Alberta Filipino Journal - October 2021 Issue

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Life is solid without Covid!

Michael Moya: Finding Purpose through Art

OCTOBER 2021 • Volume 14, Number 10

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Interview with Kim Krushell, Mayoralty Candidate for the City of Edmonton

AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

Sports Journal

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Political or Politicking? The Philippine political circus begins

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Conversation with Edmonton Mayoral candidate Amarjeet Sohi

Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo

Photo by Rouelle Umali

Photo by Ezra Acayan

Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao Photo by Jam Sta Rosa

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Q&A with an Immigration Professional

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Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso Photo by Ezra Acayan

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson Photo by Jonathan Cellona

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

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

OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Religion | Business

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AFJ Family | Editor's Corner | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

Econovid Recovery Program: The Programs that should be Recovered 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 Rolan Latorre Marketing Manager Melanie C. Gomez Website / Graphic Designer Moses Billacura, Noli Granado, Dario Juanillo Photographers/Videographers 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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EDITOR’S CORNER Lito Mendoza Velasco

Economy is the backbone of society. It’s quite analogous to a car with its gas tank or battery empty. While money, as they say, is the root cause of all evil, I would rather say that our attitude towards money is demonic. Buying what aligns not with your need. For instance: buying flesh, buying soul, buying drugs, buying votes, buying farmlands and converting them into commercial complexes, buying diplomas, etc. Caprices can always be found in huge hospices. Budgeting or spending lavishly is only true to those who have money. What about selling? Because nobody would be tempted to buy without the seller. In this case, please be reminded that selling an item or any parcel of land that is not yours is doubly evil. Well, it is not bad to be rich. For as long as the proper allocation of wealth is evenly observed. A landlord should give what is due to his labourers. Depriving them of life that is commensurate to the cost of their labour is quite tantamount to stealing their selfesteem and life itself because they cannot live decently or within their means. Taking advantage of the poor is an actor expression of oppression. Their death would be the proximate cause of your death. Simply because nobody is going to work for you anymore. Always remember to live and let others live. Ecology deals with the balance of nature. To recapitulate what I have been discussing in my previous editorials, I kept on reiterating this sayings: • A clean mind is likened to a clean engine. It generates power. • This earth is not inherited from our ancestors, we just borrow it from our children.

Hence, we have to take care of our environment. Preserving it for the next generation’s welfare spares us from certain embarrassment as this harassment always results in explicit embarrassment. No more Covid. Hopefully, it will soon end or maybe, has ended. There may just be an underlying political motivation that triggers this to get worse. Greedy politicians, doctors, businessmen who own pharmaceutical companies may have been utilizing the issue on Covid as their workshops. I don’t have to elaborate about this phenomenon anymore. Obviously, there are two conflicting sources of subjective truth regarding this matter. The true, or the untrue (but not false). What is true to one is not true for the other. There’s always a perspective’s polarity or the difference between real and apparent good. One says Covid is a Virus that kills human life that can be testified by science. That science can’t be wrong. Another says that it is a business that makes a rich man richer. Well, I can personally see Covid’s relationship in this modern or new normal world. One example is overspeeding. Thousands of drivers are tempted to over-speed yet only a few are being pulled over. It only implies that “there’s a time for everyone’s

death. By any means, not by Covid alone.” About restrictions and lockdowns Let’s take a look at the car selling industry. Can you imagine a major car dealership selling a minimum of 5 cars daily? If we have 20 car companies, then, this makes 100 cars daily. This means, 3000 cars sold monthly. Without city and global restrictions or lockdowns, what will happen to our streets 10 years from now? Well, one might say that some cars are breaking down every now and then. But still, it is outnumbered by the advent of newly built and sold vehicles. However, these analyses are purely productsof Divine inspiration and justification. In reality, this morbid Covid has to end asap. But who is in control? Isn’t it the powerful? The scientists, politicians, or businessmen? Well, if they are, then, what feasible programs should they come up with in order to implement the greatest reset? To our great men: local and international leaders, please continue to serve for the common good and welfare of humanity. Because humanity is the pillar of economy as well as of ecology. We will help you! Life is solid without Covid.

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

Sports

OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Congrats Rodel Gravides; Don’t use coach Kelvin’s name; Successful Crosstown Auto league in Lloydminster; Zach’s team at Blue Quill 3x3 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.

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efore I get into my regular sports stuff, I’d like to thank those who came and supported my wife’s family during our time of grief, especially friends from the Alberta Filipino Journal. Maraming salamat po sa pakikiramay. My wife Marj’s eldest sister Rosemarie lost her battle to cancer and was laid to rest at the Rosehill Cemetery with Father Patrick Baska officiating the burial rites. Marriage commissioner Alex Donado and wife Ate Anna were the first to visit us at the Hainstock Funeral Home and the group from the AFJ led by publisher Kuya Jun Angeles, editor Lito Velasco, our

associate editor Lianne’s dad Noel, marketing managers Andy Chua and Rolan Latorre, Kuya Abel Cereno, Tito Gabe and Tita Tess Banaag, my sister-in-law’s co-workers from Mary Brown Restaurant led by Benj and Marie, those who sent flowers like coach Chester Tiongson of Crosstown Auto Centre, from our insurance brokerage’s MGA office PPI, Mr. and Mrs. Kurshed of Mary Brown’s Restaurant, my wife’s dear friends Vids and Gladys at Jasper Place Continuing Care with their spouses, good neighbours Kong and Melai, and dear cousins Warfred Igpit Roberts and Jelly Igpit Diamante Roberts from the States for supporting the family at the time of their grief. Our gratitude to those who offered their prayers online from the Philippines led by auntie Carmen Igpit Diamante and the US headed by auntie Jinjin Igpit Menoza and those who sent their comforting messages. On behalf of the Igpit family here in Edmonton, maraming salamat po, daghan gyung salamat. *** The Filipino-Canadian Association of Community in Edson headed by Rodel Gravides successfully organized the two-day volleyball tournament, October 9 and 10, at the Saville. Following all the health protocols, Gravides and his team of volunteers were able to pull it through, finishing the event without any major hiccups. I am really impressed that Rodel as chief organizer was able to attract 16 women’s teams and 20 men’s squads. We wish all the best next year Rodel and hopefully, no more Covid-19 restrictions! ***

Zachary Maraña (center) and his teammates emerged as one of the team champions of the 2021 Blue Quill Classic 3x3 Outdoor Basketball Tournament. (Photo by Adrian Maraña)

(Left-right, standing) Crosstown Auto Centre's Ches Tiongson, Jecris Bautista, Joe Robillo, Ian Castillo, Rad Daquis, Patrick Jimenez, Emer Caoile, JR Perpetua, (first row, left-right) Jovencio Datu, Marlon Ruado, Homer Carpio, and JR Eje during the 2021 Maharlika League's Rajah Cup, Sept.18, at the Legacy Athletics Basketball Centre. Crosstown won its first game in two outings, 92-66 against GC Solutions. (Photo by Moses Billacura/AFJ)

Coach Kelvin Dela Pena in Calgary has been organizing basketball camps for a good number of years and I was quite surprised by his announcement on FB about some organizations using his name for personal gain. Coach Kelvin, from what my source said, has built a respectable basketball service to young Calgarians after playing professionally in the Philippines. And it would be very unfair to him if some scrupulous persons or organizations are using his name for their own benefit. So, basketball participants, be careful and to be sure, reach out to coach Kelvin directly. Coach K’s dad Ric, himself a former professional basketball player in the Philippines, has observed the rise of “manoys” in Calgary. “Manoys” refers to so-called basketball teachers. Well, it is always up to the participants to check on the credentials of basketball trainers whether they are indeed teachers or not. But if you are using coach K’s name for your own benefit, you are courting trouble. *** Rhemar Mendoza and his team successfully organized the Crosstown Auto Basketball League in Lloydminster. Dave’s Auto emerged as the first champion of their league with Frontrow taking the second-place honors. The Lloydminster Bucks landed at third spot. JM (Pot Pot) Geron of Dave’s Auto was voted league MVP and David (Pom Pom) Dimaano was the final’s MVP. Jan Jan Abadai was selected best defensive player and the sportsmanship award was given to Lorwell Abu. Rhemar said they are grateful to Crosstown Auto Centre president

Crosstown Auto Centre's JR Perpetua (with ball) eludes three GC Solutions defenders during the 2021 Maharlika League's Rajah Cup, Sept.18, at the Legacy Athletics Basketball Centre. Crosstown won its first game in two outings, 92-66.(Photo by Moses Billacura/AFJ)

Joe Medina and his staff led by Jecris Bautista for supporting their inaugural league and to Hoop Factory for the excellent service in hosting the games. He said they are preparing for the next league. *** Robin told me about the Blue Quill 3x3 Classic and I enjoyed watching their games. Robin, who is the league’s official MC, introduced me to Devon who is one of the organizers of the outdoor basketball tournament and I congratulated him for the successful event. It was fun to see 3x3 games because they are quickly organized and fast-paced. The referees are also fun to watch. There I met HR specialist Adrian

Marana, whose son Zachary is one of the participants. Zach, a 14-yearold student at the William D. Cuts Jr.High and his teammates, emerged as one of the team champions of the two-day event. Congratulations Zach and hopefully, you guys will retain your title next year! *** Thank you to our sports sources for keeping us posted and again, I may or may not be able to cover your games due to this ongoing pandemic, but we always welcome your photos and other information. Kindly email mocolumnist@albertafilipinojournal. com. Stay safe everyone!

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Community | Education | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

VISITA IGLESIA IN FALL SEASON: With Fr. Nono

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kababayan priest Rev. Fr. Norberto “Nono” Eyule of Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte (Diocese of Daet) who is currently incardinated to the Archdiocese of Toronto came over to Alberta just to pay his fellow Sta. Elenians and friends a visit. Publisher Jose “Jun” Angeles, Editor Lito Velasco, and his relatives gave Fr. Nono a red carpet welcome and brought him to places he wanted to visit. They visited St. Jean De Brebeuf in Mallaig (Fr. Jhack’s Parish assignment), St. Paul Cathedral, and the Decaine Homestead. Almost all monumental and historical places were explored. Aside from the Legislature, City Hall, Law Courts, Canada Place, etc., one of the places Fr. Nono most wished to visit was St. Joseph’s Basilica on Jasper Avenue in downtown Edmonton. St. Joseph is his favorite Saint. This is perhaps the reason why he was accompanied by two Joses ( Jose Angeles and Joselito Velasco).

AFJ Publisher Jun and Fr. Nono

Fr. Nono Eyule and Fr. Jhack Diaz

Fr. Jhack, Laurier, Publisher Jun, Fr. Nono

Fr. Nono Eyule and Fr. Jhack Diaz

Fr. Nono Eyule, Publisher Jun Angeles, Fr. Jhack Diaz

Fr. Nono, Publisher Jun, and Fr. Jhack (Mallaig, St. Paul, Alberta)

Fr. Nono, Kuya Jun, Editor Lito

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Only in Mallaig, St. Paul. Fr. Jhack Diaz handing the AFJ over to his visitors and parishioners. THE PULSE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, CANADA

Philippine Politics | Points of View

OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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.

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s expected, the 2022 Philippine presidential election will be one of the most – if not the most – interesting elections in the Philippines. It is a political alchemy of various personalities that includes a former boxing great, the heir of the late dictator, a colorful Manila mayor, two former national police chiefs, and the widow of an assassinated popular political heavyweight. The people are energized to elect the next president who – as usual – promises to bring “peace and prosperity” to a third-world country that dreams of greatness since the corrupt late dictator promised to make the Philippines great again. Thus was born the “Great Again Society,” which was as promising as it was half a century ago when it became the rallying cry of the “New Balintawak,” which was “For God and country: Guns, goons, and gold” – the three G’s that brought the Marcos family to the forefront of greed, ambition, and power. But in the end, the people revolted and sent the Marcoses to exile in Hawaii. Thirty-two years later, the

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The Philippine political circus begins heirs of Marcos brought home the remains of the dictator and retreated to Ilocos Norte where they slowly rebuilt their political base, which remained loyal to their “Apo Lakay” to this day. That was the Solid North that brought to the presidency of Elpidio Quirino, Carlos P. Garcia (parents were Ilocanos), Ramon Magsaysay, Ferdinand Marcos, and Fidel Ramos. The loyal Ilocanos hope Bongbong Marcos would be next, which would mark 2022 as the rebirth of the Marcos dynasty or if he fails, its final political burial year. So, with that introduction, let the circus begin! As of the final filing date last October 8, more than 90 Filipinos have filed their certificates of candidacy (COC). I’m not going to name all of them since most of them filed just to have the bragging right of “being a presidential candidate.” There are however, a handful of serious candidates. They are the following (in no particular order): Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. – This is Bongbong’s second attempt to run for higher office. He was beaten by Vice President Leni Robredo in 2016 when he ran for Vice President. His popularity stands at 20%. Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo -- Although she’s the incumbent Vice President, Leni’s popularity is less than 10%. However, she’s always been behind in ratings since she first entered politics. She first ran as Congresswoman in Camarines Sur’s 3rd congressional district in 2013 beating the wife of former Congressman Luis Villafuerte of the politically powerful Villafuerte political dynasty. In 2016, she ran for Vice President and won. She became the voice and

face of the opposition. In 2018, she criticized China for establishing missiles in the West Philippine Sea. On October 7, 2021, she announced her candidacy for President as an independent although she remains a member and chairman of the Liberal Party. Clearly, she’s distancing herself from the “dilawan” (yellow) brand of the Liberal Party. To accentuate her independence, she adopted “pink” as the color of her candidacy. But make no mistake, the Liberal Party supports her candidacy and is expected to campaign for her. In explaining why she picked “pink,” Leni said, “This is a different fight. We have a bigger fight ahead. This is a battle against the comeback of the dictator’s son and incompetent governance which is the root of our problems.” Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao – After announcing his retirement from boxing on September 29, 2021, after a record of 62-8-2, 39 KOs at age 42, Manny declared two days later that he was running for President. One of the greatest boxing champions of all time, “Pacman,” as he was known in the ring, won 12 world titles in eight weight divisions. The presidency would be the apex of his rise to greatness. Manny was so poor that he stopped his studies in high school to help earn money for his family. In 2007, he took, and passed, a high school equivalency exam making him eligible for college education. In the same year, he ran for Congress and lost. Never a quitter, he ran again in 2010 and won. He was reelected in 2013. In 2016, he ran for Senator and won. Surely, he has the mentality of a winner. Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso – Isko Moreno

is running for president in his first attempt at national politics. He was first elected Vice Mayor of Manila in 2019 when he unseated Manila mayor and former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada. A former actor who grew up in the slums of Tondo, Isko Moreno – his name as an actor -acknowledged that he doesn't have an extensive educational background and he doesn't come from a powerful political clan. He’s using his successful programs and projects to propel him to the presidency. "I do not run on promises. I run on prototypes," the 46-year-old mayor said during his campaign launch in Tondo. Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson -- Ping Lacson first ran for president as an independent in 2004 when he suffered a landslide defeat at the hands of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He finished third in a five-way contest. A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, he ran on a campaign against illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption, which was his forte as a former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief. After Estrada was ousted in 2001, Lacson won a seat in the Senate that same year, and proceeded to win two more terms. He remained an independent since then. In 2021, Lacson was named the chairman of the revived Partido Reporma. He and his running mate former Senate President Tito Sotto launched their candidacies last August 4. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa – Bato rose to prominence when President Duterte appointed him as PNP Chief in 2016. He led the Oplan Tokhang, the controversial “war on drugs” campaign. As a result, several groups including human rights groups and religious leaders strongly objected to Dela Rosa and

President Duterte’s initiatives. In 2018, Dela Rosa was appointed as Director General of the Bureau of Corrections. The following year, he ran for Senator and won. On October 8, he announced his candidacy for President, which surprised a lot of people. Why was he running for President, they asked? Speculations started to spread that Dela Rosa was running for President and then Sara Duterte-Carpio will substitute for him on November 15, when substitutions are allowed. It’s interesting to note that President Duterte used the same playbook in 2015 when he ran as a substitute for an unknown candidate who gladly allowed Duterte to take his place. I am not going to discuss the other presidential candidates whom I believe have not an iota of chance of winning. At best, they’re spoilers who just wanted to brag about their presidential candidacies. On the Vice Presidential contest, so far Leni Robredo has announced Senator Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan to be her running mate; Ping Lacson has picked Tito Sotto; Pacquiao picked former Mayor Lito Atienza as his running mate; and Moreno picked Dr. Willie Ong, a cardiologist and a political newcomer, as his running mate. Meanwhile, Bongbong Marcos wanted President Duterte to be his running mate but Duterte took himself out of the race for Vice President after his ratings plummeted. Bongbong’s second choice is Bong Go who already announced his vice presidential candidacy. There is no final word on a Bongbong-Bong Go tandem yet but people have started using “Bong in the third power” as a campaign slogan. So there you go! May the best man or woman win!

Immigration is key to long-term economic recovery

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n the aftermath of the September Justin Trudeau’s gamble to secure a federal elections, the Liberals majority may have fallen short, but find themselves leading another his party is nevertheless still on top. minority government. Prime Minister So what does this mean for Canada? Or, more importantly, what does a minority Liberal government mean for Filipinos? While government policies are expected to be continued, we should take a look at two sectors of the economy that directly impact on Filipinos who are already here as citizens, PRs, foreign workers, or international students—employment and immigration. Statistics Canada said the economy added 157,000 jobs last month. This brought the unemployment rate down to 6.9 percent, the lowest since the Bing J. Jaleco start of the Covid pandemic. The bingjaleco@yahoo.com jobless rate peaked in May last year Raleigh “Bing” Jaleco was a veteran at 13.7 percent. journalist and public relations Just three months ago, the consultant in the Philippines. He started out as a correspondent for quarterly job vacancy rate stood at Ang Pahayagang Malaya and then 4.6 percent, the highest on record. moved on to be a reporter, and then The job vacancy rate is the number an editor, of The Manila Chronicle. of vacant positions in relation to He also served as news editor of The Manila Standard, business all available jobs. So if we go by the editor of The Manila Times, and numbers, the economy is trending sub-editor at the Manila Bulletin. He upwards. How much of an impact landed as a permanent resident in a pandemic fourth wave will have Canada in 2016.

VIEWPOINT

on the economy, however, could dampen confidence in a sustained economic recovery. A sustained economic recovery will mean more jobs will have to open to fuel the recovery. The Liberal government wants to boost immigration to fill some of that demand, a development that is of great interest to Filipinos back home. The government said immigration targets remain more or less the same—401,000 this year and 411,000 in 2022. But the slowdown in the processing of applications due to Covid might set those targets back. As it stands now, the slowdown in the processing of applications in the Philippines is causing a lot of concern among would-be immigrants. And it doesn’t help that some of the IRCC’s policies don’t jibe with Ottawa’s overall immigration program. For instance, some Filipinos who enrolled in Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) as international students in pursuit of a program commonly called “student pathway to permanent residence” have been told by IRCC that they cannot be granted student permits because the agency

believes they will not be returning to the Philippines after their studies. So why should Ottawa even bother to entice international students to pursue permanent residence in the first place? I believe immigration as a facilitator of economic growth is a correct strategy to pursue for Canada. But it will have to address some major concerns about how immigration can be streamlined,

and how the processing can be improved. All eyes will now be on the government’s 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan, which is expected to be announced in the first quarter of next year. How committed the Liberal government will be in its plan to increase immigration over 400,000 newcomers every year will eventually dictate how fast it can grow the economy.

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Immigration Update | Political Insights

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

Parents and Grandparents Program 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).

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mmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that they have finished sending invitations to Apply to potential sponsors. IRCC started sending out ITAs on September 23 up to October 4, 2021. They sent out enough invitations to reach their goal of accepting 30,000 complete applications. You must check the email address you used when you submitted your Interest to Sponsor form in 2020. According to IRCC, for 2021 invitations, they will only send you an email if you’re invited to apply. To ensure that you don’t miss their email here are some suggestions: -Check the same email account you used when you submitted your interest to sponsor form in 2020. -Check your junk email and spam folder to see if there is an email from IRCC. -If IRCC is unable to send the invitations through your email, they must have sent it to you by mail, so its important to check your mailbox in the upcoming days. - If after using the link below it says that you were invited, but did not receive the invitation to apply, you can ask for a copy using

an online form (please use this link: https://gcs-ssc.cic.gc.ca/pgp/ Default-eng.aspx) However, there is another way of checking if you received an Invitation to Apply using your confirmation number thru this link: https://www.canada.ca/en/ immigration-refugees-citizenship/ services/immigrate-canada/familysponsorship/sponsor-parentsgrandparents/selected.html?fbclid =IwAR2VPSDFk1j6g8La5lid1H7J QlLTMnX4a1kXGJlO1zDKtMso M74ickE2RQQ I have summarized below some questions I received from kababayans regarding the PGP: Question: I received an invitation to apply under the PGP, I earned income outside Canada in 2018. What should I do? Under the PGP, as a rule, financial resources must originate from Canadian sources. Immigration officers can, however, consider income received from foreign sources if it was declared by the sponsor to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and appears on their Notice of Tax Assessment. It is important to note that income abroad may not be a reliable indicator of future or stable

employment in Canada. IRCC cannot easily verify if foreign income can be transferred to Canada and converting foreign income into Canadian dollars can be resource intensive. The requirement to provide the Notice of Tax Assessment or NOA’s or Option C printouts for the 3 taxation years immediately preceding the date of their application is mandatory. Question: I received the ITA, but I don’t meet the income requirement. If a sponsor is unable to meet the financial requirements on their own, they may include information on the financial resources of their spouse or common-law partner provided that person co-signs the sponsorship application where applicable. A sponsor cannot pool financial resources with other relatives in order to meet the minimum income requirement. Any income claimed by a sponsor or co-signer should be income they declared on their Canadian tax return. Question: I received an ITA, does it mean my sponsorship application is approved? Receiving the ITA does not guarantee the approval of your application. The sponsor and the principal applicant must meet the

COVID Reshapes the Political Landscape By Stephen Burry

The good ole days

One image will be forever etched in my memory as a symbol of the 2019 hay days of the populous UCP movement—Jason Kenney in his recognizable everyday blue pickup truck racing under an overpass on Highway 2 somewhere between Calgary and Red Deer, with soonto-be Speaker of the House and UCP MLA Nathan Cooper and a barrage of supporters on the bridge above waving back with excitement. Long before masks and vaccine passports, Kenney and the UCP were destined to continue a dynasty disrupted by a small blip of orange in Alberta’s political history. It wasn’t so much about the popularity of Jason Kenney or any one leader, as it was more about the unpopularity of the thencurrent sitting NDP government. As a political organizer in the early days of the post-2015 election NDP government, I can tell you with certainty from the thousands of voters I interacted with—most swing voters voted NDP as the lesser of the evils and many didn’t admit to voting NDP at all! It was not a populous movement as much as it was a reckoning for the crumbling dynasty of the Tories. But this time, the wind was back in the sails, and the new Tory era had begun. Or so we all thought. More on that later. Fast forward halfway through the next political cycle, when the UCP should still be enjoying honeymoon style popularity and flipping “promise made, promise kept” graphics on Facebook, The Premier is instead scrambling to put out his own political five alarm fire and fighting off the ever-increasing calls for his www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

Why? Because he had done it before. He was front and center the last time conservatives rallied together and formed a united conservative party and broke the decades long rule of the federal Liberals. That involvement set the stage for what would become and where he sits today. So why is he so unpopular now? Quite frankly, he wasn’t that popular to begin with. Being respected and being popular can be two different things. Time and time again polls showed that the United Conservative brand garnered more favorability among Albertans than its leader. Even though Kenney was certainly competent and had a lock on the base of the party, his popularity among the severely ordinary Albertan was more based on his role as the uniter than it was about his general likability as a standalone political figure. I always argued that if former Wildrose leader Brian Jean had faced Jason Kenney in the 2019 election as Wildrose leader and not internally as a UCP leadership candidate, he would have increased his chances of winning. Why? Because internal nomination politics and general Damned if you do, elections are two different beasts. damned if you don’t The former is won by garnering Among political insiders, Premier support from politically motivated Jason Kenney is known as a steadfast insiders—something Kenney is known and competent political figure. His to be the guru of—while the other work ethic and political intelligence is a game of popularity among the is legendary. In 2017, many thought apolitical. that he was the only public figure Now let’s talk COVID. The capable enough to put the Alberta Premier and his government have conservative pieces back together resisted the calls for “circuit breaker” again. As a Wildrose Constituency shutdowns and continued restrictions Association president at the time, I on freedoms in today’s COVID certainly believed that his leadership world. That would sound like a could move the chains on unity and good thing, but the problem is, as put the pieces back together post-2015. both sides, the lockdown crowd resignation from inside and outside his camp. The situation is so bad that Rachel Notley’s NDP, after suffering an earth, shattering loss just over two years ago, is now leading 2:1 on the Tories in areas of the province that have never elected an NDP MLA. Only half a political cycle into the new government and the “united” conservative movement is now fractured almost as much as it was pre-2017 unity. The new strain of political discourse is more aggressive and more extreme than ever before. The establishment of the conservative movement that was poised to be a multi-generational power party is bleeding organizational support from both sides. A new, more potent strain of the independence movement has reemerged from the ashes as a louder and further right version of itself pushing the scale with almost 12% support in the polls. So, what happened? What caused such a polar shift in political standing and thought in Alberta only halfway through the first term of a majority conservative government? COVID happened!

and the anti-mask/vaccine crowd, have become increasingly extreme and polarizing. One side calls for unrelenting lockdowns and shelterin-place style policies like we saw in the spring of 2020, while the other side fights a revolutionary inspired war against anything that looks remotely like authoritarianism. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t should be the new motto of the Premier’s office. Put more restrictions in place and they further push away the base of the UCP, the anti-establishment types who never trusted government to begin with and many of whom reluctantly supported the early COVID response. Drop the lockdowns and restrictions completely and risk a full-on revolt from the silent majority in the province who would rather not face the consequences. In the face of overcrowding hospitals and higher death counts, where does a government draw the line? Balancing freedoms and public safety become a fight no one is going to win, especially a conservative. As a conservative Premier leading a conservative government, Kenney faces a swell of resistance from inside the party fighting his leadership when it seems too authoritarian or anti-business and faces a stiff NDP opposition willing to leverage the greater public opinion and fear of COVID if he tries to push past COVID and fully open the province. The internal politics that the Premier is known to be a master of becomes his Achilles heel.

A brave new world?

The next two years in Alberta politics could be the most turbulent we have ever seen, and that’s saying something! It is much easier to be opposition

eligibility requirements. To be a sponsor, you must be 18 years of age or older, either a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or with status as First Nations and have the financial ability to support the family that you are trying to sponsor. Sponsors must demonstrate and prove that they have sufficient income to support all the family members for whom they will be financially responsible including themselves. Please note that the minimum necessary income is a critical eligibility factor under PGP. IRCC will assess the sponsor’s MNI for the three (3) year period namely, 2018, 2019 and 2020 tax years. If you don’t meet the MNI requirement, your sponsorship application will be refused. If you have questions regarding the above article, you may contact Marjorie at info@mcncanadaimmigration.com Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) 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.

than it is to be in government. What comes next is anyone’s guess but expect that the Premier and the UCP will be spending much of the next few years defending decisions made in the first two years. The NDP will take full advantage of their position in opposition to criticize those decisions. It will take many years for us to truly understand how impacting the COVID-19 pandemic has been—and will be—on our political system in Alberta, Canada and around the world. We may be witnessing a shift in politics much bigger than we could ever understand. The history books may look back on this time as the beginning of a fundamental change in how we perceive governance and our society. One quote that reemerges in my mind is the famous liberty vs security quote from Benjamin Franklin, “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Key focus on “essential” as a marker of where we are today in government policy. How do we define essential liberty? Is boarding an airplane an essential freedom? Dining in at a restaurant? The problem is our society has not faced challenges of this magnitude in a very long time. One thing is for sure, expect change. a small business owner based in Calgary, Alberta. He was the President of the former Wildrose Party Constituency Association in Sherwood Park and the founding President of the United Conservative Party Constituency Association in Sherwood Park when the parties united in 2017. He held the role of Chief of Staff in the Alberta Legislature in 2018/2019 for the Freedom Conservative Party in opposition and has been a political organizer in Alberta politics for several years. Stephen Bury is

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

Religion | Business

OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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The Attitude of a Pure Spirit FROM A VANTAGE POINT

Tito S.Venida 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.

OUR TEXT “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

THE PURE IN HEART. This is the most comprehensive of all the attitudes toward blessedness. Here purity and happiness are fully described and neatly joined together. Here is the most unique character of the blessed—they are pure in heart. True religion consists in heartpurity. Those who are inwardly pure, show themselves to be under the power of pure and undefiled religion. True Christianity lies in the heart, in the purity of the heart—the washing of that from wickedness (Jeremiah 4:14). We must lift up to God, not only clean hands, but a pure heart (Psalm 24:4, 5; 1 Timothy 1:5). The heart must be pure, in opposition to mixture—an honest heart that aims well and pure, in opposition to pollution and defilement—as wine mixed and water muddied. The heart must be kept pure from carnality—all unchaste thoughts and desires, worldly lusts, covetousness, all filthiness of flesh and spirit. All that come from out of the heart and defiles a man. The heart must be purified and sanctified by faith and made whole for God. It must be presented and preserved a chaste virgin to the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE PROMISED BLESSING. They shall see God. Here is the most comprehensive comfort of those who are blessed— they shall see God. It is the perfection of the soul’s happiness to see God. Seeing Him, as we may by faith in our present state, is a heaven upon earth. Furthermore, we shall see Him in the future state in the heaven of heaven. To see God as He is, face to face, and no longer through a glass dimly is to see Him as ours and to see Him to enjoy and be like Him and be satisfied with that likeness (Psalm 17:15). To see Him forever and never lose the sight of Him—this is heaven’s happiness. The exclusivity of the promise. The happiness of seeing God is promised to those, and those only, who are pure in heart. None but the pure in heart are capable of seeing God, nor would it be a felicity to the impure. What pleasure could an unsanctified soul take in the vision of a Holy God? As He cannot endure to look upon their iniquity, so they cannot endure to look upon His purity. No unclean thing shall enter the

New Jerusalem, but all that are pure in heart, all that are truly sanctified and have desires that are wrought in them which nothing but the sight

of God will sanctify. Divine grace will not leave those desires unsatisfied.

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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.

ASAPAlways Say A Prayer Luke 11:1-4 'Lord, teach us to pray.’ Like the disciples, let us beg the Lord to teach us how to pray. Prayer can be learned. This is, I think, very timely considering our situation because most of us nowadays are very busy and preoccupied with so many concerns that we often forget

to consult God in prayer. I think you heard me saying this: teach your children how to earn money but most importantly, never forget to teach them how to pray. Parents must pray with their children. The Lord’s prayer invites us to call God as our “Father”. To call God “Father” implies the intimacy and love of a personal relationship. It is to recognize that we have to be submissive to Him. It is the acknowledgement that our needs are incomplete without Him. Today, ask the Lord for your daily needs. Beg Him to give us a forgiving heart when others disappoint us. And most especially, let us ask Him to protect us from all danger and harm of the devil. Prayer is the weakness of God and the strength of man. The more we pray the stronger and powerful we become! Make it a habit to pray. Don’t forget to pray because God never forgets to bless us everyday. Friends, if you only pray when you are in trouble, you’re in trouble. There is nothing more important than learning how to pray. Blessings Fr. Jhack

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Philanthropy

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Community | Volunteerism | Business

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OUTREACH: Reach out the rich Cheryl’s Run and the Running Room held the fifth fun run annual event on behalf of the Stollery Children’s Hospital and Blood Bank of Edmonton last September 25, 2021 in Laurier Park, Edmonton. A group of Filipino Massage Therapy Students of East West College of Business and Technology in Edmonton voluntarily offered their hands for free therapeutic massage or treatment to those who took part in the event.

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Politics | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

ELECT

RICARDO

CASANOVA

FOR EDMONTON PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD WARD I

LEARN MORE WWW.CASANOVA.VOTE

I believe in the power of community and the importance of education as a key factor in building a great city.

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Arts and Culture | Business

OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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Michael Moya: Finding Purpose through Art ARTOSPECTIVE - an artist’s point of view

Ida Beltran-Lucila ida_b_lucila@yahoo.com

I

n last summer’s Sari Sari Market organized by Sosyal Scoops, I was attracted to a table of Philippine inspired and religious illustrations on display. The works were done by Michael Moya, and I wanted to know more about his art. In my conversation with him, there was so much unraveling of a person who has gone through a lot of suffering, wears his heart on his sleeve, and has shown great resilience, sentimentality, and spirituality. Michael Moya is an Edmonton self-taught artist and illustrator who also works as a mechanical engineering technologist. He was an easygoing eldest child of immigrant parents - his father was a mechanical engineer in the Middle East, who joined his mother who was a caregiver in Canada, to start a family. Drawing was a regular activity with Michael even as a young boy - copying his favourite cartoons, characters in video games and comics. It was a recreational endeavour for him. In 2011, his life reached a critical point. Michael collapsed in the parking lot, was brought to the hospital, and after a couple of hours, was given a diagnosis of leukemia cancer. At the Cross Cancer Institute, he had complications with his chemotherapy, i.e. internal bleeding which rendered him partially blind in his left eye, and pancreatitis, that put him in a coma for three months. He relates a strange yet extraordinary experience while in coma. He recalls

going through an out of body experience, seeing purgatory, and visions of angels. He describes travelling through an alternate universe, an awareness of being trapped, then going through images of the sacraments, an experience of cleansing and an awareness of the presence of Mary and Jesus. And at the end of his journey, he woke up from his coma. In his physical world, he was medically dying and was given the sacraments for the sick and the dying. For some months after that experience, Michael was declared cured of his cancer, defying medical prognosis. A true miracle indeed. Getting emotional in the retelling of his story, Michael reveals his second lease in life has allowed him to reflect on his purpose, the meaning of his experience, and why his life was saved by God. It has taught him to appreciate everything in his life. And so, contemplating on the parable of the talents, he is now determined to use his talent for art in portraying who he is - a Catholic and a Filipino. Michal’s work is greatly influenced by Japanese pop culture, i.e. anime and manga, with vibrant colours, and done using professional grade markers, pen and ink. His religious art is a collection of contemporary portraits of Jesus and the Saints. There are currently 50 works in this collection. It is his way of evangelization, presenting his Catholic faith in a pop culture style, to attract more people to the faith. Art is his expression and at the same time, his avenue to learn more about

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his subjects. Michael’s research and work on his Catholic and Philippine-themed art collections has allowed him to understand himself more. He loves reading about the Saints as these are stories of people who had flaws, went through suffering, and turned their lives around. He is fascinated by Philippine history, and especially loves illustrating pre-Colonial Philippines and mythology. To this end, he has worked and self-published the Monkey and Turtle Komiks on his Facebook page. Started in 2019, this is an ongoing, work in progress series, featuring comedic slices of life. Eventually, he dreams of writing and illustrating a Filipino epic, in the likes of Lord of the Rings, the characters, plot and images of which, had been percolating since he was a young boy. Michael hopes that his art inspires other people to their faith and their cultural identity. He is gratified when younger people ask him about his work, opening up a conversation about either his Catholicism, or Philippine heritage. He has used his works for church fundraisers, particularly for the World Youth Day in Poland in 2016. Through his art, he would like to make his mark in the world, as a cancer survivor, as a Catholic and a Canadian of Filipino descent. In his words, “This is who I am, this is me, Michael Moya”. Know more about Michael at Facebook and Instagram, @MichaelMoyaIllustrations. To comment on this article, go to https:// www.philippineartscouncil.com/blog.

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Community | Politics | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

Conversation with Edmonton Mayoral candidate Amarjeet Sohi 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.

O

n Sunday, October third, I had a chance to interview Edmonton Mayoral candidate Amarjeet Sohi at new Manila Grill restaurant in the South side. It was part of the series of interviews that the Philippine Media Association of Alberta (PMAA) has been doing towards the upcoming municipal

elections. Mr. Sohi talked about different themes, from his motivation of running for position to climate change. Here is a summary of our conversation. On his motivation: Mr. Sohi discussed how he came to this city with nothing. He said that he built his life here despite the earlier struggles that he faced from racism to discrimination. He talked about how the city gave him many opportunities and built his life here. That was his driving force. Mr. Sohi wanted the opportunities that he had to be available for every Edmontonian. He said that, it’s the reason he ran for City Council, that’s the reason he took office in Ottawa and that’s the reason he is stepping up now. On housing: Mr. Sohi believes that housing is a right every Edmontonian should have. It should be affordable, accessible, and appropriate for a vast majority of Edmontonians. He said that the market provides houses that aren’t affordable and

many Edmontonians can’t afford to pay the rent or find a place to live. He believes in working together to create more affordable housing. Edmonton has lots of old buildings and commercial spaces that are empty. Mr. Sohi plans to convert them to housing while working with the Federal and the provincial governments. Mr Sohi also touched on the use of surplus land to build more affordable housing. He plans to create more diversity of housing in the neighborhoods by making in-fill housing affordable and accessible. He talked about working with non-profits, governments, and the city council to make this happen.

the City. On public transportation: “It’s not just about going from point A to B, it’s about social mobility where you go find a better job,” Mr. Sohi started. Transportation for him is also making connections with communities, to schools. He said that he was the biggest advocate of building the LRT when he was in City Council. He helped make sure that transport reached many communities. He believes that public transport needs to be available to everybody. He acknowledged though that there are only two ways that the city can make money, and it’s through taxes and user fees. He also said that 30% of the taxes and fees are taken by the province. He plans to have a conversation with the province on the allocation of funds to ensure that the City is prioritized.

On small businesses: He talked about creating a business advocate office that will help in renewing permits and getting inspection done in the properties… He also talks about how the City Hall can provide leadership in the case that the Covid crisis extends. He will pressure the provincial government to address that issue. He also believes that all city employees should be vaccinated On Climate change: and also believes in introducing some He believes that the kind of Covid vaccine ID system for Federal government target of zero carbon emissions by 2050 will not be reached if the city does not cooperate and if the Federal government will not support the cities. He thinks that the city can be an effective partner in climate justice if there is a plan to turn around and create green jobs whether it’s through the solar sector or geothermal sector. He believes in creating new technology and innovation to meet the Federal government target. On the Migrant: He acknowledged the presence of migrants in the City and feels that everyone should be safe regardless of their status. While Mr. Sohi did not clarify what it means in a practical sense, he said he is open to working with different organizations to see how he can better support migrants and new immigrants in the city.He also talked about inclusivity if he is to review the settlement and immigration policy of the city. One thing that he was clear on is to ask the city administration to compile a list of ethno-cultural organizations as part of ensuring diversity and inclusion. Finally, I talked to him about some of the Filipino community’s efforts to build a Filipino community centre. EPIC or the Edmonton Philippine International Centre, is an initiative to build a Philippine Centre in Edmonton. I asked how he will support this initiative? Mr.Sohi said that there are a lot of opportunities in working with the City as well as private and public structures towards this initiative and he also said that it is something that he is committed to do.

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Business

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Politics

OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

20-0009322 ADV-11135

GO VOTE

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in Calgary’s municipal election Election Day: Monday, Oct. 18, 2021

This year you will receive two ballots – a municipal and a provincial ballot. • Voters will elect Mayor, Ward • Voters will select nominees Councillors and school board for the Senate of Canada. trustees. • Voters will vote on • Voters will vote on adding referendums about fluoride to our water. equalization payments and Daylight-Saving Time.

For more information go to electionscalgary.ca

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Opinion | Politics

JAN THE MAN’S NOTE

Januel Cedrick Ibasco Januel Ibasco is a proud FilipinoCanadian who is a current law student at the Thompson Rivers University’s Faculty of Law and a graduate of the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. Januel enjoys giving back to his community through volunteering for multiple not-for-profit organizations. In his free time, he also enjoys the outdoors as he is an avid golfer and hiker. He is a huge Oilers fan and loves to talk about anything sports!

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

The Power of Conversation Today

W

ith the loneliness epidemic slowly growing over the years and now at the forefront due to the ongoing pandemic surrounding COVID-19 – I would like to speak about the power of conversation. In western society, we are all very much individualistic – whatever we do we do it for ourselves. We often think that we need to go through life and handle difficult situations on our own. Though I do believe we all need to spend some time by ourselves to grow as individuals and experience independence to pave our own path in life – I think it is just as important to make an effort to meet new people because one conversation can unlock a new friendship, an epiphany, a sign, or lead to unforgettable experiences and memories that you can look back on one day. When we can move past the uncomfortable nature of putting

ourselves out there and ignore judgment from others, life can start to feel a little less stressful. Reaching out to friends, introducing yourself to some new people and engaging in some meaningful conversation comes with vulnerability. Opening up to someone is something that takes time but if we don’t have those difficult conversations, we tend to numb things like grief, trauma, and addiction because we do not want others to see us in our times of vulnerability. However, with numbing certain emotions, comes the numbing of true intrinsic joy. The longer we avoid vulnerability, the further away we drift from love and belongingness. At the end of the day, genuine human connection

Stock Photo taken from Microsoft Word

is something we all crave. We owe it to ourselves seek socialization because we are all enough as we move forward through this journey of life. Have that conversation today because doing so will result in a brighter tomorrow.

It’s time to have elected representatives and servant leaders who fight for the everyday Edmontonian!

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Community | Foods and Lifestyle | Business

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POTATO CORNER: Invading Calgary AFJ witnessed the blessing of Potato Corner at West Edmonton Mall during its second anniversary last September 27, 2021, officiated by Fr. Norberto Eyule, a kababayan priest from Toronto, who paid us a visit here in Edmonton. Last September 20, 2021, another newly opened Potato Corner outlet was spotted by the AFJ.

The First store at Chinook Mall in Calgary. Nelson Rodriguez, the owner of Potato Corner said, “It was a management decision and roadmap to open the Flagship Store in one of the biggest malls in Calgary. First, we want Potato Corner to be introduced as an international QSR player in the market. Second, Brand awareness is important to reach the local and

mainstream market. Third, similar to our opening in Edmonton, we opened in WEM—Biggest mall in the city and North America.” Why CF Chinook? “The mall provides home to anchor tenants like (list) and provides a good tenant mix. Premium and mainstream, it fits our location strategy when we execute our expansion program in Canada,” Rodriguez added.

The Staff, Fr. Nono Eyule, AFJ Publisher Jose “Jun” Angeles, and Owner Nelson Rodriguez (West Edmonton Mall)

Editor Lito Velasco, Area Manager Yesha, Abel Cereno, Andy Chua (Chinook Mall)

The blessing of WEM Branch officiated by Fr. Norberto Eyule.

Andy Chua and Abel Cereno (Endorsers)

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Community | Foods and Lifestyle | Business

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

What The Pho Lee and Jocar, co-owners of What The Pho restaurant with AFJ publisher Kuya Jun and editor Lito.

Photos by Moses Billacura | Alberta Filipino Journal

National Day For Truth and Reconcilation On September 30, 2021, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be observed by the federal government and by federally regulated workplaces. The purpose of this new holiday is to honour First Nations, Inuit and Métis survivors, their families and communities and ensuring that public commemoration of their history and the legacy of residential schools remain a vital component of the reconciliation process. A group of Filipino Seniors observed the holiday by donning orange shirts with the inscription ‘Every Child Matters’ courtesy of Rivercree Resort and Casino. A dinner at Palabok House followed after.

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OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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.

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“How to MANIPULATE & ENSLAVE the PEOPLE!” The governments keep pushing us toward Communism/ Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credits for unearned income, tax exemptions, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare entitlements, medicine, drugs, etc., while we continually lose our freedoms, just a little at a time. One should always remember two truths: There is no such thing as a free lunch, and you can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’ ”(Ronald Reagan, 1986) If you see that all of this wonderful government "help" is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America and Canada, you might want to share this with your friends. If you think the free ride is essential to your way of life, then you will probably not share this. BUT, God help us all when the gate slams shut! Quote for today: "The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are now outnumbered by those who vote for a living." A thought to remember, Marx said, "Remove one freedom per generation and soon you will have no freedom and no one would have noticed."

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his is NOT a joke. Just something to think about.You will appreciate the final statement. There was a professor in a large college that had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab, the professor noticed one young man, an exchange student, who kept rubbing his back and stretching as if his back hurt. The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting Communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist regime. In the midst of his story, he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked: "Do you know how to catch wild pigs?" The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said that it was no joke. "You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come every day to eat the free food. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, which are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat that free corn again. You then slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn they are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity." The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening in America and Canada. All photos and articles available online. Follow us

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22

Community | Heroism

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

TAU GAMMA PHI: Observes Excellence in Canada

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he TAO Canada in Toronto, Ontario and some members of Kapampangan Triskelions in Edmonton, Alberta gathered and simultaneously celebrated the 53rd Founding Anniversary of their beloved Fraternity and Sorority, the Tau Gamma Phi, Triskelion Grand Fraternity last October 4, 2021. They firmly believe that an excelling Triskelion is an inspiration to the next generation. Also adherent to one of their doctrines that Man is a brother unto man.

From L-R: Brothers Lito Velasco, Al San Pedro, Abong Tayag, Albert Dizon, Nilo Yalung Aboy, and Arwin San Pedro

FRONTLINER ISA KANG BAYANI (YOU’RE A HERO)

PHILIPPINE BUSINESS SOCIETY OF ALBERTA

FAMILY MOVIE FUN

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!

AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH, PBSA IS HOSTING A FREE PRIVATE SHOWING OF JAMES BOND--NO TIME TO DIE TO FOSTER SAFE SOCIALLY-DISTANCED CAMARADERIE AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

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W I N D E R M E R E

ROWENA MACATO Frontliner , University of Alberta Hospital

Register at: https://bit.ly/PBSANoTimeToDie

@PBSA_EDMONTON

www.pbsalberta.com

NILDA KAHULUGAN Health Care Aid, University of Aberta Hospital www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

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Community

OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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A MESSAGE FOR ALL TRISKELION ON THE OCCASION OF THE 53RD FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER 2 Timothy 2:3-4 BY: TITO S. VENIDA FOUNDING FATHER OUR TEXT "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:4 INTRODUCTION War is an evil thing; there is nothing glorious about it. War results in death, the maiming of bodies and the destruction of minds, oftentimes of innocent people. War is an ugly and vicious thing. War is part of the consequences of evil in human society, so it is unavoidable. War is a judgment from God on all the nations involved in it because of the tolerance for injustice, oppression, and corruption which has been winked at, and even approved of, for many years. War is the result. We cannot avoid it, nor can young people avoid it either. We have to see that war is part of the evil in society. A SOLDIER A soldier has to suffer. War is not a picnic. A soldier does not go out to enjoy life, to see the world, and have many wonderful experiences of adventure and travel, despite what the recruitment posters and TV advertising say. Those have some element of truth about them, but that is not what one does as a soldier. If war breaks out, it is going to mean he is faced with ugly, arduous, uncomfortable, and dangerous living.

Ecclesiastes 8:5 What are some marks of a Good Soldier of our Lord Jesus Christ? Let me share a few. A GOOD SOLDIER IS A FOLLOWER Mark 8:34 No one can be a good leader who cannot first be a good follower. In the military, there is almost always someone in rank above you. Whose orders you must follow. Following the Lord Jesus Christ is not an option it is a command. The Lord Jesus said, “Come, Follow Me.” In the military, refusal to obey an order is not allowed.Court martial will follow; yet, we take obedience to God so very lightly in our daily lives. A GOOD SOLDIER IS A FIGHTER 1 Timothy 6:12 He is trained and taught to be aggressive when necessary.He will not cower or retreat in the face of the enemy. He will defend his own honor and that of his country. “Duty, Honor, Country” is his motto. The Bible tells us to “fight the good

fight of faith.” The verb “fight” in the Greek New Testament is in the present tense (suggesting not letting up) and is in the imperative mode (which means it is a command and not a suggestion). A GOOD SOLDIER IS FAMILIAR First, he is familiar with the strategy of the enemy (2 Corinthians 2:11). Secondly, he is familiar with the skills concerning his weaponry (Ephesians 6:10-18). Thirdly, he is familiar with the shadows of his friends (Hebrews 10:25). The good soldier is not only looking out for himself, but also for his friends—there’s a mutual need for being close to other soldiers as you fight the enemy.

CONCLUSION So, my Triskelion brothers and sisters, throw yourselves into this noble work for our Lord Jesus Christ. Pass on what you heard from me to faithful Triskelion who are competent and committed to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way our Lord Jesus did. A good soldier on active duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace, or he will

dishonor his Commanding Officer. He concentrates on carrying out his orders in order to please Him who has chosen him to be a soldier. Think it over. God will make it all plain. Amen!

A GOOD SOLDIER IS FAITHFUL He remains true even when he must “endure hardness” as a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ. That expression means, “to take one’s share of rough treatment; to suffer or endure affliction together.” It actually means to “suffer hardship in company with”—the good soldier is always true and loyal.

LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER We are not called to be Triskelion to merely enjoy life, to have everything around us pleasant and comfortable. That has been the deadly danger of the globalists for far too many decades. Because of that, today, we are facing some of the evil aspects that have come from that kind of thinking. No, we are to endure hardness. We need to get involved with life at its most wretched, and sometimes most uncomfortable, expression. For the Lord has chosen us to be soldiers. v. 4 I think we would be wise to remember the “good soldiers of our Lord,” who paved the way, for you and me, in our Christian way of life. Thank God for the good soldiers of our Lord Jesus Christ who have fought well, such as those who are mentioned in Hebrews, Chapter 11. THE PROPOSITION “Whoever obeys a command will come to no harm. A wise man knows in his heart the right time and method for action.”

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Para-legal Services | Legal Tidbits

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.

First, Do no Harm! ​In Philippine Special Penal Laws, REPUBLIC ACT No. 11053 (Anti-Hazing Act of 2018) “An Act Prohibiting Hazing and Regulating Other Forms of Initiation Rites of Fraternities, Sororities, and Other Organizations, and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 8049, Entitled “An Act Regulating Hazing and Other Forms of Initiation Rites in Fraternities Sororities, and Organizations and Providing Penalties Therefor.”

In Sec. 14.in this Republic Act No. 11053 states the penalties of reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment to the following perpetrator: eing a member of a Fraternity • those who actually planned or participated or Sorority distinguishes the in the hazing if, as a consequence of individual from the mob. the hazing, death, rape, sodomy, or Joining the group has a lot of value mutilation results therefrom; because of the sense of brotherhood • also, shall be imposed upon: or sisterhood. The downside is that “(1) All persons who actually planned Hazing has become a part of joining or participated in the conduct of the the Fraternity or Sorority experience. hazing; Hazing, which was first called “(2) All officers of the fraternity, sorority, Pennalism was a system of mild or organization who are actually present oppression and torment practiced during the hazing; upon first-year students of a German “(3) The adviser of a fraternity, sorority, Protestant university in the 17thcentury. or organization who is present when (Collins Dictionary) the acts constituting the hazing were

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

committed and failed to take action to prevent the same from occurring or failed to promptly report the same to the law enforcement authorities if such adviser or adviser or advisers can do so without peril to their person or their family; “(4) All former officers, nonresident members, or alumni of the fraternity, sorority, or organization who are also present during the hazing: Provided, That should the former officer, nonresident member, or alumnus be a member of the Philippine Bar, such member shall immediately be subjected to disciplinary proceedings by the Supreme Court pursuant to its power to discipline members of the Philippine Bar: Provided, further, That should the former officer, nonresident member, or alumnus belong to any other profession subject to regulation by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), such professional shall immediately be subjected to disciplinary proceedings by the concerned Professional Regulatory Board, the imposable penalty for which shall include, but is not limited to, suspension for a period of not less than three (3) or revocation of the professional license. A suspended or revoked professional license pursuant to this section may be reinstated upon submission of affidavits from at least

three (3) disinterested persons, good moral certifications from different unaffiliated and credible government, religious, and socio-civic organizations and such other relevant evidence to show that the concerned professional has become morally fit for readmission into the profession: Provided, That said readmission into the profession shall be subject to the approval of the respective Professional Regulatory Board; “(5) Officers or members of a fraternity, sorority, or organization who knowingly cooperated in carrying out the hazing by inducing the victim to be present thereat; and

“(6) members of the fraternity, sorority, or organization who are present during the hazing when they are intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs; Moreover, in this section, penalties are enforced on those who have a direct or indirect participation including the owner or lessee of the place where the hazing was conducted. ​The Law denotes the severity of Hazing or initiation rites. Therefore, First, Do no Harm!, Focus on the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood that gives meaning to humanity.

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OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

SHOW-MY Sam at Catriona, nasa

Mauritius

Showbiz | Philippines News

Bianca, may payo sa nakakaranas ng heartbreaks!

SALVE ASIS

(Pilipino Star Ngayon)

Edu, may message kay Jennylyn!

“Have a great life!,” ang message ni Edu Manzano kay Jennylyn Mercado nang lumabas ang official statement ng management team ng actress, Becky Aguila Ma­nagement Team, three days ago kung saan sinasabi ngang nasa good condition ito sa kasalukuyan matapos ma-pack up ang taping nila ni Xian Lim para sa teleseryeng Love.Die.Repeat na first project pa naman ni Xian sa GMA 7. Maaalalang ex din ni Luis Manzano si Jennylyn. Pero hindi nagtagal nun sina Jennylyn at Luis at wala akong maalalang sinabi nila kung bakit sila nag-break. Anyway, sinisisi ang title na Love.Die.Repeat ng teleserye dahil bago ito nag-umpisa ay nag-positive na si Kim Domingo at pinalitan ito ni Myrtle Sarrosa.

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asa Mauritius pala ang magdyowang Sam Milby and Catriona Gray para sa isang digital advocacy program. “Enchanted by the Seven Cascades of Mauritius. It was raining the entire drive over, but as soon as we came to the last part of our hike and stepped out to the head of the Waterfall, the sun came out and blessed us. God sho­wing off all His beautiful creation,” post ng dating Miss Universe.

Carla, nakaraos sa bachelorette party

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akaraos na ng bachelorette party ang soon to be bride na si Carla Abellana. Pero adjusted sa pandemic. Aniya : “Everyone was Antigen tested first. Wasn’t a party because it was just a quick segue from a plated Italian dinner. “Open air at a co-actor’s house for proper air circulation. Everyone vaccinated. Wholesome. The smiles and laughter are all real, though. Because i seriously thought i wouldn’t even get to have one,” chika niya sa kanyang Instagram page kasama ang major cast ng teleserye nilang To Have and To Hold na pinangu­ ngunahan nina Max Collins and Rocco Nacino.

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Muling ibinuhos ng Kapuso actress and Legal Wives star Bianca Umali ang kanyang damdamin sa heartbreak song na pinamagatang Itigil Mo Na under GMA Music released last Thursday, Sept. 30. Bukod nga sa kanyang accomplishments bilang actress, Bianca is also making a name for herself in the music scene. Ang kanyang debut track na Kahit Kailan was nominated at the 34th Awit Awards for Best Performance for a New Female Recording Artist and Best Engineered Recording. Anyway, Itigil Mo Na paints the sad and cyclic unrequited love story

familiar to Filipinos in a soothing and groovy musical arrangement of modern sensibilities. Tungkol ito sa isang girl who’s falling for a guy who is in love with someone else. Both cinematic and good for easy listening, the song was written by award-winning writer-directorsinger-songwriter Njel de Mesa. “The message of the song is that nagkakaroon talaga ng mga pagkakataon na sobrasobra tayong magmamahal, to the point na hindi na natin kayang i-let go ‘yung taong mahal natin, kahit na hirap na hirap na at ang sakit-sakit na. To those experiencing heartbreaks, okay lang ‘yan. Normal lang ‘yan. Wag natin lalabanan o tatakbuhan ang hirap at sakit. Kailangan natin mapagdaanan at tiisin lahat yan, dahil ito ang huhubog sa atin na maging mas mabuti, mas matibay at mas matapang na tao. Worth it lahat ng sakit, trust me,” chika ni Bianca. Currently, Bianca is starring in Legal Wives and is gearing up for HBO’s Halfworlds. Mapapakinggan ang Itigil Mo Na on Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, and other digital stores worldwide.

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Erratum | Horoscope | Mind Twisters

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ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

ERRATUM:

Stephen’s article in our September 2021 issue was marked to be found on page 20 yet it was located to pages 22 and 23.

C RO S S W O R D

Copyright @ www.boatloadpuzzles.com

This is to rectify error that the writer has unintentionally committed in AFJ’s September 2021 issue, page 30. States that “Raj Maljorta” is the president and CEO of Axcel Agency and Ajoc Internationally Company. While in fact, Mr. land Mrs. Renato and Amelia Ajoc are the presidents and CEO of the Ajoc International Company.

H O RO S C O P E Prepare to review your most important relationships throughout October, Aries. With so much planetary activity standing across the sky from you, it’s clear that you’re set to make long-term plans with a significant partner in business or love. With the sun, Mercury, and Mars focusing you on teamwork, you’re likely eager to see things click along.

Life could feel especially confusing this month, Libra, as if you’re fired up and excited about a fresh start yet keep running into little hiccups and challenges. Most importantly, it’s birthday season as you begin the month. The most significant new moon of the year for you appears on October 6, opening a doorway for you to assert yourself and reach toward a very personal hope, goal, or dream.

October encourages you to truly assess your professional life, Taurus. With so much planetary activity heating up your solar sixth house of employment, it’s clear that you are hard at work on the job, taking on more projects, and collaborating with many people. The new moon on October 6 adds even more responsibility to your shoulders, but as the mighty Bull, you handle it well.

Listen to your intuition this month, Scorpio. The universe is speaking directly to you. Your dreams will be extremely vivid and intense in October with so much energy in your solar twelfth house. Mighty Mars, your co-ruler, is bringing energy here, showing that you might be busy hustling on a behind-the-scenes project or working on something in solitude. You could be doing your best to make sure all the pieces are in place and everything is perfect to debut when Mars enters your sign on October 30.

With your ruler out of sync through most of October, Gemini, you could feel that nothing is moving smoothly. Mercury retrogrades hit you especially hard, and this one in particular falls in your solar fifth house. This means that you could be experiencing miscommunication or confusion around matters of love, creativity, expression, hobbies, or children. While our cosmic messenger stations direct on October 18, you could still feel foggy until the end of the month.

October could feel especially slow for you, Cancer. Yet as you progress through the month, several planets (Pluto, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mercury) awaken and bring more speed back to your life. The Mercury retrograde phase will be the most noticeable for you because it backspins in your solar fourth house until October 18.

Your ideas are of vital importance to you in October, Leo. With the new moon, Mercury, and Mars drawing significant attention to your solar third house, it appears you could be hard at work on a writing, speaking, advertising, or contractual matter. This might manifest in yet another way, such as a great deal of short-distance travel, especially with a partner or to see a sibling.

October could be riddled with challenges as you do your best to dance out of the line of fire, Virgo. You’re especially affected any time your ruler Mercury goes through a retrograde phase. This month, it’s backpedaling in your solar second house of income and finances, so you could be noticing delays with checks, confusion around money, or uncertainty regarding your job.

September 2021 Crossword's Solution 1

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October could be pushing you to pursue new horizons, Aquarius, but then making you question which direction to go! With so much planetary energy in your solar ninth house of expansion, you could be deeply focused on an academic, spiritual, or intellectual pursuit. Contractual and legal matters may also be consuming your mind.

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1. Business VIP 2. Boat paddle 3. Adjust to surroundings 4. Pastry 5. ____ West of Hollywood 6. Raises 7. Not present 8. Out of style 9. Object of adoration 10. Folklore monster 11. Clairvoyant person 16. Association (abbr.) 19. Pale color 20. Past due 21. Uncork 22. Comfort 23. Baggy 26. "Scarface" gangster (2 wds.) 27. Vegetarian's taboo 28. Motionless 33. Groups of eight 34. Flavorful seed 36. Assistants 37. Managed 38. Sassy 39. Constantly 40. Story 43. Generation ____ 44. ____ de Janeiro 45. Commit perjury 46. Completely

October could focus a great deal of your attention and time on financial matters, Pisces. With so much planetary activity taking place in your solar eighth house of shared assets, you could be facing a major expense or purchase this month.

September 2021 Issue Sudoku's Solution 10

1. Dove's murmur 4. Flightless bird 7. So long! (Sp.) 12. Corn piece 13. Bottle top 14. Emblem 15. Baltimore team 17. Boutique 18. Pitcher's stat 19. Paring tool 20. Part of New York (2 wds.) 24. Prone 25. Bird's perch 26. Pal (Fr.) 29. Golf peg 30. Large amount 31. Had more points 32. Conclusion 33. Fertile spots 35. Baseball's ____ Ripken 36. Speed up 38. Tiny 41. Sucker 42. Elude 43. Breakfast food 47. Lease again 48. Goal 49. Naught 50. Lock of hair 51. Edgar Allan ____ 52. Snakelike fish

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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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Your ambitions are especially important to you in October, Capricorn. With mighty Mars bringing a surge of energy to your solar tenth house all month, you’re surely hard at work knocking out important milestones and projects in your professional life. Many awards, achievements, or opportunities could be presented to you at this time.

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Of all the zodiac signs, you truly enjoy October the most, Sagittarius. With so much energy focused in your solar eleventh house, you’re feeling more popular than ever! As mighty Mars blazes a trail through this sector, you could be especially focused on having fun with friends and attending many joyful celebrations. You’re in a social peak at this time, so while you’re likely circulating among many acquaintances from the past, you’re also probably meeting just as many new ones.

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Copyright @ www.horoscope.com

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Copyright @ www.puzzles.ca THE PULSE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, CANADA

OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Community | Tradition | Politics | Business

UNDAS 2021 Celebration

April Anne Angeles Associate Editor of AFJ Interviews Kim Krushell, Mayoralty Candidate for the City of Edmonton

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comprehensive heart to heart talk with mayoralty candidate of Edmonton Kim Krushell successfully outlined her plan for Edmonton bringing new fresh perspective for the City of Edmonton. For the full interview log in to PMAA Facebook page or to Sariling Atin .

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Immigration Update

THE IMMIGRATION GUY

Q&A with an Immigration Professional This month we continue our immigration Q&A series and answer immigration questions submitted by you! Names and situation details are fictional to protect confidentiality and privacy

Motherly love

Stephen Burry Stephen Burry is the Lead Consultant and owner of Freedom Migrate Immigration Solutions Limited, an immigration consultancy firm based in Calgary, Alberta. Stephen is licensed with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC). He can be reached at 403-520-2277 or call/ text at 587-938-3100. Email: freedommigrate@gmail.com Website: www.freedommigrate.ca

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

Roberto – Edmonton, AB Q: I applied to invite my mother here to Canada to help me with my newborn child. I submitted the application back in January 2021 and have not heard anything yet! My mother has since received her COVID vaccination and has retired from her job as a teacher back in the Philippines. What should I do? A: Good question, Roberto! On September 7, 2021, the Canadian government released a COVID policy for applications like yours. If things have changed and your mother is still waiting for a response from the visitor application, you will need to re-apply for a visitor visa. You should

quote the original application number on the new application and make sure to provide updated documents regarding your mother’s new financial situation and that she is now fully vaccinated. When your mother has a valid visa for entry to Canada, you will have to apply for an authorization to travel using a special form. If you need advice, feel free to give us a call! We offer free consultations and can help.

Second chances

Amilia – Calgary, AB Q: I applied for Humanitarian and Compassionate Considerations (H&C) and was refused! I fear now I will have to return to my home country. I was told

I could reapply. Can I stay in the country without status and reapply for Humanitarian and Compassionate Considerations? Do I need to leave immediately? A: Amilia, we understand this is a very stressful period in your life. The stakes are high, and you want to find every possible way to stay inside Canada. We always advise our clients in this situation that they must follow the rules and regulations of Canada’s immigration laws. Remaining inside Canada without status can cause further issues including being banned from coming back to Canada. However, there are some things to keep in mind depending on your situation. Firstly, you can reapply for H&C generally after twelve (12) months from the decision on your last application. When applying you must address the concerns in your original refusal and be prepared to provide updated and new evidence as to why you feel you should receive an exemption. In certain unique situations, you can get an exemption from the twelve (12) month bar if there are dependent children involved who would be negatively affected by the decision. Secondly, depending on your status situation and your plans in Canada – including relationships with family members inside Canada – there may be other pathways for you to pursue. Any status issue files should be handled by an immigration professional, and we would advise you to seek consultation. We offer free assessments and are always available to give you guidance on the next step!

Punching a time clock that’s running out!

Erwin – Brooks, AB Q: My employer applied for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) so I can extend my work permit in Canada and continue working for my current employer. Issue is, his LMIA came back incomplete, and my work permit is set to expire in a few days! He has since corrected the issue and reapplied, but the processing times are long and I can’t wait for his LMIA document. I have a wife and two small children here in Canada and we are not prepared to go back to our home country! I feel lost and afraid of what could happen next week. What do I do? A: We feel you, Erwin. This is a very stressful situation, and it needs immediate attention. Here is the good news! You can apply for an extension to your work permit if you can prove that your employer has submitted his LMIA application and is waiting for a response. SPECIAL NOTE: You must do this before your current work permit expires. This can only be done within the validity of your current work permit, so make sure you get the required documents and watch the clock! Check with you employer and ask them to give you proof they have applied, and you can then submit proof with your work permit application for an extension. Once you submit the application, you should receive a letter authorizing you to continue working until a decision is made on the LMIA application. As long as your employer can get a positive LMIA document, you should receive your work permit extension (provided the application is completed and you are eligible). We always recommend you have a professional look over the application and that you advise your employer to do the same. We offer file review services for applicants who have made the decision to complete applications on their own. We would certainly recommend contacting us to look at the details for you. Have a question? Send us your submission to freedommigrate@ gmail.com or call our office at 403-520-2277. You can also call/text 587-938-3100 from anywhere in Alberta! www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

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OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

Community | Business

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We are vaxxed! We are back!

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By Mario Asuncion

e have definitely missed camping, picnics and anniversary balls, kita kits were unheard of…but then again, we believed in resilience, and that somehow, someday, we will bounce back. And that is why, the officers and members of the Alpha Phi Omega Alumni Association of Alberta were one in spirit to hold their camping predicated on one condition - and that was to require would-be attendees to have two shots of the Covid vaccine. We complied, and it was well worth it. Camping was held at the Padilla farmhouse in Chipman, Alberta on September 3, 4 and 5, thanks to the generosity of Brod Daniel Padilla and his ever supportive wife, sis Jehnny. The usual fare was, as usual, modest - we had a whole lechon brought in, goat meat cooked in several ways, such as caldereta, papaitan, kinilaw, and sinigang, among other dishes. Attendance was not quite sterling, as some members still had to take the vaccines, and also because of their location in other cities, but hey, we sang along cheerfully to the sound of the keyboard provided by Brod Raul Lastimosa, who, with his lovely wife, drove all the way from Fort Mcmurray. Kudos also to our newly welcomed Sis Marjorie Custodio who drove from Grande Prairie with her daughter, and to Sis Azumy Precy Ace from Red Deer. And oh, how the spirits of good cheer and high moral flowed, accompanied by a somewhat ghostly presence. You see, inside the acreage is a very old house, complete with dungeon and an attic, and it is fair to expect some “unusual’ sensation. But lo and behold, also inside the house is a ping pong table, ice hockey, darts and other modern amenities. Overall, it was another hit, a renewal of the essence of Brotherhood, of catching up, of bugging each other, all in the spirit of fun and

2 Senior brothers: Arthur Suguitan, Batch ‘65; Panfilo Quedado, Batch ‘59

camaraderie. Thank you also to our guests who spent a day with us and were brought in by our senior Brod Panfilo Quedado and Sis Amor Quedado. That occasion also coincided with the election of officers for the incoming fraternal year and we would like to take this opportunity to greet our newly elected President Brod Daniel Padilla, Vice President Brod Raul Lastimosa, outgoing President and now Secretary Brod Gie Natividad, Treasurer Brod Joey Sarmiento, and PRO Brod Roberto Prado. May We Always Be!

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Greetings

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE: Moving Forward

Birthday is 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.

WIN THE TWIN ON THEIR BIRTHDAY: John and Joshua Querijero

L-R: Allen Briones, Julie Querijero (twin’s mom), John Querijero (birthday boy), Bethany Briones, Noel Querijero (twin’s dad), Paul Briones, and Joshua Querijero (birthday boy) at Briones’ residence.

John’s classmates and friends

Mayoral Candidate Amarjeet Sohi leads the birthday song for the twins. AFJ publisher Jose “Jun” Angeles was one of the invited guests during the celebration last October 9, 2021 at Sir Wilfred Laurier Park.

John and Joshua’s relatives and friends

SILVERIAN COUPLE: HAPPY 25th Anniversary Abong and Madelyn Tayag!

Ver de Lima

Marlyn Alabata

Magracia Rebuscas

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publisher@albertafilipinojournal.com www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

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

OCTOBER 2021 ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL

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www.AlbertaFilipinoJournal.com

ALBERTA FILIPINO JOURNAL OCTOBER 2021

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