ABSOLUTELY FILIPINO MAGAZINE ISSUE #5 SUMMER 2015 by Absolutely Filipino

summer2015

issue #5

what’s inside? MISS WORLD CANADA

Up Close and Personal

HEALTHY TESTIMONY

LOVE’S STORY: DON’T WAIT TO LOSE

MILESTONES THE JOURNEY OF US

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ARE YOU DISASTER READY?

ZEST AND FLAVOUR MANGO AND BAGOONG HAND PIES

TRAVELOGUE

epitome

BATANES:

A PHOTO ESSAY

Christine Adela White

EDITOR’S NOTE

FILIPINOS ON MAKING A DIFFERENCE

hen I was young, I have learned the art of making a difference through a Christian youth organization called Campus Crusade for Christ. Since then, it has always been my dream to reach out people and to make a difference in someone's life. Because of that, I became involved in numerous extra-curricular activities when I was in nursing school, and apparently, I enjoyed those times in my life. Upon moving to North America, it never occurred to me that one day, I will be doing exactly the same thing. I am not perfect, but I'm trying hard to make things right and to become a better person. I am just so happy finding myself doing what I love the most-- inspiring people even in the simplest way I could. Amidst of losing hope, and chaos of life, showing faith and igniting our lifeless dream are the best things to do to beat one's life sorrow. Making a difference is when you stand firmly and prove the people wrong when they are trying to put you down. It is also a mechanism for influencing others to be good. We can always make a difference, and its outcome doesn't need to be expeditious and visible. Making a difference could simply mean lending your ears to someone, or by giving someone that proverbial gentle pat on the shoulder as well as controlling and refraining our mouths from lots of grumblings. Let us encourage and motivate one another. We can share our God-given talents to inspire others, too. It is important to take the first steps to create a wonderful effect and move forward for a greater cause. As a Filipino person, we have to discern what is best for us. Being a Filipino is not only about our well defined physical features nor the colour of our skin. It is a combined state of the heart and mind that is evidently being manifested through our own thoughts, words, and actions. Based on that, we cannot ignore the uniqueness of our individuality by forgetting who we are. It will definitely result in hurting the other aspects of being a Filipino. If there's anyone who can understand a Filipino, it will be our own people. For that reason, we need to act as the morally elevating influence to others, not the other way around. Absolutely Filipino is trying to bridge the gap between every Filipino within the Canadian society. It is our major ambition to give you accurate information, systematic guidance, and education as well as providing you with touching inspirational life stories. We would like to acknowledge every effort of various Filipino communities and organizations that are helping our Kababayans in their own unique and distinct ways. Please keep up the good work to achieve our common goal --- to boost the morale and uplift the aspects of life of every Filipino here in Canada. Once again, I would like to thank all the readers and supporters of Absolutely Filipino Magazine. Thank you for the wonderful feedbacks and kind-hearted messages that you sent us. To my awesome staff, I cannot thank you enough for all your contributions to this magazine. To God be all the glory! #UPLIFTINGPINOY JINKEE PORTA-MERCURIO Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Disclaimer: Absolutely Filipino Magazine is an inspirational and lifestyle magazine. The articles written in Absolutely Filipino do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the publisher. All articles are designed for educational and informational purposes only, and no one should use it as a replacement for any expert's advice. Sponsors and advertisers are solely responsible for the content and legitimacy of information published within their ads and are not necessarily supported and recommended by the publisher. All material submitted for publication is considered to be the property of the advertiser. Advertisers who doesn't have their own art and asked Absolutely Filipino Magazine to aid in making the art or advertorial/write-up are responsible for its content.

LUKE 1:37 “FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.”

PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jinkee Porta-Mercurio CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dwight Simon Niña Angela P. Cabasco Joandrea Santiago Merryl Catherine Talan GUEST CONTRIBUTING WRITER Samantha Adalia COPY EDITOR Gina Gella LAYOUT AND DESIGN EDITOR John Paulo Fernandez PHOTOGRAPHY Dwight Simon Marlon Mercurio Gigi Grey-Ricarse Kirk Cyrus Nada DREAMSTIME.COM (as specified) FLICKR.COM (as specified) CIRCULATION Marlon Mercurio FOR SALES AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: jinkee.mercurio@outlook.com 778-792-0071 • 778-792-0049 ANTONIO TAMPUS tonton_gem@yahoo.com 604-3568714 RYAN FERRER nryanferrer@gmail.com 778-241-4895 WEBSITE: jmpublishing.weebly.com Like us:

what’s inside? C M ove a P k rG Ph hot eup irl D ot og b : C re o ra y: hr ss Sh p S is D oo hy he tin es t b en e ig A y: a A n ss Dw H de by is o la : P ted igh W au b t S hi la y: im te D Ad on ee ri M el an Ar n ias

SUMMER2015

MISS WORLD CANADA: Up Close and Personal Photos and texts by Dwight Simon

HEALTHY TESTIMONY Love’s Story: Don’t wait to lose By Niña Angela P. Cabasco

AMIDST CALAMITY THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED By Samantha Adalia

POSITIVE NEWS FOR INTERNATIONALLY EDUCATED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

ON CENTRE STAGE Christine Adela White: A Modern Day Epitome of True Beauty By Merryl Catherine Talan

MILESTONES THE JOURNEY OF US By Jinkee Porta-Mercurio

SOCIAL ISSUE WORKPLACE BULLYING: WHAT IT IS & WHAT YOU can DO ABOUT IT By Niña Angela P. Cabasco

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ARE YOU DISASTER READY? By Joandrea Santiago

DOCTOR WHO? THE FAMILY DOCTOR By Joandrea Santiago

ZEST AND FLAVOUR MANGO AND BAGOONG HAND PIES Photos and texts by Dwight Simon

TRAVELOGUE BATANES: A PHOTO ESSAY Photos by Kirk Cyrus Nada

INSPIRATIONAL

2015

Miss World Canada up close and personal

Ms. Kesiah Papasin

Ms. Raven Yray

Photos and texts by Dwight Simon

he Miss World Canada Pageant happened recently here in Vancouver, and the Absolutely Filipino cameras were there to cover it! Fifty beautiful women from all over the country came all the way to Vancouver in the quest of the coveted tiara. Not to be outdone, ten handsome men were also along for the ride. They were here to compete for the Mr. World title. The reigning Miss and Mr. World Canada 2014 Annora Bourgeault and Jin Stewart came along to fulfil their duties and help to crown this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winners.

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The Miss World pageant is not only about all glitz, glamour, and pretty faces. All contestants were there to help celebrate the “Beauty with a Purpose” campaign. “Changing the lives of children worldwide, showcasing talents, empowering young women and men to achieve their dreams and goals, and creating strong Canadian ambassadors on a world stage through the New Development Program” – this is what Miss World Canada stands for, the news releases says. In the past six months, all contestants have spent time doing humanitarian work, they were determined to bring hope and much-needed funds to children in need. In general, the Miss World Canada organization did a great job as they also do extensive work with Variety: The Children’s Charity. The contestants participated in a meet and greet with the children who are the beneficiary of Variety, and they also took part in a fundraising event--a gala dinner cruise on the waters of English Bay. The partial proceeds of the latter were given to Nepal Avalanche Relief Fund. What a fun way to help people! After that, the competition kicked into high gear with after the talent portion started. Kesiah Papasin of Etobicoke, Ontario and Raven Yray of Burnaby, BC were the two Filipinas who joined in the competition. Kesiah wowed the crowd with a traditional Tahitian dance while Raven displayed her prodigious makeup skills. All 50 women and 12 men showcased their incredible talent. The candidates were wrapped up elegantly during the national finals and crowning gala at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on May 16, 2015. The coronation started off with a dance number by the 62 contestants. Things moved along quickly, then the evening gown portion, which is my favorite part, followed. The judges definitely had their work cut out for them since all the ladies looked absolutely stunning. After all that exciting moments, Anastasia Lin of Toronto, Ontario eventually took the prestigious crown while Jinder Atwal of Terrace, BC became the title-holder for Mr. World Canada. Anastasia and her mother came to Canada when she was 12 years old while her father stays in China. CBC News has reported that her father has received threats from Chinese authorities because of her extensive humanitarian work to benefit underprivileged Chinese youth. Despite the threats, Anastasia has stated that she will continue this work and represent Canada this year. Ms. World 2015 pageant will be held on December 19, 2015 at the Crown Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China. Even though there’s only one who bagged the title, plus the runner-ups, all participants deserve credit. I had the privilege of spending the almost whole week with the contestants, and if it were up to me, all of them would be winners. So hats off to the gentlemen and a special congratulations to the ladies for a great week! It was a pleasure meeting and working with you. See you next year!

HEALTHY TESTIMONY

Love’s Story:

Don’t Wait to Lose By Niña Angela P. Cabasco Photos Courtesy of Lovelle Buerano

“I’ll live a healthy lifestyle from now on.”

ow many times have we heard ourselves say this or listed it as one of our New Year’s resolutions? And how many times have we actually done something to achieve it? Like most things, it’s easier said than done. Maybe you just have to have a slice (or more) of triple chocolate cake or you have no time to hit the gym or to go jogging. Besides, you can always do it tomorrow, right? Or next week. Or next year. “Courage and determination plus setting up your goal is always the first step,” says Lovelle. “The second is to clear your fridge and replace it with low calorie and healthy foods. The third step is to learn how to drink fluid, water as much as possible. It helps a lot, trust me.”¬ Lovelle Buerano is a native of Quezon Province, Philippines currently residing in London, England studying BSc Hons in Nursing and Healthcare degree at Buckinghamshire New University. She’s on a journey to a healthy lifestyle and admits that it’s not an easy road. “Especially when I arrived here [in London]. Sweets, oily food, and foods high in calories were my favorite. Eating was my outlet. Whether I was happy or sad, I found comfort in anything from the fridge.”

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“Let’s face it. It’s as if you’re trying to walk with your hands,” she adds. “Not to mention the feeling you get when you go to the gym…it seems like everyone is staring at you like you’re from outer space.” She remembers being a chubby kid and how her mother pushed her to exercise every morning. She also recalls falling ill and being admitted to the hospital often. This brought about the idea that it was better for her to eat more and get bigger than to get sick often, as suggested by her father. Upon growing up, she was always finding it hard to dress up. Often, she was ending up wearing t-shirts and trousers and shying away from dresses and high heels. “Being with my friends was quite uncomfortable, especially when I had to attend a party. I hated myself and my weight back then.” As when she was a child, exercising didn’t really appeal to her and felt that it was something she would be teased for if she did. She also picked up some bad habits like smoking and drinking that contributed to her weight gain. It was in 2012 when Lovelle realized she needed to do something about her weight. She went from 85 kg in 2009 to 58 kg and believed that it wasn’t because of a healthy diet. “And because it wasn't healthy, I have gained and lost and gained [weight] again. With the busy lifestyle and stress, plus the weather, I went from 70 to 73 kg last year.

And I thought I am not getting any younger, so I have to do something about this.” And so last February, she decided to sign up for a gym membership with her friend. She relates that having a gym buddy to push her harder towards her goal helps a lot. Another thing that keeps her motivated is wanting to live longer for her family. “Especially I know that my father died of cancer [4 years ago].” She has surely moved on from hating exercising and into believing that muscles are 70% formed in the kitchen and 30% in the gym. “Exercise will burn calories, but it increases appetite at the same time. Stay away from fatty and high caloric diet. But doing some exercise will give so much difference along with your diet. You will feel it even after two weeks of exercising.” She admits that she’s still struggling with self-control and meeting her goals. There are some downs like missing a few weeks from the gym and some ups like managing to reduce her intake of sweets and junk food and smoke less frequently. After all, it is still a journey and a continuous process. Although Lovelle doesn’t exactly see herself as a poster child for health and wellness, she hopes that her story will inspire others to take that first step towards a healthier life. “People in different places around the world have their reasons why they cannot give up their lifestyle. Please do not worry. Changing to a healthy lifestyle shouldn’t be abrupt, it should be gradual. Trust me. If you take shortcuts, you will always find yourself gaining it back again. Have faith in yourself. Keep motivated. No matter how hard the journey will be, just always remember to never give up.”

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AMIDST CALAMITY

The Day

everything Changed

By Samantha Adalia

his is an account of my experience during the earthquake on the 25th of April, which shook the nation of Nepal, and after, the world. The second account of what happened to us after will come shortly. It was a fine Saturday morning in the city of Kathmandu. Considering it was the only holiday everyone had in a week, a welcome breather for the youth who'd been burned out by studying and taking exams (as it was their gruelling Exam Month), and that, even though the upcoming summer was still giving us a cold shoulder, generally everyone was in a good mood. I was at church, listening intently to an awesome sermon in our fairly small but wonderful congregation. It already felt like an amazing day, and I was looking forward to what else would unfold when we would go out into the city. Then the earthquake came, and the whole city would never be the same again.

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The time was 11:50 AM. Our on-fire preacher was in the middle of explaining a biblical illustration, which happened to be the one of the apostles Paul and Silas's adventures. Most Christians are familiar with the story: Instead of grumbling about having been falsely accused and thrown into the worst prison cell in Philippi, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns, showing their faith in believing that God is in control - while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly, a huge earthquake shook the whole place - and they were all set free! (We learned later that other churches had the same illustration at the same time. Coincidences? I think not.) Our speaker was impressing one of her points, when suddenly the electricity went out. I thought it was our usual power cut, but that assumption turned on its heels when the ground started moving like I was in a boat on extremely turbulent waters. Right then and there it struck me that it was a mighty earthquake. Being a Filipino, I grew up with disasters, so I calmly held onto my seat then sloooooowly walked to my family. But all around me in the dark, I saw people running out of the hall in a mad dash, so I face palmed and was distracted for a few seconds.

Eventually the ground settled, and in a few minutes we called everyone back in to continue the service. We were actually laughing while connecting the previous illustration with the earthquake, shaking each other by the shoulder, smiling, and saying, "How can it be so exact!", "Man, what an instant application!", and "Really, God?". I think our minds were not thinking clearly to process what actually happened because of that, and it showed how oblivious we all were. It wasn't until we went out into the city that we realised the seriousness of what the magnitude 7.8 earthquake had caused. The first things I saw going out into Kathmandu were people haphazardly gathered in the middle of the road, and debris all around. I hadn't seen the full extent of the effects so far, yet I was struck with that unfamiliar and foreign feeling you get when you go to some place for the first time - but I've been living in this place for four years! The next thing that astonished me was the old firehouse three minutes away from our house. It was broken down as if a giant had decided it was a cake and greedily sliced half of it, and the rubble blocked our usual route home. I've passed that building a thousand times - now it was apparent that many things would be and already were different in a city where, before, the status quo remained unchallenged. We joked about how we all looked like we were from a TV series' title card. The firehouse is in the background. As we unlocked our house (which only suffered a few minor cracks and one busted water pipe, thankfully) and locked it up again, we met two families from our neighbourhood, who were sitting outside on the ground, terrified. So when we were about to leave, my dad encouraged them by saying, "Don't worry. Everything will be fine, it will soon go back to normal soonâ&#x20AC;Ś we'll all get through this." I still find myself saying those same words to others, and to myself, until now. They looked kinda like this, but with no plastic chairs and more disgruntled family members. Later, we met some college students during one

pretty strong aftershock. One of the girls in the group began to panic, so my parents instantly instructed them all to calm down - because panic spreads fast and has dire consequences, as we were all warned of. Dad and I walked over to their little band, then the students and I listened intently as he gave us stats on the earthquake, lessons he learned from his International Disasters Resource Network trainings back in 2011, and his first-hand experiences with earthquakes and other disasters in the Philippines. Eventually this led to him befriending some of the guys, and they left relieved and grinning. After that episode, we were on the road again - from the south of Kathmandu we rode to the north, and back again. From my window, I saw almost all of Kathmandu huddled in the middle of the streets and fields, and many buildings rent down. We also saw the casualties on the national news and that's when we fully realised that the struggle was real. As the sun went down, one of our Filipino friends called to invite us to stay for dinner at their house. We arrived, and found they were also pretty shaken up; the kids were spending the day swimming at a sports facility, but their parents were at home, so parental instincts took over, and they unfortunately both tripped down the stairs trying to reach them as fast as they could. They also own two orphanages, and all the kids and staff were over at the place. We had prayers around a bonfire, and it made us assured that we would get through the catastrophe together, by the grace of God. But even amidst the warm coffee talk between the grown-ups, my usual awkward conversation with a friend, Keri Smith-ing with her younger sister while 'collecting' tiny, colourful stones from a table centrepiece, and eating a nice, warm dinner, the air felt uneasy. More aftershocks came and I shook with vertigo. I'd already known about the casualties, the devastation, and the reality that our whole world had changed, but I only started piecing everything together - so I could comprehend what kind of mosaic I'd made with those fragments - at their house. The process of trying to understand brought clarity, yet it also began to frighten me because the situation was bigger than I.

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image source: http://kalamargument.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/the-day-everything-changed.html

Now I feel ashamed with that as my response, but I think that, maybe, God allowed me to feel that way, so I can get a better hold on how He's even bigger than anything that scares me. At 10:30 PM, we finally decided to go home. As we boarded the cab, an eerie feeling overtook us, for all around was silence and darkness. Because everyone slept outside under tents in total fear, all the houses were completely empty and dark, and the whole city was in a blackout. I recall telling myself, "The city is in terror." That phrase affected me, and I immediately distracted myself by checking the Internet upon arriving back home. A little later, Dad came to our bedroom and prayed. When he finished, I replied to two Facebook messages asking how I was, wrote a summary of events for my barkada, including these words: "It's really hard to see Kathmandu like this, because absolutely everyone is scared out of their wits, and they don't know what to do next. It breaks my heart, and I'm really just crying out to God to deliver this people whom He loves. The earthquake has terrified me too, but I know I must be strong for the Nepalis, and not conform to the pattern of this world.

Tomorrow, we'll be reaching out to our church members and other people, and will also have a prayer meeting. I really covet your prayers too; let us storm the gates of Heaven together :D Through all this, I can come out and praise God because He's still in control of everything, and His plans are not to harm us, but to give us a hope and a future." But I left my feelings unresolved, because I was tired and confused; the remedy of which is a good night's sleep. After that, I closed the lights and drew my blanket over me, going for the remedy rather than trying to fix myself. The tsunami of scattered thoughts I'd usually entertain before sleeping washed over my mind and raged for thirty minutes, then was still. Yet on the brink of falling asleep, I would hear noises that would jolt me awake, and one of my breaths was suddenly cut short, which alarmed me. That night, I was awoken four times by the freaky 'ping's of our Quake Alarm and the aftershocks themselves. The last one was magnitude 6.5 during 5 AM, and I could hear people screaming outside and the voices of our parents' and the friends who'd stayed over. After a while, I stood up. Pale blue light filtered through our windows. The night was over -a new day had begun.

NOTE: This is the unedited version of the story written by Samantha Adalia. She is a 14-year-old Filipino blogger based in Nepal and a homeschooled girl since birth. As a blogger, she described herself as “Wonder-filled Filipino child lost in the midst of the dust and chills of Kathmandu.” To see this article online as well as the author’s blogs, please visit: http://kalamargument.blogspot.com.au/

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positive news Photo: Dr. Farouk via Flickr.com

Harper Government boosts investment to help internationally educated health professionals work in their field More access to healthcare services for Canadians including in remote communities.

arch 20, 2015, Vancouver, BC Health Canada-- Today the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State for Seniors, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, announced $1.8 million funding to support bringing internationally educated health professionals (IEHP) into the workforce of Canada’s western and northern regions. Today’s announcement follows an almost $8.4 million commitment announced by Minister Ambrose in Toronto last week to help IEHPs across Canada in their field. Across Canada access to health professionals continues to be a challenge, especially in some northern, more remote communities where over half of the population is without a regular family doctor. At the same time, there around 10,000 newcomers to Canada each year that are health related professionals. Many of these individuals face obstacles in finding jobs that best match their skills and experience. The investment announced today will help internationally educated health professionals to integrate into the health workforce across western and northern Canada. The funding will help improve how internationally educated nurses’ qualifications and skills are assessed, and support their orientation to the Canadian healthcare system. This initiative will also develop methods to assess soft skills and ensure that internationally educated health professionals’ skills are matched to the right training or job. Federal funding for internationally educated health professionals compliments the Government of Canada’s wider support for improving foreign credential recognition. This reaffirms a commitment to a strengthening the healthcare system by working with provinces, territories and health care professionals to improve access to quality care for Canadians and their families. Quick Facts • International medical graduates make up about 53% of new physicians in rural or remote areas. About 25% of Canada’s physician received their medical degree outside of Canada. • The Government of Canada is providing $1.8 million under Health Canada’s Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative to the Government of British

Quotes “Our Government recognizes the importance of having internationally educated health professionals in the health workforce. With thousands of new Canadians arriving to Canada every year, we want to ensure that we effectively integrate doctors and nurses in to the Canadian health workforce. Today’s investment makes better use of the talent that is already in Canada and showcases the steps we’re taking to provide Canadians with increased access to health professionals and quality health care services wherever they live.” -Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health “Our Government has been actively working with the provinces and territories to develop approaches to integrate internationally educated health professionals in the health workforce. The Western and Northern Forum project supports the region’s health human resources strategy and is in response to the need for increase integration of internationally educated health professionals.” -Alice Wong, Minister of State for Seniors Associated Links (TBC) Health Canada – Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals (IEHP) British Columbia Ministry of Health Western and Northern Health Human Resources Planning Forum (WNF) University of British Columbia

Columbia for a project to help internationally educated health professionals work in the health sectors of Canada’s western and northern regions. The project will be implemented by the Western and Northern Health Human Resources Planning Forum (WNF) – a collaboration of the four western provinces and three northern territories.

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ON CENTRE STAGE

Christine Adela White A Modern Day Epitome of True Beauty By Merryl Catherine Talan Photos by Dwight Simon

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ow far does love go? To some, it is 5 kilometers away, to the best friend whom they have explored the world with. To some, it is one embrace, to the man she has always adored- the man who swept her off her feet 50 years ago. To some, it’s half-way around the world, to the woman he will marry. But to Christine Adela White, love is a 240 km of cycling from Vancouver to Seattle, all for her sister Laura Jane, who passed away at the age of 15 due to AML just 3 weeks after she was diagnosed with cancer. Known as a beauty titlist, there is more to Christine that she could flaunt than just a serenading voice and a timeless beauty. At the age of 30, this proud Filipina has fulfilled her dreams of starting her own business and volunteering to various charities to help the community. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Christine was supposed to take up Science. But the turning point was her sister’s untimely death and when her music teacher suggested for her to audition in Music. As a kid, she sang and played the piano. Music helped her cope and grieve; music was her therapy, her outlet of pain over the loss of a sister and a best friend. Wanting to share her talent with other children and with the help of Kaori, an accredited music therapist working with children with autism and other special needs, in 2013 Christine put up CW Music Vancouver. It is a local music facility with seven teachers onsite. CW Music might be the reason she admitted her regular day entailed not having much social life. She manages her business hands on. “I wouldn’t change the world for it because I love it so much. It’s a risk I am willing to embrace.” She has been teaching since 2002. “I could say that this is my dream job.” Aside from teaching, she is also supportive of many campaigns such as stopabully.ca, an anti-bullying campaign where a child can log in to the website and report a bully-type behavior. That memo goes anonymously to the principal of the kid’s school. That way the child may not have to bear with talking to the principal face to face and be targeted by the bully. “That way they have a voice,” says Christine.

Music Teacher

Artist

Cyclist

Model

of Laura Jane. “It’s very powerful. I want to be involved in that community because everyone has the best interest in mind which is to find a cure for cancer.” Cycling in the rain with blood, sweat and tears is nothing compared to what cancer patients and survivors go through. It is sheer willpower. Remembering the painful tragedy, “After graduating from high school everyone was busy preparing for college, I lost my sister. Everyone seems to be moving on with their lives going to college, and it was so hard to talk about her with anyone. It always made me cry to think about her. So I used those emotions for a good cause, and I think that’s the best way to honor a loved one.” (For more information on and for registration you may log in to http://to15.conquercancer.ca/site/ PageServer?pagename=to15_aboutevent)

What makes her want to do more for the community? The people’s sense of gratitude and her feeling of fulfillment in every involvement she finds herself in.

Closer this time to home, our beauty queen supports Bikes for the Philippines, this campaign provides bikes shipped from Virginia given to under-privileged kids. In her visit to the country, she noticed a decline in the student population from grade 8 to grade 10. This decrease was due to students dropping out not because they want to, but because they had to walk 3-5km every day to school, rain or shine. These kids do not have enough money to ride the jeepney. To date, there are success benefactors who are now studying in universities. (For more information and if you would like to support the same cause, you may log in to http://bikesforthephilippines.org/)

But of all the campaigns she supports, the one closest to her heart is Ride to Conquer Cancer. August 2015 marks her 5th year of cycling alongside other supporters, cancer patients, and cancer survivors. The 240km bike ride from Vancouver to Seattle is a cause she supports in memory

The World of Beauty Christine has been modeling for several brands since she was a toddler. Growing up with a really great genes, a sharp mind and plenty of talents, Christine joined beauty pageants and boy, did she make us proud. In 2005, she won the Bb. Pilipinas Canada. The following year, she joined Mutya ng Pilipinas and bagged one of the three major titles. In 2012, she joined Ms. UniverseCanada and made it to the top 20. That was her last hoorah in the world of pageantry. Though she has gone far in the world of beauty, the glitz and glamour of it was not enough to fulfill an inner “hunger” because she was not doing what she truly love and that is sharing her time, talent in charity work. She felt empty although she was winning titles one after another. So she decided to finish uni and completed her degree. “Truthfully, you don’t need a title to do things for the community. Win or lose you should be giving back.” Christine still loves the world of modeling and acting. To date, she is proud to be represented by Charles Stewart International and is booked for several gigs. Her agent is very supportive of Ride to Conquer Cancer. “I learned a lot about presentation and the way things can be perceived and misconstrued in the Ms. Universe pageant. But I have also met many great friends, in fact, one of them is still one of my great friends today. The best take away is being able to talk about my charity.” Absolutely Filipino Magazine

The disadvantage of being pretty For Christine, there’s a stigma for those who are externally pretty as being “entitled”. But she puts it best in reminding us that real beauty is from within. If you feel beautiful because you are honest, patient, humble and persevering then it shows up on the exterior. On regrets, life-goals and inspirations We have to admit that for someone who is only 30, Christine has achieved a lot and has contributed enormously to the community. Yet life is a continuous journey and for someone who loves to learn, Christine plans on pursuing an acting career in Canada. She was also recently seen in the TV reality show The Bachelor Canada. Currently, she is happy being an educator and running her business. She plans to settle in Canada but would want to visit Philippines now and then to see her parents. “I don’t think I have any regrets. Everything happens for a reason. God has a plan for everyone. I am who I am because of my experiences, mistakes and the positive things that happened. I am very thankful.” These beautiful thoughts, words that come out of our Kababayan, come from challenges and success that made her wiser over the years. Her sister is one of her inspirations. Even after she died Christine learned so much from her by doing things for the community in her name and honor. Robin Sharma, a motivational writer and speaker also inspires her through a quote he made “Ideation without execution is simply delusion.” and she lives by this belief. She makes sure to prioritize love, health, family and success, in that very order. What can be done to be a better Filipino in Canada? “Embrace your culture and be proud of being Filipino. Canada is a multi-cultural country and let us contribute the best way we can.”

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Students of Christine Adela White

A message to the Filipino Youth “Respect your heritage and really embody it. Never forget the struggles of our ancestors and even your parents. They have lived a hard life for us to have this freedom and opportunity. We should never fail to give back to our community whether it be in Canada or somewhere else.”

MILESTONES

THE JOURNEY OF US By Jinkee Porta-Mercurio

he month of June marks our first-year anniversary. Since then, every magazine issue has always been a pure labour of love. Although it was difficult, I always believe that, "there's always a room for improvement." And as time goes by, the inevitable "change and improvements" were gradually noticed in our magazine issues. We humbly started as a community and lifestyle magazine; then we transformed into an inspirational and lifestyle magazine. All About Filipino Since we started this project, we have been talking to people from different walks of life that serve as an inspiration to the Filipino people. I've also met some of the members of Filipino communities, singers and artists, theatre director, theatre actor and dancers, community leaders, Television Host, nurses, bodybuilder, etc. We also featured some concerts, and we did some theatre review. We also created a special page for Filipino cultural traits, Filipino foods (as per request of readers), social awareness, information for nurses, beauty tips and fashions and travel.

Entrepreneurial Spirit Award Last year I decided to start my own business. As a nurse, I have no idea what am I going to do about it. Good thing I have learned about one organization that helps new immigrants to put up their own business in Canada. The name of the organization is S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Settlement Services and one of the programs that they

Photos by Gigi Grey-Ricarse

were offering that time was called B.I.S.S (Business Immigrant Integration Support). They have provided me the education through workshops and mentoring services. Last February 6, 2015, I was one of the recipients of the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award 2015 held at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver. I wasn't expecting to receive the award since I'm still learning to manage the business properly. But being the only Filipino who was recognised that night, I was very proud of it. I dedicated it to all my fellow Kababayans who just like me dreaming to own and run a business while enjoying life to the fullest. Apparently, I just I heard that this aid for the new immigrants was no longer active. I think, we need this kind of program in our community. Visit of President Benigno Aquino III I am not a first-timer when it comes to seeing a president of the Philippines in person. As a matter of fact, the speech during my graduation day was given by none other than the former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo. Although I've been in different occasions where higher officials of the Philippines were present, I can say that I'm always honored to be a part of that crowd. I felt so fortunate to be in that less than 5% of the total Filipino population in BC, who had given the chance to greet our president at Vancouver Convention Center last May 9, 2015. Thanks to Ryan Ferrer and the Philippine Consulate. Absolutely Filipino Magazine

SOCIAL ISSUE

Workplace Bullying:

What It Is & What You

Can Do About It By Niña Angela Cabasco

ccording to the 2014 WBI U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey, 27% of employees have been victims of workplace bullying while 72% are aware that it happens. That’s about 65.6 million people, the combined population of 15 states from the central northern tier to the Gulf of Mexico. Still, most employers don’t do anything about it. What is workplace bullying? The Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) defines workplace bullying as “repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons (the targets) by one or more perpetrators.” It could be through verbal abuse, offensive conduct/behavior (which are threatening, humiliating or intimidating), or work interference. The Targets But what caused the bullying? The following are the top five reasons according to the respondents: • Target refused to be subservient, resisted control • Bully envied Target’s competence in the work to be done • Bully envied Target’s social skills, being liked, positive attitude • Ethical Target behavior, whistleblower was retaliated against • The cruelty of the bully “The important difference between victims of schoolyard bullying and adult workplace Targets is that the adults are targeted for their strengths,” says Dr. Gary Namie, a social psychologist and co-founder of the WBI. “Unlike isolated, friendless and different kid, adult Targets have the

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characteristics of an ideal employee espoused by employers: independent and self-starting, technically skilled, able to work in teams with optimism, and strictly honest and ethical. Unfortunately, this combination does not earn kudos. It attracts malicious attacks by bullies.” The Perpetrators Fifty-six percent of bullies are bosses or someone in a higher rank while 33% are co-workers. In his book The Bully at Work, Dr. Namie categorized bullies and their tactics as the following: • Two-Headed Snake - manipulates the impression others have of you, splits the work group into taking sides, defames you with higher ups and at next job, killing your reputation (reported as the most dominant style used by the bully by 36% of the respondents). • Constant Critic – constant, personal verbal assaults on your character, name-calling, belittling, zealous attention to unimportant details, committed to the systematic destruction of your confidence in your competence. • Gatekeeper – controls all resources (time, budget, support, training) so as to prevent you from being successful at your job, undermining, setting you up to fail. • Screaming Mimi – screaming/yelling, public attempts to humiliate, seeking to do battle when and where she/he chooses, needs to compete and “win” to feel good. The effects of workplace bullying Workplace bullying can be economically damaging to its victims. Sixty-one percent of bullied targets eventually

Photo: www.ncwd-youth.info

lost their job—some voluntarily, some forced to quit when the work condition became worse, and others fired by their employers. Meanwhile, only 15% said that the perpetrator lost his/her job. Apart from that, targets suffer from health impairment such as severe anxiety, sleep disruption, loss of concentration, and PTSD. They also experience work trauma. About 22% contemplate suicide while 21% think about violence towards others. On an average, targets were exposed to bullying for 16.5 months. Sixty-two percent reported that the bullying never stopped. Only 21% said that their workplace became completely free from bullying while 18% are less troubled by now, and an infrequent experience of bullying. What you can do Name it. The WBI believes that it can offset the effect of being told that you do not have a problem simply because what’s being done to you is not illegal. (In the US, there isn’t a law against workplace bullying…yet.) “There is tremendous healing power in naming. Hard to believe at first but very true.” Find out about any existing workplace bullying harassment policies and complaint procedures. In British Columbia, Canada, employers are required to have a workplace bullying and harassment policy statement and related procedures which targets can refer to. Keep records. Write down incidents of bullying—what exactly was done to you, when and where it happened, who

witnessed it. The WBI advises sticking to the facts rather than relying purely on emotional aspects. This will be helpful, especially during an investigation. Furthermore, WorkSafeBC suggests keeping copies of e-mails and text messages if the target is being cyberbullied. Speak up. “Sometimes a person who bullies others is unaware of the effects of his or her actions,” says WorkSafeBC. “Choosing to speak up to someone who engages in bullying and harassing behaviour can lead to a variety of outcomes: the behaviour might stop, escalate, or stop temporarily before it gets worse. “ Be there for a bullied loved one. Love from family and friends away from work are among the top six factors that helped the victims’ healing process and enabled them to live their lives as they did before they were bullied.

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EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Are You Disaster Ready? By Joandrea Santiago

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Canada borders on three oceans, stretches across six-time zones, encompasses mountains, plains, forests and tundra. It hosts weather patterns that range from Arctic to moderate, from seemingly endless rains to drought, from numbing cold to heat waves. With all those landforms and weather types, the possibilities of severe weather and geological events are a constant reality.â&#x20AC;? -Public Safety Canada

ever mind zombie invasion. Keep in mind that the likelihood of a natural disaster will occur in your community is greater than your neighbours turning into mindless, human-eating zombies. This occurrence begs the question: are you disaster ready? Step 1 Know Your Risks Knowing the risks that are more likely to occur in your region will help you better prepare for specific disasters. For example, British Columbia is prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides while other regions are more prone to avalanches or winter storms. Step 2 Have an Emergency Plan There are several aspects to consider when making a family emergency plan. Make sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve discussed with each of your family members, preferably with everyone together, how the plan will go and what their roles will be during an emergency.

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Scenario 1: Your family members are at different locations - If your family is not together, plan for an organised way to communicate and meet at a designated place if going home is not possible. Decide beforehand on a place, which could be a school or community shelter, the nearest or easiest to access for all parties. - If your kids are at school, you should be aware of the emergency plan the school has in place. Or if parents can coordinate with each other beforehand who can pick up the kids to take to back home to common locations. - Children should be taught about basic personal information such as their name, address, the name of their parents and their contact numbers, so they can identify themselves should they become separated from you. Scenario 2: Your family is together at home - Listen to the radio or television for advisory on what to do during a natural disaster.

- Households may be advised to turn off their utilities so you should know where the water valve, gas valve, electrical panel and floor drain are. - Make sure your household has a first aid kit and fire extinguisher and everyone in your family should know where these are located and how to use them. Scenario 3: Need for Evacuation - The family should know where the safe exits are in the house or at work. - The elderly and family with special needs should also be a part of the plan. Make a list of the medication and supplies they need and specific instructions for their caregivers. - Having a 72-Hour Emergency Kit in place is crucial when the evacuation needs to be done quickly. Step 3 Have a 72-Hour Emergency Kit When a community is hit hard by a calamity, it usually takes the rescue team a minimum of three days to gain access to hard-to-reach places to provide aid. So it is a good rule of thumb to have least 72-hours of supplies ready for such an emergency. An emergency kit should be inside a light and durable bag, ideally a backpack and should contain the following: Food and Food Items - manual can opener - non-perishable foods: canned food, energy bars, dried fruit - 2 litres of bottled water for each person or a water bottle and water purifying tablets Personal Items - medicine and medical supplies - personal hygiene items: tooth brush, napkin/tampons, soap - lightweight change of clothes - extra copies of personal information: ID and passport, insurance, wills Communication Items - battery powered or windup radio - mobile phone, charger, and mobile battery pack - change for pay phones - a list of local emergency numbers and contact numbers of family members (laminated or written on thick paper inside a zip lock)

Others - First aid kit - Flash Light and batteries - Sleeping bag and blankets - Cash in small bills - Extra keys for your car and home You can also avail of pre-packed emergency and first aid kits from the Canadian Red Cross. Lastly, make sure you check your pack at least once a year and change items that are expired or those that will expire within the year.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no better time to prepare than now! For a complete guide on disaster preparedness, please visit getprepared.gc.ca and for emergency kits go to redcross.ca. Sources: Your Emergency Preparedness Guide.pdf, getprepared.gc.ca publicsafety.gc.ca redcross.ca Header image source: http://www.signs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/disaster.jpg

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Doctor Who?

The Family Doctor By Joandrea Santiago

rowing up in the 90s, my family always went to the same doctor for all kinds of sicknesses and health related matters. For many years our neighbour, Dr. Tindero, was whom we came to know as our family doctor. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always thought that the family doctor or the general practitioner was the default title a doctor gets when he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a specialty. It turns out Family Medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on comprehensive health care for all ages. The family doctor (a.k.a. primary care practitioner) takes into account family history and factors specific to a community related to the sickness and wellbeing of his patients. Due to this nature, family doctors usually have a long-term, on-going relationship with his patients. Family Medicine in Canada Family practitioners in Canada have been declining since the 1990s and doctors already in practice refuse to accept more patients due to the overload of patients. There are several reasons for this: - Among medical peers, general practice has been looked upon as inferior compared to other specialties (i.e. oncologists, urologists, obstetrics and gynaecology). - Family doctors are being paid significantly less than their counterparts, yet it demanded more hours to be spent with patients.

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- The current business model in medicine is such that a great amount of money goes into the system when patients get cut, scanned, go through procedures and machines, and get hospitalised. On the other hand, when a doctor sits down and talks to a patient, in many instances, he loses money than when he is doing these procedures. Why Do We need Family Doctors? Patients often fail to understand what their physicians said to them during a consultation. Having a longstanding relationship with a family doctor allows for good communication and openness from both doctor and patient alike. Most Canadians believe that their family doctor is best able to assess their overall well-being as compared to, say, their surgeon. This is because of Family Medicineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emphasis on a comprehensive look at family health history and possible environmental factors affecting the patient. A family doctor can then recommend to which medical specialist his patient should go to based on all these factors. Good News: Family Doctors Are On The Rise The government and the medical community saw the need for more family doctors, and since the early 2000s have made several initiatives to make family medicine attractive again. There has been a shift in primary care models after 2000 that included Comprehensive Care Models, Family

Health Networks and Family Health Organisations. This made family doctors more in demand, hence providing more locations for their practice as well as raising their salaries. Ontario pay caps were removed in 1998 and family doctors are now paid a mean of close to $300,000 a year thanks to payments through the new primary care options. Universities promote primary care by forming Family Medicine Interest Groups, and by changing the preconceived notions about Family Medicine by having more family doctors as teachers and role models for students instead of rotating through a specialist. In 2014, 38% of students chose Family Medicine as their first pick of residency, the highest number in 20 years. Finding a Family Doctor in BC Data at the end of 2013 showed that there are 200,000 British Columbians still looking for a doctor but still could not find one. As of the moment, the best way to find a family doctor is to ask a relative or a friend for a recommendation as some doctors may take in referrals from existing patients. You can also visit the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia website (http://cpsbc.

ca) for a list accepting physicians in your community. Furthermore, you can check out A GP for Me website (http://agpforme.ca). Their goal is to strengthen the primary health care system of BC and, ultimately, to find a family doctor for each person in BC who wants one. There is still a great shortage of family doctors in all of Canada right now. However, the medical community is confident that this gap will narrow shortly. The large and growing interest in Family Medicine by students as well as the many initiatives on making primary health care accessible to everyone will surely resolve this issue. Soon, there will a name behind your Family Doctor Who.

Sources: How Many Doctors Does It Take to Start a Healthcare Revolution, Freakonomics Podcast, Stephen J. Dubner and WNYC Family medicine attracts record number of graduates, by Vanessa Milne, Jill Konkin & Joshua Tepper, June 19, 2014, http:// healthydebate.ca/2014/06/topic/family-medicine-attracts-recordnumber-new-graduates Pride and Prejudice: The future of general practice in Canada, Paul Dillon, March 2, 2005, http://www.bcmj.org/mds-be/pride-andprejudice-future-general-practice-canada Image source: http://thegulfcoastpaininstitute.com/wp-content/ uploads/2013/06/bigstock-Family-Doctor-6277612.jpg

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ZEST AND FLAVOUR

Mango bagoong hand pies and

Photos and texts by Dwight Simon

In my opinion, summer is the best time of the year. Since it has arrived, fresh fruits are in season now! Growing up in Canada, I ate a lot of pie. Now that I am grown, I feel that maybe I should take a detour from the regular strawberry - rhubarb or apple pie. These pies are also delicious, but sometimes you just need to eat some mangoes, too! Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why, we made mango pie with a twist! It is seasoned with bagoong and chilli vinegar. But, if you think about it, it is not a twist at all. In my family, bagoong and chilli vinegar are MANDATORY when eating mangoes. All I did was take that magic that you are so used to and put it in a pie that you usually take with you!

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Method

Ingredients Filling 3 large, ripe mangoes, cut into chunks bagoong to taste chilli vinegar, to taste 4 tbsp vanilla sugar splash of water Crust 2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 stick of unsalted butter, cubed and chilled 2 tsp white sugar 1 tsp salt 2 tbsp whole milk 2 eggs

1. Start with making the crust. You want to make sure all your wet ingredients (eggs, milk, butter) are cold. Take your chilled stick of butter out of the fridge and cut it into cubes. Put the cubes into a small bowl and put it back in the fridge. Put your flour and salt into a clean bowl and add your butter. Use your hands to mash the butter into the flour, but make sure the butter has large chunks. Add your milk and eggs and use two forks to incorporate the liquid. Now, use your hands again to bring the dough together. Do not knead and do not overwork the dough. It should be a little bit crumbly and have big chunks of butter in them. Form it into a ball and wrap it with cling wrap. Rest for 1 hour in the fridge. 2. As for the filling, now is the time to take your mangoes, bagoong and your sugar and add it to a pan over medium heat. Add a splash of water. This will keep the mixture nice and moist. Add water as needed to keep the mangoes from drying out. Cook for 5 - 7 minutes. Keep an eye on it! The mangoes should be soft but retain their texture. Remove from the pan into and transfer to a clean container. Put that container into an ice bath. Now you can season with chilli vinegar.A touch of vinegar will heighten the sweetness of the mangoes. I like to add more vinegar and get a sour hit! Make sure you taste as you go along. 3. Take your dough out of the fridge and roll it out into a large square about 1/4 of an inch thick. Use a dough scraper to trim the edges. Set aside trim. Cut the rest of the dough into 4â&#x20AC;? x 5â&#x20AC;? rectangles. Use a small spoon to make a line of filling placed in the middle of each rectangle. Use trim to roll out an additional rectangle. Fold your dough over and use a fork to crimp and seal edges of pastry. Sprinkle some cornmeal onto a baking sheet and lay pastries down, leaving space in between. Brush with egg wash, sprinkle with some sugar and bake until golden brown. About 15 minutes. Enjoy!

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TRAVELOGUE

BATANES: A PHOTO ESSAY Photos by Kirk Cyrus Nada

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inspirational

GOD’S WORD TRANSLATION (GW) ISAIAH 65:21-24 They will build houses and live there. They will plant vineyards and eat fruit from them. They will not build homes and have others live there. They will not plant and have others eat from it. My people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will enjoy what they’ve done. They will never again work for nothing. They will never again give birth to children who die young, because they will be offspring blessed by the Lord. The Lord will bless their descendants as well. Before they call, I will answer. While they’re still speaking, I will hear.

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Photo by Kirk Cyrus Nada