ABSOLUTELY FILIPINO MAGAZINE SUMMER 2017 by Absolutely Filipino

Uplifting PINOY

SUMMER 2017

ISSUE # 12

AMAZE

Roderick Jimenez: Pursue Your Passion Dodge For A Cause: A Benefit Dodgeball Tournament For Cayos Elementary School In Iloilo, Philippines Walter Lumamba: Service Beyond Duty Friendship Knows No Distance Gerphil Flores And Attila Dobak —Two Outstanding Singers. One Amazing Night. Kwantlen Polytechnic University And Nurse Ready Raffy “Swap One” Ramiro: A Music Polymath www.absolutelyfilipinomagazine.com

A B S O LU T E LY F I L I P I N O M A G A Z I N E

ABSOLUTELY FILIPINO MAGAZINE

AF M Turns Three

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Jinkee Porta-Mercurio PUBLISHER: JPM Publishing CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Joandrea Santiago Arjay Bartolome Marjorie Anne Macahilas GUEST CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeremiah Neil Sumagui Christine Montinola COPY EDITOR: Joandrea Santiago LAYOUT AND DESIGN EDITOR: John Paulo Fernandez PHOTOGRAPHY: Ellen Abalos Jimmy Tran Joey Jickain Gloren Guelos Roderick Jimenez Thess Sumagui *Other photos as specified on the page CIRCULATION: Marlon Mercurio FOR SALES AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: absolutelyfilipinomag@outlook.com 778-792-0071 • 778-792-0049 RYAN FERRER (nryanferrer@gmail.com) 778-241-4895 WEBSITE: www.absolutelyfilipinomagazine.com Disclaimer: The articles and opinions of the writers do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the publisher. All written materials 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 in their ads. Advertisers who don’t have their own art and asked AFM to aid in making the art or advertorial/write-up are responsible for its content. There is no guarantee that all submitted materials such as articles, photos, and artworks will be published. AFM can edit and alter any submitted material before publication.

hree years ago, I had this brilliant and crazy idea of starting a magazine that’s all about Filipino news, stories, and culture. It was supported and encouraged by my best friend, Gina, right away, then I met Dwight Simon, who immediately offered help and assistance to start the magazine. And it was during the summer of 2014 that AFM’s first issue was released to the Filipino community of British Columbia. I can still recall the hardship of putting up this magazine with limited help and resources. Everything was a blur and chaotic--neither one of us (me, Dwight and Gina) had any experience with running a magazine before. But driven by our passion, we were determined to reach out to Filipino communities here in Canada and bridge the gap between them. We wanted to bring good news and inspiration so that even in our simple way we will be able to uplift the heart of every Filipino. Way back then, I already have a strong belief that if Filipinos are united, caring, and helping each other on every occasion, we can accomplish a great many things. Even from the start, it is our desire to showcase how great a Filipino man and woman can be inside and outside our beloved country. And in this issue, we have stories of the journey of a highly talented musician, and a passionate nurse who strive to make a huge difference in the society by helping the nursing sector. You will also get a glimpse into the life of a businessman whose heart is to inspire the young generation to pursue the things that they love, and we highlight the story of a great friendship that was separated by circumstance and distance--something that is not so uncommon nowadays. Absolutely Filipino is always ambitious and continues to be the sanctuary of the Filipino soul. We are truly proud of each of our issues because we deliberately gave our time, effort and talent to bring you the stories and voices of our fellow Filipinos. I admit, the challenges never seem to end, but there is something about the convergence of passion and service that can fuel our staff every time. Again, thanks to my excellent and talented writers and artists, as well as to all the loyal supporters and readers of this quarterly magazine. We recognize your tremendous contribution to the success of our publication. We also appreciate every feedback coming from you, and we give thanks to all the people who happily shared their inspirational stories with us. I also acknowledge the help of our Almighty God for making the constant release of this periodical completely possible. #UPLIFTINGPINOY JINKEE PORTA-MERCURIO Editor-in-Chief

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

10 4

COVER PHOTO BY ELLEN ABALOS

WHAT’S INSIDE 4

| FE AT URE RODERICK JIMENEZ: PURSUE YOUR PASSION By Joandrea Santiago • Photos Courtesy of Roderick Jimenez

| ACT OF KINDNESS DODGE FOR A CAUSE: A BENEFIT DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT FOR CAYOS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ILOILO, PHILIPPINES By Christine Montinola • Photos Courtesy of Ms. Gloren Guelos

8| F E AT U R E

WALTER LUMAMBA: SERVICE BEYOND DUTY By Marjorie Anne Macahilas • Photos by Jimmy Tran

10 | O N

CENTRE STAGE FRIENDSHIP KNOWS NO DISTANCE By Jinkee Mercurio • Photos by Ellen Abalos

12 | F E A T U R E

GERPHIL FLORES AND ATTILA DOBAK — TWO OUTSTANDING SINGERS. ONE AMAZING NIGHT. By Jeremiah Neil Sumagui • Photos Courtesy of Thess Sumagui

14 | O N L I

IN DA PILIPINS ANSAVE? By Joandrea Santiago

18 8

15 | N U R S E S ’

CORNER KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY AND NURSE READY By Joandrea Santiago

18 | F E A T U R E

RAFFY “SWAP ONE” RAMIRO: A MUSIC POLYMATH By Arjay Bartolome • Photos Courtesy of Raffy Ramiro

RODERICK JIMENEZ:

Pursue Your Passion By Joandrea Santiago Photos Courtesy of Roderick Jimenez

ost Filipinos have parents, who up to this day, predetermine the careers their children take. We are encouraged to take traditional fields such as nursing, engineering, business management, accounting, and computer science, which our parents feel “safe” and will provide a secure job and future for us. You are going against the grain if you find yourself more inclined to the arts and less conventional fields such as culinary, film, or design. And I know many of us can relate to this up until today. Roderick Jimenez is the same. He was born in Bangued, Abra and even though his family moved to America when he was still a toddler, his parents had the same reservations in the kind of profession he should pursue. First Careers Right after high school, still undecided on what to take up for college, Roderick joined the Navy. There he was in charge of the payroll and found that he was good with numbers. After leaving the Navy and following the advice of his parents, the next logical step was to pursue

a degree in accounting. He then worked a few years as an auditor and made good money in that field. But the job was high-stress, and he felt that it hindered him from being creative due to its monotonous and rigid nature.

that Interior Design wasn’t merely about picking out furniture—it was so much more. After this realisation, Roderick went back to school and Studied Interior Design at Virginia Commonwealth University.

His First Love Roderick used to draw at an early age, and it never left him even as he worked as an accountant. He continued to make sketches, and he was always attracted to art and design. Growing up his proclivity to the arts was never nurtured since those were the kinds of abilities that didn’t provide for a stable career. This was the belief in the household he grew up in and is probably true in our own households. But art and the inclination to create kept nagging at him that he decided to see a career counselor. True enough, the counselor saw that Roderick’s interests aligned to the field of design. Design is a diverse field, so Roderick was given a list of different people who he can call up, ask, and see for himself how they went about the day-to-day of their business. Interior Design was the last on that list and what Roderick was least interested in at first. But when he got exposed to its daily workflow, he realised

The Philosophy Of Interior Design Interior Design is all about solving a problem. Given limited space and budget, how will you be able to maximize functionality and at the same time communicate the image your client wishes to project? Interior design appealed both to Roderick’s love for art and technical expertise in numbers and problem-solving. Turn Your Side Hustle Into A Business While working in an interior design company, clients would come to Roderick personally and ask him to do side-projects outside of the office. Soon his personal clientele grew, and he found himself running out of the sick and vacation leave days he used to cater to them. Eventually, his side hustle outgrew his day job, and with an unfavorable change coming to his current job’s management, he decided to start his own business.

FEATURE In hindsight, Roderick was lucky to have started working in a small design company. Having little manpower, he was also relied upon to do the books and other administrative duties. This exposure on how to run a small business, unbeknownst to him during the time, would be the knowledge he would draw from when he established his own. In 2008, Roderick started The RJ Company. Currently, they offer interior design, space planning, and construction contract administration for both commercial and residential spaces. His business has come a long way and has survived the ups and downs brought by the recession. Despite the struggles, Roderick feels fulfilled, happy, and healthy (he can take care of himself more) in his chosen field. As The RJ Company continues to grow, Roderick hopes to one day give back and support fellow Filipinos who wishes to pursue the same field of Interior design. Most importantly, he encourages us to chase what our passion calls us to do—even if it’s swimming against the current.

The RJ Company 8010 Sunport Dr #115 Orlando FL 32809 P | 407.251.0071 www.therjcompany.com info@therjcompany.com Instagram @therjcompany WISDOM FROM RODERICK JIMENEZ On Pursuing Your Passion • Find a way to make money in the field of your choice or from what you are passionate about. • Look for mentors or people who are successful in the field you want to pursue. They will serve as your models and teachers. • If you can, consult a career counselor. They are experts in distilling your interests and skills which will help determine which field you would flourish in. • It’s never too late to pursue your interest. Your true passion may come as a second or third career, and that’s okay. • If you can’t work on your passion full time, make it a passion project or side hustle. (A good example of this is this publication, Absolutely Filipino Magazine. We are a small team of writers and

photographer all with regular day jobs. AFM is, for most of us, a passion project but which is quickly growing to become a sustainable business). On Building Your Business • Pickup skills from other fields that may not be directly related to your business--they may become invaluable later on. • Always keep improving your capabilities. (Roderick got a bachelor’s degree after deciding he wants to pursue Interior Design. Later on, he also acquired a Building Contractor’s License so he could provide more services and convenience to his clients so they need not look elsewhere. Instead of just design, they provide a turnkey service--a complete product). • Remember that your old clients are your new clients. Satisfied customers come back. • Never give up on your dreams. There will always be ups and downs in business, and the sooner you realise this, the sooner you understand that down times are just a part of your journey.

Dodge For A Cause:

A Benefit Dodgeball Tournament For Cayos Elementary School in Iloilo, Philippines By Christine Montinola Photos Courtesy of Ms. Gloren Guelos

loren Guelos was instantly inspired when she was crowned Miss British Columbia 2016-2017. With months of appearances at local events and learning from mentors, it was Gloren’s turn to host an event. Gloren wanted to give back and share her blessings to a community back home in the Philippines. It was her way of embodying the values she learned through her title--community building and generosity-an activity that our community had happily supported. On Saturday, February 18, Miss British Columbia hosted a dodgeball tournament and fundraiser called “Dodge For A Cause.” The fundraiser was held at Kwantlen Polytechnic University at the Surrey Campus. “I thought it was fun, interactive, easy to learn, and I assumed everyone would enjoy it--which they did,” says Gloren. Many community members joined in—from teenagers to adults, families, athletes, and even some who have never played the sport--to support the cause. Together with funds raised by Extinct Studios during their tattoo charity event, they were able to raise more than 2000CAD which was used to purchase school supplies, food, small prizes for the turnover event, and a grocery gift pack for the families of 50 indigent children. The gift giving event was held on March 10, 2017, at Cayos Elementary School in Iloilo City. Gloren flew back to the Philippines on her own but had plenty of help from her family and friends in making the event possible. Together, they purchased and packed the gift and grocery giveaways, and also documented the event. The whole thing became bonding time with her family and had a deeper importance because they worked together for a good cause. Cayos Elementary is close to Gloren’s heart. “I grew up [in Iloilo], and I was able to recognise the difference between my life in the city as a student and the kids who lived in a small town. I witnessed the struggle these kids had to go through just to come to school--but they all did it with a smile on their faces. My dad, as well as my Titos and Titas, also went to that school, so it was definitely meaningful to me and my family”. At the event, the school principal along with the faculty had prepared a prayer to start off the celebration. Students and staff sang the national anthem, performed dance numbers, and played games. Gloren was ever-present and helpful with the event preparations and activities. Everyone had a smile on their face and had a good time, and the students expressed their gratitude and appreciation for all the gifts they received. “I had the privilege to speak in front of all the attendees, but I couldn’t forget to mention that everything I had brought was not personally from me, but from everyone that contributed from Canada that helped fulfill this dream,” said Gloren. “I especially wanted to remind the kids to one, dream big, two, study hard, and three, always pray.”

Gloren was moved as the kids expressed their thank yous along with the fulfillment she felt from having the opportunity to make such an impact on so many lives. “I will always remember this day and how pivotal it was for me,” says Guelos.

We would like to thank Stenberg College, Big Ridge, Boston Pizza in South Surrey, Janvier Sondrita from Investors Group, Choices Market in South Surrey, Cupcakes, Browns Socialhouse and a loving memory of Patricia Gough. An honorable mention, Extinct Studios, located in South Surrey had also put on a charity event in collaboration with Gloren to which patrons had donated money for small tattoos. Gloren would like to thank her family and friends back in the Philippines, especially Ate Ting--all of whom made the event possible.

ACT OF KINDNESS

‘‘

I especially wanted to remind the kids to one, dream big, two, study hard, and three, always pray.” GLOREN GUELOS

FEATURE

WALTER LUMAMBA

Service Beyond Duty By Marj Anne Macahilas Photos by Jimmy Tran

alter Lumamba is a Filipino registered nurse who holds 26 years of professional practice under his belt. Walter has experienced many of the struggles of being an OFW/non-native worker in a foreign country having worked in London, England before moving to British Columbia for good. These very struggles that he overcame are what inspire him to help fellow nurses whose challenges are which he is all too familiar with. Walter moved to Canada in 2008 after having passed the recruitment qualifications of Fraser Health Authority held in London. He started working at Surrey Memorial Hospital and soon after became active in nursing unions and organisations. Provincial Chair of The Men in Nursing Caucus

Walter became the Provincial Chair of The Men In Nursing Caucus in 2013 and is also an active member of the Workers Of Color Caucus. Men in nursing groups work to break down outdated stereotypes especially in nursing where it is more known to be a female profession. Their group provides a safe space for men to express their concerns about discrimination and also further the rights of men in the workplace. Walter also serves as a mentor for new male nurses coming into the female-dominated health care system. Part of the group’s activities is lobbying for male nurses’ rights. Among their milestone achievements is increasing the Paternity Leave benefit (different from Paternal Leave) from 1 to 5 days. It had been a struggle to justify that men need more paid leave days to assist and take care of his wife during the labor and the first few days of childbirth. Much research was made, including statistical comparisons of benefits and personal testimonials that helped support their claim. Together with a great Bargaining Team, they were able to have the government grant the increase paid Paternity Leave days. Walter is also proud to have successfully lobbied, together with the National Democratic Party’s Member of the Legislative Assembly, additional funding for IENs taking up the SEC (Substantially Equivalent Competency) Assessment. Most students can now avail of a subsidy of $1,000-$2,000 CAD which lessen the cost of taking the SEC Assessment to $100-$200CAD.

The Men in Nursing Caucus are also active volunteers and have several recurring programs during the year. They provide free blood pressure and blood sugar checks during pre-games of the BC Lions and have participated in the “Be More Than A Bystander--Ending Violence Against Women” campaign. They also raise funds for the yearly November Campaign which promotes awareness for men’s health and mental health. Presently, Walter’s group is lobbying to modify the Criminal Code of Canada to make violence against a nurse an “aggravating circumstance” for sentencing purposes. “We are asking the Candidates to sign our pledge, making this a priority when elected.” Setting His Eyes on BCNU

The British Columbian Nursing Union is an organisation “committed to defending nurses’ individual rights as well as the nursing profession, and are the only health care union that has a long and successful track record of gains in wages and working conditions.” Walter is currently running for a place as one of the 16 Regional Chairs of BCNU. Should Walter win a seat in the union, it will allow him a greater ability to serve fellow Nurses and will also automatically make him a member of the Provincial Council of BCNU. Being an Immigrant IEN, diversity, and fairness within the working environment will be his priority. He wants to make sure that the concerns of the nurses in his region will be heard and acted upon by the Health Authorities. Among his other goals is to advocate for work-life balance and will bargain for more employee benefits. Beyond Duties

Most of the readers here are either in the health profession or know someone who is a health care provider, and we are more than aware of the longs hours, grueling workload, difficult patients, and sometimes, unavoidable discrimination and unfair work conditions our health care providers experience. After their day, most nurses have a family and children to attend to-and their days seldom become easy, and the work never seems to end. Walter is one of the few that gives beyond what is required of him. Beyond his duties, beyond his family, and beyond himself, he voices out and helps ease the struggles of his colleagues. Walter deserves our support in his endeavors. Let’s be a community that seeks to be more like him and be followers of his good example.

Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. 24

Proverbs 18:24 The Message (MSG)

ON CENTRE STAGE

Friendship Knows

NO DISTANCE

By Jinkee Mercurio Photos by Ellen Abalos

ountless people have tried a long-distance romantic relationship, but many of them were unsuccessful. According to 2017 statistics for long distance relationship, there are about 14-15 million people in the United States in this kind of arrangement. It is highly anticipated to be difficult to maintain, and failure in the long run for so many valid reasons is also expected. But what if it’s a longdistance friendship? To tell you frankly, I have only seen few people who succeeded in keeping the same closeness as friends when they become a thousand miles away from each other. Of course, we all still talk once in awhile but seldom does it ever stay the same as before. That’s why I am fascinated with my daughter’s friendship with her best friend, Felisha. They were classmates in Kindergarten in Ontario and became best friends since then. In 2012, our family moved to British Columbia and didn’t know when or if the two will see each other again. During the first few months, we learned that Felisha was sad and wasn’t interested in having new friends at

her school. My daughter at the time was busy trying to cope with the new environment and was bullied in the public school she went to. Those were the darkest days in their friendship because they were both struggling. Certainly, I knew that both of them would eventually move on and meet new friends at their schools. But what truly amazed me is their loyalty to each other that they will always be best friends as they promised. Sometimes, I think that promises are somehow inevitably made to be broken. How many times did we ever fulfill our promise to another person? I remember, I had this colleague and she told me that when we moved here in BC, she will surely call me every single day. Guess what? She never did, not once! Do you agree that children can keep their promises better because their hearts are purer than ours? Although their decision power can be limited and restricted, most of them feel bad breaking their promise to their friends. Keeping our child’s friendship intact is also a job for us, the parents. Both parents allowed them to chat via Skype regularly and later on, via Facebook chat. Well, thanks also to the latest technology for making ways of communication better than the old days, it undoubtedly helped

them. Even though they are in constant contact with each other, they were able to form and develop different lifestyles while still managing to keep up with each other’s life despite the time and distance between them. Since spring break is the best time to travel because the kids are off school, we (both parents of the girls), decided to surprise my daughter. Felisha’s whole family flew all the way from Ontario to have a short visit in BC. This surprise visit in Vancouver was almost six years in the making, and it was all worth it. And if you were only at the airport and witnessed my daughter’s reaction, probably you would be speechless, tears immediately fell from her eyes upon seeing Felisha. Fun and laughter filled their fourday-visit. They also enjoyed the best tourist destinations here in BC. And nothing can beat that. Who would have thought that even at this young age, these girls already understood the meaning of a genuine friendship in its truest and deepest sense? As you see, it takes a lot of effort, time, determination, and support to preserve a special friendship like that. I feel so blessed that my daughter found her BFF--someone she can truly rely on. And I hope you can find and keep yours, too.

FEATURE By Jeremiah Neil Sumagui Photos Courtesy of Thess Sumagui

R s

e r o l F l erphiand

ob D a l i t At

. singers g n i d n tsta . T wo o u m a z i n g n i g h t a One

ecently, classical singer and protégé of David Foster, Gerphil Flores held a concert in the Anvil Center in New Westminster. To call her performance a treat to the ears is an understatement of gross proportions. Utterly fantastic vocals rang through the spacious interior of the Anvil Center’s main theater, among the throngs of people from small children, to elderly men and women. It was heartening to see such a diverse crowd clap and cheer for some of the finest musicians to grace Anvil Center’s theatre. But I digress, for music and applause were not all that the night had in store. Gerphil herself was a delightful individual to see on stage, not just as a performer, but as a person. She was an excellent hostess, cracking jokes, and telling her life story. She reveals that her name is, in fact, a portmanteau of Germany and Philippines--Gerphil--the two countries of origin of her father and mother, respectively. Her parents brought her to many opera shows in Germany, which inspired her to sing every day since the age of three. In her pre-teen years, she decided to pursue a career in music, and eventually graduated from the University of the Philippines cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Music, majoring in Voice. However, Gerphil was not the only vocalist to take the stage that night. Attila Dobak was a guest star that performed along with Gerphil, and too, was outstanding. Attila hails from Hungary, and with such a culture known for excellence in music, Attila carries on this tradition with an operatic voice that doesn’t hesitate to use vibrato. On stage, Gerphil began with a multitude of compositions from musicals, ranging from “The Sound of Music” to “West Side Story.” She had a very emotional voice that had outstanding tone and clarity, as well as a surprising amount of vibrato when she held notes for upwards of five seconds, which pleased the ears immensely. Attila’s performance followed suite, and was a delightful part of the evening, with pieces from Frank Sinatra, and Oscar Hammerstein II’s “South Pacific.” His vocals and dynamics were an experience all on their own to hear reverberating through the theatre. To end the night, Gerphil sang the song that gave her the title of David Foster’s Golden Girl, “The Impossible Dream.” And when we all thought that the performance was over, Attila and Gerphil surprised us with a final song that the audience couldn’t help but join in on--“Thank You For the Music.” Thank you for the music indeed, Gerphil and Attila.

ONLI IN DA PILIPINS By Joandrea Santiago

olloquialism for Filipino speakers has transcended merely being dubbed as an exclusively “gay lingo”. From children, to middleaged, to adults; from lower to middle to high class; from a corporate dressed executive to a side vendor on the street - colloquialism cannot be limited to one social group - it has now become ubiquitous and embraced in our everyday culture. Not to be mistaken from “jejemons,” which pertains to people who transform the Filipino and English language to incomprehensibility, Filipino jargons are often used grammatically correct but are made to be more saucy, funny, and flavourful than your regular words. Having trouble understanding them? Here are the most popular colloquial words and phrases that will help you navigate the Filipino word jungle. Ansave? — Anong sinabi? Say what? Achieve/Keri/Keribells/Push — you can do it, it can be done, kayang-kaya Award/Winner/Panalo — something you favour or approve of ex. Winner/panalo itong Jollibee champ kesa sa McCheese Burger. Alanis Morissette — umuulan, ulan ex. Jumulanis Morissette kahapon, libreng dilig ang mga halaman! Aiza Seguerra — Tomboy Aglipay — Ugly Pinay (jowang pokpok ng mayamang foreigner) Ana/Anaconda — Snake, traitor Bae/Beh — Slang for ‘baby’; a term of endearment for your partner and is usually used by the younger generation Besh / Bes / Bestie / Beshie / Beshicle — best friend Bet (ko yan) — similar to “winner/award/panalo.” Bonggels — bongga, extravagant Borlog/Borlogs — tulog, sleeping; sometimes used to mean ‘very tired,’ ex. Borlogs na ako. Bigalou — Big Bufra — Boyfriend Busabos — Bus Charot — just kidding/joking Chos/Echos — joke lang Chaka/Chuckie/Shonget/Ma-kyonget — Ugly Chiquito — Maliit Chenes — Kung ano, whatever Check — Noted Crayola — Cry Carrou/Carosa — Car Echosera — gumagawa ng chos o imbentong istorya; liar, fabricator, gossiper Embey/Emberika — Galit or inis (formerly imbyerna) Edi wow — a sarcastic way of applauding someone who is full of himself ex. “Check out my new car and new phone.” “Edi wow! Ikaw na ang yayamanin!” Everloo — Forever Eclavu — My love F na F — Feel na feel. It means putting so much passion to an activity or being. Ex. “Feel na feel nya birit sa kanta ni Adele.” GGSS — Gandang-ganda sa sarili or gwapong-gwapo sa sarili Ganders/Gandara — Maganda

Hohol — Hang-out, hang-out lang Hugot — words that seem flippant but come from a deep place. ex. Buti pa si Snow White, kumain lang ng apple nagka lovelife na, ako kumain na ng fruit salad wala pa rin. Hopia — Hope dashed (umasa ka pa!) Hipon — Sexy woman with an ugly face Indiana Jones/Nang-Indian — Hindi sumipot Ikaw na! — You’re it!; sometimes it is expressed as praise, sometimes sarcasm ex. Ikaw na ang sexy at flawless! Itech/Ditey/Ditich/Ditraks — Dito, ito Kerikeribambambinicolognesummerfresh50mlbottle — One or any unconnected line from an ad which young people like adding to prolong a sentence. Krung-krung — Sira-ulo, baliw, nuts Ka-ekekan — Kaartehan ex. Ang dami nya ka-ekekan sa katawan, mukha siyang Christmas tree. Jirits — iritating Jenet Jackson — hot, mainiit. ex. Ma-jenet jackson na naman ang panahon! Nakakalurky! Jubelita — Baklita, batang bading Jowa/Jowabelles/Jowabella — Karelasyon, boyfriend o girlfriend Jongoloids — Bobo Jeepney Spears — Jeepney Nakakalurky — Nakaka-shock, nakaka-takot, nakakaloka Mema — Me masabi lang. Momol — Make-out, make-out lang (kissing or french kissing) Mudra — mama, mother Okray — to criticize, manlalait ex. I-nokray mo nanaman yung sulot n’yang shirt na tummy-fit. Patola ka — Pumapatol ka, you fell for it. Purita — Poor, dukha Shala — sosyal Sabaw — Sabog ang utak Sapul!/Mismo!/Swak! — That’s it! Shupatid/Jupiter — Kapatid Thunder Cats/Tanders — oldie, old people Tito/Tita - the age group where you consider yourself an adult; #adult and #adulting are synonymous to #tita and #tito Tom Jones — Gutom, hungry Trixy — Tricycle Variables — Barya, coins Wit — No, hindi X-Men — Mga dating lalaki na ngayon ay bakla na Hope you’ll have fun trying them out, I know I did! Sources: ‘Pak ganern!’ by: Gilda Cordero-Fernando; Isay Roque; Charlz Dimal

By Joandrea Santiago

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is now offering the NURSE READY course which aims to enhance the knowledge base and clinical performance and competence of LPNs and RNs. The course is also designed for IENs applying for the Graduate Nurse Internationally Educated (GNIE) program admission for those who did not fare well in the SEC assessment or failed to meet KPU’s standards for GNIE. In those situations, the IEN is required to complete a 3-month online knowledge building theory course in addition to the 3-week NURSE READY course. Upon successful completion of the 3-month online course and Nurse Ready, a final assessment summary will be provided for admission to GNIE. This summary will be reviewed and will be a factor in getting into the GNIE program. Course Description: NURSE READY is a three-week mixed mode delivery class. Learners will go thru an initial evaluation and an online assessment test to determine which competencies they need to focus their efforts on. The learner will be provided a customized plan specific to the learner’s goals and needs. NURSE READY offers lab-intensive learning, which allows the learners access and familiarization with the Canadian healthcare equipment and processes. The real-world training format enables the learners to build confidence in applying their knowledge as well as develop critical thinking and assessment skills. Access to the nursing labs at the Langley Campus can be arranged for practice during the semester of registration with Nurse Ready, as well as access to the simulation lab using high fidelity mannequins. Nurse Ready provides the building blocks that help to build success in practice as well as, in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) type examinations. In building the learner’s knowledge base, learners are required to complete the NURSE READY’s online learning modules, and for learners wanting admission to GNIE, or individuals with low theoretical knowledge, they will be required to

complete the Elsevier Nursing Resource program. The Nurse Ready instructor will monitor progress and provide tutor support during this period, if required. Course Information: Three (3) weeks of mixed mode delivery (online and in-class). Intensive lab demonstration and practice sessions each week. The course accepts only 12 learners per month, which allows for intensive/ focused instruction. Cost: $1,650 CAD, plus GST For more information, search for Nurse Ready PNUR9030 at http://kpu.ca or at this website: https://goo.gl/0OACbE CAREER PATH FOR SKILLED IMMIGRANTS - HEALTH Douglas College CAREER PATH is intended for newcomers living in any British Columbia community with training and skills as a Nurse (RN/LPN), General Practitioner (Family Physicians), Sonographer or Health Care Assistant. It is a one-on-one coaching and mentoring program that is offered FREE to qualified applicants. CAREER PATH has many components, including funding for NURSE READY and an occupation-specific language training program. Follow the link to see the qualifications and more info: https://goo.gl/nYTJqk AFM would like to thanks the following: • Ann Moniz Director, Faculty of Health Kwantlen Polytechnic University • Lorna Wolfe Program Assistant, Professional StudiesFaculty of Health Kwantlen Polytechnic University • Barb Lindstrom Skills Connect-Douglas College

NURSES’ CORNER

Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Nurse Ready

RAFFY “ SWAP ONE” RA MI R O : A MUSIC POLYMATH

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Feel every note you play and you will love it more, and most of all, dream big and make it happen,” RAFAEL RAMIRO Photo by Joey Jickain

By Arjay Bartolome Photos by various Photographers, Courtesy of Raffy Ramiro

t takes time and effort to learn a single instrument. As the modern cliché goes, the struggle is real. It’s really a challenge to be a musician. To play a single instrument is already a skill, but how about playing not only one or two, but almost ten instruments? Sounds unbelievable? A 47-year-old man from Lucena City made it possible. Residing in British Columbia, Canada, Rafael Ramiro also tagged as “Swap One,” is undeniably gifted with musical prowess. With his bare two hands, he proficiently plays the guitar, bass guitar, saxophone, keyboard, drums, and trombone. Aside from these, he also plays the mandolin, bandurria, and Chinese pipa. Challenging experiences turned his journey in learning these instruments. Being consistent in investing his time, patience and eagerness in learning became his main struggle. “But if you are inspired to learn, I don’t feel any challenge because I loved to learn [each instrument],” Ramiro shared.

When Raffy was in Grade 4, he learned to play the guitar followed by the drums and the bass guitar in which he is proficient in playing. He also explored other kinds of instruments, and invested more time and focused on learning wind instruments such as the saxophone, trombone, and Chinese pipa. Unlike piano or guitar where all you have to do is to play since they already have sounds in themselves, wind instruments require more skill because while playing you also have to blow on them to produce music. Indeed, first love never dies. For Ramiro, the guitar is still his favorite instrument. It’s the only musical tool he knows how that play that can be performed alone plus vocals. Moreover, putting rhythm, adlib, chords at the same time makes the guitar his first love. His burning passion for music was first ignited on 1977 when he saw The Eagles performing on TV singing Hotel California. He also heard Asin, Banyuhay, Juan De La Cruz Band and Freddie Aguilar on the radio. Since then, he promised to himself that someday he would be like them.

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That’s why Pagbabalik by Asin, Tayo’y Mga Pinoy by Banyuhay, Himig Natin by Juan De La Cruz and Pulubi by Freddie Aguilar became his first lineup in his own made concert. When he was in Grade 5, he organized his own concert inside the class. Being the class president, and had a bit of chutzpah in him, no one had stopped him. This marked the start of his journey in music performance. By 2005, he founded his own band, Swap Six. He picked members from the different groups and made his own. Just like him, his band members are also proficient in playing various instruments. They then can switch the instruments they play in every change of song, which brands them “Swap Six”. As a reward for his sweet fruits of success, his band, Swap Six was awarded for five consecutive years of being the Best Band in Qingdao, China. He moved to Canada last 2014. He usually performs solo in all his performances and still swapping all his instruments in every song he plays. Since he is no longer with his band, he still wants to be a part of it. He tagged himself as “Swap One.” In Canada, Swap One opened a lot of doors in his journey. He already built R’s Bar Surrey, his own venue for concerts, shows, and events like live performances, dancing, and karaoke. This is also his place in teaching music for potential and professional musicians. Moreover, he also travelled to almost all the cities of Canada and America to perform with his influences like Lolita Carbon Asin, Wency Cornejo, Introvoys, Florante, Mike Hanopol, Banyuhay ni Heber, Richard Gomez, Ray Ann Fuentes, Joey Albert, Rick Manrique Jr, Miriam Pantiq, and Siakol. He also performed in corporate gigs in Chinese, Indian, Canadian, and in the Filipino community in North America. Eagles and Wings Tribute Concert 2015 is one of the remarkable stages of his career in Canada. Started with his own made concert held in his classroom, and now he already performed in his own big concert conducted at the Columbia Theatre, with the support of Vancouver’s fellow musicians, produced by La Riva Dance Studio Production. With all of these achievements, challenges, and hardships, the magic of music continues to make Ramiro inspired and motivated. “To connect the souls of the songs I am performing to the hearts of the people watching and listening. There’s a magic every time we play for people,” Ramiro explained. As his message to all the aspiring musicians out there, here it is. “Feel every note you play, and you will love it more, and most of all, dream big and make it happen,” Ramiro quoted.