Alberta Filipino Journal - June 2021 Issue

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Yuka Saso, 3 Pinoys shine in sports world! P6,P7,P14

JUNE 2021 • Volume 14, Number 06

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Allan Matudio: Arts and Activism

COPAA: CELEBRATES 123rd P.I.D. WITH THE NEW GENERATION OF FIL-CAN BUSINESS LEADERS

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

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

Community | Business

JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Today, Filipinos remember their homeland’s long road to liberation. In the wake of revolution, General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the Philippines to be a free nation on June 12, 1898. However, it would not be until July 4, 1946, that the Philippines truly gained independence and took control of its destiny. The Philippines is now a proud and trusted member of the international community, and its people enrich Alberta each day with their traditions and culture. As Albertans of Filipino heritage reflect on the triumphs and tragedies of their ancestral history, it is tempting to celebrate as a community. This year, I encourage everyone to be responsible, avoid large gatherings and continue to observe existing measures for public health and safety.

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public health measures in place, you won't be able to gather together in the usual numbers for Pinoy fiesta and lechons. But that's coming. We're getting close to full reopening for a great Alberta summer and a key part of that will be Pinoy gatherings across the province. I can't wait to join you to celebrate your heritage , as we do in Filipino Heritage Month here in June. This year, though, is a special opportunity to say thank you to Albertans of Filipino origin, so many of whom have been on the front lines of the COVID crisis as health-care workers, as health-care aides in nursing homes taking care of seniors and vulnerable people. And that is really so typical of the Filipino ethic of care, of compassion, a Message from Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney community filled with a joy for life, with an amazing work ethic, with a devotion Mabuhay and happy Philippines Independence Day to all members of Alberta's to family and to faith. And it's those values which, really, I think about, in the way that your community has contributed so hugely to Alberta's dynamism. We live in difficult times, but there dynamic Filipino community, Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan! This is a great opportunity for you to get together and celebrate your Thank you for all that you do and happy Independence Day. is always space for joy. Maligayang araw ng kalayaan! Mabuhay! Filipino heritage and customs. Unfortunately, because we still have some Salamat and Mabuhay!

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Editor's Corner | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

Raising the Philippine Flag and Pulling the Plug! EDITOR’S CORNER Published by Angeles Publishing Company Inc. 246 Lindsay Crescent, Edmonton, Alberta T6R 2T2 Jose L. Angeles Publisher / Chief Operating Officer Sales and Advertising CP: 780-916-7677, Landline: 780-988-8889 Fax: 780-988-2221 publisher@albertafilipinojournal.com Lito Mendoza Velasco Editor-in-Chief / Associate Publisher 780-655-5126 editor@albertafilipinojournal.com Lianne Angeles Associate Editor Melanie Rose Atizado Angeles Administrator / Office Manager Sales and Advertising, 780-993-5503 albertafilipinojournal79@gmail.com Mark Angeles, Mike Angeles Distribution Managers - Edmonton Andy Chua Marketing Manager - Edmonton +1 (780) 965-3549, fcchua@hotmail.com Stephen Burry Distribution Manager - Calgary 1 (587) 938-3100, Freedommigrate@gmail.com Rodel Paguirigan Advertising, Sales and Marketing Manager - Calgary 1 (403) 921-0148, rodelpaguirigan@gmail.com Melanie C. Gomez Website / Graphic Designer Photographers/Videographer: Moses Billacura, Noli Granado, Dario Juanillo Columnists: Marjorie Carmona-Newman, Tito S. Venida, Ida Beltran-Lucila, Kristian Cereno, Marco Luciano, Moses Billacura, Mervin Mendoza Cereno, Nicky Gocuan, Giselle General, Hermo Pagtakhan, Januel Cedrick Ibasco, Fr. Jhack Diaz, Bing J. Jaleco Jon Perez (Saskatoon, SK) Contributing Writers: Katrina Marielle U. Cereno, Leonila Samarita, Raquel Getigan, Jasmine-Grace Nacu The Alberta Filipino Journal is dedicated in memory of Rosalinda Linsangan Natividad-Cantiveros of Winnipeg as she engaged her entire life in service to the Filipino Community. We welcome submissions-news, articles, pictures and letters. Letters must include signature and phone number; names can be withheld upon request. We reserve the right to edit for length and content. All submissions, unless arrangements are made, become the property of the publisher. Reproduction of contents, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the expressed written permission from the Publisher/Editor. Opinions by columnist, writers, and readers do not in any way reflect those of the Publisher/Editor.

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Lito Mendoza Velasco

O

ne of the vital faculties inherent in man is his freedom or free will. His capability to choose and decide whatever is beneficial to him is the real essence of his existence. He who loves and understands freedom truly loves the One who sends him. A Filipino is a freedom lover; therefore, he obviously loves and understands his Creator, Saviour, and the Sanctifier. Quality of life cannot be measured by the flag being raised daily and the annual commemoration of Philippine Independence Day observed, but by an excellent life being embraced and shared. This is possible, of course, by setting good examples for the next generation.

Life is exemplary not because of the parcels of land and other properties we acquire, but by the numbers of lives we touched. What benefit can a country have by having citizens who everyday take an oath of allegiance to a flag yet are devoid of commensurate love of self and authentic freedom. Can they contribute to unblock what’s truly clogging the progress of our Motherland? What freedom can anyone have if he is enslaved by his vanity and vices? Real success then can be achieved by not habitually raising the flag; but by removing the plug! Anyway, Happy 123rd Philippine Independence Day! oooOOOooo Honouring Father’s Day As a father, it is a primordial obligation to support the family. Divorce or Separation cannot and should not ruin familial relationships. Harmony as well as security cannot always be found inside the house. Today’s

children are aware that having a good father doesn’t necessarily mean that he is living with them under the same roof. For as long as the dad is supportive of his children and sees to it that they are receiving the necessities in life, then, he is good. Presence cannot be always felt when touching each other’s skin, listening to stories, cracking jokes while taking dinner or praying together before the miniature altar. But, this is not to encourage couples to get divorced or separated. Still, living together, if not the best, is a better preference. And, I would really like to congratulate those fathers who have been firm in their matrimonial vows. Happy Father’s day to you all! oooOOOooo Philippine Heritage Month: A Golden Inheritance? Culture is the Binding Force of Society. Language is its tool in order to be understood. Education’s role is not only to transmit knowledge but to serve as the catalyst or agent of change. He who is well equipped with a good education and used what he learned in proper ways can become a catalyst for qualitative change. If these three components are present in a Filipino heart, then a country can be a great producer of better and virtuous leaders. Be led if you want to lead! Be a producer of leaders! Be educated and act as a professional! You are a mirror of our country - The Philippines!

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

Community | News | Business

JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Philippine Independence Day June 12, 2021 – Ottawa Rosemer Enverga

It was an honour to be invited and to have the opportunity to speak at the 123rd anniversary of Philippine Independence, as well as the Filipino Heritage Month at a virtual celebration! We also commemorate the legacy of raising the Philippine flag at Parliament Hill which was first initiated by my husband, the late Senator Tobias Enverga Jr. back in 2013. In attendance were honourable Members & Ministers of Parliament, Ambassador Robles and members of the Filipino Canadian Community I thank the Canada–Philippine Parliamentary Friendship group, the Chair - MP Kevin Lamoureux, and ViceChairs MP Leah Gazan, MP Alice Wong and Senator Yonah Martin for inviting me to this celebration. Mabuhay tayong lahat! Rosemer Enverga, wife of the late Senator Tobias C. Enverga Jr. Senator Enverga will always be remembered as a Humble Public Servant, Champion of Multiculturalism and Voice of the Special Needs.

I am honoured to be in your company - honourable Members & Ministers of Parliament, Ambassador Robles and members of the Filipino Canadian Community in the celebration of the 123rd anniversary of Philippine Independence, as well as the Filipino Heritage this month. I thank the Canada–Philippine Parliamentary Friendship group, the Chair - MP Kevin Lamoureux, and Vice-Chairs MP Leah Gazan, MP Alice Wong and Senator Yonah Martin for inviting me to this celebration. On the brief history of Filipinos in Canada, great things have already been accomplished, with many of our kababayans or countrymen making meaningful contributions to Canadian society. Most notably, Senator Tobias C. Enverga Jr. was the first Canadian of Filipino heritage to be elected in the City of Toronto and to be appointed to the Senate of Canada. In June 2013, the Philippine flag was raised for the very first time on Parliament Hill with members of the Filipino-Canadian community from all over Ontario and Quebec, parliamentarians and a delegation from the Philippine Embassy in attendance. This act of patriotism was initiated by Senator Enverga

aimed at fostering unity among Filipino- Canadians and be visible in this cultural mosaic. Though, we are not able to celebrate in-person this year, the sight of the Philippine flag being raised in Canada’s capital remains ingrained in the hearts and minds of Filipino-Canadians who were fortunate enough to have attended one, if not all, of those momentous occasions. Looking forward to when we can do this event physically next year in Ottawa! With the addition of the declaration of Filipino Heritage Month in June, we, Filipino-Canadians are able to further share our traditions, arts, culture and the best expression of all, FOOD! I would like to take this opportunity to thank MP Salma Zahid, who authored the Bill. This is a celebration of the significant economic, social and cultural contributions that, we, Filipinos make to Canada. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang Canada! Maraming Salamat! Thank you! Merci Beaucoup!

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Sports

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

Filipino shooters, Ella Nagayo on Yuka’s big win, Pinoy fans reactions on Oilers SPORTS JOURNAL

Moses Billacura mocolumnist @albertafilipinojournal.com Moses Billacura was a sports correspondent for national newspapers in the Philippines since 1992 and served as sports editor and columnist for a community paper before moving to Canada in 2010. He loves photography, manages pinoyedmontonnews.com and strongly believes that sports development is for all.

S

o, I just recently learned that there is an Alberta Pinoy Shooters Association, which forms part of the growing Fil-Can Shooters group in Canada. Rowgun Fausto and Ralph Agir have been very kind to provide us with information of their activities. Ralph, in fact, made it easy for me to check on their events because he posts these on YouTube, Rjhd Bikehunt, which now has 2,000 plus subscribers. While a majority of Pinoys in Alberta are involved in basketball, volleyball and golf, I am glad to know that there also members of our sports community that organize events for practical shooting. If you can remember, we have Jethro Dionisio as world champion in practical shooting and that grew the popularity of the sport in the Philippines, even boosting the sales of Philippine gun manufacturer Armscor (Arms Corporation of the Philippines) and its subsidiary

Armscor International Inc. The thing about this group that caught my attention was when I saw a young shooter competing in the sport. Ralph, who loves to post the events on his YouTube Channel, said that the young shooter is 10 years old and I replied that she may be the next Jethro Dionisio! You’ll never know, we’ll have a world champion in the making. With vaccinations being fasttracked these days, I hope that one of these days I’ll be able to meet these guys, especially Rowgun, Ralph, and their buddies Marlon Reyes, Jason Navarra and Adrian Fronda, who for sure can share more information about their beloved sport. Bang! Bang! Bang! That’s for you guys but I’ll do the shooting with the Click! Click! Click! of my Canon DSLR cameras! *** So far, there are four big stories in the Filipino sports community. Yuka Saso’s victory in the US Women’s Open golf, Nonito Donaire’s WBC bantamweight title win, Alex Eala’s doubles title win with a Russian partner in the French Open, and Leyla Annie Fernandez’s victory in the 2021 Monterrey Open. I actually received a text from Rolan Latorre, whose voice I normally hear over 101.7 World FM, telling me about Yuka Saso leading in the US Open. So I started monitoring her progress. Boom! The Bulakenya won! A first in Philippine golf history!!! Years back, I was in high hopes when Frankie Minoza of Bukidnon was making waves in the professional circuit in Asia and even competed in The Masters. Frankie, however, was not successful in that major tournament. And comes the good news, 30

Yuka Saso, the first Pinay to win the US Open (left) with Dabawenya golf phenom Ella Nagayo during their stint in Australia tournaments.(Atty.R.Z.Nagayo FB photo)

years later! A star is born in Yuka Saso! That reminded me that there’s one outstanding golf player, Ontariobased Ella Zozobrado Nagayo, who had the opportunity to know Yuka and even played with her in Australia a few years back. So I requested a statement from her, and here it is: “I met Yuka in Melbourne, Australia, I used to live there. She went there 3 times I think and she played a couple of tournaments. When she was in Melbourne, we spent a lot of time together. I played golf with her a lot of times, I caddied her once and she also caddied me, and we went to several places together. Somehow we became close. She is an amazing and wonderful person. She has a pure soul. Yuka is a respectful,

funny, very kind, and sweet person. On and off the golf course she is the same person. People may see her just as a good golf player, but she is more than that. If you get to know her more, you’re definitely gonna love her. She is fun to be with and she’s a go-to person. Yuka is very talented and she’s always committed to what she does. She really loves golf. She is definitely a hard worker. She trains all the time like every single day from early in the morning to late at night. Yuka would do everything that it takes to become the best in the world. She is inspiring. Yuka inspired me to become better in golf and without her I wouldn’t be where I am today. She helped me get up my feet. Yuka is actually my favorite golf player. I would definitely want to be like her someday. I believe she is going to encourage young golf players to become the best the way she did to me. It is very hard to describe what she is like, she’s just beautiful inside and out. When I first met Yuka, I knew she was gonna make history in women’s golf. I knew she was gonna become the best golf player in the world; and I knew she was gonna make the Philippines shine and make us Filipinos proud. That’s how good Yuka is. Winning the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open was only the beginning. We all must keep an eye on her.” I agree Ella. We must keep an eye on her. And we’ll pray for her continued victory to inspire our Kababayans! And good luck too on your journey as a member of Team Ontario Golf. Someday, I may request the newspaper owners to fund my sports coverage when you see action. *** Nonito. He is the oldest bantamweight champion, according to reports. Oh well, that boxer needs to earn a living for his family, right? Congratulations Nonito Donaire! continued on page 7 ►

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

Sports | Religion | Community | News

JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

PSC says yes to Tokyo Olympics budget from POC

T

he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has earmarked P46.230 million to bolster the country’s medal drive in the coming Tokyo Olympics. The amount was approved Tuesday during the PSC board meeting based on the proposed budget of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez said the sports agency is happy to accept and approve the said request reiterating the PSC’s commitment to support the national team’s effort to bring the best contingent possible to the Tokyo Olympics 2020+1 edition. It will cover the international airfare, hotel and accommodation and allowances of athletes and officials as well as the COVID-19 testing prior to departure, hotel quarantine expenses and insurance for COVID-19 treatment, travel and repatriation of the entire Philippine delegation. The POC’s proposal does not include the costs for other items such

as flags, flaglets and pins, luggages, parade uniforms which would be needed should there be an opening and closing parade. The P46.230-million assistance is still subject to adjustment based on the actual participation of Filipino athletes, coaches and officials in Tokyo and to accounting and auditing rules. So far, nine Filipino athletes have officially qualified starring pole vault ace EJ Obiena, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, gymnast Carlos Yulo and boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Irish Magno and Eumir Marcial, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa and rower Cris Nievarez. 2021 US Open golf champion Yuka Saso and fellow golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Juvic Pagunsan are likewise anticipated to make the cut and join Team Philippines in the July 23-Aug. 8 Summer Games as well as skateboarder Margielyn Didal. All of them are targeting to capture the country’s first-ever gold medal in the Olympics.

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Fr. Jhack Diaz Rev. Fr. Raldy "jhack" Diaz is the first Filipino priest ordained in the Diocese of St. Paul Alberta. He is currently the Pastor of St. Jean de Brebeuf Parish, Mallaig, Alberta.

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“If you are angry, let it be without sin.” Matthew 5: 20-26 My dear kababayans, our gospel reading for today teaches us three significant Christian ways on how to be righteous. First, CONTROL YOUR TONGUE. I mean, be careful of your words, especially when you are upset. Watch out for your words when you are angry. Insulting people and calling them fools is not a salutary gesture of righteousness. Watch out for your words because words can kill people. I suggest thinking before you open your mouth. Before you say something, think of how you would feel if someone said it to you. Second, loving God but hating people is not a commendable practice of righteousness. “Be reconciled

first and then return to the altar and offer your gift. Friends, the good of the people is most essential than any gift offerings. The best gift we can offer to God is reconciliation. No offerings can beat the power of forgiveness. Choose to forgive. Choose to love your accuser. Try to live a life without an enemy. Finally, reconciliation should not be delayed. That’s the challenge of today’s gospel. Friends, be quick to reconcile. There should not be a red stop light in the highway of reconciliation. Let me end my reflection by saying: authentic conversion is from bad to good. Change from beast to best. Blessings Fr. Jhack

The 1sambayan Canada Chapter Launch

from page 6

*** And to the two tennis stars of Filipino descent, Alex and Leyla. It’s always a wonderful feeling to know that there are Pinays making waves in sports. It can make you happy. Inspire you to emulate them, that we can be better, that we should strive to do better, to achieve more. Wow! I’m just happy that we have Filipino champions on the world stage. Makes us forget of all the crazy things happening around us since March of 2020. #$@$&*()@+$##@!!!! *** Let’s go to the reaction of Edmonton Oilers fans when I requested a comment from them on FB: Ariel A Nealega: Heartbroken Oilers Fan Cel Ryan Paluca: Ma sakit po Janil Rezile Calunsag: Sakit sa heart! Andy Chua: Close game in all 4 games. Both teams played hard. Momentum is very important. Also depth of players in the team. On a positive side, we saw in McDavid last night a different leadership the team needs. He needs to be more hungry & angrier !! Lemmor Leirub: Banderang kapos🙄 Bro Knight: As an Edmontonian, can't imagine the outcome but as

saying goes "bilog ang puck pero lapad". I only watched game 3 and after the 3rd qtr I already claimed the victory and it happened the other way around. Not for us. I cheered that there will be a game 7 so I can wear my 2006 Stanley Cup finals t-shirt and hook an Oilers flag to my car's window. Maybe Next Year, McDavid is getting better and better but it's a 6 man game. R-yel Lubaton: I did watch the games...they should have won the last two games...but "Sports is cruel sometimes"..the breaks of the game didn't go in our favor...hope to see them next year and perform better... Jo-Ann Militar-Mella: I’m sad that oilers didn’t make it but in every game there’s always a winner, Oilers did their very best & that was obvious last night. They fought hard, they didn’t give up and that’s the best part. Still a great game Nic Go: You can have a good start but focus, determination, teamwork and bench depth is important so they can finish the game with a Capital W. Ramon Aguilar Ponce: Let's leave it to Holland for now…. *** That’s it for now sports friends. If you have sports news and information, email mocolumnist@ albertafilipinojournal.com. Maraming salamat po! Stay safe!

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Please join us at the formal online launch of 1Sambayan Canada Chapter, the Coalition of Democratic Forces Advocating Good Governance in the Philippines, on June 18, 2021! 1Sambayan is a broad coalition of democratic forces representing the broad spectrum of political persuasions of Filipinos at home and abroad with the main goal of coming together in a strong unified opposition to usher in a competent, trustworthy administration in the May 2022 Philippine elections. 1Sambayan believes that it can do this by fielding a unified slate of national candidates for President, VicePresident and 12 Senators.

What: Online Launch of 1Sambayan Chapter in Canada When: Friday, June 18, 2021, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm in Toronto (EDT) 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm Vancouver (PDT) 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Alberta (MDT) 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Manitoba (CDT) In the Philippines, it will be Saturday, June 19 |7:30 am – 9:30 am (PHST) Where: By Zoom: https://tinyurl. com/canadachapter Meeting ID: 811 1044 9608 Passcode: 533 403 Livestreamed on Malaya Canada FB page& 1Sambayan Facebook Group Retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio who is also the Chair of 1Sambayan will give a Special message at the Launch with

guests 1Sambayan convenor Atty. Neri Colmenares, UP Prof Roland Simbulan and 1Sambayan convenor Joanna Concepcion. 1Sambayan Canada chapter will join the other overseas chapters: Italy, Germany, Benelux, The United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Australia, and other countries in the process of organizing their chapters. Within the Philippines, 1Sambayan chapters in the different provinces are already up and many more are in the process of organizing. There will be a short press conference after the program. For more information, contact:1sambayan.canada@ gmail.com

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News

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

Mga ipinag-uutos na paghihigpit

publiko. Kasama sa mga halimbawa ang mga dentista, optometrist, therapist, acupuncturist, abogado at accountant.

Ang pinag-uutos na mga hakbang sa pangkalusugan ng publiko ay may bisa sa buong Alberta upang mapabagal ang pagkalat ng COVID19 at maprotektahan ang sistemang pangkalusugan.

Mga pagtitipon

Mga pagtitipon sa panloob Ipinagbabawal ang lahat ng panloob na pagtitipong panlipunan. • Ang mga indibidwal na namumuhay mag-isa at nag-iisang magulang na nakatira lamang kasama ang mga anak na wala pang 18 taong gulang ay maaaring pumili ng dalawang tao na maaari nilang bisitahin sa mga paghihigpit na ito. Mga pagtitipon sa labas Ang lahat ng panlabas panlipunang pagtitipon ay limitado sa maximum na 20 katao at hindi dapat magkaroon ng mga bahagi ng panloob. Mga kasal at libing Ang lahat ng seremonya sa kasal at mga serbisyo sa libing ay limitado sa 20 katao. Pinahihintulutan ang mga pagtitipon sa labas lamang na walang hihigit sa 20 katao. Mga lugar ng pagsamba Ang lahat ng mga lugar ng pagsamba ay limitado sa 1/3 ng pag-okupa ayon sa fire code para sa panloob na personal na pagdalo.

• Ang pagsusuot ng mask ay ipinaguutos. • Ang mga tao sa isang sambahayan ay dapat manatili ng dalawang metro ang layo mula sa iba pang mga sambahayan sa lahat ng oras.

Pagsuot ng Mask

Ang pagsuot ng mask ay pinaguutos sa lahat ng panloob na mga pampublikong lugar, sa trabaho at lugar ng pagsamba.

Nagtatrabaho mula sa bahay

Ang pagtatrabaho mula sa bahay ay inirerekumenda - ngunit hindi na sapilitan - kung ang employer ay hindi nangangailangan ng pisikal na presensya ng empleyado upang gumana nang mabisa.

Mga paghihigpit sa Negosyo

Mga pasilidad ng aliwan at libangan Ang mga negosyo ng aliwan at mga pagtatatag ay maaaring buksan na may kapasidad na limitado sa 1/3 na ayon sa pag-okupa ng fire code. Kasama sa mga halimbawa ay mga

teatro, casino, sentro ng libangan, museyo at aklatan. Serbisyong Pampagkain Maaaring buksan ang mga restawran, pub, bar, lounge at cafe para sa panloob at panlabas na kainan. Maximum na 6 katao ang bawat mesa. Nagtatapos ang pagbenta ng alak pag-dating ng 11:00 at ang kainan ay dapat na magsara sa hatinggabi para sa serbisyo ng personal sa panloob. Mga serbisyong Retail Ang lahat ng mga serbisyong retail at mga shopping mall ay dapat mabawasan ang kapasidad ng kostumer sa 1/3 ng pag-okupa ng fire code o 5 mga kostumer (alinman ang mas malaki), hindi kasama ang mga tauhan. Mga serbisyong pangkalusugan at propesyonal Ang mga serbisyong pangkalusugan at pang-propesyonal ay maaaring buksan sa pamamagitan ng appointment lamang para sa mga serbisyo na isa-sa-isa. Dapat sundin ang lahat ng patnubay sa kalusugan at sektor ng

Mga serbisyong personal na kalusugan Ang mga serbisyo sa personal na kalusugan ay maaaring magbukas para sa mga tipanan at serbisyong walk-in. Ang serbisyo ay dapat na limitado sa mga serbisyong isa-sa-isa. Dapat sundin ang lahat ng patnubay sa pangkalusugan at sektor ng publiko. Kasama sa mga halimbawa ang mga salon ng buhok at kuko, mga serbisyo na pang-estetika at masaheng therapy.

Mga aktibidad sa kaganapan at libangan

Mga aktibidad sa fitness, libangan at isport Pinapayagan ang lahat ng mga aktibidad sa panloob at panlabas na palakasan at libangan, kasama ang: • koponan ng palakasan • mga kasanayan at pagsasanay sa pangkat • mga laro, kumpetisyon at paglalaro ng liga • mga aktibidad ng kabataan (tulad ng mga day camp at overnight camp at panloob na mga sentro ng paglalaro) Mga pasilidad sa panloob na fitness at libangan Maaaring buksan ang mga gym at

Ang Stage 2 ng Bukas para sa Plano sa Tag-init ay magsisimula sa Hunyo 10 Ang Alberta ay gagawa ng isang malaking hakbang patungo sa ligtas na pagbabalik sa normal habang ang mga fitness center, aklatan at sinehan ay muling magbubukas at muling magsisimula ang malalaking pagtitipong panlabas. Simula sa Hunyo 10, ang Stage 2 ng Bukas para sa Tag-init na Plano ay magkakabisa, dalawang linggo pagkatapos ng 60 porsyento ng Albertans na may edad 12-pataas na nakatanggap ng hindi bababa sa isang dosis ng bakuna at ang pagpapa-ospital sa COVID-19 ay mas mababa sa 500 at tuluyang bumababa. Patuloy na susubaybayan ng mga opisyal ang pag-usad ng paglunsad ng bakuna ng Alberta habang binabantayan ng mabuti ang mga numero sa pagpapa-ospital

at pagkakahawa ng COVID-19 sa lalawigan. Ang mga paghihigpit ay binawasan sa Stage 2 ng Bukas para sa Plano ng Tag-init, na epektibo mula Hunyo 10 • Ang panlabas na mga pagtitipong panlipunan ay tumataas sa 20 katao, na may distansya. • Maaaring maganap ang panloob at panlabas na mga seremonya sa kasal na may hanggang sa 20 mga dumalo. Pinahihintulutan ang mga pagtitipon sa labas. • Ang mga panloob at panlabas na serbisyo sa libing ay mananatiling hindi nagba bago na may pinahihintulutang hanggang sa 20 mga tao. Pinahihintulutan ang mga pagtitipon sa labas. • Ang mga restawran ay maaaring mag-paupo sa mga mesa na may hanggang anim na tao, sa loob ng bahay o sa labas.

o Ang mga pagdiriwang ng kainan ay hindi na pinaghihigpitan sa mga sambahayan lamang. o Nalalapat pa rin ang pisikal na pagdistansya at iba pang mga paghihigpit. • Ang kapasidad sa retail ay tataas sa isang-katlo ng pagsakop ayon sa fire code. • Ang kapasidad para sa mga lugar ng pagsamba ay tataas sa isang-katlo ng pagsakop ayon sa fire code. • Ang mga gym at iba pang mga pasilidad sa panloob na fitness ay bukas para sa mga aktibidad na solo at drop-in na may distansya na tatlong metro sa pagitan ng mga kalahok at mga klase sa fitness ay maaaring ipagpatuloy na may tatlong metrong distansya. • Ang panloob na setting ay maaaring buksan na may hanggang isangkatlo ng pagsakop ayon sa fire code, kabilang ang mga panloob na sentro

ng libangan. Kasama rito ang mga arena, sinehan, sinehan, museyo, art gallery at aklatan. • Ipinagpatuloy ng panloob at panlabas na palakasan na pang-isport sa kabataan. • Ang mga aktibidad ng kabataan, tulad ng mga day camp, overnight camps,at play center, ay maaaring ipagpatuloy. • Ang mga serbisyong personal at serbisyong pangkalusugan ay maaaring ipagpatuloy ang serbisyong walk-in. • Ang mga institusyong post-secondary ay maaaring ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral nang personal. • Ang utos mula sa pagtrabaho sa bahay ay natangal ngunit inirerekumenda pa rin. • Ang mga panlabas na nakapirming kagamitan sa pag-upo (hal.,grandstand) ay maaaring magbukas na may isangikatlong puwesto na nakaupo. • Ang mga pampublikong pagtitipong panlabas ay itataas sa 150 katao (hal., Mga konsyerto / pagdiriwang).

fitness studio para sa mga solo at drop-in na aktibidad, isa-sa-isa na pagsasanay at mga klase sa fitness sa panloob. Nalalapat ang mga kinakailangan sa kaligtasan. Ang mga pasilidad sa panloob na libangan (tulad ng mga arena, pool at rec center) ay maaaring buksan sa 1/3 ng pag-okupa ng fire code. Mga aktibidad sa pagganap Pinapayagan ang mga aktibidad sa panloob na pagganap, kasama ang: • pagsayaw, pag-awit, pag-arte o pagtugtog ng isang instrumentong pangmusika • ensayo o palabas sa dula-dulaan Mga panlabas na kaganapang pampubliko at pagtitipon Pinapayagan ang mga panlabas na kaganapan sa hindi nakapirming upuan (tulad ng mga konsyerto at pagdiriwang) hanggang sa 150 katao. Ang mga panlabas na nakapirming kagamitan sa pagupo (tulad ng mga grandstyands) ay limitado sa 1/3 ng kanilang kabuuang puwesto sa pagkakaupo.

Ang mga kinakailangan sa panloob na pagsuot ng mask at pag-distansya ay mananatiling nakalaan sa buong Stage 2. Ang ilang mga paghihigpit ay patuloy na nalalapat sa mga aktibidad sa loob ng bawat hakbang. Inaasahan na magsisimula ang Stage 3 sa dulo ng Hunyo o simula ng Hulyo. Nakasalalay ito sa lahat ng mga Albertans na patuloy na nabakunahan at sumusunod sa mga nakalaang hakbang sa kalusugan ng publiko. Maaaring subaybayan ng mga Albertans ang progreso ng pagbabakuna ng lalawigan sa alberta.ca. Ang gobyerno ng Alberta ay tumutugon sa COVID-19 pandemya sa pamamagitan ng pagprotekta sa mga buhay at kabuhayan na may tumpak na mga hakbang upang mabaluktot ang kurba, mapanatili ang maliliit na negosyo at protektahan ang sistema ng pangangalaga ng kalusugan ng Alberta.

Ang mga lugar ng panlalawigan ay bukas para sa tag-init Ang lalawigan ay sisimulan ang muling pagbubukas sa ilang mga museyo, makasaysayang lugar at archive sa Hunyo 10. Bilang bahagi ng Stage 2 sa Bukas para sa Tag-init ng Alberta, ang mga museyo at archive ay maaaring buksan sa publiko sa pinababang kapasidad ng bisita. Ang mga lugar ng pamana na pagmamay-ari ng Alberta ay nangunguna sa pamamagitan ng muling pagbubukas:

• Hunyo 10: Mga Provincial Archive ng Alberta, Royal Tyrrell Museo ng Palaeontology • June 16: Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, Remington Carriage Museum, Royal Alberta Museum • June 19: Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village • June 21: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump • June 23: Reynolds-Alberta Museum

Ang pagsunod sa mga alituntunin ay napapanatiling ligtas ang lahat Tulad ng sa tag-araw ng 2020, ang mga pasilidad ay nag-ingat ng mabuti upang matiyak na magbubukas muli sila sa isang ligtas at responsableng pamamaraan. Mahalagang mga hakbang kailangang malaman: • Ang mga mask ay sapilitan sa lahat ng panloob na pampublikong lugar, mga lugar ng pagsamba at mga lugar

ng trabaho sa loob. Mangyaring magdala at magsuot ng iyong sariling hindi pang-medikal na mask kapag bumibisita sa mga museyo ng probinsiya at mga makasaysayang lugar. • Ang may oras na tiketing ay nakalaan sa maraming mga pasilidad upang payagan ang pagbawas sa kapasidad ng bisita at paglayo ng pisikal. I-book nang maaga ang iyong mga tiket upang maiwasan ang pagkabigo,

dahil maaaring hindi matanggap ang mga walk-up na pagtanggap. Ang bawat lugar ay may plano na natutukoy sa pasilidad, kaya ang mga bisita ay kailangang suriin online at rebyuhin ang mga alituntunin ng bisita bago dumating sa lugar upang matiyak na ang bawat isa ay may ligtas at kasiya-siyang karanasan.

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

Points of View | Education

JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

The Pleasure of PATERNITY LEGAL CHIKA

Raquel P. Getigan Earned Bachelor of Laws degree at Manila Law College and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Philippine Normal University. She’s an educator by profession and Apprentice at Atty. Romeo Sese Law office.

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f an unknown child suddenly comes to you and calls you Dad, Daddy, Papa, or Baba, how will you respond? What will you feel? Will you ask yourself if you are indeed their father? There are numerous scenarios where a man can find himself becoming a father unexpectedly. It could happen as a result of a one-night stand, a forgotten love, or even a forbidden love. Paternity is a relationship between a father and his biological or adopted children. Moreover, it comes with privileges and responsibilities binding the father and the child to each other. Questioned paternity can lead to issues regarding legitimacy, inheritance and lawful rights. Other issues can involve a biological father’s legal rights to child custody in the case

of separation and the obligation of child support. Articles 163 to Article 171, Title VI of the Family Code of the Philippines cover the decrees about Paternity and Filiation. Let us focus on the grounds impugning legitimacy. In Article 166, it states that “Legitimacy of a child may be impugned only on the following grounds: (1) That it was physically impossible for the husband to have sexual intercourse with his wife within the first 120 days of the 300 days which immediately precede the birth of the child because of: (2) (a) the physical incapacity of the husband to have sexual intercourse with his wife;

Comparing apples to dalanghitas

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Jon Perez jonperez13@gmail.com Jon Perez was a former sports and news reporter with the Saipan Tribune in the CNMI, one of three U.S. territories in the Pacific. He moved to Saskatchewan with his family in 2019.

ENGINEER IN ACTION

iving and working here in Canada, particularly in the city of Saskatoon in the province of Saskatchewan, I can’t help but compare local officials who run the government here against the Philippines. I know that Canada is a first world country and it is like comparing apples to dalanghitas (citrus oranges), but do understand me and hear me out before calling my head to be chopped off. The first thing I noticed is how the taxes that you are paying are spent wisely where even a foreign worker like me can enjoy its benefits. I’m still using an open work permit here, still a foreign worker, while we’re waiting for our papers for permanent residency status. However, being a foreign worker did not prevent me from receiving benefits that were also available to legal residents and

mmcereno@gmail.com Mervin Cereno is a Filipino immigrant in Canada. A FilipinoCanadian Engineer license to practice Engineering in Alberta. He is employed in one of the most sought Engineering Consulting Firm based in Edmonton as a Structural Engineer that designs small to medium-rise commercial and multi-family buildings. He is a Volunteer and Advocates to help Filipino-Canadian Engineers to pursue their Professional Engineering licenses in Canada. For advice on a specific case in pursuing your application whether in ASET or APEGA, please email me at mmcereno@gmail.com.

(3) That it is proved that for biological or other scientific reasons, the child could not have been that of the husband, except in the instance provided in the second paragraph of Article 164: Children conceived as a result of artificial insemination of the wife with the sperm of the husband or that of a donor or both are likewise legitimate children of the husband and his wife, provided, that both of them authorized or ratified such insemination in a written instrument executed and signed by them before the birth of the child. The instrument diems. While the lowly laborers and their families in my home country are struggling to get better health care. Workers here also have employment insurance and it was a big help to a lot of people, especially me, when restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic tightened up that forced schools to shut down sometime in March and resuming classes online. I received EI once I was laid off by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Saskatoon. The EI’s equivalent could be the ayuda given by the Philippine government either through the Social Security System (private sector) or the Government Service Insurance System (public servants). A decade or so ago, SSS officials were exposed for giving themselves huge bonuses and other perks. Huge sums of money that experts say could endanger the pension funds of retired workers in the private sector. Provincial governments, or is it Federal, also put urban planning

shall be recorded in the civil registry together with the birth certificate of the child. (55a, 258a); or (4) That in case of children conceived through artificial insemination, the written authorization or ratification of either parents was obtained through mistake, fraud, violence, intimidation, or undue influence.” The pleasure of being a father, once captured, is something you want to hold near. Fatherhood can be firm, but gentle. It can also be complex, but judicious. On this note, we express our gratitude for all the fathers who acknowledged their children and likewise, fulfilled their duties and obligations of being a father to their children. HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all fathers around the Globe!

as a top priority in establishing communities—residential and commercial—and the laying out of roads. Groceries, shopping centers, restaurants, and other commercial establishments are built away from the major roads where you really need to drive out of the major roadways. Circle Drive, EDSA (Highway 54 to the young at heart) in Manila, is very convenient where you can drive from your home to your destination in 30 minutes or less. There are a lot more differences that I noticed here that are lacking in the Philippines, but I already exceeded the 500-character limit. My main point is, imagine what kind of other services that the Filipino masses could have enjoyed by officials in the Philippines if the taxes collected is well spent and not enjoyed by a few political families that established their dynasties. Now, I hope I won’t get bashed on social media after this.

I am a Project Manager in my Company, How will APEGA treat this Experience in my Application as a Professional Engineer?

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Mervin Cereno, P. Eng.

Canadian citizens like free healthcare and employee insurance. After all, when I started working here, local and federal government taxes were deducted to my salary. I have a health card under the universal health-care system administered by the Saskatchewan Health Services, which they say is free (sort of since your taxes help fund the program), and I have been using it whenever I go see the doctor to get my prescription medicine. I do not pay anything and since I am also under my wife’s private health care, I get my anti seizure medication cheaper. PhilHealth is somewhat the equivalent of SHS’s health-care system, the only difference is the former is riddled with corruption where members of the board enjoy perks like millions of pesos worth of stipends, bonuses, and other per

(b) the fact that the husband and wife were living separately in such a way that sexual intercourse was not possible; or (c) serious illness of the husband, which absolutely prevented sexual intercourse;

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hat does it take to be a Professional Engineer in Canada? To be a Professional Engineer in Alberta, you must demonstrate the 22 Competencies as set by the APEGA. These competencies must be written in your Work Experience Record to be submitted to the Board of Examiners of APEGA. If your work experience focuses only on one competency, this might not be enough for you to be called a Professional Engineer. Hence, APEGA has to defer your application until you demonstrate the 22 Competencies in your Engineering Experience. Most Project Managers who apply for a Professional Engineering License must demonstrate all the competencies and not only the project management component of an Engineer. If the direction of your

Career is in Project Management, it is worth having Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute (PMI). Having a PMP Certification does not guarantee that you demonstrate the Competencies of an Engineer. A Professional Engineer can be a Project Manager but a Project Manager cannot be a Professional Engineer without satisfying the 22 Competencies. The Project and Financial Management Principle form part of Competency Category 3 of APEGA Competency-Based Assessment. There are 22 more Competencies that need to be satisfied. Those Project Managers that will apply for a Professional Engineering License must be able to demonstrate the following other Categories

and its sub-category: Category 1 – Technical Competency; Category 2 – Communication; Category 4 – Team Effectiveness; Category 5 – Professionalism; and, Category 6 – Social, Economic, Environmental and Sustainability. All applicants that will write their Work Experience for submittal to APEGA must always be under the supervision of a Professional Engineer. The supervising Professional Engineer to the Applicant must validate that the work done by the Applicant as written in the work experience record is true and accurate. With the online portal of the Alberta Filipino Journal, many International Educated Engineers who aspire to continue their Professional

Practice in Canada have reached out to me. I was able to help them with their application. Many of them were able to gain their Professional Engineer designation and many are still waiting for the decision. As I always say, if you have questions and need direction on your Professional Engineering application, do not hesitate to email me at mmcereno@gmail.com. I will be happy to help you and work with you in your journey to obtaining a Professional Engineering Designation in Canada.

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Immigration Updates | Religion

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

Temporary public policy to facilitate the granting of permanent residence for caregivers who applied under the Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker Class in 2020.

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wo months ago I wrote an article regarding the two new pilots under the Caregiver Program introduced in June 2019 and the delay in the processing of applications submitted under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot. On May 3, 2021, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Hon. Marco Mendecino, announced a temporary public policy to facilitate the granting of permanent residence for caregivers who applied under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot. The two Pilots were opened for applications on June 18, 2019 and will run until June 17, 2024. These Pilots were designed to provide a clear, direct pathway to permanent residence for foreign in-home caregivers. The public policy aims to facilitate the granting of permanent residence for caregivers who applied under the two Pilot in 2020, but whose application was not entered into processing due to delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic. IRCC said that the pandemic caused great disruption to life in Canada and around the world, including the processing of applications. What this means is that most applications received in 2020 under these Pilots could not be processed during that year. Without this public policy, significant negative impacts on future processing limits and on applicants would have resulted, including multiple year processing delays, and uncertainty for both the caregiver and the families who employ them. Pursuant to section 25.2 of the

FROM A VANTAGE POINT

FROM MIGRATION TO IMMIGRATION

Marjorie Carmona Newman info@ mcncanadaimmigration.com 780-758-2045 Marjorie Carmona Newman is a REGULATED CANADIAN IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT based in Edmonton, Alberta. She is currently a member of CAPIC’s Policy Committee and previously served as Prairie Chapter representative for Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC) in the Governance and Nomination Committee and Education Committee. A recipient of CAPIC's Members Service Award for four consecutive years (2015-2019).

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), there are sufficient public policy considerations that justify the granting of permanent resident status or an exemption from certain requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), to foreign nationals who meet the eligibility criteria and conditions listed below: Conditions (eligibility requirements)

FOUNDING FATHER

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

For the purpose of assessing (b), the date the application is made is deemed to be the date on which the application described in (a) was received by the designated office. This same date is also to be used as the lock-in date for the purpose of determining whether a child is a dependent child when assessing the eligibility of the family members below. Conditions (eligibility requirements) applicable to family members in Canada: In-Canada family members of a principal applicant under this public policy are eligible to be granted permanent residence pursuant to this public policy if they meet the following conditions: 1. the foreign national is in Canada; 2. the foreign national has been included as an accompanying family member in an application for permanent residence described in (a) which is being processed

under this public policy; 3. the foreign national meets the definition of a “family member” in subsection 1(3) of the Regulations; 4. the foreign national is not inadmissible pursuant to the Act and the Regulations; and 5. a delegated officer has determined that the principal applicant meets all conditions (eligibility requirements) to receive permanent residence pursuant to this public policy. Conditions (eligibility requirements) applicable to family members outside Canada: Based on public policy considerations, when processing an application for a permanent resident visa, delegated officers may grant an exemption from the requirements of the Regulations identified below when a foreign national meets the following conditions: 1. the foreign national residing outside Canada has been included as an accompanying family member in an application described in (a) which is being processed under this public policy; 2. the foreign national meets the definition of family member in subsection 1(3) of the Regulations; 3. the foreign national is not otherwise inadmissible pursuant to the Act and the Regulations; and 4. a delegated officer has determined that the principal applicant meets all conditions (eligibility requirements) to receive permanent residence pursuant to this public policy. IRCC announced a processing plan for 2021, and strives to finalize permanent residence applications for up to 6,000 caregivers who have completed their in-Canada work experience and their immediate family members, by

December 31, 2021 and to make at least 1,500 first-stage decisions on applications for the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots by June 30, 2021- prioritization of these decisions will allow more caregiver work permits to be issued for those who have valid job offers to work for families in Canada. With the public policy and the processing plan for 2021,we are now assured that there is hope on the horizon for both the applicants and the families (Employers) who employ these caregivers. If you have questions regarding the above article you may contact Marjorie at info@mcncanadaimmigration.com Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), IRPA, IRPR A word of caution: You should not act or rely on the information provided in this column. It is not a legal advice. To ensure your interests are protected, retain or formally seek advice from a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing of ICCRC. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RCIC’s.

THE ATTITUDE OF A PENITENT SPIRIT OUR TEXT “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

Tito S.Venida

applicable to principal applicants Based on public policy considerations, delegated officers may grant permanent resident status to foreign nationals who meet the following conditions. The foreign national: a. Has submitted an application under the Home Child Care Provider Class or Home Support Worker Class that: i. was received by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in 2020; and, ii. was not reviewed in 2020 to ensure that the application met the requirements specified in section 10 of the Regulations and according to the application kit requirements in place at the time the application was received by the designated office; b. Meets the eligibility criteria of the pilot class in which they had applied; c. Is not inadmissible pursuant to the Act and the Regulations.

THEY THAT MOURN The poor are accustomed to mourn and the graciously poor mourn graciously. We are apt to think, blessed are the merry; but our Lord Jesus Christ, who was Himself a great mourner, says, and blessed are the mourners. There is a sinful mourning, which is an enemy to blessedness—the sorrow of the world. It is a despairing melancholy upon a spiritual account and a disconsolate grief upon a temporal account. There is a natural mourning, which proves a friend to blessedness. That is, by the grace of God working with

it and sanctifying the afflictions to us for that which we mourn. There is a gracious mourning, which qualifies for blessedness—a habitual seriousness, the mind mortified to mirth, and an actual sorrow. A PENITENTIAL MOURNING FOR OUR SINS This is godly sorrow that worketh repentance to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10). It is a sorrow according to God—a sorrow for sin with an eye to Christ (Zechariah 12:10). Those are God’s mourners who live a life of repentance. Those who lament the corruption of their nature and their many actual transgressions and God’s withdrawal from them.

Those who out of regard to God’s honor mourn also for the sins of others and sigh and cry for their abominations (Ezekiel 9:4). A SYMPATHIZING MOURNING FOR THE AFFLICTIONS OF OTHERS. - The mourning of those who weep with them that weep are sorrowful for the solemn assemblies and for the desolations of Zion (Zephaniah 3:18; Psalm 137:1). - They look with compassion toward perishing souls and weep over them as Christ over Jerusalem. THE PROMISED BLESSING They shall be comforted. Though perhaps they are not immediately comforted, yet plentiful provision is made for their comfort. Light is sown for them and, in heaven, it is certain they shall be comforted as Lazarus (Luke 16:25).

The happiness of heaven consists in being perfectly and eternally comforted. This is when all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes. It is the joy of the Lord—a fullness of joy and pleasures forever more.

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

Community | Business

JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

PHILIPPINE CONSULAR INFO SERIES

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

Philippine Consulate General, Calgary www.philcongencalgary.org

Message of Consul General Zaldy Patron for the Filipinos in Alberta and Saskatchewan on the occasion of the Philippine Heritage Month 2021 and the 2021 Philippine Independence Day.

I am pleased to inform you that the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulates General in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver will highlight this month the success of our fellow Filipinos in Canada through a project called "Proudly Philippines, Proudly Filipino” that we will share on social media. Lastly I am honor to share with you that the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary is undertaking it's biggest Cultural Diplomacy project

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so far, as it leads the installation of the Rizal Monument in Nose Creek Regional Park in Airdrie Alberta, in partnership with Airdrie City Council and the Filipino Airdrie Association. This project is the Philippine Consulate General's humble way to promote our Philippine Heritage and honor all the Filipinos in Alberta and the rest of Canada. Mabuhay ang lahing Pilipino, maraming salamat po!.

HAPPY

PHILIPPINE To my fellow Filipinos in Alberta in Saskatchewan Canada. I'm Consul General Zaldy Patron joining all of you, in our community celebration of the Philippine Heritage month this June 2021 and the 123rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Philippine Independence on June 12. We are thankful to all Filipinos who came here to Canada and have enriched the cultural diversity of this country and contributed to its economic prosperity and social development. We are grateful to the

people and government of Canada for recognizing our community and honoring us with the declaration of the Philippine Heritage month that we now celebrate every year in June. Our Philippine Independence Day on the other hand is an occasion for us to remember and pay homage to all our Filipino heroes who fought their Spanish Colonizers in a National Revolution that won for us the freedom that we enjoy today. This year the theme of our Philippine Independence Day is

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"Diwa ng Kalayaan sa Pagkakaisa at Paghilom ng Bayan". It calls for our unity as a nation as we heal as one knowing very well that the Philippines, just like the rest of the world, is now recovering from our long battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. I would also like to take this opportunity to honor all Filipinos who served as front-liners and essential workers throughout the pandemic for all their sacrifices so that we in turn can live safely and well.

HERITAGE MONTH

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Community | Points of View | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

MIGRANTS' VOICES

Marco Luciano mluciano2@gmail.com Marco Luciano is the Global Council Representative of Philippine based Migrante International. He is also the current Secretary General of its chapter Migrante Canada.

PINOY Pride

June is designated as Philippine Heritage Month in the Province of Alberta. June 12 is also the commemoration of Philippine Independence Day, thus across Canada and around the world, the Filipino diaspora celebrates the whole month of June. But I’m not going to talk about that this time. June is also Pride Month, a month where the LBGTQ+ community comes together to celebrate the freedom to be themselves. The roots of Pride celebrations go way back to 1969 in New York. LGBT is an acronym that stands for lesbian, gay,

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bisexual and transgender. The term sometimes is extended to LGBTQ, or even LGBTQIA, to include queer, intersex and asexual groups. Queer is an umbrella term for non-straight people, intersex refers to those whose sex is not clearly defined because of genetic, hormonal or biological differences, and asexual describes those who don't experience sexual attraction. I tried to find Filipino translations for the words that make up LBGTQ, but I ran into walls. It seems that there is no direct Filipino translation for “lesbian,” “transgender,” “bisexual,” or “queer”. It is even more difficult for complex terms such as “gender fluid,” “pansexual” or “asexual.” Hell, there is even no translation for “straight” in the context of gender identity. Bakla, bading, bayot, beki, tibo, and many other slang terms are meant to make fun of and to belittle a LBGT person. They become insults to shame and to degrade: “Bading kasi

‘yan”. These terms were also used on national television by journalists and news anchors often mocking stereotypical “gay” gestures. Pre-Colonial Philippines and gender identity Gender nonconformities go back to the Philippines’ pre-colonial history. The babaylans or spiritual leaders, priests or shamans in native communities. They are typically female and can also be taken by males who crossed genders. They were called asog. The effeminate people, together with the weak, were handled gently during tribal raids. The feminized men were similar to women in almost all aspects, except for childbearing. Prior to colonization, the Philippines was a nation with several tribes worshipping different deities. They worshipped idols that included transgender gods like Lakapati (or Ikapati), the goddess of fertility and

good harvest, who was described as an androgynous, intersex, or transgender goddess. Lakapati is a hermaphrodite and revered as a major fertility deity by the Tagalog. Her prowess on fertility covers not only human and divine fertility, but also the fertility of all other things such as wildlife, crops, trees, and plants. She is also the goddess of cultivated land. A prayer dedicated to Lakapati was recited by children when sowing seeds: "Lakapati, pakanin mo yaring alipin mo; huwagmong gutumin (Lakapati, feed this thy slave; let him not hunger)". The Spanish colonization pacified women in the Philippines and confined them to the homes as timid and loyal housewives. With this, transgender women were also vilified and demonized. Discrimination and rejection continue to this day. The experience of rejection among LGBTQ within the Filipino diaspora by families and loved ones are subtle but hurtful. It is a powerful and disruptive experience oftentimes linked to negative mental health issues. It happens so often. The most obvious form of rejection comes when family members literally reject an LGBTQ child, with statements such as “wala akong lesbianang anak” or “wala akong baklang anak” (“I have no lesbian or gay child”). Sometimes it can also take subtler forms such as “Wala naman sa lahi natin ang bakla” (“Being gay isn’t in our genes”). It might not be direct but it tells them that their place as a legitimate member of the family is somehow invalid. There were also experiences where being LBGTQ is a matter

of life and death, for example a grandfather’s dying wish “Sabi ni lolo sana bago siya mamatay, maging maayos ako” (“Grandfather said that, before he dies, I should fix myself”). These instances are deeply distressing for a young person that was brought up in a culture where family is held in such high regard. What is Pride Month Pride Month is a month dedicated to celebrating the voices and culture of LGBTQ individuals and support those rights in their community. In Canada, this is celebrated in the month of June. There have traditionally been parades, drag performances, live theater and memorials and celebrations. Education on who and what the LBGTQ community is is also an important aspect of this month. According to its history, the first LGBT Pride Parade occurred in New York City on June 28, 1970, marking the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots. These riots occurred after police raided a gay bar on June 28, 1969. This event has started the spark to uplift the gay rights movements around the globe. For Bahaghari Philippines, an organization of LBGTQ people based in the Philippines, Pride is a form of protest and resistance “it is a month showing off the unity of the whole community and their allies against discrimination, harassment, and violence toward the LGBTQ+ people. This month is a great reminder that everyone in the society is valid and deserving for social acceptance and equal rights,” they said in their statement. continued on page 13 ►

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JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Points of View | Legal Matters

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Kape, Kwentuhan, and Queer Spaces Steeped in Stories: Ulat Aklat

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

LGBTQIA+ rights have seen a lot of progress in Canada over the past decades, reaching an important milestone in 2005 with the legalization of same-sex marriage, something that we’ll hopefully someday see happen in the Philippines. But the LGBTQIA+ community, in both countries, still face discrimination and many struggles. This June, as we celebrate both Philippine Independence Day and Pride Month, let us remember to include our LGBTQIA+ brothers, sisters, and kababayans in our continued fight for freedom and equality. This month, I would like to share an amazing collaborative project edited by jacqueline gallos aquines called Home Is in the Body: 2SLGBTQIA+ FilipinX Femme North of the 49th Parallel. Emerging from a need “for a space to convene, connect, and build community,” Home Is in the Body is a beautiful coffee table book that compiles poetry, prose, photographs, illustrations, and more, of Filipinx-Canadians whose identities and lived experiences are as varied as their chosen forms of expression. Home Is in the Body is a celebration of the richness and diversity of the Filipinx community. This collection will hopefully bring comfort to our kababayans of all identities in the knowledge that there is a community waiting

to welcome and embrace them, and inspire them to tell their own stories and live their truth. If you’re in the Edmonton area, Home Is in the Body is available for purchase in Intent Coffee, a space that strives to embody inclusivity, equitability, accountability, sustainability, and community. Intent Coffee was founded by Reika and Mavi, both first generation, queer, Filipinx immigrants. Both visionaries, they strive to create an “inclusive, non-hypersexualized, and sober space for socializing within the local queer community,” where people of all ages, identities, and backgrounds “can co-exist and have meaningful and intergenerational conversations.” In September of last year, they opened the doors of Intent Coffee in Southgate Centre. Their menu includes different types of delicious kape, tinapay, kakanin, and more. Echoing Home Is in the Body’s call for community, and staying true to their roots, Intent Coffee also has a bayanihan fund, which is a community mutual aid fund that they use “to make sure everyone who comes through [their] doors can leave with something to eat or drink.” Much like other local businesses, the pandemic has negatively impacted Intent Coffee, so if you are able to, please support their business and their wonderful work and vision.

from page 12

Filipino LBGTQ in the Philippines continue to fight for their rights and place. The LBGTQ community and their advocates fought hard to be recognized in the Philippine Congress. After a long and emotionally drawn-out struggle, The House of Representatives approved LGBT Rights on 20 September 2017. The lawmakers had voted 198-0 for the approval of House Bill 4982, otherwise known as the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality (SOGIE) Bill. On the House of Representatives website, it says that those who violate this bill are required to pay a penalty of ₱100,000 to ₱500,000 and face imprisonment for one to six years. This bill prohibits and penalizes any discriminatory acts against Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender people. The SOGIE Bill penalizes the following acts: • Gender Profiling • Denying or revoking a professional or other similar kinds of license, clearance, except marriage license, issued by the government • Denying access to public service, including military service including SOGIE as criteria for human resource action • Refusing admission or expelling a person from any educational or training institution • Denying a person access to public or private medical and other health services open to the general public The Filipino community both in the Philippines and diaspora continue to struggle and fight for their rights and the intergenerational trauma that has been haunting them. As we commemorate Philippine Heritage Month and Philippine Independence Day, it is also important for us to understand the historical roots of the Filipino LBGTQ and their powerful role in our society, their oppression during colonization and their resistance. Pinoy pride means caring for our LBGTQ family not only in the month of June but every day. Pinoy Pride means collectively celebrating our histories. Happy Pride and Happy Philippine Heritage Month. All photos and articles available online. Follow us

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Sports | Community

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

Philippine Golf Phenom wins the US Open JAN THE MAN’S NOTE

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

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arlier this month, the world of golf welcomed the first ever golfer from the Philippines to win a major championship on either of the LPGA or PGA tours. 19-yearold golf phenom Yuka Saso was able to beat Japan’s Nasa Hatoaka in a nail-biting three-hole playoff with Saso making birdie on the third playoff hole to capture the 2021 US Women’s Open Championship. Heading into the final round come Sunday June 6, Saso sat one shot behind leader Lexi Thompson (USA). Saso had a difficult start to the round as she made double bogeys on holes two and three. Just three holes into the championship Thompson quickly had a five-shot lead over Saso. However, after a back nine score of 41 – Thompson missed the chance to get into a playoff with Saso and Hatoaka by only one stroke. With a string of birdies on holes seven, 16, and 17, Saso was able to get into a playoff and make golf history as a US Women’s Open Champion. Saso’s win was one that created a meaningful impact on the entire

Munting Kaisipan ng Isang Kababayan

Dayuhan sa Sariling Bayan Ni Orly Alvarez, isang guro mula sa Daet, Camarines Norte

Photo credits: 2021 Getty Images

country of the Philippines as it is a sport that is not often sought after due to its expensive nature in terms of equipment, memberships, green fees, etc. However, Saso’s win may pave the way for the next generation of golfers of Philippine descent to pick up the game and help put the

Philippines on the map! Who knows? Another Philippine major champion might be in the works soon. With Yuka Saso’s US Open victory, she is now eligible for a five-year membership term with the LPGA tour – and hopefully more wins to come!

Malaya lamang lamang tayo sa salita ngunit sa katotohanan ay bilanggo pa rin tayo ng mga banyaga. Lahat ng ating mga kagamitan, kasangkapan at maging sa mga pagkain ay iyong matutunghayan na ito ay mula sa ibayong dagat. Maskit man tanggapin, BILANGGO pa rin tayo at ang nanaig pa rin sa ating bansa ay ang mga DAYUHAN!

Kamalayan at Kalayaan for Filipino Heritage Month 2021: Raising Our Consciousness Towards Our Collective Freedom

From Sulong UBC, Anakbayan BC, and Gabriela BC

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his June, Canada honours the significant social, economic, and cultural contributions of Filipino-Canadians through the annual celebration of Filipino Heritage Month. This month provides all

Canadians the opportunity not only to celebrate one of Canada’s largest growing communities, but also to reflect on their collective journey as immigrants and to acknowledge the community’s history of resistance and resilience. As we wrap up the first week of June, Sulong UBC, Anakbayan BC, and Gabriela BC would like to encourage everyone to partake in the festivities

by participating in various events arranged throughout the month. Under the theme “Kamalayan at Kalayaan” which translates to “Consciousness and Freedom,” this collaborative effort includes educational discussions, film screenings, and cultural events that aim to raise our consciousness of our proud revolutionary history, our diverse art and culture, our stories of migration, and our continued legacy of activism. We believe that it is not until we link our position as diasporic Filipinos to the problems plaguing our motherland that we can move forward in our collective struggle for freedom and true independence. We would like to highlight that at noon on June 12, Philippine Independence Day, we will host Hindi-pendence Day — an event titled through a portmanteau combining the Filipino word “hindi” meaning “no” with the word independence. This online cultural event aims to raise awareness of the current state of political oppression in the Philippines, the imperialist interventions that prevent our country from being truly sovereign, and advocates for the release of political prisoners who have faced unlawful criminalization facilitated by the Terror Law through discussion and art. An in-person mobilization at the Chinese Consulate in Vancouver will be held following the online event. To join any of the events, participants are encouraged to complete a sign-up form for updates, follow our Facebook event or review the calendar available on our website for event links and further details. Given the current circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, all of the events will be held online. Educational discussions and cultural

events will be facilitated via Zoom, while film screenings, post-film discussions and socials will take place on our Discord server. Participants will be eligible for prizes based on their attendance at multiple events. We are also using this month to raise awareness and funds for the community pantry movement feeding those in need in the Philippines. We would like to urge everyone to show their support by directly donating to Sulong UBC or purchasing an item through the Sulong Gumroad store. Funds raised through Gumroad during the months of May and June will be used to support these community pantries and their valuable mutual aid work. About Our Organizations: Sulong UBC is a national democratic Filipino-Canadian youth and student group with a critical analysis of what it means to be Filipino on campus, in our communities, and in our personal lives. It is an affiliate of Anakbayan Canada. Anakbayan BC is an overseas chapter of Anakbayan – a progressive Filipino youth and student organization working for national liberation and genuine democracy in the Philippines. Gabriela BC is an anti-imperialist Filipino women's organization committed to continuing the ongoing struggle for liberation of all women and for national democracy in the Philippines. Media Contact: Sulong: Christie Bernados, Chairperson, info@sulong.ca Anakbayan BC: Miguel Maravilla, anakbayanbc@gmail.com Gabriela BC: Maki Cairns, info. gabrielabc@gmail.com

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Politics | Business

JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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ENDING HATE-BASED VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY and respond to hate-based violence, and to support communities experiencing hate and violence.

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e are all keenly aware of the increase in hate crimes and attacks on people of colour in Edmonton. Incidents of anti-Asian, anti-Black, and anti-Indigenous racism, along with Islamophobia and antiSemitism have become more common in our city and our country than we sometimes care to acknowledge. We can’t ignore and turn away from these racist incidents. Hate crimes and attacks on racialized communities are on the rise in Edmonton. And I know these incidents do not reflect the Edmonton we aspire to be. The people who have the best solutions to racism are those who have and continue to experience it. That’s why If I am elected mayor, I will make it a key priority to take immediate, community-driven action to end hate-based violence in Edmonton. At the inaugural council meeting, I will ask my Council colleagues to direct city administration to work with community leaders to deliver a comprehensive strategy for action. This is not about yet another

study or commission. Our communities know what needs to happen, and have been advocating for tangible actions for years. I appreciate the work of the Community Safety and Well-being Task Force, the Anti-Racism Advisory Committee, and many other citizen-led organizations that have been leading this work for years. This is about bringing community leadership to the forefront, putting together a whole-city approach to develop a comprehensive action plan, and then delivering on it immediately. We need to bring together city services and resources, community knowledge and expertise, and other orders of government to eliminate hate-based violence in our city. And we can no longer tolerate an incremental approach. In order to get this done, I will pull together community leaders and organizations doing the work of anti-racism and anti-hate with senior city administration officials to jointly implement a plan within 100 days of the start of Council’s term to prevent

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The plan should include immediate actions, like: • Addressing issues in city bylaws and other tools to respond to symbols of hate. • Championing anti-racist and antiviolence initiatives to the provincial and federal governments to secure resources and support, and advocating for legislative tools. • Transforming the way the city works with community-based cultural organizations so they are seen as leaders and partners in anti-racism rather than just stakeholders. • Building a consistent and coordinated approach to safety and inclusivity on city services and in public spaces—transit, recreation centres, parks, and libraries. • Working with partners like community leagues and in the educational system to support and amplify anti-racist educational initiatives. • Establishing a more integrated approach across city services for a rapid response to incidents of hate and to support impacted individuals and communities. When our communities experience hate-based incidents, the city must not only respond with empathy, but also reach out to communities to help them bring together the necessary supports to grieve and heal. And we must establish clear accountability for tracking and analyzing trends to identify and address emerging issues proactively, instead of just reacting after great harm has been done. We should not need to witness repeated incidents and attacks before we respond.

Action is important. But we need to ensure we’re measuring our performance and implementing a framework that makes city administration and city agencies directly accountable to the communities they serve. That’s why we’ll need community leadership to assess the tools at the city’s disposal already, and identify the tools that are needed to advance this work.

This may seem like a monumental task. But I cannot accept a city that includes violence against some people based on their race, skin colour or religion. We need to build an Edmonton for everyone. Every Edmontonian deserves to feel safe in their community. And I believe in our potential, together. #SOHIFORMAYOR

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY CANADA DAY

GET INVOLVED AT SOHI.CA @AMARJEETSOHIYEG

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Community

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

13 Years

Serving the Filipino Community in the Province of Alberta since 2008!

JOSE L. ANGELES

Publisher / Chief Operating Officer Sales and Advertising

I am so proud to be a part of AFJ’s history. The month of June truly marks another milestone for the Filipino community here in Alberta, Canada. May we all continue to collaborate and uplift each other to serve the Filipino community. Through thick and thin, and with hard work and dedication, we ensure that AFJ remains at number one. In the midst of this pandemic, AFJ stays terrific through the support of its family members and contributors.

Lito Mendoza Velasco Editor-in-Chief / Associate Publisher

Lianne Angeles Associate Editor

Noli Granado Photographer/ Videographer

Dario Juanillo Photographer/ Videographer

Marjorie CarmonaNewman Columnist

Mervin Cereno Columnist

Januel Cedrick Ibasco Columnist

Fr. Jhack Diaz Columnist

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Melanie Angeles Administrator / Office Manager Sales and Advertising,

Mark Angeles Distribution Manager Edmonton

Mike Angeles Distribution Manager Edmonton

Andy Chua Marketing Manager Edmonton

Stephen Burry Distribution Manager Calgary

Rodel Paguirigan Advertising, Sales & Marketing Manager - Calgary

Melanie C. Gomez Website / Graphic Designer

Moses Billacura Photographer/ Columnist

Tito S. Venida Columnist

Ida Beltran-Lucila Columnist

Kristian Cereno Columnist

Marco Luciano Columnist

Nicky Gocuan Columnist

Giselle General Columnist

Hermo Pagtakhan Columnist

Bing J. Jaleco Columnist

Jon Perez (Saskatoon, SK) Columnist

Perry Diaz Columnist

Katrina Marielle U. Cereno Contributing Writer

Leonila Samarita Contributing Writer

Raquel Getigan Contributing Writer

Jasmine-Grace Nacu Contributing Writer

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JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Business

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Community

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

123 Philippine Independence Day: rd

Celebrating the Accomplishments of Filipinos in Edmonton By Jose Jr Jun Angeles

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group of second generation business entrepreneurs gathered at the parking lot in front of Yelo’d Ice Cream and Bakeshop warehouse, with makeshift tents showcasing their wares and at the same time celebrating the significance of the day, the 123rd Philippine Independence Day which fell on Saturday, June 12, 2021. This was all made possible by the magnanimity of Yelo’d couple Ailynn Santos Wong and Jason Wong who own the now famous ice cream of Philippine flavours under the flagship brand Yelo’d and their ice cream truck Sosyal Scoops. The couple offered their space for other Filipino businesses to put up tents for their own products ranging from arts and crafts, to food and music. People from all over Edmonton enjoyed the music of DJ Kwake (Archie Caraang) playing OPM, hip-hop and R&B music. They invited Alberta Filipino Journal and the Congress of Philippine Associations of Alberta (COPAA) publisher and

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Aylinn Santos Wong, organizer of the Independence Event. Daughter of Art and Fely Santos, Filipino pioneers in Edmonton, Alberta

President Jun Angeles and Editor Lito Velasco. Young professionals and Filipinos from all walks of life came by in droves. Lawyer Grace Garcia Cooke brought her family

along with her mom Maida Garcia, a first generation Filipino immigrant from the 60s. Spotted among the crowd was Robert de Guzman, a Filipino-Canadian lawyer with his family enjoying the bright sunny day. Among the businesses that participated were LIEZEL, Concrete & Needle Felting Studio, own and operated by Ana Manansala Lee, another young entrepreneur and daughter of Eddie Manansala of Edmonton. The Delicada Jewelry tent displayed a collection of passionately curated jewelry inspired by Kultura. Corinna Rodil entrepreneur is a second generation Filipino Canadian and is making a name for herself. Also present was Filistix Filipino Restaurant, the creator of the now famous Filistix hamburger. The line up to taste this burger was amazingly long and easily depleted their burger stock. Arnel Del Rosario, chef and operator of Filistix Restaurant is a multi-awarded second generation entrepreneur and

the son of pioneer Art and Rose Del Rosario of Edmonton. Other participating businesses included Prairie Poly, Self Defense Babes, 3x3 Candles, Mae Cusinera Bread and Pastries owned and operated by Naomi Cuenco-Laxina with their brand and famous Ensaymada, Bebot Beauty Products by Bebot,

Minari Crochets design by Louisa Bucal, Halo 2 Boutique and Intima –Z Lingerie. Another food truck on the scene was that of Pina and Archie 6J’s and Convenience Store serving Filipino foods including lechon, pancit, barbecue and more. What better way to celebrate the 123rd Philippine Independence Day than by showcasing successful and thriving second generation Filipino entrepreneurs. Ailynn Santos Wong and James Wong should be commended for organizing this event, which hopefully will be repeated in the years to come. The Filipino tradition of “Bayanihan” spirit is alive and thriving among the second generation of Filipinos here in Edmonton. Considering that these new wave of Filipino-Canadians were mostly born here in Canada, these young entrepreneurs carry in themselves Filipino traits and traditions that what makes them who they are as Filipinos.

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

Points of View | Education | Business

JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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My Little Brother is Now an Adult

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urning 30 years old is the most recent life milestone I have reached, literally, just at the end of May. It seems unbelievable, but here we are! Another thing that I found remarkable is a recent realization that hit me – my little brother, is now an adult! My little brother, my ading, is in his mid-20s already, so it’s not like he just reached legal age. But viewing someone in your family from a different perspective takes time. This is common among those who are older siblings in the family. It is very likely that all of you, the Kuyas and Ates have played a role in parenting duties for the younger siblings. Several of us, Filipino Kuyas and Ates and even the Adings, the younger siblings, were interviewed by an Edmonton-based podcast “What’s The Tsismis” recently. It’s a remarkable interview, because family interactions change depending on how many kids there are, different age gaps, or presence or absence of other adults in the kids’ lives. In my case, behaving like the mother and father and big sister at the same time when we were growing up was based on necessity, given how we were orphaned at a young age. Since my brother was only four when our parents passed away, he knows who they were but not enough to remember. Even during the times when we were separated and made to live in different houses, there was an implied understanding that I, even as a teen and young adult, played a role in the breadwinner duties, the nurturing duties both for him and me. Gradually I stepped back from subsidizing his living expenses the older he got. When my brother and I moved to my partner’s condo, we

GENERAL POINT OF VIEW

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

charged him a small amount of rent to contribute to living expenses. Now, he and his partner who are renting our basement suite are a well-functioning, independent household. At times, I do not see him for days! I have to pay a visit to the basement to say hello, which feels like visiting a loved one from a different house. Several times over the past few years it became clear that he is

making more of these decisions that adults make. Many of which became really clear when we were casually hanging out in the living room a few days ago while I was eating leftover cake from my birthday celebration. He is making decisions about finances, both short and long term, including investing. I was delighted while listening to him talk about the different investment strategies he is trying, and how he seemed to be okay with experimenting, taking calculated risks, and handling mistakes with a mindset of learning. His sense of self-awareness is growing and becoming more evident. We didn’t know any better so I encouraged him to pursue more education after high school, so he took a two-year diploma program. Thank goodness the program had a practicum component to give him an idea of working in this career field. He told me what he learned about himself, and what constitutes a meaningful job and livelihood. He said something that struck me in the heart, in a good way. He said, “I’m content.” It is strange that I disagree when parents aspire for their kids to be happy, because happiness is fleeting and unpredictable and can be fueled by harmful behaviours. Being content is something more, and when he uttered those words, my heart sang with joy. I hardly need to give him advice on anything. I actually enjoy listening to his reasoning behind his decisions. It is remarkable to reach a stage in our family dynamic when I am not the mother of father anymore, but I also do not need to be the annoying big sister. We are equals in many ways. I hope that all siblings are able to reach this stage in their lives smoothly and positively.

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Community | Immigration Update

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

Learning for Global Interdependence and Global Awareness of the Philippines-Canada

LINGAP-Canada Celebrates World Environment Day!

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ince 1974, the UN World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5th to encourage worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment. Millions conduct activities sharing ideas, experiences, and solutions to address the environmental crisis engulfing humanity and Mother Earth. LINGAP-Canada’s celebration began with a documentary film entitled “Dagami Daytoy” (This is our Land), directed by Nonilon Abao, a freelance film producer and a human rights worker. The film won 2nd prize in the 2020 Yale Environment 360 Video Contest and the Grand Prize in the 2020 Gawad Cultural Center of the Philippines Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video). Dagami Daytoy tells the story of Nueva Vizcayans, including indigenous peoples, campaigning against mining by a Canadian corporation in the Didipio region of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines.

over many years, clean water supplies have also been depleted. Continued mining would cause significant loss of biodiversity and degradation of critical watersheds essential for irrigation and hydroelectric power. He also expressed sadness over the social divisions within families and communities due to the Didipio mining project. Fr. Vic lamented the incidents of “red-tagging” where environmental activists were accused of being “sympathizers” of the Communist insurgent movement. On the contrary, anti-mining campaigners are “simple, harmless environmental caregivers” following Pope Francis’ call for peoples to be “stewards of the earth” and to safeguard the lives of future generations. In the open forum, one participant described how current policies to promote mining in the Philippines would cause environmental pollution and other negative impacts on indigenous peoples in the southern island of Mindanao.

The film showing was followed by a forum featuring two panelists. Speaking first was Fr. Vicente Tiam, Chairperson, Board of Directors of Alyansa ng Novo Vizcayano para sa Kalikasan [Alliance of Nueva Vizcayans for the Environment] or ANVIK.

However, despite obstacles and the possible signing of the FTAA renewal, Fr. Vic expressed hope that the people’s advocacy on the Didipio mining project will continue. He concluded by thanking FilipinoCanadians and other Canadians for the opportunity to raise awareness and solidarity for the struggles of Nueva Vizcayans to protect Mother Earth in their region. The second panelist was Ms. Heather McPherson, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Strathcona since October 2019. She has worked closely with the Canadian and international community, focusing on sustainable development, good governance, and human rights.

Fr. Vicente Tiam, Chairperson, ANVIK

Fr. Vic provided an inspirational update on the campaign by Indigenous Peoples, local communities, environmentalists and members of Local Government Units to prevent the renewal of the Foreign Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) allowing resumption of the open-pit Didipio gold and copper mine. Fr. Vic recounted the people’s nonviolent blockades to stop mining activities and their violent dispersal by police personnel and arrest of protest leaders. In July 2020, the Philippine Court of Appeals rejected OceanaGold’s bid to continue operations pending its FTAA renewal application. However, in December 2020, the President’s Office ordered the renewal process to resume. In response, the Governor of Nueva Vizcaya, Carlos M. Padilla, and two Bishops appealed to President Duterte not to renew the FTAA. Fr. Vic noted that the mining has not only impacted negatively on the rights and survival of indigenous peoples www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

from Canadian mining operations. Such hearings are very important in raising public awareness to hold Canadian companies accountable for their business activities overseas, not only in mining but in other areas as well (e.g., slave labour in plantations; factory workers’ rights). Greater awareness and concern among politicians and citizens of Canada, including corporate shareholders, of such violations will be vital for enforcing the accountability and environmental and social responsibility of Canadian businesses when operating overseas. The World Environment Day celebration concluded with a slide show illustrating exemplars of the environmental crisis in the Philippines. The country’s enormous ecological and biological diversity is increasingly reduced and harmed by the consequences of decades of environmental degradation and destruction. On this World Environment Day, it is timely to be reminded of the many environmental challenges

facing the Philippines. The slides demonstrated key dimensions of the environmental crisis affecting the lives of Filipinos today and future generations, including deforestation, mining, mega-dams, loss of biodiversity, violations of indigenous peoples rights, soil degradation, garbage disposal, plastic pollution, excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, air pollution, deaths of rivers, coral reefs destruction, overfishing and illegal fishing by foreign fleets, and the disastrous effects of climate change. However, while these environmental challenges continue to deepen, ushering more hardships and disasters for current and future generations of Filipinos, there are hopeful signs of Filipinos committed

to the building of sustainable futures. Numerous Government units, NGOs, and civil society organizations have worked to empower communities in diverse programs and projects that address the specific problems of environmental destruction, unsustainable economic development and ways of living. LINGAP-Canada hopes that this year’s celebration of World Environment Day has contributed to enhance awareness of FilipinoCanadians and other Canadians on the environmental crisis in the Philippines, and to strengthen compassion and solidarity for the challenges facing the Filipino people in the Philippines. http://www.lingapcanada.com

MP Heather McPherson, Member of Parliament for Edmonton, Strathcona

In her presentation, MP McPherson drew on her work in the Parliament’s International Human Rights Sub-Committee which has been reviewing the activities of Canadian mining corporations overseas in terms of their impact on human rights of indigenous and other peoples and on environmental degradation. She recounted that in a recent hearing (May 4th), the SubCommittee heard witnesses from the Philippines who testified on how human rights violations had resulted THE PULSE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, CANADA

Politics | Business

JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Preparations are in high gear for Skin Lueur Aesthetics and Laser Centre’s Grand Opening on July 10 Skin care? Who cares?

B

ut wait. Just consider this first. With Alberta’s relatively dry climate with hot summers and extremely cold winters, you may notice that your skin has taken a beating. In Edmonton alone, skin care clinics are almost everywhere, but one skin care company would like to stand out from the rest of the pack and that’s the Filipino and woman-owned Skin Lueur Aesthetics and Laser Centre. CEO and founder Cholomeley “Chum” Ardaniel briefly describes her company in eight words; “your professional skin care solutions with proven results”, that has guided her all these years.

Despite the pandemic, Ardaniel, fondly called “Doc Chum” by clients and friends, has moved to a bigger location to better serve her clients. Years of study and attending clinical workshops has led to continuous growth and a loyal clientele. You can find them now at 5924 104 Street NW, Edmonton. June is their anniversary month since Doc Chum opened her skincare services back in 2015. They’re kick starting their month full of promotions in a lead up to their grand opening this coming July 10th! As the official distributor of the Canadian-based brand Monter Skin Care Inc. in Edmonton, clients are keeping a keen eye on Skin Lueur’s upcoming exclusive July

All photos and articles available online. Follow us

10 promotions for a chance to stock up on the tried and trusted brand. So, preparations are in high gear as Skin Lueur Aesthetics and Laser Centre Inc. (South) prepares for a fun-filled and lavish event with prizes and exclusive July 10 only promos. You won’t want to miss it! For more information you can visit their website at www.skinlueur.com or call them at (780)710-4958.

Chum Ardaniel

CEO and Founder Skin Lueur Aesthetics and Laser Centre Inc. (South) (780) 757-4437, (780) 710-4958

www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

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Arts and Culture | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

Allan Matudio: Arts and Activism ARTOSPECTIVE - an artist’s point of view

Ida Beltran-Lucila ida_b_lucila@yahoo.com

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his pandemic, much as it has restricted our moments of social gathering, has given more emphasis to virtual connections. Much as I miss physical community celebrations and how weary we may be of looking and talking to people on a grid, I also appreciate that I have made connections with people from different areas, because of this new norm of online meetings and events. One such connection is with Allan Matudio. Allan Matudio is one of the writers featured in “A Tour of Canada through Philippine Eyes”, a Philippine Heritage Month event. We were both guests in a Saludo Canada 2021 forum, talking about our respective events and work - i.e. the documentary Paglalayag: the Philippines to Canada Journey on my part, and the Kasama book on his part.

www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

Allan is a visual artist, writer and organizer based in Montreal. His family’s path to migration to Canada started with an incident where his grandfather returned a briefcase that belonged to a wealthy German tourist. This incident led to his grandmother finding employment as a nanny in Germany, then in Spain. Allan’s mother, on the other hand, joined his grandmother in Spain and subsequently moved to Montreal for work, where relatives were gradually sponsored to Canada. Allan was born in Montreal. Allan works professionally in the video game industry, but came into his visual arts career late. “I took art seriously when I was 26. I came in pretty late! I always drew for fun. I remember doing sequential art even in elementary school but that isn’t

something to be proud of. It’s not like I was drawing proper anatomy at the time. I started pursuing art seriously after taking a few figure drawing classes. I realized that I wanted to get better and that it was really important to me. I basically dropped my previous career and started over. I have a Masters in Engineering, Chemical Engineering.”

Allan studied art at the Syn Studio Art School Montreal that specializes in concept art and illustration for the entertainment industry. Abandoning a career like Engineering is no mean feat, and to replace it with an arts career, is an unthinkable one, especially for Filipino families. Allan shares his challenges in pursuing his art, “Finding the time to study, practice and pay for books, supplies, and software. Visual art is expensive. It was all really stressful. I really wish I started learning art in my youth so that I had less responsibilities and more time for practice. To this day, I have trouble balancing work and my personal studies. I believe that you can never stop learning about art.” Last May 2021, Allan released “Kasama”, his first foray into the graphic novel medium, published by Anak Publishing. Kasama is the story of two friends managing their cultural differences so that they can hunt down

the Filipino mythological creature, the manananggal. “I am really proud to be working with so many different people. My recent projects are the result of lots of community discussion. My graphic novel Kasama easily had a dozen people of different backgrounds and trades read it. I am proud that my work is reflective of a group of people. I can’t ever claim that my work is purely my own, I truly believe that WE did it together. I am also proud of how I approach my characters visually. I make conscious artistic decisions to make my characters look as Filipino as possible. The default ethnicity that we as artists draw is European. I often have pictures of Filipino elders and youth when I draw my characters to remind myself how we look, to remind myself it's ok to draw a flat nose and a soft jaw.” Kasama started as a portfolio project and has since evolved into continued on page 23 ►

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

Arts and Culture | Opinion

JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL from page 22

Allan Matudio: Arts and... exploring the Filipino experience across borders. His efforts progressed from internet searches, deeper book researches, travel to the Philippines and involvement in Filipino grassroot organizations in the effort of relearning his heritage. “Although I have been less active as a result of the Kasama book launch. I’m really proud of the work I am doing with the progressive Filipino organizations in Montreal. I work with some of the most intelligent, brave, passionate and warm people. I don’t think I would be able to create such compelling work without the guidance of Anakbayan Montreal, Pinay Qc, Center For Philippine Concerns, Kapit-Bisig Montreal and Migrante Qc, for example. The most recent endeavor we took on is a COVID-19 relief platform. We applied for financial aid, delivered groceries, created content and in the coming days we plan to lead a campaign for walk-in vaccinations specifically targeted to the Filipino community. I also like to do research about everything that has to do with Filipinos in Montreal. I love getting into statistical data, reading old news articles and academic literature. I believe the community has an archiving problem which got me into looking into this stuff myself. I just find it so fascinating when I can connect these different events so we can complete our story as Filipino Montrealers.” For someone who has confessed having trouble balancing his time, Allan has managed an impressive amount of pursuits. On other art forms he is interested in, “Poetry and writing, and Filipino hip-hop inspire me and inform my work. I am so blessed to be among people like Deann Louise Nardo, for example. The way they create imagery and motion with words while addressing relatable themes makes me wish I can do the same with my visuals. Although I enjoy reading, I never really loved reading until I started reading from Filipinos. Classics like Carlos Bulosan to contemporary works like those in ANAKPublishing, they’re all so stimulating. I also really enjoy Filipino hip-hop. The way Tagalog is structured and all the borrowed words from our mixed ancestry and colonization allow for limitless possibilities for word-play. There is so much syllable repetition in the language, it's natural for it to sound rhythmic. Legends like Gloc-9 still create amazing music. Loonie, BLKD, Ruby Ibarra, PriceTagg, CLR, Flow G…There are so many amazing artists out there!” Graphic novels have increased in popularity as it is an accessible and engaging literacy, research and educational tool. Allan Matudio, in sacrificing one career, has found one that allowed for self-expression and identity. We wish him all the best and look forward to future works on exploring the Filipino multi-faceted identity through visual storytelling. You can view Allan’s works at Instagram @allanmima, and order “Kasama” at AnakPublishing.ca, $19.95. To comment on this article, go to https:// www.philippineartscouncil.com/blog.

HUWAG PAGTAKHAN! (“DON’T MARVEL at MR. MARVEL”)

Hermo Toribio Reyes Pagtakhan hermopagtakhanlaw@ hotmail.com Cell: (780) 905-9288 Hermo Toribio Reyes Pagtakhan of Edmonton, Alberta is a Lawyer who had practised for more than 25 years in the Philippines and in Alberta and thereafter, was an Index Options Trader in Wall Street. He is currently a Family Counselor with Arbor Memorial Gardens whom he joined in 2013. Hermo is also President of PROXSMART GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES and of NOTIFY GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES which develop Mobile Apps for Digital Marketing and Contactless Technologies which enable Businesses to operate their businesses and at the same time keep their Employees and Clients safe from Covid19 Contamination.

JUST LISTEN

Nicky Gocuan, PMAA ngocuan@yahoo.com Nicky Gocuan has been a Columnist/ Photojournalist for over 15 years. He finished his Degree in Communication Arts at De La Salle University in 1990. After obtaining his University degree, Gocuan joined the Print Media and has contributed for The Philippine Star, Pilipino Star and later moved to Bagong Pinoy, where he wrote a regular opinion column. He also went on to write a showbiz column for The Tribune and Remate. Gocuan has experience in covering the Police beat, Political beat, and Entertainment beat before landing in the Sports beat. He later wrote a regular sports column for Remate Tonight. During this time, he was elected President of the Philippine Basketball Association Press Photographers Club (PBAPPC) for Two Terms and helped uplift the status of the group to become a part of the 5 Man Mythical Committee in the PBA. He is currently the President of The Philippine Media Association of Alberta (PMAA) and Host of a weekly radio program ‘The Fourth Estate” on Tala Luvz Radio in Calgary.

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My dear kababayans: I believe that there is a hero in every Filipino! I challenge all our Kababayans to be the Modern Day Heroes of our Country and be the change you want to see for the Country. "For us to have a better country, we must all first become better citizens.”

Our Makabayan Challenge! What is the Makabayan Challenge? It is a challenge to all of us Filipinos residing in the Philippines or abroad to FIRST and Foremost, put God First in our lives and in our Beloved Country. “A Nation without God’s Guidance is a Nation without Order. Happy are those who keep God’s Law”. (Proverbs 29:18) Second, to instill, inculcate, and reinforce the Filipino values and the love of country, as well as create awareness of very important issues that can affect us in our daily lives and hopefully generate beneficial, practical solutions and ultimately contribute to Philippine Nation Building and making the Country GREAT again! Third, to teach our children and grandchildren the essence and the two vital components of our MAKABAYAN Challenge and our True FILIPINO VALUES! "My generation is about to end its existence in this planet. It is a generation that greatly benefited from the sacrifices of our grandfathers during the Spanish regime and from our fathers’ fight for freedom

from the Japanese and American occupations. It is a generation that really experienced a better life in the 1960s, when the Philippines was second only to Japan in economic standing in Asia, way ahead of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, even Australia and New Zealand. Unfortunately, it is my generation that brought this country to what it is now, for it is the only generation that could have made the difference between a more prosperous Philippines and the wastebasket case that we are in now. It is my generation that allowed giving political leaders the power to change the rules from a “delicadeza” culture to a “pautakan” and “what-are-we-in-power-for” mentality. It is my generation that for fear of losing a ‘good life’ listened to the promises of a better life and found it easier to move forward by knowing and patronizing influential people, over knowing and depending on one’s self. What is tragic is that the generation of my children is starting to think as my generation, that this is the way it is, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. For lack of opportunities

here, millions of my children’s generation have left the country to find a better life abroad and the money they send back is mainly what’s keeping this country afloat. On behalf of my generation I could not apologize enough to my children’s generation for the state of our country now. If there is anything good that my generation can give, it is the model not to follow. Do not elect the kind of leaders we elected. Do not do the things we did that were based on personal needs and individual advantage, at the expense of the greater good. Find amongst yourselves truly dedicated, talented, and self-sacrificing people who will lead the country out of this mess, who will give you results, not excuses. You have powerful weapons that my generation did not have, the social media and modern technology. But, you have to act now, or you will soon be apologizing to your children’s generation. It is not a pleasant job, believe me." (Gen. Eliseo Rio Jr. former OIC DICT)

Fight For Your Freedom

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s the World continues to fight the Global pandemic that has crippled the economy of nations across the Globe, what we know so far that is as clear as water is that this virus was created in a lab and did not come from bats. Dr. Anthony Fauci’s email that leaked to media just proves that he was aware of the problem and that it came from a lab experiment but he still insisted that it did not come from the Wuhan Lab so there was no investigation. So why did Dr. Fauci not disclose this? It is June 2021 and not a single person has been brought to justice to answer for what happened and how the Virus leaked out of the Wuhan Lab. Everyone is busy trying to prevent the spread of the virus but how we got this problem was never addressed. Who funded the Lab? Why was this allowed in the first place and who authorized this experiment? I know that earlier, United States Homeland Security did warn the National Institute of Health (NIH) not to conduct the experiment in the US for fear that it might leak. This was the reason they sent it to China. I have not seen a President or Prime Minister of a Country who has started an investigation on “who let the dog out” and act swiftly to hold them responsible for this global pandemic. Why are they afraid to do so? On the other hand, our political

leaders continue to violate the rights of the people. Under the Canadian charter, we are entitled to Freedom of Speech, Assembly and Association. While we understand that people have been barred from gathering to prevent the further spread of the disease and follow health restrictions, the gestapo style arrest of Pastor Arthur Pawlowski was uncalled for. To set the record straight, I am not trying to defend Pastor Pawlowski for violating Covid Rules by holding church services and ignoring mask and social distancing measures. All I am saying is that the police could have handled it differently. In the meantime, Canada and the rest of the World are busy trying to encourage their people to get vaccinated. What is ironic is that after getting vaccinated, there is no guarantee that you will not get the virus. What is even worse is that vaccines presented to us have not been proven to be safe. If indeed they are safe as their manufacturers claim to be, why are they hiding under the premise of vaccines even if they are remanufactured/synthetic? So, if we get all the adverse effects and reactions, we have no course of action but to live with it? Does that sound right to you? There was a Canadian woman who recently decided to take the vaccine to protect herself from the virus but ended up finding herself with Bell's palsy condition when she woke up. Now she must live with this condition

for the rest of her life. So, who is to blame? You cannot blame her because she took the advice of the government to get the vaccine, but the side effect of Bell’s palsy was not something anyone would want to have and the worst of it is she cannot even go back and sue the manufacturer. The worst is not yet over. There is word that people must get their vaccine or else they will not be allowed to travel. If this is true then we have a human rights violation. Since when did the Government decide for its people? I thought we live in a democratic county where rights are respected? What is ironic is that Canada is a country that enjoys a global reputation as a defender of human rights, so if Canada takes the step to dis-allow non vaccinated people to travel then people will act and challenge this in Court. A step that any Government should not take. If people get the vaccination, it is a choice; it should not be forced upon the people because the Government cannot guarantee it to be safe and if indeed, they say they can guarantee it then the people should be allowed to sue the manufacturer just in case of side effects. Do not let them take away your freedom. For comments, please feel free to email Tfehost@gmail.com

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Community | Points of View

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

Resources on Learning about Indigenous History By: Giselle General

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e just heard the horrific news of the 215 bodies of children found in a residential school site in B.C. I can attest from my first-hand experience that crucial and horrible events in Canada’s history were not included in the Welcome to Canada information package or even the topics covered in the Citizenship exam. But as migrants to this country, it is very important for us to fill our knowledge gaps in Indigenous history. With this in mind, for the Community Resource article this month, I am listing some resources to help increase knowledge and understanding of Indigenous culture and history in Canada. Edmonton – Specific Knowledge 1. The New Indigenous Names For Municipal Election Wards: When you vote or help someone’s candidacy for councillor or mayor in Edmonton this

year, you will notice that there are Indigenous names for the electoral wards. I highly encourage everyone to learn the history and proper pronunciation of these names in order to be considerate, knowledgeable, and respectful. They are beautiful and meaningful. The link to listen and read the pronunciation guide, history and to know where your neighbourhood is under these new wards on the City of Edmonton Website is https://www.edmonton.ca/ city_government/city_organization/ indigenous-ward-naming-knowledgecommittee.aspx 2. Edmonton Public Library Series, Voices of Amiskwaciy: This is a project done by our very own library to give people an opportunity to share short submissions on the experiences of Indigenous peoples in the city. You can watch the submissions, both articles and videos, via this link https://voicesofamiskwaciy.ca/

3. Fort Edmonton Park: The newly renovated Fort Edmonton Park will re-open on July 1. The park was already an incredible attraction before, with buildings that were preserved from almost 100 years ago when the city was being built, including what was then the Fort Edmonton. But now, the Indigenous People’s Experience is an additional component that will help visitors see and feel first-hand the experiences of First Nations and Metis people who lived in Edmonton during that time. For details, visit https://www. fortedmontonpark.ca/ Canada – Wide Knowledge 1. CBC Series: Canada The Story of Us: This is a 10-episode series produced by CBC for the Canada 150 celebrations back in 2017. The series is overall well made and informative, though it only scratches the surface of Canada’s history. You can watch

it online or through your CBC app subscription or access https://www. cbc.ca/2017/canadathestoryofus/ csou-episodes 2. The University of Alberta’s Free Indigenous Canada Course: This is a free online course available through the University of Alberta Faculty of Native studies that aims to narrate Canada’s history from an Indigenous perspective. Thousands have taken this course and it has glowing positive reviews. You can access the course through this link: https://www. ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/ online-courses/indigenous-canada/ index.html Resources for Children 1. Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Centre: This virtual library is a collection of resources that are catered to students in Kindergarten up to Grade 12. It covers topics such as environments, languages and the

culture of Indigenous peoples, as well as the treaties that influence how we live in this country. The link is http:// www.ikwcvl.org/ 2. Reader’s List from the Edmonton Public Library: Take advantage of your free Edmonton Public Library membership and borrow these books from the library to share with your kids. This is a curated list of items made by a librarian and many can be borrowed electronically. https://epl.bibliocommons.com/ list/share/84845359_eplpicks_ preschool/1626277529_indigenous_ ereads_for_little_ones While this is no way an exhaustive list, the goal is to encourage seeking out information and assistance for this very important topic. As we continue to live in this country, we need to be more aware of its history and how social issues that happened both in the past and recent years affect the way we live to this day.

Trese: A review of the Netflix Animated feature By Alphonso Defensor

[Art Style] This series was an incredible experience to watch. 
As a Filipino and a long time Anime "afficionado", long have I had hoped that I would see an actual anime portraying our culture as a plot point and focus. Trese delivered on that. I particularly loved how well the comic was adapted into animation, giving that nice "anime" touch. 
Sure, some would say that it didn't look like Anime in the traditional sense, but I've seen enough anime in this lifetime to tell you that this counts.
 Alphonso is an IT, and a former I especially loved how "home" journalist who dabbles in the study was depicted. When I say home, of law, as well the enjoyment of the I mean Manila, the city, the local world's many food and cultures from landmarks. The art style showed home.

A Filipino who has lived in the me a city I knew by heart but also Philippines for more than 30 years.
 made it look like something new and otherworldly. There was nothing about that I didn't love.


 Story "TRESE" 
The animated adaptation to wise, you could tell that this was set the award winning Filipino Horror a decade earlier from today. Give Comic hit NETFLIX, last Friday, June or take 5-6 years. 
But that doesn't 11 2021 to praises from its Filipino dampen the overall aesthetic at all. fans. 


Written by Budjette Tan and Seeing familiar and specific local illustrated by Kajo Baldisimo, the landmarks and offices made me original comic is about Alexandra cheer like a kid. 


The character Trese and how she is called upon design as adapted from the comic to investigate crimes and cases that was gorgeous. 
Alexandra in the intertwine with Philippine supernatural comic is rough, battle-hardened lore. I won't go into too much detail and stoic. The animation managed into the comic itself but I will say to capture that all the same and yet it is good and definitely worth the still gave her an air of feminimity read. 

This will be a spoiler-free that is undeniable. Not going to lie, review as I do encourage people to I got some Motoko Kusanagi vibes, watch it for themselves.
The anime just a bit and it was enough. was released with multiple language 
Creature designs adapted options ranging from Filipino, from the comic felt alive and it was English, Japanese and Spanish. This refreshing to see local lore adapted means, watching the series comes into animation. Though I will say with a lot of flexibility, allowing that one of the things that gets lost you to appreciate it in a way that in the animation, is the psychological best fits you.


 weight that these creatures had in the comic. 


When presented in black I'm going to divide this review in and white, the monsters, the blood, five points: and the action have an intensity that Art Style, where I cover the artistic can sometimes fail to translate when presentation of the show. animated. And while I don't think Audio, this also covers the dubbing. that happened here, I will say that Story, which is the overall story certain instances did lose a bit of presentation. the creepy factor that was present in Action, which covers combat and the comics.

The opening sequence how sequences were delivered. is amazing! 
The sequencing and And Overall Execution, the overall editing portrayed the kind of feelings review for the series as a whole. that you would expect to get from www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

screenshot of Trese was taken from Geek Review: Trese (Netflix) | Geek Culture

a series like this. A mix red of red and black, faded images, ghoulish facial forms and eerie music kept me from pressing Netflix’s SKIP INTRO button.

 [Audio] I'm just going into it and tackle my first major concern regarding audio, the dubbing.
 I watched it in English first and while we have a stellar cast doing the character dubs...man-ohman, why does the English portrayal of Filipinos sound off? 

Basically, the English dub incorporated an accent that wasn't very Filipino. At all. 
It's one of the few aspects of the English dub that did honestly grate on me. 
Having said that, the dub was amazing with how it captured and explored and expressed the story and the nuances of Filipino culture.
 The Tagalog dub was equally as impressive if not a bit more so.
 And before you say BIASED, I want to make it clear that I speak English as a first language. I didn't actually speak Filipino until I learned how to in High School. Despite this however, I found that the Filipino dub brought with it a lot of immersion and carried the story very nicely. The Filipino used was DEEP, and it had so many nuances and contexts that just make more sense when you hear it. 

I will say that the Filipino dub did have a couple of characters that irked me with how they were voiced but in a good way. Their potrayal made sense as this was how those

characters are. 

The series has an incredible musical score. 
The opening song has a dark slow intensity to it and the ending theme carries a solemn melancholy that does the series justice.

 [Story] I won't go into spoilers so I'll just comment on the technical aspect of the series episodes, of which there are six. 
The first few eps tackle various individual crimes, with a mix of a few flashbacks. I say "initially" because—you'll just have to see it for yourself. The plot itself is very engaging, with flashbacks showing us Trese's everyday life. It isn't perfect but that's mostly because I feel that these stories could've been longer to explore more depth. [Action] This isn't a kid's show. It's violent, it's brutal, it's bloody and it's gorgeous to watch.
The comic wasn't intended for a younger audience, and I'd say neither is this. 

The gore factor on display made me gasp a few times but in a good way. 
The combat was fluid and the action was epic when it got started. Though there are slow moments, I like to think of it as a build-up until something explodes on-screen. The series portrays the action really well, and I hope to see more of it, and I mean MORE of it, if and when a second season drops.

[Execution or the Overall]
 This series should've been more than 6 episodes, or at least each episode longer than the allotted time each currently has. While I enjoyed how the story was told, the series could've done so much more to enhance that experience. 

Some characters needed more development, a personal arc delving into their history and immediate relationship with other characters. We didn't get a much of this outside of our main trio, and even then we could've had more of that too.

 Some lore needs more context so that the weight of that particular story could be grasped as a whole with all the intensity it was meant to show. As a Filipino viewer, I can say that I had a bit of an advantage. In some way shape or form, I was already familiar with our local mythos, which made it easier for me to embrace the narrative. For those that are unfamiliar with it, they might find a slight need to do some research on their own. Luckily the series does a good job of providing exposition.

 Another gripe I had was that you could tell when an episode had "issues". 
Episode 6 specifically had something that bothered me a lot. It was how the first half of that episode transitioned between scenes and characters. I won't go into further detail but I'm sure you'll recognize it when you reach that point.

 I can only speculate if budget, or time were factors in the direction of the first half of this episode, or if COVID played a role (it probably did). I personally think that a different direction could've been taken. 

Having said all that, this series is amazing. The action is incredible, and the fights and transitions are amazing! If the episodes and the series were a little bit longer, everything great about it would've ended up being a higher degree of glorious. 
I rate this series an 8.5/10 overall and 
I would love to see a Season 2. 

Speaking of Season 2, stay until after the credits of Episode 6. 
Thank me later.

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

Points of View | Kitchen Tips

JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Residential school nightmare and why it should matter VIEWPOINT

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

KUSINA DIARIES

T

he big tragedy—aside from the 25,682 deaths in Canada from the pandemic—is the lingering effect of the residential school system nightmare in this country. The recent discovery of the unmarked graves of 215 children in a former residential school site in British Columbia reopens old and bitter wounds and rekindled debate over compensation and accountability. The residential school system in Canada was a network of boarding schools for Indigenous peoples. The network was funded by the Canadian government's Department of Indian Affairs and administered by Christian churches, most of them by the Catholic Church. The system, which was run from 1831 to 1996, was supposed to educate Indigenous children on the ways of the West. But what it actually tried to do was to indoctrinate children on Canadian

culture and Christianity, in effect cancelling out their unique cultures. As the nation grapples anew with this nightmare, political leaders are quick to jump on the bandwagon and debate, again, how the issue can finally be resolved. Unfortunately, it is a debate that has raged for as long as many Canadians can remember. And it is a debate that will most likely continue to stir bitter memories among Indigenous communities, and cynicism among many Canadians. But why should this matter to Filipinos in Canada? We as an immigrant group, often classified as Southeast Asian on those survey forms, can hardly relate to Indigenous peoples here, whether they be First Nations, Metis, or Inuit. And we might find it a stretch to even try to understand a residential school system was even created in the first place. Some Canadians, after all, look down on Indigenous peoples

for a host of reasons, and so must we because this is often how Filipinos adapt and integrate into foreign cultures of our adopted country. It should matter how a Western nation, supposedly a democratic bastion and a highly civilized society, could operate such an insidious and inherently evil program until as recently as 1996. Or how that nation’s government could, for 165 years, sanction the abuse and the systematic brainwashing brought down upon Indigenous peoples. Children were forcibly removed from their families and communities to live in these residential schools were they could be, and were, abused with impunity. The strength of a civilized society is drawn from the core values of humanity that is supposed to be ingrained in its people, but more so in its government. If these core values are lacking, or if they are

8 Useful Hacks for Kitchen Issues Here are a few hacks and tips that you can utilize to help you around the kitchen. 1. Dinner is ready but the fishy smell won’t go away. You can light aromatherapy candles, but boiling water with slices of fresh fruits like orange, lemon or apples, cinnamon sticks, or herbs will also freshen up the air. After a few minutes, your home will be filled with a sweet, fruity aroma that will soothe your senses. 2. Using a dull knife is frustrating. Sharp knives make chopping and slicing easier and more enjoyable. Knives are the most used utensils in the kitchen. For proper maintenance, have them sharpened by a professional once a year. Yes, do this even if you have a

sharpener at home. Working with a sharp knife will save time and believe it or not, it is safer for you. There are a few shops around Edmonton that can do it. I normally go to R&R Sharpening not too far from WEM for $8 to $10 a piece depending on the size. 3. Fresh meat is good but not easy to slice. Dicing and slicing boneless meat can be done easier and more efficiently by cooling it down prior. Wrap the meat with a plastic bag or cling wrap then freeze it for 20 to 30 minutes. The meat will be firm but not frozen yet and will be a lot easier to handle. And with your sharp knife, slicing even thin strips for stir frying will be fun. 4. Waiting for dough to rise takes a long time.

Make it rise faster. To do this, use your oven. Turn it on and heat it to 150 degrees. Turn the oven off then place your bowl with the dough inside, covered tightly with plastic wrap. Check after 30 mins to see if it is ready. Let it rise more in the oven if needed. 5. Heating left-over pizza in the oven dries it up. To reheat perfectly, place pizza slices in a heated pan, uncovered, under medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add a few drops of water on the pan (not the pizza) and cover it with a lid immediately. Keep it there for a few more minutes. Serve right away. I learned this trick from my son, who eats more pizza than he should. When I tried it myself, the bottom of the pizza was crispy, but the toppings were hot,

Battle of Titans looms

chaired by President Duterte. Duterte, who is in favor of his daughter Sara for president and he seems bent on knocking Pacquiao out of contention for the 2022 presidential election in support of his daughter.

incumbency,” which would put at their disposal all the government resources including the military and national police forces. It would be so easy for them to run a Triple G strategy – Gold, Guns, and Goons, which was popularized during the Marcos years.

Leonila Samarita samleonila@gmail.com Leonila learned to take life in stride after realizing that life truly is what we make it. She believes that life, in every moment, brings opportunities for us to be better or do better. She is grateful. Finds joy in everything she does. She loves her life.

PEREZCOPE

Perry Diaz PerryDiaz@gmail.com I am a writer/columnist/journalist. I have two weekly columns -- "PerryScope" and "Balitang Kutsero." They're published in more than a dozen Filipino newspapers in five countries.

B

arely a year to the 2022 presidential election, the field is getting crowded. And money is not a problem for the top three undeclared contenders. They’re all super rich. But how they will fight it out is a subject of much speculation. They’re all expected to slug it out in the open once the campaign season starts. That’s only a short four months away. And as the last day of filing of candidacy on October 8th gets closer, the rivalry intensifies. As expected, they’ll all hold their certificates of candidacies close

to their chests. However, it would be anti-climactic since they’re all known to harbor this chance of a lifetime to be the next president. Let’s begin with the most obvious presidential wannabe who is Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of the colorful incumbent president, Rodrigo Duterte, who by law is precluded from seeking a second term. Inday Sara, as she is known in political circles, is currently the 43-year-old mayor of Davao City. Recent polls show her as the top choice of potential voters next year, followed by former Senator Bongbong Marcos, the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos’ son who is named after him. At 63 years of age, Bongbong is getting old. If he passes up an opportunity to run for president this year, he’d be 69 at the next presidential campaign. He’d be too old by Philippine standards and he’d become the next Jejomar Binay, competing against younger candidates. The third presidential hopeful is none other than the famous world boxing champion, 42-year-old Sen. Manny Pacquiao. The youthful Pacquiao is a mega-billionaire and would be able to finance his own campaign against anybody. But his popularity is waning. He will be termed out in 2022 after serving as senator for 12 years. Pacquiao is acting president of the PDP-Laban Party, now being

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Duterte-Duterte tandem President Duterte, however, is being rumored to run for vice president, which would make it interesting to see a father-daughter tandem. But the president is denying such rumors. How about Sen. Bong Go, Duterte’s former aide who remains loyal like a “lapdog”? Speculation is rife that he will run for president. Unless, he runs as Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential running mate, there is no guarantee that Go would win. But Go doesn’t have a chance without Duterte as his running mate. Last March 11, Go denied that he wanted to run for president but said, “My mind might change if President Duterte runs for vice president.” The question is: If both were elected president and vice president, what would prevent Go from resigning the presidency so that his veep Duterte would assume the presidency? With anti-Chinese sentiments running high in the country due to the West Philippine Sea territorial dispute, he’d be lucky if he’d get 3% of the votes. However, if Go runs with Rodrigo Duterte as his running mate, Duterte could use the government resources to push for a Go-Duterte victory. They’ll have the “power of

Constitutional question But there is a constitutional question in the event Duterte runs for vice president. Article VII Section 4 says: “The President shall not be eligible for any re-election.” Clearly, the operative word is “any.” It prohibits the President from running for reelection in “any” office, whether it’s President, Vice President, Senator, Congressman or even Mayor or Council Member. Period. I’m pretty sure that the Supreme Court would interpret it as such. So if Papa Duterte were disqualified from running for vice president, then Go would not run for president either. Duterte’s best option is for daughter to run as the vice presidential running mate of Bongbong Marcos or vice versa. It’s interesting to note that on May 29, Bongbong and sister Imee Marcos flew to Davao City to greet Sara “Happy birthday!” Presumably, Bongbong and Sara discussed a possible tandem between the two of them? Why not? They’re the two top winners in the straw polls taken last April. The question is, who would be the presidential candidate? MY guess is it would be Bongbong simply because

conveniently set aside to achieve a certain goal, then civilized society becomes, well, less civilized. Do we want to live in a less civilized society? Surely the residential school system will never be replicated. But this bigger issue should matter to us Filipinos, as it should matter to everyone here in Canada, because it is proof and a living reminder of how government can unilaterally set aside some, if not most, of the core values of a civilized society for some perceived good. And it becomes all the more alarming when institutions like churches can and will be complicit in such acts. We are residents and citizens of Canada and therefore subject to its laws, or to its whims. Indigenous peoples are supposed to be accorded protection by the state; will we be accorded the same when situations and priorities change in the future?

moist and fresh all the way through. 6. Some fruits and vegetables come with added chemicals. Pesticides are used to kill insects and weeds and other chemicals are also used to prolong the life of the products. One way to remove those unwanted chemicals is to soak the fruits and vegies in a bowl of water with a tablespoon of baking soda for a few minutes. Rinse with fresh water after. 7. Dinner was not as good. To jazz up the flavor of your favourite noodles or other dishes, use broth or stock as a base. You can make it easily by simmering cheap cuts of meats or bones, adding a few other ingredients like onions, celery, carrots, salt, and pepper. It can also be done in advance and be reduced to concentrate for easy storage by cooking longer. Remove the solids. Strain and divide into useable portions. Freeze for future use. of Bongbong’s age. Besides, Imelda Marcos would veto it. She wanted her son to follow the footsteps of his father. Sarah is still young. Another six years wait for her to move up the presidential ladder is just about right. How about Pacquiao? He is a formidable opponent, be it in boxing or in politics. Due to Pacquiao’s star power and wealth, he may be the one candidate who could mount an independent campaign. He also has the “bakya” crowd behind him. And that’s a huge number of voters. He can campaign using his Pidgin English, which would delight his audience. Ultimately, it would be a fight between a Marcos-Sara Duterte tandem vs. Pacquiao and his handpicked running mate. How about vice president Leni Robredo? Nobody is even sure if she’s going to run for president. Her main problem is money. She doesn’t have the financial wherewithal she needs to launch an effective campaign to win. She admitted that herself. With Sara Duterte, Bongbong Marcos, and Manny Pacquiao having all the money to buy themselves an election, Robredo would probably just run for governor of her home province of Camarines Sur, where she’d be a sure winner. Or she could be the vice presidential running mate of Pacquiao who is capable of funding Robredo’s candidacy. Yes, the battle of Titans looms. It will be a survival of the fittest or should I say, survival of the cheatest? www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

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Mind Twisters

HOROSCOPE While you’re likely to have many exciting new ideas and thoughts this month, Aries, it would be wise to slow down, brainstorm, and wait rather than launch into new territory. Mercury will be retrograde until June 22, which could cause all sorts of confusion for you around communication matters.

Confusion around financial matters will likely take place throughout most of June. This is because our cosmic messenger Mercury will be retrograde in your solar second house until June 22. This is an excellent time to review your expenses and budget, as well as make sure you know exactly where all of your hard-earned income is going.

Embrace the winds of change, Gemini, because this month will feel like you’re taking two steps forward and one step back. This is because you’re going through a destined shift at this time. While it’s obviously birthday season for you, it’s likely you feel especially fired up with the sun dancing through your zodiac sign.

Your dreams are likely to be very intense as Mercury retrogrades in your solar twelfth house this month, Cancer. This is a period when you can listen to your intuition, especially with regard to past situations and relationships. While you could feel a bit more anxious, this period can be a blessing for you to review your mental health and seek closure.

June is filled with excitement and fun for you, Leo. With the sun and Mercury dancing in your solar eleventh house, you’re likely hearing from many friends. However, with our cosmic messenger in the midst of a retrograde cycle, you’re probably hearing from or thinking of friends from your past.

With your ruler Mercury in a retrograde cycle this month, Virgo, you’re likely feeling as though your entire life is on hold now. You may also be feeling a great deal of confusion around professional matters and your ambitions because this is where our cosmic messenger is asleep in the sky. This doesn’t have to indicate major problems, though. It can show that while there may be some delays and obstacles, you can use this period to revise your plans and fine-tune your goals.

May 2021 Crossword's Solution

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CR OSSWOR D

You’re contemplating new horizons as the sun and Mercury shimmy through your solar ninth house, Libra. This period can help you review your progress and wax philosophical on your destiny still ahead. With our cosmic messenger retrograde, you may even be reflecting on quite a bit from the past, especially old teachings, spiritual practices, and legacies that shaped who you are now.

With the sun and Mercury in your solar eighth house of intimacy, Scorpio, you’re clearly debating your needs and desires in a relationship. Our cosmic messenger is in a retrograde phase too, so you’re likely deeply reflecting on past situations that have led you to where you are now. This is an excellent time to be vulnerable and openly discuss your feelings with a partner to improve your rapport.

Prepare to focus extensively on union and partnerships, Sagittarius. With the sun and Mercury moving across the sky from you in your solar seventh house, you’re entirely focused on your significant other in business or love. However, with our cosmic messenger asleep in a retrograde phase, you could notice that you’re experiencing some miscommunication between you. This may also manifest with you feeling conflicted or uncertain about where you both stand.

This month could feel a bit intense, Capricorn. As the sun and Mercury move through your solar sixth house of productivity, you could find your attention is very much focused on your employment. However, with our cosmic messenger in a retrograde phase until June 22, it could be causing confusion on the job, delays in work projects, or even a lighter schedule than you’d hoped for.

June is a peculiar month for you, Aquarius. The sun and Mercury spend a great deal of time in your solar fifth house of recreation and romance, so you might expect to experience a lot of pleasure. However, with our cosmic messenger moving backward in its retrograde phase, you could be feeling confused or experiencing miscommunication around creative, fertility, or dating matters.

Enter June with a sense of trepidation, Pisces. The sun and Mercury are moseying through your solar fourth house of domesticity. It’s clear you’ll be seeing shifts around home and family matters, whether in the form of moving or fixing up your living space or stepping in to aid a parent. But with our cosmic messenger caught in one of his typical retrograde phases, you could be seeing some confusion about plans moving forward. This cycle continues until June 22.

May 2021 Issue Sudoku's Solution

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ACROSS

1. Recipe measure (abbr.) 4. House (Sp.) 8. Glance over 12. Shad eggs 13. Beasts of burden 14. Docile 15. Decoration 17. Over again 18. Jeans fabric 19. Watertight coating 21. Manufactured 23. Slumber spot 24. Flightless bird 27. Glue, e.g. 31. Open shoe 34. Reach 35. Swifter 37. Maiden name indicator 38. Beer's kin 39. ____ -do-well 42. Nabs 45. Around 49. Mailed 50. Encounters (2 wds.) 52. Leg part 53. Cleveland's waterfront 54. Lobe site 55. Lays turf 56. Elongaed fish 57. That female

DOWN

1. Trampled 2. Tender 3. William or Sean 4. Punctuation mark 5. Hewing tool 6. Perceived 7. Initial bet 8. Least fresh 9. Quebec native, e.g. 10. Preacher's word 11. Politician ___ Gingrich 16. Intention 20. Egg on 22. Surrealist painter Salvador ___ 24. Double curve 25. Atlas chart 26. Not deserved 28. Rabbit's kin 29. Contend 30. Vane letters 32. Removes 33. Fruit drinks 36. Guarantee 40. Relieves 41. Batter's stat 42. Inquires 43. Casino City 44. Family chart 46. Individuals 47. Western state 48. Ripped 51. Zilch

Sudoku Puzzles are games of patience, numbers and genius! The satisfaction of solving a challenging Sudoku Puzzle is one of the greatest accomplishments any sudoku game player can experience. The rules are simple, fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contain one instance of each of the numbers 1 through 9.

Here is the puzzle. Good luck!

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Para-legal Services | Heroism | Business

JUNE 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

FRONTLINER ISA KANG BAYANI (YOU’RE A HERO)

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This column aims to recognize and appreciate everyone’s heroism when facing the challenges of life with courage and equanimity. Our society truly needs virtuous people like you. Indeed, we can speak of the truth, though, it may be hard; but we can soften it with kindness. A grand salute to our heroes!

From left: Imee Park, Fathia Yasin, and Weene Pagay, housekeepers at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta.

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Philanthrophy - Community

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Community | Greetings

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Philippine Business Society of Alberta (PBSA)

Philippine Heritage Month/ Philippine Independence Day Celebration

PHILIPPINE BUSINESS SOCIETY OF ALBERTA (PBSA)

PRESENTS

Date: June 19, 2021 Saturday via ZOOM PART 1 PAMANA Time: 10 am Flag Raising Ceremony with the Executives Singing of Lupang Hinirang: Miss Joanne Aguilar Opening Remarks: Bayani Alcantara, President PBSA Greetings: Philippine Ambassador to Canada, Consul General for Alberta and Saskatchewan, Provincial Government of Alberta, Messages from the Friends of PBSA, Presentation: Filipino Cultural Presentations Closing Remarks: Virginia Sumalinog, Vice President PBSA Host: Joanne Aguilar PART II KAMAYAN “TASTE OF THE PHILIPPINES in Edmonton” featuring PBSA members restaurant business owners.

To enjoy food by hand. Food brings people together. One way to embrace our culture is by sharing authentic Filipino dishes. In celebration of the Philippine Heritage Month, PBSA would like to showcase its members in the food service / restaurant sector and learn from them how they celebrate the Filipino heritage. Featuring: A4 Oriental Store Cebuchon & Barbeque Jeepney Jaytee Foodtruck Kuya Allan’s Lechon Pinoy Manila Sweets Bakeshop Rolymie Bakery

PHILIPPINE HERITAGE MONTH EDMONTON, AB

JUNE 19, 2021

Hosts: Loida Lumanlan and Glenn Elle

Happy 19th year of constant fidelity, Junny and Jane Alix!

Part I: 10:00 AM MST | Part II: 1:00PM Meeting ID: 832 0114 5744 Passcode: 803352

KEEP POSTED! @PhilippineBusinessSocietyofAlberta www.pbsalberta.com

Congratulations Ian Fernandez PHILIPPINE BUSINESS SOCIETY OF ALBERTA (PBSA)

kamayan June 19, 2021

Part I: 10:00 AM MST |

Part II: 1:00PM

Meeting ID: 832 0114 5744 Passcode: 803352

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Greetings | Media Partner

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL JUNE 2021

CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE: Moving Ahead

Birthdays are everyone’s most cherished moment as this is when we celebrate the covenant between life and its Giver. Nobody is born alone. There are two causes of life that we have to acknowledge, appreciate, and recognize. The first is the Ultimate Cause or Giver, our God and the second are the proximate causes, our parents. Now, He who doesn’t acknowledge, appreciate, and recognize his or her life is also rejecting its Causes. Lucky are these individuals who truly celebrate life with the significant people around. May you all continue to share the gift of life to others. Active co-existence follows essence.

Best Wishes

Good people can always contribute to the goodness of society. Both of you are great examples of this. Tying the knot is the threshold to what you are not to do alone or separately. A couple’s real strength can always be derived from Above. It always takes three to tango in a marriage: The husband, wife, and God! Best wishes to you, Mr. and Mrs Chris and Laarni Ayson!”

From left: Jonah Minano (June 21), Nanay Cora Velasco (June 12), Gado Cereno (June 28), Abel Cereno (June 28). (Photo by Lito Velasco)

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The tie that forever binds Mr. and Mrs. Dario and Ludy Juanillo celebrate their silver wedding anniversary with the fruits of their blessed marriage.

Joining the celebrants enjoying their birthdays. (Photo by Lito Velasco)

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Business

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Business

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