shine in their chosen discipline. But their motivation is not to capture the spotlight but to pursue excellence in their field of work. In my view, these are the individuals that truly show the best of what we Filipinos have to offer. They are the people that inspire me. One such inspirational person is Lourdes Lugue. I call her Tita Lourdes. Tita Lourdes is one of the leading engineers of the City of Calgary. She’s also one of those City employees who ensures that the City of Calgary’s water environment is safe and clean. But before I talk about her role in the City of Calgary, I’d like to talk about her inspiring journey in pursuit

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of excellence in the field of engineering. But outside the entertainment scene, there are Filipinos – engineers, accountants, doctors, nurses, public servants – who are making significant impact in our communities. They are the quiet representatives of the Filipino community. They overcame significant challenges so they too, like the stars in the entertainment industry, can shine in their chosen discipline. But their motivation is not to capture the spotlight but to pursue excellence in their field of work. In my view, these are the individuals that truly show the best of what we Filipinos have to offer. They are the people that inspire me.

Tita Lourdes was born in Pangasinan but grew up in Pampanga. Her family is a family of academics which is very impressive. She has 7 siblings: 1. One graduated with a degree in Economics and has CGA designation 2. One graduated as a Nutritionist 3. One an electrical engineer 4. One Orthodontist 5. One very successful business lady with an MBA 6. One surgeon 7. One with a degree in Foreign Studies But of all the siblings, I think Tita Lourdes is the most studious. She has two bachelor’s degree in engineering – Civil and Environmental, and a Masters in Environmental Engineering. She also completed a certificate in Continuing Education at the University of Calgary where she now teaches a Waste Management Course to post-graduate students. While her credentials look impressive, the story of how she got there is what really inspired me. “There were only 10 ladies in the engineering class, and the majority were men,” said Tita Lourdes about her university years. “We didn’t have internet back then, so I was always studying and doing research through available books in the University library. While many students partied, my friends and I focused on our studies until we finished. Now all or my barkadas are very successful in the Philippines and here in Canada.”

But Tita Lourdes did not stop there. She went to Belgium to pursue her masters in engineering. And it wasn’t easy. At the second year of her study, she became pregnant with her first baby. While most students would pause or slow down given such circumstance, Tita Lourdes pressed on, determined to complete her studies. “I was due to give birth, so I requested to write my exams ahead of time. My program coordinator was so impressed. Even with my baby, I graduated second place in the entire class.”

Now, Tita Lourdes is a Senior Process Engineer for the City of Calgary where she plays a key role in keeping Calgary’s water system free of toxic pollutants. “I process the ‘leachate’, yung ‘katas ng basura’, or the garbage juice as a result of the decomposition sa landfill natin,” says Tita Lourdes. “Inumpisahan ko yung treatment project for the City of Calgary. From the conceptual design, to managing the construction of the actual pilot plant, to commissioning, start up and full operation of the plant. Now, I have fully trained

can be proud of, especially Calgary’s Filipino community. It’s hard not be inspired by someone like Tita Lourdes. She’s a great role model and has a lot of insights to teach us. So I asked her for some life lessons she can give to Filipinos. Here’s what she shared: For Filipinos who recently moved to Canada but are finding it difficult to get a job in their profession: “Keep pursuing, persevere, work hard and don’t give up. Don’t say, Matanda na kami. Ayaw na naming mag-aral. Ganito nalang kami. Pinaghirapan mo yung profession mo, so don’t waste it.” For the younger generation: “Study hard and study well. Just because you get a job after completing high-school doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue higher education. There’s a fierce global competition out there. If you don’t have a strong card to play, how can you compete? You have to pursue higher education. That’s the ‘Ace’ in your pocket wherever you go.”

This determination to pursue excellence was demonstrated again when Tita Lourdes and her family moved to Canada. In July, 2000, they moved to Toronto. Since she couldn’t find a job in her profession, she worked in the Toronto East General Hospital as food aid delivery, bringing food to patients and later as a Diet Assistant determining correct diet for hospital patients. “I also worked parttime at the Future Shop as a Customer Service representative,”said Tita Lourdes. “But I wasn’t happy about my job. I studied hard to earn a career and I did not come to Canada just to waste this career.” True to her word, she moved to Calgary in August 2007 where she pursued a career in Engineering. “I pursued until I got it. I didn’t give up!”

young engineers on how to run the treatment plant. I just manage the overall project and the staff.” Tita Lourdes’ previous work as an operator on the water treatment facilities of The City of Calgary and her current role in Waste & Recycling Services is one of the many contributions of City employees like her that makes Calgary ranks at the very top in the clean water category amongst major developed cities. In 2015, Calgary has been ranked # 1 on the MBC Group’s 12 “Cleanest Cities in the World”, #1 on ABC News Points “Top Ten List of Most Cleanest Cities in the World”, and # 1 on Top Ten Central’s “Top 10 Cleanest Cities in the World 2015”. These are achievements that everyone in Calgary

For parents: “Support your children until they finish their degree or their chosen career path. If a child wants to study but has to support himself or herself, it’s going to be difficult to focus and study properly. As a parent, if my kids fail, it’s my failure as well. There’s so many kids who can’t finish because they are on their own. It’s ideal for parents to support their kids until they are done with their studies. And once they’ve developed their wings and can fly on their own, then that’s when your job is done.” Excellence comes in many form. Tita Lourdes has put excellence, and to a great extent the entire concept of success into perspective for me. It’s not about pursuing fame, or being popular, or being rich that makes us successful, but it’s the perseverance and determination to pursue excellence in our chosen field that makes us a success. Because like Tita Lourdes, when we pursue excellence, we achieve not only what we want in life, but we also become great ambassadors for our community. And most importantly, we provide a powerful example to our kids and for generations of Filipinos to come.

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A Meeting With Marlon Antonio President and C.E.O. of Greatway Financial Inc. By Abel Pagaling

’m a student of success. I seek it, learn it, in hope to one day live it. It is a life-long quest for me so I can fulfill my mission in life as a mentor and coach – to see people live their potential and reach their goals.

Successful people come from all walks of life. Some come from well-off families, gaining an advantage at the start. Others are well educated and climbed the corporate ladder. But is it those who built their success on sheer will and determination who inspires me. One of them is Marlon Antonio – President and CEO of Greatway Financial Inc., an organization that has over one thousand strong financial advisors and continues to expand. Impressive right? Read on. Marlon is from the Philippines. He came to Canada after completing his highschool diploma. He was ready to attend a Canadian college, but it would not happen for him. “I was proud to have finished high-school in the Philippines,” said Marlon, “Only to find out it is equivalent to grade 11 in Canada and my English was only at a grade 7 level.” Marlon was advised to study and finish his Canadian high-school diploma. He chose not to. “I was a young man already,” he said. “It would take time to finish high-school.” He decided to work instead. He worked as a dishwasher by night and as a caregiver by day looking after a disabled person. Then a defining moment. Call it the motivation or the starting point of his journey to success. But his motivation was not to gain wealth for the sake of gaining or merely becoming wealthy to fill a selfish desire or impress others. Marlon had a more noble reason - his wife. “I got married, and I was scared,” said Marlon. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to provide for my family and what kind of future I could give them.” As I listened to him talk about his wife and his early struggles, I sensed Marlon reliving the moment when he was afraid for his family. His head lowered and his eyes are looking at the floor as he shared the personal struggles he encountered but ultimately overcame. He didn’t have to describe what he was feeling, but I’ve seen it with many successful individuals who came from humble beginnings. Their reason for success is to see those they love have only the best in life.

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Photo by: Armand Flores of Profolio Photography

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“I decided to go to SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology),” said Marlon. “I studied meat-cutting for three months. Then I got a job as a meat-cutter.” Marlon didn’t waste any time. He worked two full-time jobs as a meat cutter, one for a supermarket, and one at a meat-processing plant. But this was temporary. It was around 1996 when Marlon began to question his situation. “Is this what the rest of his life would be like – working two or three jobs to earn just enough to provide for his family?” asked Marlon. He knew had to do more. And Marlon had big reasons for it. “Every time my wife got pregnant, I thought of ways to better provide for my family,” said Marlon. This led him to the real-estate industry and investing.

Marlon and Elsa Antonio

One thing worth mentioning that I’ve heard so many times about Marlon is his belief in sharing his knowledge. This practice started at a young age. “I believed in sharing my knowledge to others,” said Marlon. “At my meat-cutting work, I shared my knowledge of real-estate. But because I was the youngest worker, no one paid attention. But I kept sharing.” In 2000, Marlon left his meat-cutting work and went into the cleaning business. “It was a cleaning franchise business,” said

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Marlon, smiling as he talks proudly about his first business venture. After a year, Marlon owned and operated his own garbage hauling business. “I went to houses and picked up their trash and hauled it away,” said Marlon. He then described enthusiastically the particulars of the hauling business. One thing seems particularly evident about Marlon – he puts his full effort in whatever he puts his mind into, even if it’s hauling other people’s trash. Although business was doing well, Marlon continued to search for a better opportunity for himself and his family. “Financially, it (business) was up and down,” said Marlon. Then his third child was born. Another defining moment. “I continued to think about what I can give to my wife and children,” said

Photo by: Armand Flores of Profolio Photography

Marlon. “There has to be something better for my family.” It was at this time that Marlon acquired rental properties and stocks. Then like all successful people who take risks and would be tested by extreme pressure as part of the refining process towards success, Marlon lost his business, stocks, and properties. “We almost went bankrupt,” said Marlon. “Fortunately, my stepdad helped me to get a truck. I went back to hauling garbage.”

Financial distress did not stop Marlon from sharing his real-estate knowledge to family and friends. “I shared with people how to acquire properties with zero down,” said Marlon, “Until people I talked to about real-estate said I should become a realtor.” Marlon did become a realtor and had some success in the industry, but this would not be his final stop. A bigger opportunity was waiting for him. In December 2003, Marlon was introduced to WFG – World Financial Group. This was “the” defining moment that would start his success in the financial industry. “I joined WFG (World Financial Group) in January 2004,” said Marlon. And from there, he talked about his journey, challenges, personal growth, his failures, and his successes up to where he is now with his own very successful company – Greatway Financial Inc. Marlon credits his success to his discipline in personal development. “I’m very fortunate actually,” said Marlon. “I started listening to Tony Robbins in my twenties.” But the real driving force behind his success is to provide for his family and see other people become successful. “Your success is not only meant for you,” said Marlon. “It’s meant to be shared.” As I talked to Marlon whom I call “Kuya” (big brother), I can’t help but notice a deep warmth about him, particularly when he talks about his wife and children It is the same warmth I sensed when he talks about the people in his organization. “Think good, do good, and say good. And put God first,” said Kuya Marlon to me as we end our interview. With that, I am blessed to have connected and learned from an amazing individual

Photo by: Armand Flores of Profolio Photography

Marlon and Elsa Antonio

– Marlon Antonio.

AJ and Marycris Reyes, with their sons CJ and Christian.

Working Through the Challenges of Raising Filipino Kids in a Canadian Society (Article originally posted at www.thefilipinochampionsofcanada.com) by Abel Pagaling

But wanting to “explore what’s out there” is particularly challenging for parents

“Mom and dad, I’m going out with my friends and will be home late.” For many Filipino parents, these words can be unsettling. Not because they don’t trust their kids to do the right thing, but because the environment that their children are going into is very different than where they’re from. For traditional parents who grew up in a strict, religious, and disciplined home in the Philippines, the Canadian social life can be “too liberal”, or “unrestricted”, making it easy for teens and young adults to explore sex, drugs, gangs, and other activities that could turn them into statistics.

teens and

CLC ADAdd cultural difference to this, the increasing sexualisation of “pop” culture from music videos to video games, and easy access to information online from both good and bad sources (such as porn). It’s understandable why parents worry.

young

As a father of three beautiful young kids, keeping my kids safe from harm is my top priority. I’m sure this goes for all loving parents, but this doesn’t always go well with the kids.

adults.

At some point, all kids want to “explore what’s out there”. There is this natural desire to be a part of the larger group. Even at a very young age, kids automatically gather together. Just observe a playground and see how kids start playing after a few minutes of coming into contact with each other. But wanting to “explore what’s out there” is particularly challenging for parents when kids become teens and young adults. This is the “high risk” age category where all the bad things that could happen “might” happen. This is when parents become “protective”. If you watched the cartoon movie “The Croods”, you know what I mean.

when kids

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become

In my attempt to prepare myself for this eventual clash between me and my kids who will hit puberty in the next several years, I met with a good friend of mine Marycris Reyes and talked about how she successfully navigated her two boys in their teen and young adult years. Like many immigrant families from the Philippines, Marycris and her husband AJ came to Canada with their two teenage boys in 2005 in the hope of a better future. As incredible as this sounds, the “cultural transition” was not an easy journey. What typically takes Canadian families their whole life to learn and grow into is compressed to only a few months if not weeks for new immigrant families to adapt to. It’s similar to having 20 years of cultural education crammed into a few months! Marycris and AJ experienced this difficult transition. They started from scratch in a foreign culture. Back then they did not know many people. Every day, they worried about putting food on the table, how they would pay their bills, and how to keep their jobs while they work hard to assimilate to become more “Canadian”. But I learned from Marycris and AJ that the hardship was worth it as long as their kids turn out well and become productive members of society. The difficult transition was an acceptable sacrifice in exchange for a bright future for their boys. So could you blame immigrant parents like Marycris and AJ if they come across as overprotective to their kids? Still, it’s a struggle. I know my wife and I will face this one day. It’s inevitable. Looking at my eldest son who reminds me of me (only he is smarter), I know we’re going to deal with a headstrong kid someday who will push for what he thinks is right, so we better be ready. I asked Marycris for her insights to help prepare me and my wife to face the “high risk” age category that’s coming. She openly shared her thoughts with me. But before we go through the list, I’d like to tell you more about Marycris and AJ. They are one of the pioneers of Champion Life Center (CLC) church where they currently serve as leaders. Aside from her church work, Marycris serves the Filipino community as part of FCT – Filipino Champions Talk committee. And yes, Marycris and AJ successfully transitioned in Canada. Their two boys are now grown men and have completed their studies. Both currently work in the medical field. Here are her thoughts on how she and AJ successfully raised and “navigated” through the tough years: • •

Have a weekly family prayer and “devotion”. Connect with a support group from the church.

• • •

• • • • • • • • • • •

Connect the kids to the church and encourage them to use their skills in the church. Spend quality time with the kids and know what’s happening in their life “daily”. Involve kids in family situations and decision making. Ask them what they think they should do. It makes them more aware of life’s struggles, makes them feel valued and part of the family. Say “sorry” too. Parent’s humility shows we’re not perfect. Let the kids know it’s ok to make mistakes. Know your child’s love language – words of affirmation, physical touch, receive gifts, acts of service, or quality time. Guide them even after they turn 18 years Teach them the habit of priority and work on schedules. No money as “baon” (lunch money). Bring food to lunch Show the value of money and hard work. Let them use a student loan to help them be responsible for their tuition, but support them with their car and other needs. Power of human connection – kids don’t listen to people they don’t like, so build a relationship. Before you correct their mistakes, praise first their efforts. Power of the tongue – tongue holds the power of life and death, curse, and blessings. Power of words and declaration. “I Can! “ I am a Champion- your words become a reality, encourage kids, use words that win! No to “you’re a loser”. But the biggest factor is Church involvement at Champion Life Center (CLC) – a church passionate about loving God and discipline people to become followers of Christ through meaningful relationships and community programs. Empower lives to build healthy Discover the Champion in you.

• As we close our conversation, I sense both gratitude and joy from Marycris. Gratitude that she found purpose, comfort, and strength from her church group, and joy from knowing that she and her husband AJ have been blessed with two wonderful sons. I think the successful outcome was the result of their sacrifice, prayer, and determination to see their kids grow properly even if sometimes they came across as overprotective. For that, I give a big salute to Marycris and AJ and to all the members of CLC church group who helped them along the way.

For more of Marycris’ insights, she can be reached at: Champion Life Center (CLC) 3763 52 Street SE Calgary AB T2B 3R3 Email: marycris.reyes@clccalgary.com Cellphone # 403-614-0092

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Nonie Antonio

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Katherine Luzung

Vel Marquez B.S. Comm

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Stephen Naromal*

Gladdys Obina BBA

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Calgary Chinook Financial Centre

Tel: 403-266-2061 www.sunlife.ca/calgary.chinook 5980 Centre Street South Calgary, AB T2H 0C1 26

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Wherever you are in life, strengthening your plan today will help give you and your family a brighter tomorrow.

Alvin De Leon

Rey Factura

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Associate Manager

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Our Canadian Journey: Struggles, Faith, and Triumph By Maria Asprer

efore our family migrated to Canada in February 2006, we were in the Financial business for 10 years with Prulife UK. Prior to having our own business; Rene with a Bachelors in Commerce Major in Accounting, worked as a Bank Manager. On the other hand, I completed Bachelor’s in Psychology Major in Industrial Psychology & Guidance and Counseling and worked in HR as a Human Resource Manager. We are proud stewards/parents of 3 wonderful children: Ralph (24) Angel (20) and Ian (12). The first 5 years of our married life was very difficult. We adjusted to both our strong personalities and had constant disagreements. The last straw was getting an annulment. This was the time where the Lord intervened by letting one of us humble down and ask for help. This was when we opened our lives to the Community. We joined the Brotherhood for Christian Businessmen and Professionals year 1992 and started to learn how to be a better couple, wife, husband, mother and father to our children. This experiences gave us a bit of preparation on what was in store for us in the future doing pastoral care. When we opened ourselves to help, life became very good back home. We were blessed in all areas of our lives. We traveled a lot due to our business and saw the world. With all our blessings we

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never forgot about giving back by serving in the community as well as actively doing charity work with families belonging to the poorest of the poor. Everything was doing great. Then we received our Visa to Canada. We never thought that we were destined to come to Canada. Our application for Immigration took 7 years to process and when we finally got our visa, we informed the agency handling our papers that we were no longer interested to immigrate. Little did we know that the Lord had other plans for us. When our Visa came December 2005, we were not sure what to do. We did not want to leave our comfortable life back home. We prayed for discernment and guidance every day. We received a couple of vivid confirmations through prayer and scripture and it made us feel deep in our hearts that the Lord really wanted us to make the move. This meant letting go of everything, all the comfort and start anew in a strange land. It all started with Him asking for our “Yes”, then “Having Faith in Him” then finally, “Go to a place where there is no path and leave a trail.” The last request we asked from God was to have our property sold between December 26, 2005 to January 31, 2005 which was not easy at that time. We sold our property worth millions by December 28…. in 2 days and in cash. The Lord’s power was manifested in such majesty that we cannot explain.

When we arrived in Canada February 18, 2006, adjusting from 3 helpers to a life of doing everything ourselves was a challenge. One good thing though was we did things together as a family. Each of us had our role to play and chore to do. Like many other immigrants, our initial struggle in Canada was going back to basic, being humble in looking for a job, being rejected for being overqualified, worrying about our parents back home who were dependent on us and many more. In prayer we asked for strength, perseverance and patience. We know that God is a God of Order, things take place when it is His time…and not our time.

when until now, we see these couples having a better married life. This then became part of our ministry, if there is a need and an opportunity, we are out there to help in whatever way we can. God was true to His promise and made things right for us. Rene landed a job as an Accountant in one of the Law Firms in Calgary while I got hired as a Senior Recruiting Specialist in one of the HR & Management Consulting Firms based in Calgary but whose head office was based in Ilinois. Both of us got hired into our respective fields within 2 months of our arrival….all because of God’s grace and promise. As we started to build our lives here in

Despite struggling with settling in a new country, we decided to serve the Lord first and He led us to the right people. We serve in the Light of Jesus Community and our service is directed to the “Unchurch”. The mandate of the community is to serve and reach out to people who are outside the church and just do the best we can. We do Pastoral Care to those who need us as well as help in the Training and Development of the Community. This allowed us to help various couples who needed some kind of help in improving their marriage. All we did was listen and just share our own struggles as a married couple and then let God do the rest. Our blessing and fulfillment came

had 2 teenagers in our care who asked to be baptized in the Catholic faith and were given the permission of their biological Mom. As of today, while working in our respective careers and businesses, serve in the community, we have managed to foster many children in need for over 9 years now. Aside from our 3 Biological children, we currently have 3 great kids in our care now, one of whom we are in the process of making a permanent part of our family. At present, Rene is a licensed Realtor and I work for a College doing Career Counseling, Student and Community Relations. We are also back in the Financial Industry, directed towards educating others regarding the value of saving and setting aside a part of God’s blessings through our work and securing a better future for our families. We are not perfect and never have been. We go through the same struggles of raising kids in Canada, having couple disagreements, and dealing with various issues affecting our lives here. We still worry, feel disappointed, get angry, get impatient, complain like normal people do. Even if we have learned to better cope with issues, we continue to strive to be better and to improve every day by learning through our experiences. Lessons learned:

Canada, we longed for our charity work back home with poor families specially their children and the orphanage that we supported. God was blessing us always and we felt the need to give back that blessing to people who will need it the most. It was then that we were led into Foster Care. We learned through training that the children will be living with us and will be part of our Family. We felt that it was a good way of touching the lives of the kids we foster and hopefully, our presence in their lives will make a mark that will have an impact in their lives forever. We already

• • • •

• Be open to God’s leading since our plans may not be His plans for us. No matter how rough or difficult the path may be, He will always find a way for us. Our lives are not only for us to live but we are meant to be of service to others. Giving love and care has no boundaries. As you give unconditionally, so shall you receive. There is abundance of gifts in this world, all we need to do is Ask.

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CONNECT, SHARE, and INSPIRE with TFCC The Filipino Champions of Canada TFCC kicks off the year with a successful Champions Talk, held on February 24. Champions Talk is a speaking engagement established by the TFCC group which seeks to promote different views, insights, and inspirational stories from the community. TFCC founder Jerry Caingcoy described the event as featuring the “Rise-Up Fil-Can Youth Movement” - a brand new TFCC initiative which aims to: • Provide a platform for our Filipino-Canadian youth to share their stories, their views, opinions, philosophies or personal experiences to define and uplift the values, beliefs, and character of the Filipino-Canadian youth. • Provide a platform for our Filipino-Canadian youth to showcase their unique talents, skills, and expertise to elevate their abilities and potentials and to gain support and encouragement from our community. • Provide a safe and engaging environment for our Filipino-Canadian youth to discuss issues, concerns, interests and various perspectives that affect them directly or indirectly. • Provide a point of contact and a venue to connect with our FilipinoCanadian youth between the ages of 13 to 35 years old with the greater FilipinoCanadian community through various community events and engagements. • Provide an avenue for our Filipino-Canadian youth to fully understand and strengthen their Filipino cultural values and heritage. • Provide a venue for development through mentorship and coaching to build up the next generation of leaders. Congratulations TFCC on a job well done! -FCM

Photos BY: Eric Cordero

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The Winning Edge By Ariell Xavier Arevalo

hat does it take to be the best at what you do? By how much do we have to improve in order to produce extraordinary results in your business? Do you have to improve by 50%, 100%, 200% in order to be the best at what you do?

Think about a running race. The first placer gets a gold medal, second place gets silver, and third place gets a bronze medal. What do the 4th placer and onwards get? Nothing, zip, zilch, nada. If we look at the results of this Olympic race, how much better was the champion over the runner-up? Was she twice as fast? No! She was only 0.03 seconds faster than the silver medalist, and the silver medalist was only 0.03 seconds faster than the bronze medalist. The more startling fact is that the 4th placer, who got nothing for her effort, was only 0.1 seconds slower than the champion! The 8th placer was only 0.26 seconds slower than the champion. Are the winners that much better than everyone else? Yes, they are better, but not by much. The answer is simple; they have just found themselves to be just 0.03 seconds better than the competition! How would we apply this to your business in order to improve your results? Think of this concept: think of yourself being in a race where we have to edge out the competition. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be 100% or 200% better. Just be even 1% or 0.1% or 0.01% better than the competition, you will emerge the champion. But wait, who is your competition? Your competition is yourself! Strive to improve yourself from the person you were yesterday even by 0.1%, and you will soon see results in your business much more than you could ever imagine. Give yourself that winning edge. Beat your own records. Improve yourself continuously, and soon you will see the results you have always wanted.

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Young Winnipegers Making a Difference Through “Volunteering” By Julia Lim

espite the cold weather compared to last year, thousands of Winnipeggers and visitors gathered around downtown to watch the 108th Annual Winnipeg Santa Claus parade, one of the most significant event in the city. Around 75 floats participated, but of course, the main highlight and what the kids are excited about is Santa’s Float. For so many years now, JCI Winnipeg has always been a non- profit organization of young active citizens age 18 to 40 who are engaged and committed to creating a positive impact in their communities. JCI establishes platforms for community volunteering and active participation in various social activities. Our primary goal is to better our community and help combat the United Nations strategic Development goals such as: 1. No poverty, 2. Zero hunger and 3. Sustainable cities and communities. In the past, JCI Winnipeg has been a part of the Santas Claus Parade committee since the 70’s. Here is an official blog of JCI Winnipeg www.jciblogspot.ca This year, the afternoon started off JCI Winnipeg with the hosting of our Annual Santas workshop for inner-city youth and families. We invited NEEDs family center and other inner-city youth agencies. JCI Winnipeg members and a team of volunteers spent time with around 200 kids and their families, provided lunch and also created a friendly environment for every participant. JCI also offered free professional photographs taken of each child and families with Santa for free before the parade starts. Outside the workshop, JCI team and volunteers were busy serving

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hot chocolate with any donations made to JCI Winnipeg which will be given back to Winnipeg Harvest. It was indeed a success with the help of all the volunteers and sponsors who voluntarily donated food and time. Benefits of volunteering “Many studies have proven that volunteering indeed maintains physical health; has positive effects on mental health/subjective well-being (Choi, 2003; Willigen, 2000; Wilson & Musick, 1999); reduces depressive symptoms (Li & Ferraro, 2006); and then decreases mortality (Boyle, Barnes, Buchman, & Bennett, 2009; Oman, Thoresen, & McMahon, 1999).” According to Danielle Hueging, “As for what got me involved personally, it was a fun way to take an active role in being part of the type of community I want to call home… we all like the idea of fun, family oriented things to do but those activities and projects take dedicated effort, and getting to work with like-minded community members is a big win as well.! Sometimes is just about enabling others to get involved because they don’t know where to begin. Whatever it is, I can honestly say that many hands make light work and if it weren’t for the efforts of volunteers the event would not be able to happen.” (Community advocates/ JCI Winnipeg former president) From my observation, young volunteers are eager to participate next year in any community work organized by JCI. This passion to volunteer is also a sort of experiential learning for the kids within the city. It is not just about giving help to the people that are in need but giving a part of oneself and learning by “experience” through helping others.

I have also dedicated my time to volunteering which has made a pivotal change in my career as a Life Coach and a Community Advocate. As an oncoming JCI Winnipeg president 2018, one of my strategic goals is to promote volunteerism and benevolent altruism among the youths while developing competent core skills such as time management, analytical and problem-solving skills, cultural competence, conflict resolution and emotional intelligence. Volunteering also helps them to build skills in public speaking; Nurture my active citizenship and interest in service to the community. It also helps them learning new things, meeting new people, hopefully working with people and teaching people new things as well. In conclusion, volunteering encourages young people to be empathetic and compassionate towards others. One of JCI missions is to get young adults more involved in the community through volunteering, a learning experience that fosters compassion and positive attitude. No matter oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age, culture, religion,

beliefs, and status in the community, we can all learn from each other and volunteering is one of the tools to help others while making a difference. For more information on how you can help JCI Winnipeg or be part of our chapter, to empower young people to create a positive change, please kindly contact Julia Lim, visit our website www.jciblogspot. ca or email us at jciwinnipeg@gmail.com On behalf of all of us at JCI Winnipeg, we want to wish everyone all the best this year! _________________________________________ _ Reference Chen, L. (2016). Benefits and dynamics of learning gained through volunteering: A qualitative exploration guided by seniorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; self-defined successful aging. Educational Gerontology, 42(3), 220-230. doi:10.1080/03601277.2015.1108150

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Re sil ien t

s itie un m m

vibrant & inc n i e lus iv r h ive t h t co u yo

The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth supports the settlement and integration of immigrant and refugee youth and their families through our core programs: IN SCHOOL SETTLEMENT

MENTORSHIP

TRANSITION INTO POST-SECONDARY (T.I.P.S)

AFTERSCHOOL

SUMMER PROGRAMMING

RBC YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

VOLUNTEER RESOURCES

For more information, contact us! 34

www.cbfy.ca

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403.230.7745

contactus@cbfy.ca

BusinessWise!

Bringing Business Minds Together

algary experienced the debut of a new speaking and networking platform for business owners named BusinessWise, hosted and organized by Marycris Reyes and the members of Champion Life Center church (www.clccalgary.com). BusinessWise focuses on business knowledge, the emerging changes in the business culture, and practical insights from business owners and leaders.

The event is designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and people who want to transition to the business world. “I’m excited to introduce this project to the community,” said Abel Pagaling, one of the organizers of the event. “People can connect with other entrepreneurs and business owners, create business opportunities or referrals, and learn new insights and ideas from the speakers.”

One of the biggest sponsors of the event is Champion Life Center church. “They opened their facility to the community to make this event happen,” said Abel. “It’s a success because of their commitment.” To know more about BusinesWise, visit their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ BusinessWiseInternational -FCM

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