ABSOLUTELY FILIPINO MAGAZINE FALL 2016 by Absolutely Filipino

Uplifting PINOY FALL 2016

ISSUE # 9

Giving Internationally Educated Nurses

a Special PASS Program to Jumpstart their Careers in Canada

DUTERTE:

The Uncapped Crusader

KAWAYAN:

Kababayang Pilipino's 23rd Anniversary Celebration

Pulling off a Rock Star Party with a Twist and Style

Aspire RYAN SALCEDO TAÃ&#x2018;ADA

ABSOLUTELY FILIPINO MAGAZINE

Editor’s Note

ur 2016 fall issue is the first time our cover story will feature a Filipino residing outside of Canada. This exciting leap is a reflection of the growth and success that Absolutely Filipino Magazine has gained through the short years since we’ve launched. Through word of mouth and social media, we are now able to reach Filipinos around the world! There is no shortage of Filipinos, regardless of their country of residence, who make a significant impact in their community, workplace or even business. That is why it is our joy to tell these captivating stories that reach us from outside North America. Remember, Absolutely Filipino is an inspirational and lifestyle magazine, and as long as the story can boost the morale of every Filipino reader, we have fulfilled our mission. We are also thrilled to tell you about the Pre-Arrival Supports and Services (PASS) Program aimed at Internationally Educated Nurses with a Canadian Permanent Resident card and who are still outside of Canada. Six years ago, I wish I had this kind of support

before arriving in this country, so I would have gotten my license and have integrated faster to our healthcare system. Anyhow, we are grateful to bring you this first-hand information, and we urge you to spread this fantastic report. We also wrote about the current situation on the War on Drugs in our motherland, and we’d like to hear your insights and updates on what is truly going on. We at AFM are proud of the recent launch of our website, http://www. absolutelyfilipinomagazine.com/, and the traffic we are getting on our Facebook page,https://www.facebook.com/ absolutelyfilipinomag/. Almost every story we’ve published is now available on our website, and anyone who cannot get their hands on our magazine can access it there. I agree, it's still a little bit messy, but this website has come a long way in terms of design and contents. We’d love to hear your suggestions on how we can improve our digital presence even more. Creating a magazine on top of our busy lives feels like a vocation! Nothing is ever

like clockwork, and something will always come up before we finally print an issue. But it is through our loyal supporters, our local and international readers that we draw inspiration. From you, we derive the energy and enthusiasm to make our magazine, truly, the sanctuary of the Filipino soul. We thank you once again for all your support, and I thank God for all the grace and mercy He showered on us all throughout these two years. #UPLIFTINGPINOY JINKEE PORTA-MERCURIO Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

meet our staff joandrea

merryl

PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Jinkee Porta-Mercurio CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Joandrea Santiago • Merryl Catherine Talan • Kurt Zubieta COPY EDITOR: Joandrea Santiago LAYOUT AND DESIGN EDITOR: John Paulo Fernandez PHOTOGRAPHY: Dwight Simon • Marlon Mercurio • Kylie Ann Jose • DREAMSTIME.COM GRAPHIC ARTIST: John Paulo Fernandez CIRCULATION: Marlon Mercurio FOR SALES AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: jinkee.mercurio@outlook.com | 778-792-0071 • 778-792-0049 RYAN FERRER (nryanferrer@gmail.com) 778-241-4895

kurt

WEBSITE: www.absolutelyfilipinomagazine.com

dwight

paulo

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.”

what’s

INSIDE 5

FEATURE I Dare You by Merryl Catherine Talan

FEATURE DUTERTE: The Uncapped Crusader by Kurt Zubieta

CULTURAL KAWAYAN: Kababayang Pilipino’s 23rd Anniversary Celebration by Absolutely Filipino

TRAVELOGUE Hot and Magical Summer Gateway by Joandrea Santiago

LIFESTYLE Pulling off a Rock Star Party with a Twist and Style by Jinkee Porta-Mercurio

ON CENTRE STAGE RYAN SALCEDO TAÑADA: The Millionaire Mindset by Joandrea Santiago

NURSE’S CORNER Giving Internationally Educated Nurses a Special PASS Program to Jumpstart their Careers in Canada Interview by Jinkee Mercurio & Written by Joandrea Santiago

ONLINE Absolutely Filipino Online

www.absolutelyfilipinomagazine.com

COVER PHOTO Photographer: Lito Sy HMUA: Cris Carino Colina

By Merryl Catherine Talan

FEATURE

Photo Courtesy of Hazel Guerrero

i DARE YOU

ith the ubiquity of video recording and social media, we have witnessed a good number of dares or challenges during the past years. Most of it is funny, some are dangerous, while some are done for a cause. Perhaps the fascination of a dare is to see whether or not we can pull it off. Others, daredevils, are attracted to the rush of adrenaline they feel when say, they are strapped on the wings of flying airplane. While others put challenges on their bucket list—a kind of measure of whether they have lived a “full life.” Here are the different challenges that have gone viral over the years, from simple ones to the extreme. They are written for your reading pleasure—or would you rather do them instead? CINNAMON CHALLENGE YEAR FAMOUS: 2012 HOW IT’S DONE: The dare is to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon powder without drinking water for the next 60 seconds. Sounds easy? Unless you have a special liking to cinnamon, a spoonful usually ends up as an expelled cloud of dust or vomited a few seconds after taking it. Doctors say the danger in this challenge lies in possible choking and breathing problems. Sounds like I’d rather eat a whole cinnamon roll instead. DAREDEVIL SCORE: 6/10 ASL ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE YEAR FAMOUS: 2014 HOW IT’S DONE: The ASL Ice Bucket challenge involves dumping a bucket full of ice and water in your head while filming

it on video. You then must nominate another person to take on the challenge or else they forfeit it through a charitable financial donation. The nominated person has 24 hours. The Ice Bucket challenge went viral in July 2014 to promote awareness of the disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ASL) and encouraged donations to fund its research. ASL Ice Bucket challenge became a huge success that it generated funds enough to create bio-samples that are designed to find a cure for ASL patients. Still up for another round of ASL Ice Bucket challenge? Make sure the water you use is from a clean source. According to Dr. Enrique Tayag of National Epidemiology Center, swallowing dirty water can lead to

salmonella infection which can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps from 12 to 72 hours after the infection. This usually lasts 5-7 days. DAREDEVIL SCORE: 3/10 CONDOM CHALLENGE YEAR FAMOUS: 2015 HOW IT’S DONE: The dare is to dump a water-filled condom on your head, engulfing the skull. The condom challenge does not, unfortunately, support a cause. This challenge was invented by teens and quickly spread all over the Internet, prompting others to do the same. Doctors encourage taking extra precaution as the challenge can cause choking and drowning risk. DAREDEVIL SCORE: 5/10

EXTREME CHALLENGES Warning: These challenges are HARDCORE EXTREME CHALLENGE #1: SKYDIVING Most people I meet include this on their bucket list, but very few actually get to do it. Sometimes we sleep, and we get that quick dream where we seem to be falling. And we are suddenly jolted awake! We find comfort when a few seconds after we realize that it was just a dream, and we are well in the comfort of our own bed. That is how skydiving feels but instead of two seconds, the experience last much, much longer. Skydiving involves riding and airplane to 10,000 feet above ground and free-falling with nothing but a parachute (or a guide for the non-pros) to keep you alive. Two seconds after the initial jolt, you are STILL FALLING with nothing to hold on to! Commercial skydiving has been around for quite a while. Packaged

deals usually come with a GroPro shot of the whole dive, included are also training and a certificate from the pros. Remember to go only with accredited and high-rated skydiving facilities. DAREDEVIL SCORE: 8/10 EXTREME CHALLENGE #2: WING-WALKING CHALLENGE This is perhaps one of the extremes I’d like to try myself. The Wing-walking challenge is being offered by www.lifechangingchallenges.co.uk to fund the Pancreatic Cancer Action. It involves being strapped on the wings of an airplane and being taken on a ride filled with zooms, climbs, and even flips with speeds of up to 130mph! But before any of us are allowed to this stomach-churning challenge, we have to meet these criteria recommended by pancreaticcanceraction.org: Wing Walkers must be between 18 and 65 years old • You must be between 5 and 6ft tall (1.52-1.83m)

• You must weigh less than 12 stone (77kg) • You need to be able to climb up to the top wing of the aircraft (around 10 feet) • You cannot take part if you have or are suffering from Epilepsy, fits, severe head injury, blackouts, fainting or giddiness, disease of the brain or nervous system, high blood pressure, heart or lung disease, recurrent weakness or dislocation of any limb, diabetes, mental illness, drug or alcohol addiction • If you have any pre-existing medical conditions which you feel may prevent you from taking part you should consult your doctor DAREDEVIL SCORE: 9/10 There are still a number of challenges out there which have gone viral. We from Absolutely Filipino Magazine encourage everyone to go and live your lives to the fullest—daredevil or not. Just remember “better be safe than sorry.”

FEATURE

DUTERTE The Uncapped Crusader by Kurt Zubieta

ur president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the former mayor of Davao City, a tough-talker with a soft spot for his countrymen, made a promise since the first day of his campaign, to eradicate drugs and corruption in a span of three to six months. The War on Drugs Fear and social shaming had been Duterte’s ammunition in the War on Drugs. There have been several instances when he had named people with political positions—mayor, congressmen, senators and even judges—to be protectors of drug lords and drug-related activities. Also, more than 60,000 drug pushers and users have surrendered to the PNP (Philippine National Police) through a project called “Operation Tokhang.” Derived from the Cebuano word “toktok-hangyo” or “katok” (knock), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the PNP personnel knocked on homes and urged known drug users and pushers to surrender and sign an agreement to stop using and selling drugs. With the amount of drug-related deaths increasing and following strong statements such as, “All of you who are into drugs... I will really kill you,” these people—some of which are only suspected users/ pushers—are forced to surrender out of fear. There have been more than 2,400 alleged drug dealers and drug users who have been killed since President Duterte launched the sixmonth bloody campaign against drugs that began last July 1. Figures released by the PNP on September 4 showed 1,011 alleged drug users and dealers had been gunned down in police operations and 1,391 deaths under investigation, are believed to have been killed by vigilantes, and/or under suspicious circumstances, by the police. Criticisms and Extrajudicial Killings Durterte’s serious allegations and shaming of political leaders have been met with criticism since there have been no formal persecution nor evidence presented against them—only the inside knowledge given to Duterte. Immediately after each announcement, several statements have been made by these leaders declaring their innocence. On the other hand, some led to the capture of guilty officials participating in the drug trade.

The increasing number of death related to the War on Drugs has urged opposition and human rights lawyer, Sen. Leila de Lima, to lead a Senate investigation over the vigilante killings of drug suspects and warned that if kept unchecked, more innocent lives will be lost. Even prior to Duterte’s election, rumors spread that criminals, especially drug lords are being exterminated by the DDS (Davao Death Squad). According to Sen. De Lima, Duterte was the man behind DDS’ extrajudicial killings. This preceding reputation has been the leverage of De Lima’s accusations. De Lima reiterated the probable causes of the summary killings including Michael Siaron, 29, who was allegedly killed by vigilantes last July 23 in Pasay City. A photo of Siaron with, Jennilyn Olayres, his live-in partner, went viral after it was published on the front page of Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI). In the photo, Olayres is cradling Siaron’s lifeless body imposing a pieta-like position with a placard “Drug pusher ako.” As of now, there is no evidence yet in the probe of summary executions and extrajudicial killings under the current administration. De Lima, on the other hand, was tagged by Duterte, a coddler of drug lords inside the New Bilibid Prison. House Speaker Pantaloon Alvarez and Rodolfo Farinas, filed a House Resolution 105 to impose a House inquiry into the alleged drug operations inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Should Duterte be an uncapped crusader? In the War on Drugs, we are asked a crucial moral question: in Duterte’s mission to stop the prevalence of drugs in our country, will we standby when innocent lives are caught in the crossfire? Will we support the senators who seek to strike a balance between justice and extrajudicial killings and be accused of not supporting the president’s cause? Or can’t it be both? Can we remain vigilant in our observations and remain on guard against our president’s actions yet at the same time supporting this cause? We were given a warning during the elections that should Duterte became the president; the war on drugs will be bloody. But on behalf of his administration, Duterte also promised to abide by due process and the law of the land. In the following months, we will find out.

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8 AFM would like to thank Myla Bagasbas Marrinier and Randy Romero for their help in making this article. 8

Kababayang Pilipino’s 23rd Anniversary Celebration By Absolutely Filipino

ababayang Pilipino (KP), an internationally recognized Filipino Performing Folk Arts Group, celebrated its 23rd anniversary last June 26, 2016, at the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, British Columbia. The special presentation was called “Kawayan,” Filipino for bamboo. “Bamboo is a connecting element that links the people of the Philippines, from northern Luzon and southern Mindanao; it is the thread that links eras gone by and the generations to come. “Kawayan” explores both the diversity and the commonality that makes the Philippines and its cultural heritage so abundantly rich.” KABABAYANG PILIPINO Kababayang Pilipino is well known not only in the Metro-Vancouver area but also in other parts of the globe. Dwight Simon, the AFM’s director of photography, has been following this organization for a long time. KB is headed by its artistic director, Randy Romero, and is an avenue to promote and preserve our Filipino culture through the performing arts. Captions are provided by Randy Romero. 1 Ligawan is the Filipino term for courtship. In the the Philippine context, courtship involves a kind of playful innocence. Both sides are expected to keep their modesty; the woman plays hard to get or 'pakipot' while the man pursues her with romantic songs 'harana' and love letters. Traditionally 'ligawan' is more indirect and involves a lot of teasing, matching off by friends and lighthearted fun. Ligawan is a world premiere choreographed by Robert Policarpio. 2 Pig-apir from the Maranao, Marawi, Lanao del Sur, depicts a royal manner of "walking." Ladies of the royal court perform this stately dance in preparation for an important event. The ladies gracefully manipulate the “apir” or fan, while emphasizing their small steps, or "kini-kini", which symbolizes their good manners and prominent family background. 3 The sound of a flute melody provides rhythm for Kalinga maidens traveling to the river to fetch water in their earthen pots in Banga. The Kalinga women are wearing the “ginamat” or tapis of woven material embroidered with horizontal colors and geometrical designs adorned with cut and carved mother-of-pearl shells they call the “purting”. 4 Essie Gonzales as “Maganda” in “Kawayan”, featuring Choreography by Randy Romero. 5 A highlight of any KP performance is it’s fiery, live musical accompaniment. 6 Jamille Hebron and Armer Aquino in “Singkil”. 7 Binasuan, from Bayambang, Pangasinan, is a colorful and lively dance that shows off the balancing skills of the dancers. The glasses that the dancers gracefully, yet carefully, maneuver are half-filled with rice wine. 8 KP presents the rice cycle portion of a piece “Durian: Isang Alamat Bagobo from Davao,” first presented by the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, beginning with the clearing of the field in preparation for planting and harvesting. 9 “Bulaklakan” ladies perform with colourful arches adorned with flowers.

CULTURAL

KAWAYAN:

Hot & Magical

Summer Getaway

TRAVELOGUE By Joandrea Santiago

t has since been their family’s yearly tradition to have a getaway during the summer coinciding with their only daughter’s birthday. This year she turns 10, and she’s been enjoying their summer holiday plans as she is old enough to join in on their scheduled and random family trips. It’s always good to have everyone in the family have his or her say on where they’d like to go and what they’d like to do. That way, there is a sense of teamwork even before the trip begins, and there will be tidbits to look forward to from everyone. Summer in Vegas According to Jinkee, if you have a low tolerance for an intense, sultry climate,

never go to Vegas during the summer months! At 40°C, they spent most of the time touring the Vegas strip inside the car. A few minutes after taking a dip in the pool, they were already dry and hot again. Because of the weather, they mostly did some indoor shopping there. They booked a decent downtown hotel before the trip, and they ate in $10-buffets, which was a practical set-up but was worth every penny. Hogwarts, Broomsticks, and Quidditch The highlight of their trip was a day in Universal Studios in Hollywood. To get there, they had to drive for four and a half hours across the Mojave Desert. (Warning! Most of the people drive faster in the US compared to Canada so be careful!) The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Universal Studios’ latest and most sought-after attraction. The walk towards the “Forbidden Journey” ride

took them inside Hogwarts castle where the portraits were speaking, and other characters like the Sorting Hat came to life. The ride itself was very immersive; they were able to “experience” flying on a broomstick and playing Quidditch. They felt like they traveled to all sorts of places, but really, they just stayed in one place! Aside from Harry Potter, the Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers, and Jurassic Park were their top picks. According to them, these attractions will bring out the screaming and awestruck child in everyone! A mini-vacation is just right across the border Despite the high US dollar currency, traveling to the US, they find, is more practical because the cost is still relatively cheaper compared to Canada. After crossing the border, you can take a local flight to anywhere in the US with relative ease (and at $49 per one-way ticket to Vegas, easy on the pocket too!). The last tip, book everything all together: plane tickets, hotel, and renta-car. In this vacation, online bookings saved them money, time, and worry. Looking forward to hearing your family’s vacation getaway!

Pulling off

y t r a P r a t S k a Roc Style

with a

Twist &

By Jinkee porta-Mercurio PHOTOS BY KYLIE ANN JOSE

always tell everyone that planning is the key to creating a fantastic event or activity. In fact, it took me six months just to plan my daughter’s party from the planning process, making the invitations, the decorations as well as the food menu and the program. But don’t worry because I’ve broken down my 6-month planning to this checklist, so you’ll be done with your party plans in no time. THE PARTY CHECKLIST: 1. Budget Deciding on a budget first will make your planning easier as most preparations are based on how much you’re willing to spend on an event.

As a parent, I wanted my daughter to experience the value of money, so I asked her to pitch in the costs. She has been collecting and selling soda bottles for the last year, and this was the perfect opportunity for her to experience making use of something she has earned for something she wanted. 2. Date, Theme, and Venue The next step is deciding the date of the party. By default, children’s parties are best held during the weekends since there are no classes and most parents are off from work. To make your party memorable, you can adapt a theme that your child wants. Make sure it’s something doable, age appropriate, and within the budget. Here are some ideas: zoo, circus, hello kitty, cartoon

characters, princess, or Pokemon— anything you can really think of. The venue will depend on your budget. Some establishments rent out spaces. Others also include party packages that are priced on a per head basis. But if you want to save money or be more hands-on, you can always hold your party at home like we did. 3. Guest list The guest list could be totally up to your child or a mix of your friends and hers. By this time, you’ve already decided on the date and venue, and you could send out invitations. Call me exaggerated, but our R.S.V.P deadline was three months before the event! This is because deciding on the food for a multi-cultural guest list is something I had to take into consideration.

LIFESTYLE ke to thank We would li ts Services n GA&A Eve at help for their gre ice. and serv t tact them a You can con 6-4009/ (604) 72 om .gaaevents.c :/ http /www 4. Menu Are your visitors mostly Filipinos, Asians or Caucasians? You can also decide what type of foods you are going to serve based on this. Asking your guests if they have food allergies is also a good idea, so you can make changes or inform them ahead of time. If you will order the food and have it delivered in your place, you can start checking the local restaurants nearby for their pricing and ask if they can

do deliveries. One of my friends also baked some delicious cookies for my daughter’s party. 5. Props and Decoration Having a concrete theme allows you to buy the accessories and decoration spaced over a given period. One, it’s easier on the budget instead of one big purchase. Second, you’ll be able to catch or wait for sale items should they come up.

6. Have a backup/team/help If you are like me who have not been gifted with much creative talent, I had enlisted the help of a party planner for the decorations. But if this is an extra cost for you, you can have your friends/family help you out with the decorations and food preparations too. Having someone you can count on before and during the party is a great help especially when you suddenly find your hands tied.

ALEX’S POP-ROCK STAR PARTY

This year, my daughter, Alex, celebrated her 10th birthday, and we decided to go with a Rock Star Party. We made our invitations unique by using a concert ticket design. For our props, we got a large inflatable guitar and microphone. We used colorful wallpaper for our makeshift photo booth background. Party balloons, colourful star decorations were all over the ceilings and the walls. The big hits for the kids were the Rock Star themed cake, candy buffet, and chocolate fondue fountain! All of which I just ordered in a local bakeshop and party shop. The highlight of the party was the Lip Sync Battle where most of the kids joined in. Just like The Voice, after each round, the judges would give the contestant a critique. All of Alex’s friends sang her a “Happy Birthday” in French! There was a bit of dancing too, so make sure your kids pick their favourite songs or have it prepared ahead of time. All in all, we were able to pull off an awesome birthday party for my daughter, even if we just held it at home! We made the event extra memorable too by capturing it on video and in tons of photos. All of the guests seemed to have had lots of fun and the four hours felt like it wasn’t enough. When the kids got back to school, they said, “It was the best party ever!”

RYAN SALCEDO TAÑADA: I

The Millionaire Mindset By Joandrea Santiago

YAN SALCEDO TAÑADA earned his first million at age 21. He made his fortune as a real estate broker. He has been a consistent number one in sales for SMDC since he joined the company almost eight years ago. In 2013, he flew to Qatar and the rest of the world to look for a greater challenge and a bigger market. And in 2014, when he was only 27 years old, he hit the 1 billion-peso mark in sales in a one-year-period—a feat never before achieved by anyone else in the Philippine Real Estate industry. Ryan shares with us his millionaire mindset. “IF PEOPLE ARE NOT LAUGHING YOUR DREAMS, IT MEANS YOUR DREAMS ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH.” Having big dreams and plenty of confidence is Ryan’s gift. As a young man, he was determined to be the best of whatever field he went into. Many have laughed at Ryan’s goals such as aiming to be a top seller in his first year with SMDC and the 1 billion-peso sales goal. But Ryan had a strong belief in himself, and it was a necessary ingredient for dreaming and achieving big. “No one ever reached the 1 billion mark in sales because no one dared to dream it. I thought even if I didn’t reach 1B; I’d still land close to it, and that’s a big achievement.” “DO WHAT IT TAKES TO REACH YOUR SUCCESS.” “People often just see my success,

but they do not see the sacrifices and hard work I went through to achieve my goals.” Ryan explains that the problem with people is not the lack of having dreams, “We all want to have a great body, lots of money, and the good life, but all we do is want and not work for it. Turn your dreams into goals.” When you have identified your goal, you will have a direction and must do what it takes to get there. “My path to success had been lonely. I had to decide to fly out to Qatar at an age when most of my friends are enjoying their youth. Whenever I opened my social media accounts, I saw my family and friends hanging out, partying, and celebrating occasions. And instead of having fun, I was alone and working hard.” “YOU ONLY NEED A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND A LOT OF SUCCESS.” Ryan may only be 28 but through his success, he has already been exposed to many other fields outside real estate and has met different kinds of people. Along the way to the top he had encountered people whom he thought he could rely on but have failed him when it was time for them to deliver on their word, there were those whom point-blank didn’t believe in him, or those who feared his success and fell away from their friendship. However, there will be those who rejoice together with you in your success—these are the people you keep.

ON CENTRE STAGE Photographer: Lito Sy HMUA: Cris Carino Colina Facebook: Ryan Salcedo TaĂąada Instagram: ryan_tanada Twitter: ryan_tanada1

I II

Photographer: Collin Yap HMUA and Grooming: Pitt Gallardo Designer: Kulay Photographer: Maria Enrile HMUA and Grooming: Lola Fernandez Designer: Celso Collado Dahil

“NEVER FORGET YOUR FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU.” Having the right kind of motivation makes success much more fulfilling. “When I started working, my goal was not to be rich; I worked so hard so that I can live my life on my own terms.” Ryan’s father was an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), and although he was a good provider for his family, he missed many of the important occasions in their lives. “I work hard so that in the future, I would not have to think about having enough time or money to spend with my loved ones. I will be able to say “yes” when they want to go out or go on a vacation, I will be able to be fully present for my own children because I won’t be busy working so hard by then.” “NEVER FORGET THAT ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE COME FROM GOD.” Ryan tells me that he sometimes feels undeserving of all his success despite all the work he put into it. This is how he keeps himself grounded—by giving the credit to God and never forgetting to share his blessings. “When you give to your family and your friends, that’s the same as giving to yourself, but when you give to people you don’t necessarily know, that’s the start of giving beyond yourself.” People often approach Ryan for sponsorships and projects; currently, he is sponsoring kids to go to school. “WIN BIG OR LEARN.” Ryan is still young and up for many challenges. This year he started venturing into events and dove into a solo production of Alden Richard’s concert in Qatar. This is Ryan’s attitude in all the things he endeavours: “I’ll do my best, give it my all, and either I win big or learn.”

Photographer: Maria Enrile HMUA and Grooming: Lola Fernandez Designer: Celso Collado Dahil

Interview by Jinkee Mercurio & Written by Joandrea Santiago

“B

ecoming a Registered Nurse (RN) in Canada is a long and arduous process. As an Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN), it took me three years to become an RN, and I’ve heard others take longer,” says Jinkee Mercurio. In response to this, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has funded the Pre-Arrival Supports and Services (PASS) Program, which officially launched in January 2016 and has served over 90 IENs, a majority of whom hail from the Philippines. Absolutely Filipino spoke with Meghan Wankel, the PASS Program Coordinator, together with her colleagues, Nicholas and Tina. They discussed the program in depth.

INDIVIDUAL CASE MANAGEMENT IENs are offered individual management counseling for their specific cases and special needs. These are all done through Skype, online meetings and emails.

ORIENTATION TO CANADA’S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

IENs gain access to orientation webinars covering topics including the licensure process, an overview of the Canadian healthcare system and demographic information on nursing and where the jobs are. There are also employment-related webinars, including one on transferable skills. PASS helps IENs prepare for accessing alternative and temporary non-

NURSE’S CORNER

Giving Internationally Educated Nurses a Special PASS Program to Jumpstart their Careers in Canada

Photo Courtesy of PASS & CARE

licensed, healthcare-related jobs, such as healthcare aide, personal support worker or nanny, while they’re working towards their nursing licensure.

COMMUNICATION COURSES

Many IENs do not realize what a substantial barrier communication can be. In the workplace, it is not only academic language proficiency that is important but also fully understanding cross-cultural communication norms. Through PASS’ online communication courses, IENs are taught patient interview techniques, documentation strategies and are familiarized with the vocabulary and terminologies used in the Canadian healthcare setting.

from a nursing school and a letter of immigration confirmation from the Government of Canada. These include permanent residents, convention refugees and Canadians living overseas. Temporary Foreign Workers, as well as people with visitor and student visas, are not eligible for the program.

ONLINE

The PASS Program is 100% online and uses email, Skype and online meeting forums to connect with IENs; participants from around the world with an internet connection can join. For more information and to connect with PASS staff please visit https://pass4nurses.org/.

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

PASS, in partnership with the Canadian Nurses Association, includes a Mentorship Program. Currently acting as mentors are 35 expert and senior nurses from all over Canada, recruited according to a clinical specialty list. The program matches incoming IENs with local nurses according to the similarity of their clinical background and the location in Canada where the IENs are planning to settle. Through the Mentorship Program, participating IENs receive guidance and advice from local nurses in order to gain confidence and networking opportunities before entering the Canadian healthcare system.

ELIGIBILITY

The PASS Program is free, but IENs must have proof of graduation

*Interview with Meghan Wankel (Pre-Arrival Supports and Services, Program Coordinator), Mehrzad (Nicholas) Ghadiri (PASS Program Assistant) and Tina Novotny (CARE Centre’s Communications Specialist)

Absolutely Filipino Visits Spids Santacruzan / Photos by Dwight Simon

Find these exclusive stories and articles at

absolutelyfilipinomagazine.com

FILIPINO EXTRAORDINAIRE

And through this magazine, I want to showcase how noble a Filipino man can be whenever he is given the opportunity to display and prove it. I know we can always shine and excel in our every crafty endeavour, in every role that is entrusted to us, in every responsibility that is being placed on our shoulders, and in every test that we are about to take.” – Publisher

AFM’s Cover Boy, Limuel Hayag Vilela as Mr. Copper Pacific World 2016

ONLINE

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