FCM 2017 February Issue by Filipino Canadian Magazine

FCM

$2.99

IDEAS INSIGHTS IMPACT

Filipino Canadian Magazine

Celebrating Multicultural Marriage GUEST CONTRIBUTORS: DIGITAL MARKETING TIPS

C-R-A-V-E FOR A LASTING MARRIAGE

SARAH KIRKPATRICK

SHERRYLYN VIVERO

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF LIFE

BELIEVE YOU CAN ACHIEVE

VU NGUYEN

ANNIE CHUA

RAISING GOD-LOVING PROFESSIONALS

FILIPINA BEAUTY QUEENS OF MYRNA CUEVAS BRITISH COLUMBIA GLOREN GUELOS - Miss BC 2016 ANNE LONGAKIT - Miss Teenage Surrey 2016 SHAWNA WARHURST - Miss Teenage Maple Ridge | FCM2016 | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 | 1

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

CONTENTS

FEATURES

HEALTH 16 How To Get The Most Out Of Life: Take Chances And Stare Fear In The Face by Vu Nguyen

19 The Top 5 Roadblocks To Fitness And How To Overcome Them by Apple Cebedo

FAMILY 11 C-R-A-V-E For A Lasting Marriage by Sherrylyn Vivero 10 Raising God-Loving Professionals by Myrna Cuevas CAREER 30 Multiple Vantage Points Can Improve Your

Outcomes: The Power Of Different Perspectives by Michael Siervo

Logan and Olive Jost

Joe and Happy Wipf

BUSINESS 28 Money Manager by Valen Vergara 14 Digital Marketing Tips for the “Just Getting Started” Entrepreneur by Sarah Kirkpatrick

COMMUNIY 12 Canadian Forces Experience by Monique Flores INSPIRATION 29 Believe You Can Achieve by Annie Chua 32 Gloren Oladive Guelos Miss BC 2016 34 Anne Nathalie Ruth Montealegre Longakit Miss Teenage Surrey 2016

36 Shawna Nicole Taylor Pedida Warhurst Miss Teenage Maple Ridge 2016

24 Mustafa and Melanie Rawanbakhsh

Roberto and Bonnie Ugaddan

26 4

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

Jay and Megumi Vedoya

27 Allan and Robyn Manzano

Message from FCM

10 Ways to HURT Your Marriage By Abel Pagaling

es, you read the title right. It’s not a printing error.

When it comes to marriage issues, I noticed that people love to give solutions. I’m one of those people. We react to issues, but we don’t spend enough time talking about them before it happens. I’d like to offer a different approach on this topic because by the time a problem comes up in marriage, the damage has been done, and it might be too late to apply a solution. In this modern world where almost half of marriages fail, isn’t it useful to look at “what” could hurt your marriage so you can avoid it? I would think so. And I believe many of you do as well. Here are ten ways to hurt your marriage, and what you might be saying in your head when you do them. To be clear, THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DO. 1. Don’t spend time with your spouse. Husband: “We see each other each day. I don’t really see the need to talk all the time. After work, I just need to watch some T.V. and wind down.” Wife: “I’m too tired to discuss anything. I’ve done a lot today already. What’s there to really talk about?” 2. Don’t spend time with your kids. Wife: “That’s my husband’s role. I make them food, clean the house, do the dishes and laundry. I don’t have time to play with them.” Husband: “I buy them toys, computers and video games to fill their time. And I let them play outside with their friends. I even have them enrolled in swimming lessons and karate. I’m just not a playful dad. Besides, I’ve put in a lot of work this week. I don’t really have much time for playing. Who’s got time for that? ” 3. Ignore conflict. Husband: “Let it go. Time solves everything. No marriage is perfect. There’s always these differences of opinion. It’s always going to be there. And if I try to do something about, she gets hurt. Then we have to seek help to repair the damage.” Wife: “It just brings shame to my family. It’s too tiring. Who needs that? Let’s agree to

disagree and move on. It’s easier to sweep this one under the rug. I just won’t talk to him for awhile so he knows I’m upset.” 4. Be unfaithful. Husband: “When I see an attractive woman, I get excited! I check her on Facebook, ask her to go for a coffee, and start communicating with her until a relationship develops. My wife and kids won’t know anyway. What they don’t know won’t hurt them.” Wife: “I know some people are doing it. Plus, he wants to do it too. And I see it on television shows all the time. It’s human nature. I can’t help it. And he’s so charming, funny, and smart. We only live once so I should at least experience it. I’ll make sure no one gets hurt.” 5. You’re always right. Wife: “He doesn’t understand me. It’s not my fault that we’re arguing all the time. I’m not going to apologize. I didn’t do anything wrong.” Husband: “She’s so emotional. I just want her to shut-up and listen so I can show her she’s wrong.” 6. Be exclusive. Husband: “I don’t want to talk about my problems. They’re my problems. I can’t show that I’m weak. I’m the man of the house.” Wife: “Just stay away when I’m cranky. And if you have a problem, deal it first then come to me. I already have my pressures in life. I don’t want other’s issues on me.” 7. Take no responsibility. Wife: “It’s not my fault we don’t see eye to eye. I’m not the stubborn one. And if I give ground, then that means I’m wrong.” Husband: “I know I’m right so why should I apologize. I don’t have any issues. I’m not the negative one. I’m not the one crying all the time.”

9. Always criticize – point out the negatives. Wife: “Is it me that just sees mistakes in this house? Why can’t he or my kids do things right?“ Husband: “Every day, there’s always something that goes wrong. How many times do I have to point out everyone’s mistakes? Am I the only one thinking in this family?” 10. Don’t say “I love you.” Husband: “Honeymoon is over. We’re not dating anymore. Those years have passed. And I wrote “love” on my Christmas and Valentines card. That should be enough. No need to say this every day. ” Wife: “We have kids now. We have our careers. And we’re not as romantic as before. But we’re here for each other if needed. My husband should know this. What I do for us shows it already.” -------------As you read through the magazine, I hope you’ll find insights that will strengthen your marriage. Often, the root of our problems starts with us. We just need to have the humility to accept that we cause our issues. And once we do, we can allow ourselves and others around us to grow and become better people. For this issue, we celebrate multicultural marriage. Our featured couples shared a little piece of their story and their insights so we can learn from them. Our hope is that through the lessons they learned, we can strengthen our own marriages and have strong relationships with our spouses and kids. Enjoy our magazine! Abel Pagaling CEO FICA Media Inc.

8. Others first, family second Husband: “I can’t say no to my boss, friends, my coworkers, or my clients when they ask me to meet with them. My work is too important. If I refuse, I’ll look bad. And I don’t want to offend them by saying no. I might hurt their feelings.” Wife: “My family will understand. I’ll make it up some other time. They know my career is my calling in life and we have to make sacrifices to make it work. If I’m successful, we’re successful.” | FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

FCM THE TEAM

FCM – Filipino Canadian Magazine PUBLISHED BY | Fica Media Inc. EDITOR | Abel Pagaling CO-EDITOR | Annabelle Cayetano Pagaling MAGAZINE DESIGNER | Eric Cordero COVER FEATURE DESIGNER | Armand Flores PHOTOGRAPHY PARTNERS | PROFOLIO PHOTOGRAPHY with: Armand Flores Sam Flores www.profoliophotography.com CONTRIBUTORS FOR THIS ISSUE | Sarah Kirkpatrick, Vu Nguyen, Michael Siervo, Monique Flores, Annie Chua, Myrna Cuevas, Sherrylyn Vivero, Valen Vergara, Apple Cebedo, Anne Longakit, Gloren Guelos, Shawna Warhurst Front Cover: Venue: Austin’s Bar and Grill (www.austinsbar.com) Food Prep: Chef Jun Causapin, Austin’s Bar and Grill Models: Madeahl Yamyamin - Mrs. Pilipinas Canada Taylor King Madeahl’s Clothing by Pustura Hair, Make-up and Production: Evelyn Lopez, Alan Sergio Isidoro, Ontoy Amorado Photography: Profolio Photography by Armand Flores (www.profoliophotography.com) Did you get a copy of our previous Issue? Visit our website to see the online version!

FCM CONTRIBUTOR - COMMUNITY | Nicole San Gabriel Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in FCM are not necessarily the views of the publisher. To submit an article to FCM, Email: info@filcanmagazine.com. Submissions will be considered.

FICA MEDIA INC. Suite 300, 160 Quarry Park Blvd SE Calgary, Alberta T2C 3G3 Toll free: 1-888-844-1633 filcanmagazine.com info@filcanmagazine.com Facebook: facebook/filcanmagazine Twitter: @filcanmagazine Instagram: @filcanmagazine CEO | Abel Pagaling COO, CFO | Eric Cordero EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR | Vicky Cordero SOCIAL MEDIA ADMISTRATOR | Annabelle Pagaling ACCOUNTS MANAGER | Juvanie Cabbab Bowen BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM | Brent Anotado, Hanes Anotado , Armand Flores, Ning Becada Vicky Cordero, Flory Daloos, Marietta Pangan, Allan Sergio Isidoro ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Phone: 1-888-844-1633 advertise@filcanmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe, email: info@filcanmagazine.com 1 year: $38.50 (GST not included) FCM is published 12 times a year. Written consent must be obtained from the publisher to reproduce any of the content.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

#FCMTAGME

Ayen Evangelista

Do you have a copy of FCM? Send us a selfie with your FCM magazine to info@ filcanmagazine.com and you could be featured on our next issue!

Adan and Vilma Valdez

LIKE us on Facebook at facebook/ filcanmagazine

Lorie Ann Amolacion Vicky Domingo

Lloyd and Maryknoll Cabael

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

COMMUNITY Congratulations to our FilCan Ice Carving Champions of the 2017 Ice Magic Festival – 23rd International Ice Carving Competition in Lake Louise Rossarts Baisas and Antonio Baisas 1st Place - 34 Hours, 15 blocks People's Choice Award 1 Hour 1 Block Winners!!! And congratulations to: Diaryo Filipino TFCC – The Filipino Champions of Canada PCFC – Philippine Culinary Federation of Canada and FCM – Filipino Canadian Magazine For the successful collaboration on bringing our champions in Calgary! A special thank you to Chef Ricky Asuncion and his lovely wife Crystal of Mama Nita’s Binalot Restaurant for hosting the press conference and celebration of our champions!

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

Photos: Marietta Pangan and Art Wizard of Diaryo Filipino

Rossarts Baisas and Antonio Baisas

With TFCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jerry Caingcoy and Abel Pagaling

With FCM Staff

With Diaryo Filipino (Rommy)

With Diaryo Filipino Staff

With Philippine Culinary Federation of Canada

PCFC presentation of Jackets

With Philippine Culinary Federation of Canada

Photos: Eric Cordero of FCM

With FCM Staff

TFCC presentation of Certificates

With Marietta Pangan

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

FAMILY

RAISING GOD-LOVING PROFESSIONALS By Myrna Malacad Cuevas Secondly, we encouraged them to do their best in whatever they chose to do, whether it was washing dishes or studying for school. When they presented to us a 76% grade, knowing they gave their best effort to attain that grade, we commended them – even when they expected higher. We believed that obtaining a 76% grade with their best effort was better than a 90% grade for a mediocre effort. Thirdly, we imposed house rules with love. During their early ages, we encouraged them to read books rather than watch TV. TV time was limited to 30 minutes each day, which they could bank for later days. Dante made a TV timer for each of them so we could monitor their time spent. My husband and I followed the same limitations. We “walked the talk” as an example to them.

y Name is Myrna Malacad Cuevas. I grew up in a poor family in a small village of Antique, Philippines. My parents particularly my mother instilled the value of education in my siblings and me as children. Because of that value, I always studied hard in school and graduated as valedictorian of my High School class. Then through scholarships I went on to obtain a University degree and became a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to migrating to Canada with my family, I held a managerial position in a multi-million dollar corporation. My husband, Dante, was an engineer on internationally-bound ships that took him away from the family for most of the time. We decided to migrate to Canada in order for the family to be together. We came to Canada in 1989 when our eldest Mydene was 8 years old, our second eldest Darren was 6 years old, and our youngest Dan Mark was 2 years old. A new life began in a foreign land, without relatives or friends. Raising children was already a daunting responsibility but became even more so in a new county, new culture and new environment. We needed extraordinary wisdom, patience, guidance and love.

The journey we learned from raising our professional children can be summarized in the following principles: Firstly, we instilled in our children three essential elements regarding their identity: who they are, who they belong to, and what their purpose in life is. The verse that guided us was: “They will be called the oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendour” Isaiah 61:3b. WHO THEY ARE: They are Filipino Canadian Christians. They are representatives of their race, their country and their faith wherever they go. WHO THEY BELONG TO: They are ambassadors and witnesses of Jesus. PURPOSE IN LIFE: To display God’s splendour and excellence in and through their lives. They will do tasks with excellence for God.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

Household chores were divided among the five of us, starting when they were elementary-aged and no sleepovers in other houses were allowed but we were always willing to host friends under our supervision. We included our children in making our decisions. Any family member could call a family meeting if there was a conflict or issue. We taught them to respect, love and care for each other. The victory of one, is a victory for all; and the failure of one, is a failure for all. Each child was to help each other reach their goals through practical, emotional and spiritual support. We taught them to be kind and compassionate, and to serve the poor and less fortunate. Each child spent time volunteering at a homeless shelter and spent time being summer camp counselors for children. They went to a slum area in Manila and started a food program for children. Most importantly, we nurtured their faith in the Lord Jesus. Their success in pursuing their professional goals would not be possible without mentioning their faith – for with God, nothing is impossible. Parenting will always be a great joy! WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN NOW? Mydene Cuevas is a Business and Commercial Lawyer with Miles Davison LLP in Calgary, Alberta. Darren Cuevas is a Medical Doctor doing his residency on family medicine in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dan Mark Cuevas is an optometrist with Clinics in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, Alberta.

FAMILY

C-R-A-V-E for a Lasting Marriage By Sherrylyn Vivero

hen we were asked to share our marriage experience and give insightful marriage tips, we were hesitant. We thought, “Who are we to share our ideas with others? We’re not even close to our 50’s or 40’s yet. There are other people out there who are more qualified than us.”

versa. At times, we argue, raise our voice, and exchange heated debates just to let off steam.

your effort.” Or “Thank you, honey, for the excellentmeal, it’s yummy!”.

Respect to us means: No calling names, no cursing, and physical or verbal abuse is a big no-no. Divorce conversation is not even an option because the reality is - it’s hard to live alone. Divorce is hard and painful for everyone, especially for the kids.

VISUALIZE a common goal together.

But, we finally agreed so help couples who might be struggling in their marriage.

We also stick to our rule, “Ours and Ours alone,” which means whatever challenges we have as a couple we’ll handle it first. We discourage each other from sharing it with other people. If we can take care of it as adults – we solve it first. We pray about it and then listen to each other. Communication is key!

We narrowed our tips to five things we call C-R-A-V-E. ---CELEBRATE RESPECT AFFIRM VISUALIZE ENJOY ---

CELEBRATE each other’s unique traits. I believe in the sayings that "opposites attract," and "birds of the same feather flock together.” People partner with others who share their values. Even though we have differences, my husband and I value the same life principles. We’re both God-fearing, family-oriented, and frugal in living. We’ve set realistic expectations with one another. For example, since women are excellent in multi-tasking, I don’t expect Ron (not anymore) to do as much as he can at the same time. Men, by nature, focuses on one task at a time (that’s how their brains are programmed). For years we’ve struggled with our differences. But instead of fighting about it, we learned to celebrate each other’s uniqueness. RESPECT one another no matter what the circumstances are. We had dated for four years before we became married in 2008. We believe in the saying that “Marriage is a friendship set on fire.” I love the idea of treating my partner with utmost respect no matter what the circumstances are. I can be who I am when I am with him and vice

One thing that makes our bond extra special is that we have compassion for each other even when we are in the middle of a conflict. To be honest, we don’t feel romantic all the time, but our respect for each other is constant. Respect is the backbone of our friendship.

AFFIRM and show your affection. With regards to showing affection, we love the following: back rubs or massages, hugging, kissing, dancing (while I’m doing something). We go for a date once a week. We encourage each other and say words like “You can do it, honey. You’re excellent in what you do! I’m here beside you if ever you need me.” With Ron, he always views me with a slightly positive bias. He will say: “You’re beautiful even though you just woke up.” Or, “You’re beautiful even though you don’t have any makeup on you.” Ten years of being together and he still makes my heart beat a little bit faster. I even want to clone him so I can share him with others who are looking for a wonderful partner (haha!). Our church community, and the book titled “5 Languages of Love” played a big part in keeping our marriage strong. We learned that our love language is “Words of Affirmation.” Every time we have the opportunity, we make sure that we verbalize our affirmation, especially when doing mundane daily tasks. We say words like, “Thank you, honey, for taking out the garbage, I appreciate

We believe in feeding our minds with positive ideas. To help us remember, we made a simple mantra that we always recite after we pray at night and before we close our eyes: I BOUNCE! I – I am an instrument of God’s love B - believe in my business because I think big O – optimistic about the future because I focus U – unstoppable N - no (the power of) C – choose wisely because I build wealth E – enjoy life to the fullest!

ENJOY life to the fullest. Last but certainly not the least, we are mindful of enjoying the simple things in life. We spend time with our children and family. We build memories and cherish every journey (it’s not always the destination that matters). We eat healthy balanced diet, drink plenty of water, read books, dance Zumba, laugh a lot, be silly at times, play sports and enjoy our sex life! I remember running away on our honeymoon night because it was our first time to enjoy the “gift of sex” (but there’s nowhere to go, we’re in a cruise ship!). It was indeed worth the wait. Now, we are passing the torch to you. “Marriage is not an easy journey, but if you listen to all the passengers and know where you’re going, you’ll have a fun and enjoyable adventure. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!” ______________________________________ Ron and Sherrylyn are based out of Calgary, Alberta. They’re an amazing couple, successful entrepreneurs (photography and video), and passionate about their church and the community. They are a great role model for young couples! Visit their website: www.viverofilms.com

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

COMMUNITY

Canadian Forces Experience By Monique Flores

“Everything in the military revolves around teamwork. I have learned to uphold certain values in my personal life like integrity and discipline.”

have been with the Canadian Armed Forces for over a year now, and my experience has been a very challenging, but also a very fun and rewarding one.

Why I wanted to join the Canadian Armed Forces: I joined the Reserves (part time) as a Medical Assistant (Med A) with the 15 Field Ambulance detachment in Calgary. The main reason why I joined the Canadian Armed Forces was to ultimately challenge myself both mentally and physically, and to do something that not many people would set out to do in their lifetime. I wanted to feel a sense of purpose and to be part of an organization. I have always had an interest in being in the army, especially since I have many family members who are in the US military. I have had an opportunity to visit a few bases in the US and, was exposed to the military lifestyle. This included shooting a gun for the first time at an outdoor range. I was determined, but scared primarily because

I knew there weren’t too many females in the army. And because this was so out of my comfort zone, I wasn’t absolutely sure if I could do it. But then I thought, “What’s the worst that can happen?”

and took an oath to serve my country and officially became a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Joining the Canadian Armed Forces:

I then started my basic training shortly thereafter. Basic Training consists of two courses – Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) and Basic Military Qualification Land (BMQ-L). These are the two courses all reservists need no matter what trade a member goes into. Both courses are Infantry like courses where you learn all the basic military skills, and upon completion, allows you to complete your specific trade courses in order to be employable and/or deployable. You have the option of doing these courses on a full time basis, or on a part-time basis, which is the option I chose. The biggest challenge in that option is adjusting from a civilian lifestyle (for me, going to work at the hospital and spending time with family and friends) to a strict military lifestyle. During training weekends of my BMQ course, there was a certain routine we followed.

So off I went to apply. I attended an information session to learn more about the Reserves and the Canadian Armed Forces. I completed an application which took almost an entire year. It is highly dependent on what trade a person is applying for and when an applicant is available to come in for the tests and interviews. You are asked to choose your top three trades and so for myself, I chose “Med A” as my first choice. I work as a nurse on the civilian side and wanted to stay in a similar field. The rest of the application involves paperwork (obtaining personal information, school transcripts, etc.), an aptitude test, an interview with an officer, medical exams, and a fitness test. After completing all of this, I was offered a position with 15 Field Ambulance. I had a formal swearing-in ceremony on August 12th, 2015

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

Basic Training:

from the stairs. This was our wake up call to do a ruck march. These sort of things seemed like punishments at the time, but what it really teaches us is to be disciplined individuals. They pushed us both mentally and physically. For me, I struggled more with the physical aspect than mentally. I was one of the smallest and shortest in my platoon, which gave me a disadvantage. I’ve always been an active person but I have never pushed myself to the point where I am uncomfortable in my workouts. Not to mention, I am not a fan of running or doing push-ups, and those are two things the military loves. They also do not expect any less of me because I am a female in the military. I was expected to perform equally as well as my male counterparts. Every week, our PT would get more challenging. We ended our BMQ course with a 20 km ruck march, and we even did circuit training course with gas masks on!

We checked in Friday evenings and set up our sleeping spaces. In the mornings, we were woken up at 500 am to do morning PT (physical training) which usually consisted of running or a ruck march (which is a fast march with all your gear on). The rest of the day consisted of learning about military policies, weapons handling, working in a biological warfare environment, first aid, and learning how to do parade drill. We ended our day by cleaning weapons and bedtime was at 1100 p.m. I learned quickly that this was not an environment to be comfortable in. All the instructors that taught our course were all very experienced and respectable individuals. Many of them have deployed overseas and were able to motivate us and push us to be the strongest version of ourselves. I was constantly pushed to limits I didn’t know I had. Even though we had a routine, there were many things that came as a surprise. I remember one night when we had all fallen asleep, and were woken up at one in the morning to garbage cans being dropped

BMQ-L was more of a field course where we got to apply the skills we learned in BMQ and learn new skills like doing section attacks, going on recces, digging trenches, learning to use a machine gun, and acting in an offensive or defensive position. My favourite part was definitely shooting the machine gun at the range. Not many people get the opportunity to do that. This course was mostly spent outside in the field where we slept in just our sleeping bags. Call it camping if you would, but not as relaxed. My most memorable experience on this course was learning the defensive operations, in which we dug trenches to hide from the enemy. I had never experienced sleep deprivation like I have during that time. I had 30 minutes of sleep total over 3 days. Experiences such as these are not even half of what our deployed troops have to go through.

stressful as I have always worked multiple jobs at a time, but my experience in the army has been by far the toughest one I have ever had. It has been more demanding than the pressures I have had to go through in my personal life and through nursing school. However, even though my experience has been a challenging one, it is because of that, that I am able to look back and give myself a pat on the back for accomplishing things I never thought I could do. Overcoming these challenges has given me that sense of fulfillment and feeling of purpose that I am doing not only something for myself, but also for the citizens of my country. Overall, it has truly been a rewarding experience. I strongly encourage others to join the Canadian Armed Forces for numerous reasons – maybe you’re up for a challenge like I was, you have the desire to learn new skills, you want to experience something different and fun, or meet like-minded people. Whatever it is, I assure you that your journey will be as fulfilling and unique as mine. _____________________________________ Monique is a nurse and reservist with the Canadian Forces. She is a big believer in gaining knowledge and life experience to better one’s self. She can be reached at: moniqueflores08@hotmail.com for any assistance in creating a resume/cover letter or advice in applying for a job.

What I have learned: Since joining, completing my basic training, and having gone on a couple exercises with my unit, I have learned many skills that I wouldn’t have been able to learn anywhere else. I have met so many amazing people that have become my second family. I know that these are lifelong friends I have made because of everything we have gone through together. You get so close to the people you do your courses with, because you are with them 24/7 and they see you at your best and weakest. You really learn to push not only yourself, but your teammates as well. Everything in the military revolves around teamwork. I have learned to uphold certain values in my personal life like integrity and discipline. I have also noticed that I have become a more patient person with myself and with those around me. I have always lived a fast-paced lifestyle and some would even say

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

BUSINESS

DIGITAL MARKETING TIPS FOR THE ‘JUST GETTING STARTED’ ENTREPRENEUR By Sarah Kirkpatrick

hen starting a new business there seems to be a neverending list of things to do and learn and keep on top of, so why add another task to the list? You have your idea, you've talked to an accountant, you've registered your name, and you’re ready to quit your job and find success. There is just one thing missing… letting people outside of your immediate circle know you exist. There is noting more exhilarating than your first ‘stranger’ purchase. When someone who doesn’t know you personally buys from you. That is the first measure of success. It could be from a referral, or it could be because of advertising – either way, awareness is key. So how do you get to that milestone? How do you launch a business and have the customers pour in? There are a number of things that make a business successful, and I’m here to discuss the ‘awareness’ portion of it.

Why is digital marketing important? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

It legitimizes your company. It acts as an outlet for customer service. It creates brand awareness. It enhances search engine optimization (SEO). It sparks brand loyalty.

Makes sense; you need to be online in order to talk to all of the people there and build relationships with them. But where do you start?

Website tips: Before we get into social media… we need to talk about a website. A hub. A place for interested parties to land and really get in touch with your brand. A website is what differentiates the professionals from the amateurs.

searchable informative and/or entertaining posts that bring people to your website. •

Follow the 80/20 rule.

•

80% of your blogs should not be ‘sales’ related, 20% can be directly about your company/products/services.

Have one

•

Always stick to your industry.

•

Make sure it is editable and manageable. by you (so you don't have to pay a developer for every little change).

•

Even when you’re not writing about your company, it should still be relevant to your niche.

•

Ex: Wordpress, squarespace, etc.

•

Have strong branding.

•

Design it with your logo, colours, great images, etc.

Brainstorm keywords and use them 2-3 times, including variations in the body copy, and in the blog title.

•

Get professional photography done.

•

Have it professionally written.

Never send a blog out that doesn’t have a specific purpose. Choose keywords that are relevant to your company and to the blog.

•

Keyword friendly, reader friendly, spell checked.

•

Have an attention grabbing title.

•

Have a blog page.

Write down 10 titles and then pick the best one. When starting, don’t be afraid to ask friends and family which title they would click on first.

•

Write 500-800 words per blog (300 minimum) for SEO purposes.

•

Offer enough information so that it is worthwhile to read, but not too much that you loose attention. You also need room to add keywords without ‘stuffing’.

•

Post at least twice a month.

•

Blog tips Your blog is what tells Google that you are offering new information and that you’re still in business. Google likes to see that a website is constantly changing and has keywords to offer viewers. Can you imagine how annoying it would be to update your ‘about’ page every 2 weeks? Instead, blogs were invented. But that is only the technical side. Blogs are your opportunity to build trust and show yourself off as an expert in your field. Blogs are

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

Social Media tips Like a website, consumers go to social media to find out more about a company. They want to see more than what is on your ‘about’ page and get an understanding of how you speak to your customers and stay present. •

Don't start a profile on every social media channel.

•

1-3 properly managed profiles (consistent, unique content, replies to comments) is far better than trying to be everywhere with 5-7 profiles that are duds.

•

Never buy likes.

•

It’s very obvious when a company buys followers (1000+ followers and 1 person likes the posts) and it looks desperate. You can also get penalized and have your account shut down.

•

Never delete bad comments, unless they are inappropriate.

•

Complaints allow you to address your customers’ concerns in a transparent way that shows others how you handle situations.

•

Be consistent when posting to gain more awareness and stay present.

•

When a person sees your company name it plants a small seed. This seed can lay dormant until the actual need for your product/service arises. People must see a message or name a minimum of 7 times before remembering it.

•

People are more willing to purchase from companies that they have interacted with before. By being present on social media you are opening up the lines of communication to a whole slew of people that you may not have engaged with before.

Don’t be overwhelmed. This can all be taken in strides. You do not need to be a social media guru and blogger extraordinaire your first day – but it is certainly something you should start working towards. Link your social media pages to icons on your website, write a few blogs to be scheduled out, and keep your eyes open for fun and unique links (other peoples blogs are fine while you get started) that you can share with your audience. If it’s all too much and you don’t know where to start, there are people you can hire to help you with strategy and content creation – so you can focus on what you do best – the business. _______________________________________________ Ms. Kirkpatrick is a social media manager, copywriter, public speaker, and owner of Jumping Elephant – groundbreaking advertising! jumpingelephant.guru

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

HEALTH

How to Get the Most Out of Life: Take Chances and Stare Fear in the Face By Vu Nguyen

What exactly are “mistakes” and “failures” and what does the word “safe” really mean?

IVING IN FEAR – PLAYING IT SAFE

In my life, the most profound of lessons have come from the unlikeliest of people and often at the most unsuspecting of times. There is much to learn in life – you just have to be a willing student. Personally, I’ve found that my greatest lessons have come in the form of “mistakes” or “failures”. Rather, they’ve come in the form of what society deems to be mistakes or failures. Society has taught us to live within a certain standard, to “play it safe,” and to be risk-adverse. And, in complete compliance, most of us do just that. We live within our safe bubbles, never daring to do more than obtain a four-year degree and work an 8 to 5 job that we don’t particularly enjoy. This life is dull, but this life is also “safe”. Before you read on, let me ask you this: what exactly are “mistakes” and “failures” and what does the word “safe” really mean? Why aren’t you allowed to decide this for yourself? The fact is, you are. Unfortunately, as a society, we’ve been programmed to conform to someone else’s definitions of these words.

SAFETY IS A LIE Don’t get me wrong, I certainly acknowledge and understand why we are afraid to deviate from the norm. It’s uncomfortable. Perhaps even scary. Not to mention, the potential scrutiny from

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

your family, friends, and neighbors would be too much to bear. However, if you want to grow, discomfort is part of the process. Albert Einstein, renowned for being one of the smartest and most influential figures in our history said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” This applies to each and every one of us – no matter how many times you add two and two you’ll never get five. Do you know anyone who consistently achieves results which they, themselves, deem to be unsatisfactory but refuse to do anything different because of fear and insecurity? Are you one of them? If you answered yes, don’t fret. You’re not alone. Whether by societal, cultural, or familial influence, we have been taught to believe that the fear of failure protects us from failure. This is one of life’s biggest lies. You will fail in life. It’s inevitable. It’s how you react to failure that actually matters. Always staying in the safe zone is actually quite dangerous. It leads to dissatisfaction, unhappiness, depression, and anger with oneself and others. I’ve seen it happen. I know you have too. By playing it safe, you are a spectator to your own life. Simply put, to grow and to develop, you must stray from the safe comfort zone and risk failure. It’s scary, I get it. Sometimes you just have to take chances and stare fear in the face.

“To set goals simply means to expect more of yourself and then holding yourself accountable by measuring your progress against the predetermined metric.” I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve made bad decisions. Plenty of them. That’s just the nature of business. That’s just the nature of life. But, as it pertains to learnings, lessons, and growth, I always gain more from decisions that don’t necessarily yield the expected result. Through someone else’s lens, this is “failure”. Through my lens, I see something completely different. I don’t believe in failure. In fact, I’ve redefined my definition of failure. If I’ve applied the appropriate and necessary due diligence, I didn’t fail. I learned a lesson. I simply take a “backto-the-drawing-board” approach, revise, and correct until I do achieve the expected result. The point is if I truly believe in something and if I’ve applied the appropriate and necessary due diligence, I would prefer to put the notion of safety on the line, stare fear in the face and take a leap of faith.

As I eluded to earlier, there is plenty of support out there. However, you may have to look outside of your immediate group.

5 ACTIONS YOU NEED TO TAKE IMMEDIATELY: Here are five things that I suggest you do to get the most out of life: •

Identify your passion(s) – doesn’t it just make sense that you get more out of life if you do the things you love?

•

Find a mentor – learning from someone who has more life experience or experience in your field of interest is one of the most practical things you can do.

•

Find a mentee – your ability to help others is a luxury that can’t be overlooked. If you don’t believe you qualify, know that everyone has something to contribute.

•

Set goals – know that you can do better and then hold yourself accountable. Reward yourself if you achieve that goal. Reward yourself for learning a lesson if you didn’t achieve that goal.

•

Take risks – be bold. If life isn’t going the way that you had once imagined, make a plan, exercise the appropriate due diligence, and take a leap of faith.

EXPECT MORE OF YOURSELF – SET GOALS Many people cringe when they hear the term “goals”. Why? For these people, setting goals means the potential for failure.

REDEFINING “FAILURE” I can sum up my life in a few words: it’s not easy and, at times, it’s extremely uncomfortable. But, it’s thrilling, and I love it. In my journey, I’ve made decisions that society, family, and friends have deemed to be too “risky” and “daring”. Those closest to me are always trying to talk me out of my “obsession”. I’ll listen but, unless they present a very compelling argument, I just brush it off. Why? I’ve learned that the ones who try the hardest to stop you from doing something bold are typically the same ones who despise their own direction and have already submitted to complacency. Why would I listen to those who aren’t satisfied with their own lives when I strive to be satisfied with my own? Why would I listen to those who are afraid to push their boundaries when I strive to be the best that I can be? (I know I sound cynical but, believe me, there is support out there. I have plenty.)

Goals don’t have to be grandiose life goals. They don’t have to be monetary goals. They don’t have to be career goals. To set goals simply means to expect more of yourself and then holding yourself accountable by measuring your progress against the predetermined metric. Relax. They are your goals. They are completely personal, and you are only competing against yourself. Don’t get me wrong, as mentioned before, you will face discomfort. That’s a part of it. Whether you want to lose or gain weight, learn a new language, start a new blog, you must be willing to face some discomfort. Discomfort is a sign that you’re doing the right things; that you’re progressing. You should also accept that you will face objection and opposition. Even though they are personal goals, there will always be those who want to convince you that your goals are stupid or unobtainable. Ignore them. It’s human nature to try and suppress others who are doing things that they, themselves, don’t have the discipline or the guts to do. This is just noise.

GET ON IT! Too many people sit and watch their lives go by. Don’t be one of them. Life is real short and real dull that way. I implore you to not be a spectator to your own life but be the leading character. Be willing to make mistakes and learn from them. Set goals. Have dreams. Take chances. Take action. You won’t regret it. (This article was originally posted on www. vnvigor.com) ______________________________________ Vu Nguyen is the owner and founder of the Calgary-based health and fitness company VN Vigor. To know more about Vu and VN Vigor, visit www.vnvigor.com.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

HEALTH

The Top 5 Roadblocks to Fitness and How to Overcome Them By Apple Cebedo

hether you are new to exercise or have been active for a long time, you will encounter some barriers along the way that may hold you back from achieving your goals. Here are the top 5 roadblocks to being physically fit and how to overcome each one:

out what you are interested in and follow! Another good thing about social media is that it works on your own time (see #1).

3. Diet

“I don’t have time.” I constantly hear this phrase when it comes to fitness, and it is the number one excuse for not being physically active. For most of us, the hustle and bustle of our busy lives seem to have no room for fitness. But if you make your health a priority in your life, you will make time for yourself, regardless of how “busy” you are. There will never be the right time to step on that treadmill for the first time – YOU have to decide to take that first step and YOU create that first time. After that first step, take the second step and keep going until you make it a habit. Prioritize your health by writing down what you plan to do on your calendar. Start with 30 minutes of physical activity daily; that’s 2% of your day, which is not a lot of time at all!

A common misconception about fitness is that if you exercise, it doesn’t matter what you eat. The opposite is actually true. If you exercise, it matters even MORE what you eat. Fitness is 20% exercise and 80% nutrition. The science is simple – in order to lose weight, your caloric intake must be less than your caloric expenditure. Our metabolism is designed to store excess calories if they are not used and there are only so many calories you can expend in an hour of exercise. If you think about how many times you eat in one day, you spend more time eating than exercising! A proper diet and healthy eating habits are more important than how fast you can run or how heavy you can lift. See a nutritionist or a registered dietician if you’re unsure about getting the proper nutrition.

2. Money

4. Lack of support and motivation

Lack of money is the second excuse for inactivity and what some will say is a huge roadblock to their health and fitness goals. Exercise programs, personal trainer sessions, diet plans, gym memberships, athletic clothing and accessories are not cheap or necessary. And there are plenty of options to engage in physical activity without breaking the bank. Outdoor exercises such as jogging, walking, running, and hiking are a great start for beginners; they're also free! Another good resource is YouTube and social media. Plenty of health and fitness professionals have social media platforms dedicated to helping and motivating others to become healthy and fit. Explore the Internet, find

For those of you who are new to exercise, it can be overwhelming to step into the gym or try that yoga class for the first time; especially if you’re doing it alone. Motivation is important to help get you started on your goals, and support and accountability are what will keep you on track towards them. Surround yourself with people who have similar goals, and who are also working towards their own fitness. Not only is it fun to exercise with someone, but also you’re motivating and inspiring each other to be active and healthy! If you ever find yourself unmotivated to exercise, just remember what your goals are and remind yourself of how important it is to you and you will push

1. Time

through it. If you need some tips on how to get motivated, read my previous article on motivation. (http://filcanmagazine. com/index.php/2016/05/20/get-off-yourbutt-5-ways-to-get-motivated/)

Disbelief in oneself “What is achievable in your life is based upon the beliefs you tell yourself.” - Karen Salmansohn

We are our own worst critics. We expect too much and we become disappointed when our efforts don’t give us the results we desire. It can be frustrating when you work hard at the gym for weeks and only lose a pound at the end of the month. But tell yourself that there is always a reason why; that you can always figure it out and overcome it by believing in yourself. Say, "I know I can do it, so I will." Be realistic with yourself and set goals you know you can reach. Reward yourself when you reach those goals, then move on to the next goal and reward yourself again. Continue to stay positive with your efforts! The only time we fail is when we give up. So keep trying, and don’t stop! You will get there. __________________________________ Apple Cebedo is a Personal Fitness Trainer, Nutritionist, and an Independent Beachbody Health Coach based in Calgary, Alberta. She is passionate about health, fitness, nutrition, and hopes to motivate and inspire others to live healthier, happier lives. If you are looking for help to get started with your health and fitness journey, she can be contacted via email at abcebedo@gmail.com.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

Joe and Happy Wipf Mustafa and Melanie Rawanbakhsh

Jay and Megumi Vedoya

Allan and Robyn Manzano

Roberto and Bonnie Ugaddan

Logan and Olive Jost

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

Logan and Olive Jost

Ethnic backgrounds: Canadian and Filipino Tell us what you do for: Work: Masonry Foreman Hobbies: Running, and a family man. Likes to watch my kids doing their sports, bring son to soccer, and girl to gymnastics. Climb mountains and do running, including marathons. Have adventures. Name of your kids, and age: Christopher, 11 and Kaira, 8 Your favorite activities with your kids: Camping and hiking Birthplace: British Columbia, Canada When did you meet Olive: 2002 How did you meet Olive? Met her in a church. First impression Olive: Very nice, and quiet. Didn’t know if she’d notice me at all. Thought I’d like to get to know her first. She was a friend of a friend, and I got a chance to see her often. How did you propose? I proposed to her, but there were immigration issues with her papers. We did not want be scrutinized as a “marriage of convenience.” Through a lot of prayer and persistence, her immigration problems were resolved. After that, we got married. It was a stressful time for us but was followed by a lot of joy. Three things you admire about Olive: 1. She’s an incredibly kind and good hearted person. She always looks for the good in everyone. She’s not quick to find fault in people. She’s got this kind character. 2. She’s very enthusiastic when she enjoys something; she’s very lively and passionate about it. 3. She’s beautiful! Your favorite family activities: 1. Definitely not the mall! 2. Family snowshoeing. It’s a nice adventure with kids. 3. Running events with the kids. Kids really like running with me and Olive. Biggest challenge regarding multicultural marriage: There are different cultural values. Different concepts of respects that need to be learned. Different concepts of time. Parties are very different culturally. There are bigger and extravagant parties in the Filipino culture. Your advice for men on resolving conflict in marriage: It’s simple but complicated at the same time. Selfishness and unfair expectations are the root causes of a lot of conflict in marriage. Considering your spouse’s needs over yourselves helps immensely. Who are your biggest influences in your life and why? As the years go by, I appreciate my parents more and more. I appreciate the wisdom I get from them in making family decisions. They have a moderate approach to life which I find valuable.

For Olive

Photo by PROFOLIO Photography

For Logan

Tell us what you do for: Work: Childcare provider and a day home operator Hobbies: I love cooking, baking, running, snowshoeing, mountain scrambling (combination of hiking and mountain climbing). I have stood on about 80 mountains summits, all with my husband. Your favorite activities with your kids: I like baking with my kids, doing craft with them. Running, snowshoeing and wall climbing with them. I love spending time with them and camping. Bringing them to small mountains. They’ve done six summits now. I just love spending time with them and enjoying fun, outdoor activities with them. Birthplace: Bicol, Naga City Philippines When did you arrive in Canada? December 2001 First impression of Logan? First time I met him was in a Bible study. He has beautiful eyes and was so cute. We became close friends. Three things you admire about Logan: 1. His love to spend time with his children. He values family first. He works hard for us. His love for me and our kids. 22 | FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

2. He’s my self-confidence builder. He cheers me up when I’m down. Some days I don’t feel confident, but he’s always there to build me up. Logan is my best friend. He is my favorite running and mountain adventure buddy. He is the best GPS I ever had. 3. He loves my mama and my family. And he loves God and shares it with his children. Your family’s happiest moments: When mom decided to join us here in Canada. Mama has 11 children. She could stay with any of them, but she decided to stay with my family, and that makes me happy. Camping is always fun. Kids love to be in the forest. Camping gets us unplugged from society. We bond and create memories as a family. Biggest challenge regarding multicultural marriage? Differences in parenting regarding the disciplining of our kids. When my son was born, I wanted him to stay with me in our bed. But my husband wanted him to sleep in his bed. Food preference was a challenge at the beginning. Now, I cook all Filipino food in the house. Your advice to women on resolving conflict in marriage? I always go back to what the Bible says in Ephesian 4:26 “In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are angry.” Never go to sleep when there’s an unresolved problem. You will not get a good sleep anyway! Empathy- put yourself in their shoes, by focusing on the actual problem not on your husband as a problem. By compromising and figuring out what matters most to each other. Sometimes it’s a win-win situation for not being selfish. Your advice for raising kids? Spend time with your children. It’s the key to everything. Build their self- confidence. Let them know how much you love them and how special and important they are to you. Discipline them. Be a model. That’s the best way to teach your children. Who are your biggest influences in your life and why? My mother. I’ve seen how she loves my father. How she worked had for her family, and she loves us unselfishly. She amazes me with her unselfish love. Many times I say “I want to be like her.” She has a golden heart.

Joe and Happy Wipf

Ethnic backgrounds: Canadian and Filipino Tell us what you do for: Work: Professionally, I manage a finance department for an oil and gas company. I’m a CPA, CGA - Chartered Professional Accountant. Hobbies: Running, biking, hiking. Name of your kids, and age: Althea - 9 and Ariana - 4 Your favorite activities with your kids: Swimming Birthplace: Rosetown, Saskatchewan When did you meet Happy? 1999 at University of Saskatchewan through a mutual friend. We were in University. First impression of Happy: The first meeting I was being a jerk. She offered me food, and I turned her down. She’s a nice lady and she just grew on me. What attracted you to her? She was always friendly, very consistent, huge smile all the time. How did you propose? I hid roses along the South Saskatchewan River. We went for a walk, then I grabbed the roses and proposed. When did you get married? August 17, 2002 Three things you admire about Happy: 1. She’s an awesome mom. 2. When I’m irritated and angry, she stays consistent, and it helps me calm down. 3. I admire how she interacts with people at church, work, and at home. She gets great reviews and feedback from work and people. She’s very innovative in how she interacts. One time, she had a client who only spoke Spanish. She used google translation to communicate with her client. Your favorite family activities: We like biking, and going to the park. We take our dog for walks. We enjoy being out of the house together. Biggest challenge regarding multicultural marriage: I don’t have an issue with the Filipino culture. It’s been an easy transition for me because I grew up in a Hutterite community. I was a visible minority in the way we dress. Although I was caucasian, I had to interact with different cultures. It’s a challenge sometimes when my in-laws speak Tagalog. I just move aside when that happens. Your advice to men on resolving conflict in marriage: Listen, and if you can talk things through to understand her perspective, that’s very helpful. I process stuff slowly, so it helps. Think first before you react and make a bunch of assumptions or become mad or say a bunch of stuff that serves no purpose. Who are your biggest influences in your life and why? My brothers. I grew up as a Hutterite. Our education goes only to grade 8 then we join to the workforce. My brothers went out of their way to get their degrees. I look up to them. I left the colony and took my degree and now my CPA. I have the highest level of education in my family. My brothers inspired me to do that.

For Happy

Tell us what you do for: Work: Dental Hygienist Hobbies: Yoga, spin – stationary bike, singing, cooking Your favorite activities with your kids: Swimming Birthplace: Manila, Philippines When did you arrive in Canada? 1992 First impression of Joe? He was a jerk! What attracted you to him? Good work ethic. He persevered through all of his schooling. It didn’t come easy for him coming from a colony.

Photo by PROFOLIO Photography

For Joe

Three things you admire about Joe: 1. Really hard-working. If he has a goal, he will get it. It doesn’t matter how long it takes; he will get it. 2. He’s very caring. Great with our kids. 3. Not afraid to try things. Very hands on. He’s always helping me our the kids. He even braids their hair. He loves his girls so much. He’s very handy in the house. Your family’s happiest moments: Our dinners, when we eat out or at home, and Joe asked our girls how’s their day. It’s the conversations we have is my favorite. Your favorite family activities: Swimming, and shopping. Biggest challenge regarding multicultural marriage: It’s not a big of a deal for me. We speak English. Sometimes when he speaks German with his family, it feels different, but I don’t mind. I don’t see culture as a challenge. He might not have the same appreciation of our traditions as I do but he tries everything. When he was in the Philippines, he felt at home there. Your advice to women on resolving conflict in marriage: Pray first before you say anything. Think about it first then talk after. Your advice for raising kids: Pray with the kids, and read the Bible with them. Always remind them that God is there for them. If they have faith in God, then they have everything they need. Who are your biggest influences in your life and why: My mom and dad. They sacrificed a lot for me. They serve in the church. All their lives, they are always willing to serve at the church in whatever capacity. | FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

Mustafa and Melanie Rawanbakhsh Ethnic backgrounds: Afghan and Filipino For Mustafa:

For Mel:

Photo by PROFOLIO Photography

Tell us what you do for: Work: I work in the Insurance industry. Hobbies: I train at the gym often in order to keep up with my kids! (They are full of energy!) Name of your kids, and age: Eliana is eight years old, and Leora is four years old. Your favorite activities with your kids: Park hopping, swimming and running with the kids. (Somewhat like "Tag" and somehow, I'm always "it") Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan When did you arrive in Canada? When I was eight years old. When did you meet Mel? We met in 2006. How did you meet Mel? We met at a social event in Toronto. How did you propose? I proposed on an island, down on one knee. When did you propose? I proposed a year after we met. When did you get married? We got married in 2008. Tell us what you do for: Work: I'm a Marketing Specialist. Hobbies: Kids, Kids and kids – whatever they love to do, I do it with them! (Reading, Biking, park activities, etc.) Your favorite activities with your kids: Playing Hide and Go Seek. It’s a classic game! (And we play it with a twist. We pop out and scare each other! It's hilarious.) Birthplace: Ontario, Canada First impression of Mustafa? Extremely handsome; like magazine kind of handsomeness. What attracted you to him? His smile and dimples. Three things you admire about Mustafa? 1. His love for his family 2. His willingness to help others (including strangers) and 3. His honesty. Your family’s happiest moments? When we're together and laughing together. Your favorite family activities? Taking the kids to the lake, parks and zoo outings. Biggest challenge regarding multicultural marriage? Language. I would love our children to be able to speak many languages. Unfortunately, I only speak English so I can't teach my children Tagalog and wouldn’t be much help in teaching the kids' Mustafa's first language either. Your advice for women on resolving conflict in marriage? Communicate. Many issues arise from a misunderstanding or

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

miscommunication. Open up, always be truthful and listen to each other. Your advice for raising kids? Be patient with them. I'm not perfect, I'm still learning how to be consistently patient with them in certain areas, but if you remember that YOU too are learning, you'll realize quickly that they too; are still learning as well. Who are your biggest influences in your life and why? My grandmother and my father. My grandmother has taught me how to give and not expect in return. I apply this rule to many areas in life and it grounds me. My father has taught me the meaning of unconditional love. No matter what obstacle and circumstance, he remains supportive and loves me always.

Roberto & Bonnie Ugaddan Ethnic backgrounds: Filipino and Canadian

Tell us what you do for: Work: Administrative Support 1, for Intact Insurance. Hobbies: Music, traveling, learning new languages and culture. Name of your kids, and age: Lilly – 10 years old and Mateo 2 - years old Your favorite activities with your kids: playing with them, making music together and going for walks. Birthplace: Manila. Philippines When did you arrive in Canada? September 30, 1997 When did you meet Bonnie? March 2010 How did you meet Bonnie? Online dating First impression of Bonnie? Friendly and beautiful What attracted you to her? Her kindness, eyes, and smile. How did you propose? While going for a walk on a snowy day in Canmore. When did you propose? April 14, 2012 When did you get married? September 22, 2012 Three things you admire about Bonnie? Kindness, loving nature and Intelligence. Your favorite family activities? Music, watching tv, walking the dog, swimming, and sports. Biggest challenge regarding multicultural marriage? Different points of views when it comes to the upbringing of children and different mentality on certain matters. Your advice for men on resolving conflict in marriage? Always listen to your partner with an open heart and respect and trust each other and forgive each other’s shortcomings. Who are your biggest influences in your life and why? Musically I’d have to say The Beatles since they are the reason I picked up the guitar and started to learn it and paved my way to the path of being a musician. Personally my Mother for her strength that she showed through the adversities that she encountered in her life while raising three children.

For Bonnie:

Photo by PROFOLIO Photography

For Roberto:

Tell us what you do for: Work: Self Employed – Own/Operate MrsGrocery.com Calgary Hobbies: Crafts, Games and Reading. Your favorite activities with your kids: Swimming, going to the playground, going to the zoo. Birthplace: Calgary First impression of Roberto? Very smiley. What attracted you to him? He was very friendly and personable. Three things you admire about Roberto? Sense of humor, laid back, his musical skills. Your family’s happiest moments? Watching the kids laugh and play. Your favorite family activities? Visiting family, mini golfing, talking.

Biggest challenge regarding multicultural marriage? How we relate to conflicts seems to often differ widely. Your advice for women on resolving conflict in marriage? Open communication is always a key. Often this is easier said than done when emotions run high, but it is still important. Avoid the games……most men really won’t know why you’re upset unless you tell them. Your advice for raising kids? Be flexible. What you plan for them is not necessarily what will work so even if you said you’d never do something, it may be the only thing that will help. Show them lots of love. Sleep and nutrition are important. Who are your biggest influences in your life and why? My friends. They were always there through the tough times in my life.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

Jay and Megumi Vedoya For Jay:

Tell us what you do for: Work: I’m a manager for HOPE Mission in Calgary. I oversee outreach efforts in Calgary, from campgrounds to afterschool programs. Hobbies: Play guitar, running, biking, art, photography. I’m involved with children and music ministry at my church. Name of your kids, and age: Lisa - 13, Aily - 11, Kanon - 8, Haruna - 6 Your favorite activities with your children: Play music together. With Aily, drawing is fun. We spend time together, family time, reading the Bible, playing board games. In the summer, going out to the mountains and parks. And exploring our world. During summer we go out to the camp and do wilderness activities. Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba When did you meet Megumi? The first time was on Christmas 1995. Then the second time I saw her was in a parking lot in our college. When I asked her out, she and her friends had an application form to date her. I had to apply to date her. I gave a processing fee of $15! It was fun. First impression? When I first saw her play the piano, I was like “WOW.” She told me she doesn’t speak English well, but she’s so confident. I was just out of her league. She’s a good leader, funny, and all these things. If I could marry a woman, I’d marry her! What attracted you to her? She’s a very beautiful woman. How did you propose? I went to Japan and asked her dad for permission to marry her. I played piano for her then I proposed. Her first answer was “sure.” I had to ask her the second time to make sure… She said “yes!” After marriage, we lived in Japan for five years. When did you get married? July 20, 2002 Three things you admire about Megumi? Strength, Compassion and Beauty Your favorite family activities? Friday family movie night! We fight over what movie to watch. We also play music together. We play for each other, learning music together. Biggest challenge regarding multicultural marriage? 1. Communication aspect of it. 2. Shedding our ideas of what a marriage should look like. Your advice to men on resolving conflict in marriage? Stay in the room, and just listen to the heart of your wife and be able to seek wisdom in responding to what her heart is saying. Who are your biggest influences in your life and why? My parents, and my brother. My brother and I have a mutual respect for each other. We had great mentors in our life. One of them is Mr. Janzen during college. And Bob Shelton, a pastor that very influential in my life. Last but not least, Megumi is the biggest influence in my life. She’s God gift to me to help me become the biggest person in my wife.

For Megumi

Photo by PROFOLIO Photography

Ethnic backgrounds – Filipino and Japanese

Your family’s happiest moments? There’s a lot of moments. Every time we have a new baby, it’s a big celebration. One time we went hiking in Waterton couple of years ago. Our youngest was four years old at the time. We all hiked and arrived at the top of the mountain. It was beautiful. That’s the first time we pushed each other physically. Biggest challenge regarding multicultural marriage? Understanding different expectations from each other. We have to create our own family’s culture. Not Japanese, not Filipino, but us. Your advice to women on resolving conflict in marriage? Pray, first. Know that you’re not alone in your journey. Seek help if there’s a problem. If you’re stuck in a hole and stay there, people will fall in it with you. My kids feel it when I’m not happy, and it impacts everyone. When you’re not happy, everyone suffers. So seek help. Your advice for raising kids? Love your husband first before your children. Raise them in a way that God raises his children - His grace, guidance, discipline and protection. Love unconditionally, using all different means to communicate your love. Not just say “I love you,” but speak into their lives. When they’re desperate and vulnerable, assure them that you love them, and support them. Who are your biggest influences in your life and why? My parents. They spent a lot of time with me and my siblings growing up, playing sports, took us to church each week, and I learned about Bible stories from my dad. My mom has a gift of knowing who needs what. My instructor in college Dale Wheeler. I came to Canada with low self-esteem and little confidence. He taught me piano skills, but through his guidance and teaching, he helped me build my self-confidence. I was timid and quiet. Dr. Wheeler took a significant role in helping me discover who I was and helped me become who I am today. My husband, Jay. The most stable figure in my life next to my parents. He’s gone through valleys and mountaintops with me. He still accepts me and loves me unconditionally. I can count on him. He’s my source of peace and encouragement.

Tell us what you do for: Work: Grace Notes Music Academy. I founded and worked at as director and teacher. Hobbies: Cook, bake, and jog. I also like playing ping-pong in my house. I love all racket sports. I also like playing music with other musicians and share the joy. Teaching the kids is also a hobby. Birthplace: Nagano, Japan When did you arrive in Canada? The first time was in 1995, for school. First impression of Jay? The first impression of him was goofy and funny. Nice to talk too. Three things you admire about Jay? 1. His character. His integrity. He sticks to his promises and his word. He sacrifices other things to keep his integrity straight. 2. His sense of humor. He has a way of words that gives light in every situation. 3. His creativity, not just To read Jay and Megumi’s full version interview, please visit our website at filcanmagazine.com in arts and music, but in all that he does. His mind is always working.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

Allan and Robyn Manzano Ethnic backgrounds – Filipino and Chinese

For Allan

Work: Account Executive for a major telecom company. Hobbies: Being a Dad, looking for vacations, learning. Name of your kids, and age? Kai-5 and Noah-3 Your favorite activities with your children: Anything they want to do, but more recently they like playing Wii Sports. Birthplace: Edmonton, Canada When did you meet Robyn? After university. How did you meet? Through a mutual friend, and a little bit of introduction. First impression? I wondered if this girl was Filipino and that she is way out of my league! How did you propose? Twice! The first time was in Vancouver after a chartered boat ride on the beach. The second time was after a night at the fringe festival in Edmonton, and I surprised her in the park with a romantic showing of a custom video I made of our dating life. Three things you admire about Robyn? 1. Smarter than me. 2. Better looking than me. 3. And she’s got a heart for people and God! Your favorite family activities? Dance parties and just hanging out together. Biggest challenge regarding multicultural marriage? With different language and cultures in our extended, sometimes communication is a bit lost in translation, but we just try to approach with lots of curiosity to understand all the nuances. Your advice for men on resolving conflict in marriage? Listen! Try to understand where your wife is coming from and don’t forget to took at the big picture. Who are your biggest influences in your life and why? No one in particular, although I have had lots of good people in my life that have shaped me along the way. I have the tendency to see the good qualities in people and try to adapt their strengths into my character and who I want to be.

For Robyn

Tell us what you do for: Work: Registered Psychologist. I provide counseling to individuals (including children and adolescents), couples and families. I’m passionate about my work and feel very honored to walk with people through their pain and challenges towards a more whole and meaningful life. I just opened “Refresh Counselling Services” in the NW part of Calgary, and we’re accepting new clients. Hobbies: I like to run, cook and bake, eat, read when I can, watch Netflix and be a mom (if that counts as a hobby!). I enjoy taking time for friends and family and connecting with people. Your favorite activities with your kids: I love my snuggles with them and just watching them learn, grow and become their unique little person. Birthplace: Toronto, Canada First impression of Allan? He’s a genuinely a nice guy with a heart that’s ready and willing to serve others. When I moved to Edmonton for university, I had never been to the city and didn’t know anyone, and he didn’t hesitate to take me to buy a computer and set it all up for me. Three things you admire about Al? 1. His work ethic and perseverance. 2. His lightheartedness and being fun at heart. 3. His heart for people and God. Your family’s happiest moments? There’s been so many! If I had to pick one, it would be being pregnant for “3 months” with our first child. When we found out, I was already 22

Photo by PROFOLIO Photography

Tell us what you do for:

weeks and four days pregnant! And then our son came six weeks early! I was doing grad school and had only purchased a running stroller, but it was an amazing moment to welcome a healthy baby to our family! Biggest challenge regarding multicultural marriage? Allan and I are both second generation, so it has been pretty easy overall for us. I think our families just focus on loving and being patient with one another as well as trying not to have too many expectations. And so, I feel quite blessed that we all get along and can talk through things. Your advice to women on resolving conflict in marriage? Be kind and gentle. At the end of the day, most husbands are not intentionally trying to hurt you or frustrate you. If you can be kind and gentle, you’ll get further in talking it out and cooperatively finding an “our way” of handling things. Your advice for raising kids? To be emotionally attuned and engaged with them. There’s a lot of rules when it comes to emotions but if we can recognize and validate their feelings, it can open the door to deeper relationships with them as well as make teaching and instilling values and other life lessons easier. Who are your biggest influences in your life and why? I believe that people come into and out of our lives for a reason and I have had a lot of people who have really had significant influences on who I am today. If I had to pick one, it would be my mom. She has had many challenges in her life, but she continually teaches me about faith, love, humility and laughter. | FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

BUSINESS

MONEY MANAGERS By Valen Vergara

oney is bound by misinformation for most people. They do not understand the value in it. Meaning they value IT and LOVE it. Instead of the value it DENOTES. People who do not have money, are scared of it, and fear the responsibility it demands, and what it may do to them. Money is merely an image of our own inner-game. It’s so unfortunate that something so impartial, so intrinsically worthless becomes idolized. It’s NOT the love of money that is truly the root of all evil it’s the MISUNDERSTANDING of it that is. Thou shall not love money; thou shall hate what the lack of money is perpetrating in life. For it is the LACK of it that is stealing people away from what they really love; for most people, not for all. That very same scarcity is what is causing people esteem money in the first place. Those without it think a “hell” of a lot more about it; those with it are in “heaven” with what you call your “hell.” Your income seldom surpasses your personal improvement, and when it does, it’s temporary like the “lottery effect.” If you were to take the money from of the wealthiest people in the entire world and evenly distribute it amongst the rest of the world, within five to ten years that money would end up in the very same pockets it began with. Value demonstration attracts money, not the WANTING of it. If you want to get more money, you have it the wrong way. To circulate more money, you must create more value. Master

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

that and you will have more money than you know what to do with. Money is only paper and plastic. When you create more value for its users, and translate that value into terms they can understand; they will also realize that money is worthless. As a result, they will transfer the value they once placed on their money and transition that into your value offerings. You must learn to become more valuable as a value provider. People don’t want money, nor do they want products and services. They want what these things allow them to experience. Focus on the byproducts that money brings. Such as health, wealth, happiness, wellness and experience, et cetera. If you can exchange this with those in need, you will not be in need of money. “Human beings sacrifice their health in order to make money. Then they sacrifice their money to recuperate their health. And then they are so anxious about the future that they do not enjoy the present; the result being that they do not live in the present or the future. They live as if they are never going to die, and then they die having never really lived.” ~The Dalai Lama. ___________________________________ Valen Vergara Award Winning Bestselling Author, National Columnist, As Seen On “Game Changer” Movie, Social Entrepreneur, Investor, Humanitarian & Entrepreneur Trainer. Become visible and credible in your business and career at www.valenvergara.com

INSPIRATION

Believe You Can Achieve By Annie Chua

apoleon Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich, said: “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

air. Take a deep breath in again, hold another second then slowly release the air. You will notice that your body is more relaxed after you do this exercise. Do this every time you need to. It will help ease your mind and body, and it will recharge your energy.

I read this book more than ten times. Those words were planted deep in my subconscious mind. Now I’d like to share with you the elements that have helped me achieved my goals.

Did you know that FEAR has a sister? Doubt is the twin of Fear. Doubt kills so much of our success. It’s like a bug that keeps whispering to our ears to “not start.” It’s like saying “don’t do it.“ Or “you’re going to fail.”

Time is of the Essence

If you listen to these buggers, you can end up wasting your time that you never reach for the “stars.” SILENCE DOUBT and achieve success for you.

Time is the fundamental part of everything we do. “LIVE TODAY AS IF IT WAS YOUR LAST.” Many successful people have been quoting these words. Individuals who followed this advice gained success. If you keep this in mind, it is likely that every day your life will be lived to its fullest. Here’s a tip on managing your time… Always use the 80/20 rule. When I was writing my book, I listed five key elements to share, and I picked the best three which are most important. The three is my 20% which gave the 80% impact to my readers.

Do a Reality Check

“Fear can either destroy us or make us stronger.”

In life, the number one element is your TIME. Your present situation is your best time. Do not procrastinate on things that you want to accomplish. When you take action today and look back a year from now, you’ll say, “I did it!” and feel proud of what you have accomplished.

Conquer Your Fears Fear can either destroy us or make us stronger. Which one will you choose? The latter will turn your fear into a source of inspiration to do more, to share more and be more in life. When you encounter fear, you need to pause for a while, take a deep breath, and wait until your mind is ready to move forward. Similar to a frozen computer, when there’s too much information being processed, it pauses for a moment. Once it is ready, you can hit the F9 button to refresh the computer’s memory. Let’s do the F9 exercise. Feel free to follow. This will benefit you. I would like you to sit up straight, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and hold it for few seconds. Then through your mouth, slowly release the air while pushing your stomach in to release all the

Our actions always have consequences. Realistic thinking helps us determine what those consequences might be. When I was in the process of going to Canada, I went through different challenges which helped me survive whatever consequences came my way afterward. I did not waste time, I conquered my fear, killed my doubts, did a reality check, and then traveled 7000 miles to Canada and faced the future with optimism.

Here’s another one: I did not waste time, I conquered my fear, silenced my doubts, did a reality check, and then gathered my journal and published a book titled: Domestically Yours: A Caregiver’s Inspiring Journey! This is a compelling story of my fascinating journey to the Province of Alberta, Canada, with only persistence and courage on my back. It’s a non-fiction book that will inspire every individual to reach for their dream. Get on that vehicle of success, keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel. All your hard work will grow BIG. Believe that you can achieve! ___________________________________________ Annie Chua Published Author; Entrepreneur; Motivational Speaker #1 Best Seller in Eldercare – Amazon Kindle www.anniechua.com Email: Annie.a.chua@gmail.com Business: Little Annie Kidzline Web: www.littleanniekidzline.com “2nd book in the works. Coming soon!“

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

CAREER

MULTIPLE VANTAGE POINTS CAN IMPROVE YOUR OUTCOMES: THE POWER OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES By Michael Siervo

y wife and I are very different people. She spends her time caring for patients as a nurse, while I focus on opening new business relationships. Despite our differences, she has opened my eyes to new things... one of which is art. A few years ago, we visited the MET and the Guggenheim in New York and actually grew up visiting the ROM in Toronto. I do not profess to be an art expert, but there are several lessons art has taught us. Art has taught us that there are multiple mediums that can be used to convey a message, there really isn’t a right or wrong way to interpret art and that art is subjective. Another aspect of art that has translated to my business and personal life is the importance of perspective and considering different vantage points. In fact, first-year medical students at Yale University are required to take an art course. Initially, this requirement might sound odd. However, after learning how to look for the intricate details in artwork, do the student then attempt to diagnose patients. By cross training their brain to look at the finer points in art, they were able to increase detection of crucial medical details by 10%! Similarly, almost all of my peers who graduated from the University of Toronto Business program took art or some form of art as an elective. Perhaps we thought it was an easy course. In hindsight, it was done to give our brains a break from doing business valuations or negotiations to learning to use our brains in a different way. Whether in business, medicine or essentially every aspect of our lives, having multiple vantage points opens the mind. In doing so, these vantage points

multiply the opportunities for success. In addition, demonstrating awareness of other people’s points of view can essentially short circuit frustration in others’ brain. For example, in my business, the year-end tends to be hectic as it includes a whirlwind of transactions, negotiations and filings. During this time, we are often pressed for time to make deadlines. In many cases, I rely on the help of my already overworked team. This is an opportunity for me to exercise empathy and emotional intelligence. Offering some acknowledgment such as “I know there is a lot on your plate and can imagine how overwhelmed you must be. I appreciate all that you are doing!” quiets down the employee’s anxiety and emotional centres in their brain. It activates the prefrontal cortex and stimulates a more positive and willing mindset. I have found that despite the heightened stress, showing that I understand their perspective energized my team and increased their commitment to their work. When we empathize with others, we are essentially shifting our perspectives. Life will put us in countless situations and interactions. Like Art, there are multiple ways to interpret a piece, execute a technique or deliver a message. Since perspective is everything, practicing an open mind and considering different points of view will open a world of experiences and opportunities (that you may not have discovered on your own?). One will find that the best ideas emerge when different perspectives meet. This is your advantage over executing a great idea over a good idea. It can distinguish between exercising leadership versus management. Finally, accepting other

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

perspectives can allow you to change a circumstance rather than allowing it to change you. That in itself is a work of art! ____________________________________ Michael Siervo Originally born in Toronto, Ontario from Filipino parents, Michael experienced first hand the challenges & successes of an immigrant family. He used his experience and the hard work synonymous to Filipinos as the platform for future success. With almost 20 years of financial services and business experience, he has held positions in several Fortune 500 companies. Michael became the first visible minority in Western Canada to hold a District Vice President title for one of the largest and oldest Financial Institutions in the world. While breaking the barriers, this paved the way for a younger generation of minorities to hold Director and Vice President positions. In addition, he has been the CEO of a private conglomerate that has had ventures in Automotive, Restaurants, Financial Services, Custom Clothing & Real Estate. In addition to his many entrepreneurial projects, he also sits on the Board of Directors for the Calgary Bridge Foundation For Youths and has been a benefactor to multiple philanthropic causes including the Michael and Vivienne Siervo Scholarship Fund.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

INSPIRATION

GLOREN OLADIVE GUELOS Miss BC 2016

As I became more comfortable with my English, I had more confidence talking to my peers in which I found some of my best girlfriends later on. Throughout my high school life, I knew I had to find a way out of battling my insecurities, dealing with social anxiety as well as trying to accept my parents’ separation. As an only child, it was a huge weight on my shoulders. However, even though I was struggling, music saved me. In my grade nine year, I stumbled upon what is now my passion for dance. I auditioned to join the junior dance team even though my mom did not approve because of some personal health issues. I suffered from asthma since I was little and although dancing wasn’t a significant detriment to my breathing, my mother who was always protective would argue and discourage me from continuing. I learned to balance school with my dance schedule, but every year since grade 9, all I wanted to do was join the team again and again. As far as my academics, I have always struggled a great deal with math. I lost confidence in myself when I got my first Cbecause I knew it was mandatory to pursue nursing. I made the decision retake Math 11 and not only to work harder but seek as much help as possible.

Photo: Evan Chen Photography

After graduating, since I was determined to become a nurse, I pushed myself throughout post-secondary and before I turned twenty, I received what I believe is my first big achievement, a licensed practical nursing diploma from Stenberg College. As a big believer in “things happens for a reason” I believe that I wouldn't have had the privilege to model for my school’s advertisements if I didn't end up taking the LPN Program and meeting Jenny Rae, my school’s Student Placement Administrator. Jenny saw potential in me that I never necessarily saw in myself.

y name is Gloren Guelos, and I am a proud Filipino Canadian citizen. I moved to Canada when I was twelve years old and immigrating here into a new country was a culture shock as assimilating was a rough start. Starting high school in 2008 gave me a lot of anxiety. Trying to fluently speak English and making friends was not easy as I ended up spending most lunch breaks by myself. I disliked having breaks because it was hard for me to see everyone socializing within their groups of friends. To get out of my comfort zone, I started asking one classmate at a time to hang out during lunch breaks which took a lot of courage from me as English wasn't my first language.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

After this opportunity had fallen into my lap, I became more interested in modeling, and as a result of her talented skills, I am grateful I have been able to have my photos published in several magazines. However, my life took a storm when I fought depression after finding out that my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 Liver Cancer a month before he passed away. I struggled to focus on my studies as I only had three weeks until I had to take my final exam. I knew at this point all I could do was persevere. I went to the Philippines to take care of him for twentyfive days and thankfully, this resulted in delaying my last preceptorship and finishing school later.

When he passed away, I promised myself to pursue my dreams no matter what. I went back to Canada with his strength to aim high. I joined my first pageant, Miss British Columbia 2016 to simply support the Canadian Cancer Foundation and to establish my platform: breaking the stigma that revolves around mental illness and to encourage children to balance out their education and their passions. On July 3rd, God gave the best birthday gift of the year; I was crowned as Miss BC 2016. This year, I juggled being a full-time nurse on night shifts, a BC Lions Cheerleader, attending events as Miss BC and everything else in between. I know I would not be where I am without my momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support, and it brings me peace knowing I have been able to not only be, but accept myself as well. To conclude, I'd say that surrounding myself with the right supporters is one of the most important things I had to equip my life with. I wouldn't be at the happiest and healthiest self I am now without my family, my partner, my best friends and most of all, God. I aspire as a young woman to influence whoever may need some guidance; and to love, to be compassionate, and to live as a fighter. I want my evolving story to speak to not only young girls, but also anyone struggling to either pursue, balance or fight through whatever it may be. My message will always be to seek the optimistic side and do the things you love because as we all know, our time on this Earth is precious, and life is meant to be lived.

Photos: Evan Chen Photography

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

INSPIRATION

ANNE NATHALIE RUTH MONTEALEGRE LONGAKIT Miss Teenage Surrey 2016

grade 8 – 12 and earned the Governor General’s Bronze Medal for graduating with the highest average in my class. Throughout all of these experiences, I was able to collect various awards, memories, and lessons, which have all shaped me into the person I am today. However, a large part of who I am and who I would like to be, began in my grade 10 leadership class. Our class was comprised of students with a diverse background of experiences, each bringing their own sets of opinions and ways of thinking. This class taught me the power of teamwork, collaboration, and diversity. With its focus on community service, I was able to become more involved in my school by planning and volunteering at large annual events. Leadership class provided a greater sense of belonging and purpose within my school community. As a result, I continued to be involved in school clubs such as Student Council and Project Equal. In my senior year (spring of 2014), I was fortunate enough to travel with a group of students from my high school on a Me to We trip to Ecuador. We worked in a small rural community called Shuid, where we helped with ongoing community projects such as painting school buildings, and digging the foundation of a new building. In addition to the building projects, we were able to learn more about the local culture and way of life in the communities tucked away in the Andes Mountains. Although we were not able to see to the completion of the projects ourselves, I know that our small contribution to the community made a lasting difference.

Photo: Evan Chen Photography

Upon entering my first year of university, I found my community involvement to be non-existent, as I struggled to meet the demands of the University of British Columbia’s rigorous first-year science program called Science One. I felt that something was missing in my life, but I couldn’t quite figure out what. In the second term of my first year, I helped coach U12 girls volleyball. Coaching provided me with a means to give back to my community and simultaneously bring back the sense of purpose that had missed since high school. “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” ~ Ferdinand Foch

orn in the Philippines, my family and I immigrated to Canada in 2003. As an only child, I was surrounded by an unwavering sense of love and support from my parents who ensured that I was given every opportunity. I devoted my time to a multitude of extracurricular activities such as dance, music, swimming, art, and volleyball from the age of four until high school graduation. My bustling schedule instilled the values of discipline, hard work, and passion into me, allowing me to excel in my academics; I received honor roll status from

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

In the summer of 2015, I devoted my four month break volunteering at the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), and the Pinamalayan Community Hospital in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It had been my dream to become a Doctor ever since high school; therefore the hospital exposure enabled me to get a taste of what it was like to work in a healthcare environment. In the Philippines, I was given the opportunity to work in the outpatient department where I learned how to take blood pressure, and practice my Tagalog as I attempted to converse with patients. My experience in the Philippines reinforced my motivation to become a medical professional as I saw the assemblage of people waiting for hours in the hot foyer of the hospital every day to be treated.

When I returned to Vancouver, I felt refreshed and ready to take on my second year with more conviction. I was able to enjoy my courses, and finish the fall term off on the Dean’s Honour List. I was content and felt confident enough in myself to step out of my comfort zone and pursue something I had not previously thought I would ever attempt. Pageantry. My mom had presented the idea to me in my first year of university, but I felt ill-equipped and had thought the timing to be poor. However at 19 years old, it was my last opportunity to enter in Miss Teenage Canada, and the prospect of having a platform for community involvement was appealing, so I applied. In April of 2016, I competed in the regional competition in British Columbia; I was declared a finalist, winning the title of Miss Teenage Surrey 2016, and securing a spot in the National Pageant – Miss Teenage Canada that was to be held in Toronto that July. I spent the months leading up to the Pageant Final volunteering at local events, finding sponsorship, and fundraising for Free the Children which is the Miss Teenage Canada Organization’s charity of Choice. Despite not being able to achieve my goals at the pageant final itself, I was able to meet an uplifting group of girls from across the country, and share an unforgettable week in Toronto with them. In addition, my year as a titleholder provided with much more than the opportunity to compete on the National stage. My proudest moments as a titleholder came after the national competition, when I became involved in events hosted by the Philippine Consulate of Vancouver, and became an Ambassador for SOS Children’s Village of British Columbia. Pageantry is much more than the makeup, gowns, and crowns. It is the work and dedication that is invested before and after the event; the advocacy, is what makes a true queen.

Photos: Evan Chen Photography

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

INSPIRATION

SHAWNA NICOLE TAYLOR PEDIDA WARHURST Miss Teenage Maple Ridge 2016

was born on September 12th 1997 and raised in British Columbia, Canada. I am a compassionate and well-rounded individual. Being half-Filipino Canadian, I have always been intrigued by diversity. I am a passionate individual, especially when it comes to animal welfare, mental health, and self-esteem. Being a vegetarian of over four years and an animal advocate, I aspire to build an animal sanctuary and travel abroad to help animals in need. My interests and hobbies include fashion design, illustrating, reading, cooking, exercising, and playing soccer.

Photo: Evan Chen Photography

Pageants, Awards and Titles: Miss Teen Philippines of the World 2014: (title holder) • Most Photogenic • Best Interview • Top 3 Talent Miss Teen Universe 2015: • Miss Congeniality Award Miss Calendar Girl 2015: (title holder) • Most Creative Outfit • Miss Bikini Beautiful • Best in Long Dress • Miss Photogenic Miss Teenage British Columbia: • Miss Teenage Maple Ridge 2016 (title holder) Binibining Pilipinas of the World 2017: • Binibining Pilipinas of the World-Canada (title holder) • Best in Swimwear

Experiences in Pageants and Lessons Learned: The first pageant I joined was in 2014 for Miss Teen Philippines of the World in Edmonton, Alberta for the IPEN organization based in Toronto. I was recommended by a family friend to the organizer who said I had the potential to compete. At that time, I didn’t see the potential in myself but decided to compete in it anyways. I wanted to make my mom proud by stepping out of my comfort zone by competing in a beauty pageant but also, I didn't want to miss an opportunity that I would probably regret if not doing so. After I made the decision to compete, I made sure to educate myself with pageant principles, studied pageant questions and worked on my walk, speech and posture. Growing up, I struggled with low self esteemed which was the product of bullying. I wasn’t confident in myself, especially at that point in my life where I was faced with many struggles. Even though I had practice hard for the competition, and had the support of many people who had faith in me, I never believed that I would actually be crowned the title holder. I

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

was crowned Miss Teen Philippines of the World and was awarded Miss Photogenic, Best in Interview, and placed Top 3 in Talent. Competing in this pageant, I got to learn more about myself. Looking back now, who I am today is from taking my first step out of my comfort zone and competing in pageants. Slowly, I began to discover, love and respect myself from that point on. This title led me to representing the Philippines in the Teen Universe 2014 pageant competition. It was overwhelming knowing that I would be competing against talented, beautiful and smart young individuals. The pressure was also a great amount because I was representing the people of the Philippines, I didn’t want to let anyone down. I wanted to make people proud but seeing the girls I was competing against and the confidence that they had…I was easily dejected. Although, I was thankful to have my mom and kuya at my side. They were my cheerleaders throughout the competition and lifted my spirits up when it was low. But it wasn’t just them, I had friends, family, acquaintances, strangers, people from across the globe supporting me and cheering me on. In the Teen Universe competition I did not place. Although, I was awarded Miss Congeniality which I am very proud of. I jumped right into this pageant thinking I knew what to expect but in reality I didn’t. The eyes of not only friends and family were on me but people from across the globe were watching too. There were people who tried to put me down and bashed me on social media because they thought not much of me in this competition. But, there were more people who believed in me, cheered and stood by me regardless of the results. It made me realize that hard work will always be recognized by those who support you and that I should always have faith in myself.

The next pageant I competed in was Miss Calendar Girl 2015. It was a pageant created by the Luzvimin-Bisaya Association of BC. This was a Miss competition and I was one of the youngest girls competing in it. I was a little intimidated at the beginning of the idea of

Photos: Evan Chen Photography

competing in my first “Miss” competition but It was an opportunity I didn't want to miss for such a reason. I had to bring out the inner MISS in me and compete with poise, grace, and maturity. Throughout the pageant I became friends with every single delegate and everyone was so supportive of each other. I was crowned Miss Calendar Girl and awarded; Most Creative Outfit, Miss Bikini Beautiful, Best in Long Dress and Miss Photogenic. I know for a fact, I felt more confident on stage because I was surrounded by friends. What I took out of this experience was that pageants are much more than what meets the eye. It’s an unforgettable experience where you can meet incredible people but also develop skills, gain confidence and create memories that will last a lifetime. The following year, I decided to compete in Miss Teenage British Columbia 2016 which is establish by MTC-W INC. I’ve seen ads for this pageant competition online before and wanted

hard, applied the skills I’ve learned through the years and did my best therefore I wasn’t disappointed in myself. I grew as a person from this competition like I did from the ones before. What I learned from this experience is that being active in the community is important! By volunteering, you are helping others; person or animal, you are helping them achieve a better life and that to me is very rewarding. It can also impact others to do better as well. Just recently, as of December 3rd 2016 I was crowned Binibining Pilipinas of the World 2017 and awarded best in Swimwear by Binibining Pilipinas of the World Organization held in Toronto, Ontario. After Miss Teenage Canada, I wanted to take a break from pageants. I was inquired to compete for Binibining Pilipinas of the World and when the opportunity arose I had to seize it, even when it was sort of last minute. "Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them" (-William Arthur Ward). I was given the blessing to compete by my parents and flew to Toronto with my mom. There, I met so many amazing, hospitable and devoted people. I am proud to be able to represent the Philippines once again in the Miss Regal International competition which will be held in Antigua this summer. As a person, I’ve come along way from who I once was and I thank my family, friends, sponsors and supporters for pushing me to give my best and believing in me. Once again, I will give it my all to represent the Philippines and the hard working, giving, and loving people of it’s nation.

Greatest Influences: My parents are the greatest influence in my life. My parents are selfless and will do anything to help make their children success. My parents have been my biggest supporters from the start and I am so blessed to have two such inspiring and hard working people in my life. They have helped shape me into the person I am today and I would not be who or where I am today without them. to give it a shot while I was still of age. I was selected as a finalist to compete in Miss Teenage Canada and was crowned Miss Teenage Maple Ridge 2016. During the months that led up to Miss Teenage Canada I became quite involved in the community where I was volunteering and attending events. I also became more active in the Filipino community as well, joining in on festivities as a title holder. I befriended many, gained more supporters and was able to be sponsored by businesses for the upcoming pageant which helped immensely. I did not place in Miss Teenage Canada which was held in Toronto, Ontario but I know that I worked

My biggest role models would be my two Grandma’s my Grandma Joan and Lola Luz. My Grandma Joan passed away three years ago but she still hasn’t left us, I feel her presence every day. My Grandma was a strong woman and refused to take nonsense from nobody. I think that’s a trait that got passed down from her to me is her headstrong attitude. My Lola Luz is a very compassionate and thoughtful woman. Whenever I’m upset my Lola is the first person to take notice and whenever I need someone to talk to she is there to console me. They are both equally impactful women who I have learned and gained so much from.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |

EMAIL: ADVERTISE@FILCANMAGAZINE.COM

F I L I P I N O C A N A D I A N M A G A Z I N E FCM proudly supports The Filipino Champions of Canada (www.thefilipinochampionsofcanada.com), The Filipino Champions Talk, and the Philippine Culinary Federation of Canada

FCM Distributors:

• • •

• • • •

Tatak Pinoy 26 Midlake Blvd. SE , Calgary AB T2X 2X7. (403-244-8083) Smart Choice Suite #102, 909 – 7 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1A5. (403-500-4999) Adobo Experience (3 Locations) 7-3745 Memorial Dr. SE Calgary. (403-984-8400) 4303 17th Ave. SE Calgary. (403-475 9188) 2770 Glenmore Trail SE Calgary. (587-437-5147) Loriz Bakery (2 Locations) 13-8330 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary. (403-278-8660) 25-2525 Bridlecrest Way SW, Calgary. (403-256-8604) Roc’s Grill Unit 311, 2525 Woodview Drive SW, Calgary. (403-891-5158) Remedy’s RX 5268 Memorial Dr NE, Calgary, AB. (403-455-8139) Mama Nitas Binalot Bay F, 1919-31 St. SE, Calgary, AB. (403-819-0928)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WITH FCM

FCM is a value-add magazine. We provide contents with insights, ideas, and stories that have a positive impact that will benefit the community. We want to contribute to the success of our readers. We are expanding our distribution and marketing services in the following cities: Calgary Edmonton Winnipeg Vancouver Toronto We need partners who are community oriented, business minded, customer-driven, and love connecting with business owners to join our team of Business Development Independent Consultants (BDIC). Work independently as a business partner. Grow your business portfolio, or create your own team. If this interest you and you live in one of the cities listed, email us at info@filcanmagazine.com for more information. We would love to partner with you.

WWW.FILCANMAGAZINE.COM For inquiries email: info@filcanmagazine.com

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 2 | 2017 |