FCM 2017 v2 i6 by Filipino Canadian Magazine

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

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| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

MESSAGE FROM FCM

FOUR Types of Business Partners By Abel Pagaling

believe one of the greatest things a person can do is to start a business. It’s not an easy endeavor. It’s full of challenges and pitfalls. But if you overcome the obstacles, it can bring significant rewards for you, your family, and the employees who depend on you. You can go solo and start your venture. But many business owners I’ve connected with have begun with one or more partners to get things moving. Personally, I have several business partners I rely on. Some I have an official company with. Other are unofficial business partners who I bounce ideas and get feedback. But not all partners are created equal. There are great partners (people you see yourself building long-term relationships with). There are average partners. And there are partners you shouldn’t have partnered with in the first place. Thankfully, I have more great partners than bad ones. It’s matter of knowing what kind of person they are. Knowing your partners well will allow you to position yourself better in your partnership and hopefully, maximize your profits. To help you know the kinds of partners you have, here are my four types of business partners:

The Co-Visionary Partners These are partners who “SHARE” your vision. They see what you want to achieve and make your vision their own. Or you come up with a vision together and make it both your own. They are “co-owners” or “parents” of the vision. They work just as hard as you do. They treat you and other partners with respect. And they are actively nurturing and growing the business and personal relationship because they see you as a pillar of the vision they co-own. They don’t see you as a “tool” to be disposed of once they get what they want.

These are your “crème de la crème” kinds of partners. And as a business owner, these are the partners you want to have and grow old with. You might need to part ways with them one day, and that’s okay. But you’ll be more successful in business and be a better person in the end. Think Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

The Benefits Partners Sounds like the movie “Friends with Benefits.” In a way that’s what these partners are. They are there for the benefits or the rate of return. They’re respectful, but they don’t get too deep in building a relationship (they wouldn’t talk to you about their family). They’re there if they are needed. They provide resources, and you are also a resource to them. They are the partners you enter into a contractual agreement. They do their job to the letter, and they protect the success of their investment. You know them in business, but you don’t know them at a deeper level. And since they are not co-owners of your vision, they will move on once the benefits they are after have been met.

The Emotional Partners These are similar to the Benefits partners but have a shorter partnership life cycle because they are emotionally driven. They’re excited in the beginning when they see the vision and believe in it. But as soon as they see things they don’t like or they see you or one of the partners making mistakes, they start to fall away, or even resent you. Unlike the Co-Visionary or Benefits Partners who will work with you to correct an error or if need be, fill-in when you’re not in a good situation, Emotional partners are fragile, and your relationship with them will crack and eventually fracture. That’s because they’re not owners of the vision. They are in partnership with you as long as everything is rosy. They’re there because it feels good, then fall away when the feeling is gone. They turn into “casual” people you say hi to now and then.

The PIG Partners I hate to say it, but these people exists. At first they come in looking harmless, and even adorable. But once they are in the gate, they create mess, stink up the place, and take away much of your resources, time, and energy. Then they move on. Pigs are driven by one thing - greed, either for money, or power (or ego). These partners are de-motivators, vision-killers if you will. And if your guards are down, they can destroy your hard work and turn your efforts into waste. Keep “pig” partner long enough and they’ll kill your vision. They cause grief, creates conflict, and they waste your time and resources for their personal gain. The good thing is my encounter with greedy people have made me realize how blessed I am to have Co-Visionary partners. It reminds me why I should not take them for granted and that I need to continue to cultivate our relationship and create great successes together. In this issue, we focused on overcoming challenges. In the business world, I found that sometimes you overcome future challenges by not forgetting the lessons of the past, particularly in choosing the partners you work with. And remember, “Don’t ever wrestle with a PIG.” ____________________________________ Abel Pagaling Co-Founder and CEO, FCM – Filipino Canadian Magazine Founder of Next Level Coach abel.pagaling@filcanmagazine.com

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

ON THE COVER

FCM THE TEAM

FCM – Filipino Canadian Magazine PUBLISHED BY | FICA Media Inc. EDITOR | Abel Pagaling EDITOR | Roselle Pangilinan CO-EDITOR | Annabelle Cayetano Pagaling MAGAZINE DESIGNER | Eric Cordero PHOTOGRAPHY PARTNER | PROFOLIO PHOTOGRAPHY www.profoliophotography.com CONTRIBUTORS FOR THIS ISSUE | Nicole San Gabriel, Abel Pagaling, Alex Briones, Julia Lim, Abe Brown, Gerard Feliciano, Angie Ostojic, McErald Bacomo, Jason Krausert, Dr Patricia Truong, Cristina Camara-Macapili, David Robertson, Estrella Tatsky Gascon-Delos Reyes FCM YOUTH COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR | Nicole San Gabriel FCM FITNESS AMBASSADOR | Queeny Alfetche FCM CALGARY AMBASSADOR | Madeahl Yamyamin FCM GLOBAL COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR | Limuel Vilela

Photo: Armand Flores (Profolio Photography)

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) Tindahang Pinoy 1095 Falconridge Dr NE, Calgary, AB T3J 3H4 (403-285-1875)

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

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. 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 | Eric Cordero EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR | Vicky Cordero SOCIAL MEDIA ADMISTRATOR | Annabelle Pagaling FINANCE DIRECTOR | Juvanie Cabbab Bowen FCM Marketing Director | Armand Flores ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Phone: 1-888-844-1633 advertise@filcanmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe, email: info@filcanmagazine.com 1 year: $38.50 (GST not included) Written consent must be obtained from the publisher to reproduce any of the contents.

CONTENTS Volume 2 Issue 6 | 2017

Secrets to Living a Balanced Life Dr. Patricia Truong

Cover Story 7 Secrets of High-Performance People Abe Brown

ZUMBA REGGAETON 2017! With Cristina Camara-Macapili

RELATIONSHIP LESSONS FROM A FORK Jason Krausert

Julia Lim

Nicole San Gabriel

Five Advantages of Having a Certified Coach Practitioner or Life Coach

Message from FCM

THE ULTIMATE FIVE-STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL

Four Types of Business Partners Abel Pagaling

AE Global Inc. Launches at Adobo Experience’s 2nd AGM

24 14

Home Ownership: Should You Buy or Rent? Alex Briones

The Advantage of Forward Thinking Gerard Feliciano

Bringing Change with Calgary’s Ward 13 Candidate SHERRISSA CELIS

Important Considerations When Selling Your Home David Robinson

Great Impact Productions Inc. Makes Its Mark In the Community!

Angie Ostojic on SUCCESS It’s All About Making A Decision

McErald Bacomo, From Broken To Benediction: A Young Financial Executive’s Story McErald Bacomo

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accompanied with the unknown. Of course we hope and pray that everything in life goes as smooth as possible but we all know that there is a good chance it wont.

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Life’s brighter under the sun

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

Angie Ostojic on SUCCESS It’s All About Making A Decision

Angie Ostojic, one of Calgary’s successful businesswoman in the financial insurance industry, shares her insights on success with FCM.

ith all my journey as being an entrepreneur, you cannot change the world, but you can put a sign on the wall for people to go to. When a person is ready for a change, you just need to show them a vehicle to get there.

There’s a story of a tiger named Mohini, and he was placed in a 12 x 12 cage. He grew up in this cage. Then one day he was put in a bigger space. Unfortunately, Mohini only created a 12 x 12 space for himself inside the larger space. Mohini is supposed to grow, roar, and become powerful. Unfortunately, the tiger’s brain was trained to only live in a small space. The same can be said for people. Their friends will say, “You can’t do it.” Or their parents will say, “You can’t do that.” Or their parents or friends will say, “It’s OK to be poor, why do you need to work so hard?” These are the thoughts that affect people. It limits them. It builds a 12 x 12 around cage around them.

is more difficult? Is it more difficult for you to work for the rest of your life, or work hard a little bit for a short amount of time and spend your life the way you dreamed of?.” A lot of people don’t realize this. It’s easier for them to work multiple jobs. Then at the end of the month, they still struggle to pay their bills. The question is, do they want to do this for the rest of their lives? Or I can teach them something that’s not easy, but so rewarding. It’s all about making a decision.

Our job as leaders is to show to the people that there is a bigger world. But even if you show it to them, they don’t have the desire to move forward in life, there isn’t much we can do. But this shouldn’t stop us from sharing our talents and gifts. We can start the change within ourselves. However, some people will keep their skills to themselves because they think that if they share what they know, the other person will become better than they are. Unfortunately, I’m Ilocano! My thinking is different. That’s why some people don’t like what I have to say. Many of my friends ask, “How come you’re so successful working from home when we’re working two or three jobs just to get by?” I work from home, and my husband is retired. All of this is a choice. You’re given an opportunity, but it is a choice for a person to take action and move forward. But sometimes, people’s ego are so big that they think they know a lot already. When they realize that they can learn some more, that’s when the change will come to their lives. This is why many of the people I’m mentoring are very successful in life. Why? Because I don‘t allow them to grow their ego. Because an ego will develop a negative bank account. The more you think you know, the less you can accept change, and that’s when you create a negative bank account. I’m just a simple person like anyone else. But I’ve discovered my skills and what I’m good at. Skills can be developed. I know what I’m good at. But I developed a habit that no matter what happens, I need to keep moving forward. A lot of people have the skills and the gifts, but they think that’s enough to make them rich. It’s not enough. They need to make it a habit to keep improving their skills. When people get conformable, they don’t move forward. So it doesn’t matter how many leaders we have, but if people don’t move, there isn’t much we can do. You can take your horse to the river, but you cannot make them drink unless they want to. People come to me and say, “Teach us how to become successful.” But when they hit a bump, they say, “Oh no, this is too hard.” So I ask, “What

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

Photos: Kenneth Murillo

Bringing Change with Calgary’s Ward 13 Candidate

SHERRISSA CELIS FCM caught up with Sherissa Celis who is campaigning for city councilor position for Ward 13, Calgary.

Why is it important for Filipino-Canadian to get involved in Canadian Politics?

What made you decide to run for city council?

We are already growing, and I believe we need a voice in the council. We have so many issues in the community. The city council needs to know about our issues. But I won’t be running only for Filipinos, but for my entire ward. I want to represent Calgary, not just Ward 13. Having worked with the community for a decade, I believe I can bring forward the issues of our community. I’m not an academic; I’m on the grassroots. I want a realistic approach to solving issues in my ward and the city.

First and foremost, the council is not diverse. I think I can bring my diversity as an Asian to the council. I have 12 years experience working with the community. Working in the council is similar to working with the community. I want to broaden my horizon working with the community. The city has a diverse population. The seniors are one of the diverse population of the city. And I have been working with seniors since 2006. I want to serve more and know everyone's issues - seniors, families, youth. I want to make a difference, and through the council, I think I can make a difference in my ward and the city.

What are the three top priorities you will tackle if elected? I would like to say no to increases in property tax. I believe if we can change the mindset on how we spend property tax, we might not have to raise property tax. We should focus on the essential services that the community needs. We need to prioritize spending and work towards a surplus, so we don’t have to increase tax. We are in a recession, and many families struggling to pay their property tax. We need property tax to run the city, but increasing it year-after-year will not help many families. The second change I will bring is meaningful consultation. Before a project is started, there should be consultation with the public. In our ward, we don’t have too many community centers where people can gather to meet and consult on issues or projects that will impact the community. Consultation is critical. I would push for community centers to be created in our ward to allow people to be heard. Another priority on my list is for the whole of the city; I would like to make sure that we improve the Fair Entry program. Fair Entry is one way where low-income seniors can have access to the resources of the city. At the rate things are going, it is not too favorable to seniors because their qualification to receive support is based on the household income instead of individual income. So if the combined family income is high, a newcomer or a senior in the family might not qualify for the benefits offered by the Fair Entry program such as bus pass, leisure and recreation, and other amenities. Also, the current setup has created a deficit in the budget, and it’s not effective at the same time. I’d like to review this and find a way to make it more efficient.

What are the challenges you’ve encountered during your campaign? The first challenge is funding. Council race doesn’t involve a political party that can back you up financially. You’re on your own to raise your campaign fund. I’m blessed to have dedicated volunteers to help me. Another challenge is that there are many houses approach, but too little time. And not many people are friendly when you approach them. You just have to continue and move on.

What is your message to the Filipino-Canadian community? After so many years, this is the first time that a Filipino-Canadian will be running for the council. I hope my effort will become a uniting force for the community. I believe that if we are united, we can go far. We’ve been supporting different candidates in the past. But I think if all Filipinos in the ward will come out and vote for me, then we have a chance to be in the council. It’s not easy, but if we all put our effort and vote, there is a chance. -FCM

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

MS. ALMA ARMADA & Her Company

Successful in the Midst of Change By: Estrella Tatsky Gascon-Delos Reyes

With her two extremely enthusiastic friends, Mary and Shelley, along with Ian’s financial support, AIMS Temporary Foreign Workers Consulting Services Ltd. was formed. The competition was apparent, but they were relentless and got the attention of Employers and TFWs. Sadly, work took its toll on her two partners who opted out to spend more time with their families; Alma moved forward with the company. A spare bedroom at her home continued as her office, but it was not a good idea; she still needed her nest's privacy out of respect to her very supportive husband. Three months later, she convinced a friend to join is as a business partner. She changed the company name to AIMS Human Resources and Immigration Inc.

Accomplishing her mission…

n amazing woman of determination and willpower, Alma Armada is no small name in the Filipino-Canadian Community, the third-largest visible minority group in our city. With increasing immigrants each year, our "kababayans" have mushroomed immensely. Our representation in Calgary became enormous since the introduction of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which ballooned over the last 10 years. Despite the slowdown in our economy the last couple of years, Filipinos immigrating as workers and permanent residents are still unrelenting. Thanks to our education system that transported talented people into the workforce of our city. And that who Ms. Alma Armada is, in the eyes of many who know her. Smart, success-driven, determined, and most of all, a lady with a big heart.

Her humble beginnings..... An immigrant herself in April 1977, Alma lived in Toronto until she was transferred by Allstate Insurance Company as they opened its first office in the booming City of Calgary in 1981. Moving forward, her career blossomed; she worked in the oil & gas sector such as Shell Corporation, Apache Oil and at Veritas for 17 years where she worked as an Executive Assistant to the President until 1990. She joined Bennett Jones LLP in 2000 as a Senior Legal Assistant and later became a Paralegal. In early 2007, Alma Armada was challenged primarily by the huge demand for temporary foreign workers, and with a mission, her life's next chapter began to unfold.

Taking a risk with a mission… Canada, the land of many great opportunities has opened its doors to temporary foreign workers for businesses that were facing shortage of manpower. Philippines is a melting pot of people with great skills and talents and it was a chance to make a dream come true for so many of our “kababayans”. The employment opportunity would mean better income to create a better life for their family and a brighter future ahead--- that was her mission. It was in this context that Alma discussed the concept with her husband about opening a recruitment company, but her biggest concern was the lack of experience in the field of human resources. Her husband, Ian, told her, "Take the risk and go for what you believe in, because if you don't, you will have regrets later in life that you didn't even try when you had the chance". He stood behind her all the way to support of her vision and mission.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

A two-bedroom apartment in downtown Calgary was rented and transformed into a professional office. Alma focused on the recruitment side of the business. The growth was incredible and with several hundreds of Filipino workers recruited over the years for nearly 400 Employer-clients, her mission was being accomplished. The company became known in the field of recruitment and immigration services. To Alma Armada, maintaining good client relationship is the most important, business profit became secondary. With the changes in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in July of 2014, everyone was affected. Alma took it as an opportunity to reevaluate the company operation.

Reorganizing the company… In January 5, 2015, she decided it was time to reorganize the company. Her experience taught her how to be a better businesswoman. She closed AIMS and on her own, Alma Armada & Company Ltd., an immigration and recruitment services company was born, with the same philosophy and focus as when she first started out in 2007. Confidently starting a new company, she had no doubts in succeeding. She is well-known for her integrity and compassion to people. She is well-connected with her Employer-clients and TFWs and in that same year, the new company was very successful. With a team of five employees, the company has handled LMIA applications for some 257 client-employers, covering 551 positions. They have successfully processed about 154 people for Permanent Residency and 630 Temporary Resident Applications, which includes permit applications to work, visit, study, etc. About 200 people are being processed currently for permanent residency. Considering the constant changes with the TFWP and Immigration, Alma is very proud to say, "Thank God, we are extremely busy". And so her life goes on--- she’s happy and peaceful.

Parting words.... When asked whom she owed her success? “our Clients—for their trust, confidence and support all these years, my family who has been my rock and pillar, my dedicated and competent staff. I thank God each day for all the blessings”. Her Passion for work, Integrity and Professionalism make her who she is and the reason why she stands unyielding that no dark shadows will cast over her foundation. Teamwork built a very strong groundwork they stand on. She strongly believes that “If you don't take care of your clients, someone else will".

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE

PERMANENT RESIDENCE

TFW PROGRAM

Work / Study / Visitor Permit

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AINP Family Sponsorship Citizenship

- Supporting PR and/or WP - Low/High wage position - Caregiver

ALMA ARMADA & COMPANY LTD.

Suncor Energy Centre, Suite 5100, 150 -6 Ave SW, Calgary, AB

CALL US: 403.538.2111 info@armadacompany.ca Rhodora Armada, RCIC, R526586

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

Home Ownership:

Should You

Buy or Rent?

eing a home owner is a big deal in the Filipino community. In Calgary, houses and condominiums are being built throughout the city. Across the province and in the country, “real estate” is a major driver of economic growth. It is also one of the biggest investments (or expense) in the majority of households today. To get a sense of whether or not to buy a house, FCM connected with one of Calgary’s well-known realtors, Alex Briones.

FCM: Why should people buy a house instead of renting one? AB:

My brother Rico and I own a few rental properties. We bought them about 4 years ago. We still have mortgages on these two rentals but we are not paying for it, our Tenants do. 20 years from now, these houses will be paid by the tenant. When you are renting, you are paying someone’s mortgage. No matter what you and your family needs a place to live. You might as well pay for your own mortgage. There are two rewards when you own a home. One, you have freedom to do what you want in your own home. You can paint it, renovate it, or hang any photos you’d like. You don’t have to worry about your landlord. Second, you build equity when you are paying for your own home. Every time you make a payment, some of that goes to the principal of your mortgage. Real Estate is one of the safest investment there is. The value of your home will not be the same several years from now. You will have equity in it.

FCM: What are the factors to consider when buying a home? AB:

When you’re buying your first home, first thing is your budget. When you’re renting, it’s less expensive that having a home. You need to consider property tax, utilities, insurance, repairs and other costs. You have to be ready for this. Once you established your budget, start looking for a house. Location is very important. Most buyers get too excited with the nice things inside the house. But the truth is the value of the interior upgrades will be gone 10 years from now. The real value is on the location and the floor plan of the house. I always tell clients that buying a home is a long term goal. It’s 25 years mortgage so you have to think long term. Think about the transit, school, distance from your work and the resale value. All these you have to factor in. Photo: Richard Manuel

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If you are an existing home owner and you’re looking to move or upgrade, I always ask what’s the main reason for them to move. And is it worth doing? I have many clients that I’ve advised not to move because they don’t have a good reason to move. If the reason to move is because their kids need to go to university or you need the bigger home for growing family then those reasons are good. If they just want a new or bigger house or because their friends bought a new house, then I advise against it because they can get into budget trouble. So really it goes down to budget. What are you comfortable paying or what can you afford. Don’t worry about the upgrades or the interior. Look at the location and the layout of the house. That’s where the value will be in the years to come.

FCM: What should people look for in a Realtor® before they decide to work with one? AB:

First thing, buying a home is one of the largest purchase a person can make. You want to make sure you have an expert professional advice on this matter. It’s like going out to see a judge without a Lawyer beside you if you’re purchasing a house without a Realtor® representing you. There’s so many things a Realtor® can do for you such as reviewing the contract, negotiation, giving advice on the price, and going through the small important details. Realtors® have access to the most recent information on housing and communities. Have someone to represent you.

“

Finding the right agent can be as hard as finding a right house. You have to be careful who you work with. I always recommend that you interview three real estate agents before you choose one. Find somebody that do this work as their fulltime job. That is a very good indication that this professional is serious about their career. I don’t recommend people with an undivided attention. Find someone you are comfortable with, someone you can ask questions anytime you want. The reality is you’ll be together with your agent most of the time. Make sure you are comfortable with this person. The last thing, ask your friends and family for recommendation. I personally don’t give any referral fee, (just a small gift or token of appreciation) the main reason is I want people to refer me only because of their trust that I will provide a great value and take good care of their friends and family, not after the referral money.

Realtor®have access to the most recent

information on housing and communities. Have someone to represent you.

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Secrets to Living a

Balanced Life By Dr. Patricia Truong

oday we sit down with WBFF Pro Fitness Model Patricia Truong to learn more about living a full and balanced life. She is a dentist, professional fitness model, international model, wife and mom of two.

Diet

Exercise

Sleep

Feeling good mentally and emotionally starts with how you feel physically. Eat a clean, well-balanced diet consisting of lean meats, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and an abundance of veggies. Try to eat smaller meals spaced out every 3 hours to keep your metabolism and blood sugars consistent. It’s ok to splurge so don’t feel guilty when you do, but try to make it a habit of eating clean when you can. Drink at least 2-3 litres of water throughout the day; a good rule of thumb is to drink about a glass every hour until you go to bed. It will make a world of difference to stick to water and tea, avoiding pop, juice, and alcohol.

Exercise regularly. You don’t have to slave away at the gym, but the recommended guideline is a minimum of 30 minutes of active exercise per day. Active exercise means something that increases your heart rate and makes you break a sweat. In the offseason when I’m not competing, I do weight training three times a week and add cardio in between (twice a week) in the form of Zumba or running on the treadmill or the rower. And cardio doesn’t have to be in the gym! You can run outside or try a dance class and do a set of stairs, anything that keeps you moving and your heart racing for at least 30 minutes. It often helps to have a gym buddy to keep you on track and accountable.

Get at least 8 hours of sleep at night if you can swing it. Sleep is so important to healing your body and resting your mind. This is the time when you build and repair muscle, well after you have completed your strength training for the day. That why weights are important as a part of your training regimen. The more muscle you have on your body, the more fat you burn, and it does so throughout the day and even into your sleeping hours. It doesn’t have to be heavy weights either; if you want larger muscle you can lift heavier weights but with less reps. Conversely, if you are looking to tone but still keep your metabolism high, you can do more reps of lighter weights. Photo: Dennis Cruz

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External Factors

Internal Factors

Do what you love and love what you do.

Stick with people who bring you positive energy and life you up. Try to learn something new from every person that you encounter. Prioritize who you spend your time with, your time is valuable and if your company doesn’t enrich your life or make you happy, then find people who do, or take that time for yourself. Don’t be afraid to be alone; you can work on being somebody instead of simply somebody’s. Never stop becoming a better YOU.

Keep a positive attitude and practice gratitude wherever you go. Smile often. Make a list of things that you want to accomplish for the year. Set a few long-term goals and use short-term goals to achieve it. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to fail. The journey is more important than the outcome and remind yourself that it’s ok to keep trying until you get it right. Never let fear or insecurities stop you from pursuing a dream because you never know where it can take you.

Find something that you are passionate about and do something for yourself. It’s so good for the soul to do something outside of your role in your career, or family role as a parent or spouse. In my own life, I spent many years to become a dentist and got

married and had children right away. For a long while, my fitness and health took a backseat to everything else in my life. When I turned 35, I decided to make a change and set a goal for myself outside of my role as a dentist, wife, and mother. I wanted to set a fitness goal for myself to get into the best shape of my life, and so I got myself a coach and started lifting weights for the first time in my life in 2015. I trained for four months and competed in my very first competition, the WBFF Calgary, in June of the same year. I won the competition in the city and was awarded my Pro card, becoming a Professional Fitness model for the federation. I have since competed at the WBFF World Championships in Las Vegas and have been featured in a variety of fitness magazines internationally as a professional fitness model. I have been lucky enough to expand my role as a fitness model by delving into commercial, fashion, and stock modeling as well. I have met so many wonderful people along the way and I am blessed to be able to inspire others by sharing my fitness journey. If I can come so far from never having worked out in my life to achieve my dreams in just two years, then anybody can do it! It starts with small changes in your lifestyle, developing a positive attitude and outlook on life, and surrounding yourself with people who encourage and support you. It’s never too late to start setting big goals and making your dreams into a reality! You can find Patricia Truong on Instagram @drpatriciatruong

“I am blessed to be able to inspire others by sharing my fitness journey. If I can come so far from never having worked out in my life to achieve my dreams in just two years, then anybody can do it!” - Dr. Patricia Truong

Abe Brown is the Coachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coach, and is the Founder and President of Momentum Coaching (www.momentumcoaching. ca), and the President of the Certified Coaches Federation (www. certifiedcoachesfederation.com). Momentum Coaching has experienced triple digit growth for several years running, and is the recognized frontrunner in leadership and business coaching nationally. The Certified Coaches Federation has trained and certified over 13,000 Life and Executive Coaches in the last 8 years. Abe is also a best-selling author, and has developed life and business coaching tools which have been put into use all over North America and the world. If you would like to discover more about becoming a Certified Life or Executive Coach, or about being coached yourself, please reach Abe at abe@ momentumcoaching.ca

Photo: Armand Flores

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Secrets of HighPerformance People By Abe Brown

ost of us look at High-Performance People and wonder how we can “get there” in our own lives. High-Performance People often accomplish more things, experience more visibility, earn more money, and enjoy more abundance. They nail it, and they have fun doing it! Everything that High-Performance People is something you or I can do, if we simply understand what they are doing, why they are doing it, and make consistent choices. Here are 7 secrets of High-Performance People, that you’ll want to add into your life and work, if you haven’t already.

They have a clear focus on a big picture.

1 2

If you don’t have a clear goal or desire in mind, how will you know when you’ve gotten there? High-Performance People have a clear vision for where they want to go, and are guided in their daily lives by a sense in which they know exactly who they are, what they want to do, and how they want to do it. This big picture guidance keeps them on track.

They have positive mental frameworks.

High-Performance People have incredibly positive mental frameworks. They aren’t pessimistic, judgmental, negative, or critical. High-Performance People understand that their attitude determines their altitude, and so they keep their attitude elevated. They keep in mind that obstacles can be overcome, problems can be solved, adversity can be an opening, setbacks are temporary, and that opportunities are as limitless as they choose.

They are creators.

High-Performance People understand intuitively that before something manifests in the real-world, it gestates in the mental world. Before a thing is real in actuality, it impregnates in the realm of vision and possibility. High-Performance People aren’t waiting for something to come to them, or for someone to give something to them, but they are using their imagination to create, dream, produce and build. High-Performance People are proactive, take initiative, and get it done! And as they move forward, in authenticity and alignment, they attract all the abundance and fullness that they need.

They take time for Self-Care.

High-Performance People take time for themselves. In their midst of their dreaming and doing, planning and processing, High-Performance People understand the priority of Self-Care. Energy and passion is the stuff of life, resilience, and success. High-Performing Coaches monitor their personal energy levels, and they do what it takes to regularly replenish their tank, so that they always have abundance to share. Everything from regular sleep to nutrition, to exercise to meditation, to affirmations to visualization, to journaling to time with quality people, High-Performance People take the time they need to care for themselves.

They don’t procrastinate.

5 6 7

High-Performance People know what it is to engage the uncomfortable, the foreign, and the tasks they don’t like, and they don’t keep putting them off. Not all of the things we need to do in order to achieve our dreams are very fun, but High-Performance People are able to focus on what needs to get done and do it, even when it’s disagreeable. They aren’t easily knocked off course by the unpleasant or low-profile roles we all need to fulfil in order to achieve the big picture and have long-term success.

They partner.

High-Performance People know they can’t do everything themselves. They understand their own limitations, and appreciate the strengths and contributions of others. They would far rather move forward with a team, than move forward alone. They have an eye for talent and capacity, and are good at attracting the right people to their teams, and fitting them into the right roles. High-Performance People are able to foster great relationships and build teams that can help them achieve what they want even faster.

They are resilient.

High-Performance People understand resilience. Like the rest of us, they face obstacles and struggles, setbacks and failures. But High-Performance People are tenacious, sticking to their dreams and goals as long as they need to, in order to get where they need to go. High-Performance People are great at bouncing back, taking a punch, and keeping on keeping on.

Becoming a High-Performance Person is within all of our grasp. Personal growth and professional development is a PROCESS based on one simple principle: Our "inputs" define our "outputs". When we invest in our own personal growth and professional development, we tap into the power of PROCESS and grow EXPONENTIALLY. The world needs more HighPerformance People. -Abe Brown 20

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One final thought: Becoming a High-Performance Person is within all of our grasp. Personal growth and professional development is a PROCESS based on one simple principle: Our "inputs" define our "outputs". When we invest in our own personal growth and professional development, we tap into the power of PROCESS and grow EXPONENTIALLY. The world needs more HighPerformance People. Thanks for reading. I would love it if you could offer your comments, “LIKE” this article, and share it. If you want more support for becoming a High-Performance Person, you can always reach me through our website or by emailing me – abe@momentumcoaching.ca Thank you. Go out there and become a High-Performance Person, because we all need you to! But as you dream, insure you start strong, so that you can finish strong.

Abe Brown is the Coach’s Coach, and is the Founder and President of Momentum Coaching (www.momentumcoaching.ca), and the President of the Certified Coaches Federation (www.certifiedcoachesfederation. com). Momentum Coaching has experienced triple digit growth for several years running, and is the recognized front-runner in leadership and business coaching nationally. The Certified Coaches Federation has trained and certified over 13,000 Life and Executive Coaches in the last 8 years. Abe is also a best-selling author, and has developed life and business coaching tools which have been put into use all over North America and the world. If you would like to discover more about becoming a Certified Life or Executive Coach, or about being coached yourself, please reach Abe at abe@momentumcoaching.ca

ONE WINDOW MANY SMART APPLICATIONS. FROM SECURITY TO RECREATIONAL

www.fushionliving.ca Leenk & Wink Inc. is a Calgary based Smart Glass/Smart Film manufacturer, provider and installer. Our Smart film/glass technology brings magic to your house and office windows.

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Can turn from opaque to transparent within 50 milliseconds. No more clumsy blinds and curtains. Can turn your house or workplace a minimalist look. Can also be used as a rear projector screen. Can turn shopfront windows into giant advertisement displays. Allows you to control the privacy and illumination level in your home/workplace with a touch of a button.

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ELLI MAE PADILLO PONCIANO RAGUINDIN Business Owner: Kyani Business Owner: Kyani Co-Founder: Leenk&Wink Co-Founder: Leenk&Wink Co-Owner/Founder: Fusion Living Co-Owner/Founder: Fusion Living Contact: 403-615-0433 Contact: 403-992-5414 E-mails: E-mails: Mae@leenkwink.ca Ponciano@leenkwink.ca | FCM | filcanmagazine.comPartners@fushionliving.ca | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 | 21 Partners@fushionliving.ca

RELATIONSHIP

LESSONS FROM A FORK

y partner, Donna, has a favourite fork. It actually is a really nice fork.It’s heavy and sturdy, and has a wide handle and long tines. It always looks shiny, as if just polished. It feels really nice in the hand. It’s a good fork, and it’s Donna’s favourite. I know it’s Donna’s favourite fork because she told me so. A couple of times when I happened to give her that fork at supper and she was feeling playful, she would say, “Ah, my favourite fork. Thanks, Jason.” Now I often find myself scrummaging through our cutlery drawer at suppertime looking for that fork. I’d dig to the bottom of the fork section of our cutlery tray just to get that fork. Now, obviously we’re not writing this post to tell you about a fork. This post is about how men and women are together, particularly in the area of giving and receiving. Here’s what we want you to get:

1) “I know it’s Donna’s favourite fork because she told me so.” Donna tells me what she likes. She knows I can’t read her mind, so she doesn’t set me up to lose by having me guess what she wants. She would actually say, “I love it when…” or “I’d love to go to…” or whatever the case may be. When Donna isn’t direct I have to read between the lines, which can be fun. But if a guy has guessed in the past and was wrong and zinged for it by the girl he is with, he will be reluctant to guess again because the potential loss is too big. Make it easy for him to give you what you want by telling him so.

2) “Ah, my favourite fork. Thanks, Jason.”

Donna constantly thanks me for things I do for her. Whether it be the “little” things like taking the garbage out or the “big” things like a trip to Florida, Donna always lets me know how much she appreciates what I do for her. If this sounds like she’s “buttering up” my ego, what you need to see is that men are motivated by appreciation. It makes us want to do more for you because it makes us feel good. And there’s nothing a man wants more than to be at cause in your happiness.

3) “Now I often find myself scrummaging through our cutlery drawer at suppertime looking for that fork.”

Guys, my giving Donna her favourite fork isn’t going to make her day. I know that. But it shows I’m paying attention and that I care about how she feels. Again, this isn’t about the fork. It’s about how you are in life with your partner. Cherish her and pay attention to what’s going on with her. She loves this. It completes the energetic circuit, if you will, between you both. That is, her appreciation motivates you to pay attention to her, which gives her more reasons to appreciate you, which in turn causes you give her more attention, and so on.

4) As a woman, what you appreciate him for is your choice.

It's so easy to fall into the rut of waiting for big things to happen before expressing appreciation to your man: trips, gifts, incredible sex, paying off large bills, etc. What about all the little things he does in between the big things?

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By Jason Krausert

The more time that goes by without him feeling appreciated the less motivated he will be to provide for you and your family. What’s awesome is that how often he is appreciated and what he is appreciated for are completely within a woman’s control. His need for appreciation is similar to a woman’s need for connection and being cherished. Both require ongoing and regular attention.

TRY THE FOLLOWING FOR ONE WEEK: WOMEN: PART 1: When you’re clear about what you want, let your guy know. No matter how big (e.g., winter getaway to your dream destination) or small (e.g., your favourite piece of cutlery), let your guy know what you want. Don’t leave him guessing. Let him know that you believe in him. When and how he delivers is up to him. If the request is "clean," and he feels good, he will deliver. PART 2: Thank him for everything, especially the little things he does, like making you a cup of coffee, warming up the car in the morning, doing the dishes, etc. If you really want to see him move, tell him why you liked it too.

MEN: When you know what she wants or likes, get it for her. If it's something you can't afford right now, like a big trip, for instance, get some travel magazines and talk about where she wants to go. It will show her you are listening and paying attention. Be creative. Most importantly, HAVE FUN WITH THIS. If your relationship seems like work, life will seem like work. _________________________________________________________ Jason Krausert, Couples Financial Wellness Coach Co-Founder of “Between Men and Women” Couples Relationship Retreat Come visit us at betweenmenandwomen.com.

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Important Considerations When Selling Your Home By David Robinson

he time has come to sell your home. Now where do you start? Here are some helpful tips to get you started.

There are various reasons for selling a house. It may be because you are upsizing, downsizing, or relocating to another city. Perhaps youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re even selling off a property that was purely for investment purposes. Regardless of your reasons, the preparatory steps are similar in all cases as you are likely most concerned with getting the highest value you can get from your property sale! It is vital to know your market demographic and the present condition of the economy as they will play an important role in knowing who are likely to seek your property and how much they may be willing to pay for it. The moment your home goes on the market, you are essentially competing for that specific buyer with all the other similar styles of homes for sale in your area. Price is always a consideration for a buyer, but the bottom line is if your home provides more value, then you may be able to attain a higher price providing the market in your area will support such. How to get there is where the detailed work starts. Whether you are selling on your own or with a real estate agent, it is important to inspect every room and aspect of your home that affects

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value. The age, style, and condition of all elements constitute their appeal or lack of. Kitchens and bathrooms, with all their functional components, play a heavy role in property appeal. Other visual aspects such as the flooring, paint, trim, baseboards, and light fixtures are also very important. The age and working condition of the furnace, water heater, roof, windows, and landscaping will also impact the opinion of any potential buyer. The better you can make the appearance of your home, the quicker it will sell, and for more money. Renovating everything is usually not necessary or feasible, but fixing, replacing, or repairing key elements can greatly improve how your home will present during viewing. An experienced real estate agent should be able to help provide you with a plan to maximize value in prepping your home for sale without breaking your budget! Along with repairs and upgrades to your home, it is highly essential that it is very clean and uncluttered. A possible buyer does not want to see an abundance of personal items, but a spotless and beautiful house that they could make their home! They want to be able to imagine themselves living there. Staging a home is vital to ensuring the maximum return on the sale. The cleaner, newer, and more move-inready it looks, the better chance you will receive a favourable offer to purchase.

Once your home is clean and in good repair, capturing your home in excellent photos or video is the next step. Remember, presentation is key, and your property must look detailed, bright, and visually inviting. The bulk of buyers do their initial shopping on the internet, so your home must look great in pictures! If it does not look good online, chances are shoppers will not come out to view it in person. On top of photos, there are great options now such as video and virtual tours, which help viewers see your homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appeal even before they set foot on your property. Every property is different in size and offerings, so discussing details with a professional first will help you decide whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best for your specific property. Pricing your home correctly is extremely important when selling. Depending on how the market is doing, pricing too high or too low can be detrimental to an efficient sale or in achieving the best possible value. An agent with strong market experience can evaluate home sales in your community and discuss those findings with you to estimate the best course of action in determining what price to list your home at in order to stay competitive while maximizing sale value based upon present market conditions.

Legal elements of a sale are also important and something to consider at the time of listing. The seller is responsible for providing a buyer with a Real Property Report, which lawyers use to determine whether the home and improvements on the land are in compliance with local laws. If you are relying on an agent to sell your home on your behalf, they should provide and explain all the necessary forms and contracts required to efficiently list your home for sale, as well as receive, present, and discuss with you all offers from potential buyers. Details in a purchase offer are very important and have an impact on your overall decision to proceed with accepting an offer or countering back to a buyer. Pay special attention to the possession date, purchase price, goods included in the sale, and any other conditions that a buyer may ask for on top of the usual financing and inspections requirements. Working with an experienced agent will help alleviate possible pitfalls and delays in getting your home sold, so look for knowledge and dedication when choosing an industry professional to work with. The more planning and preparation you put into getting your home ready for sale, the more efficiently it will sell and for the greatest dollar value!

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McErald Bacomo, From Broken To Benediction

A Young Financial Executive’s Story By McErald Bacomo

stressed from work. I remember one summer evening after spending hours at the park with my friends, I came home to my parents sitting on the couch. They didn’t say a word, but I knew something was wrong. I was distraught by their energy. Hours later before bedtime I remember overhearing my parents talking about how my dad had just been laid off. I was only six at that time; however, I knew that “laid off” was a negative term. During the next few weeks my dad and I spent a lot more time together. It got my mind off of their conversation and it probably relieved him of his stress too. Around the same week my dad got approved for a grant to go back and finish his education. I told them that one day I would become a successful individual and that the struggles they were facing would no longer be an issue as I would care for them unconditionally.

bout ten years ago at the tender age of thirteen I hit an alltime low in my life. I was addicted to drugs, dropped out of school, and had no plans for my future. I had flat-out hit rock-bottom emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I blamed everyone for all my shortcomings and argued with anyone who tried to steer me right. I was a lost cause. It feels just like yesterday when my dad and I arrived in Canada as new immigrants. My mom welcomed us at the airport with teary eyes filled with love and hope. I, on the other hand, felt confused. I wasn’t too sure where I was, since I was only over two years old at that time. All I knew was the temperature got significantly colder and the lady in the photos my dad would always show me was now standing right in front of me. The long and the short of it is that my mom ventured out to Canada while I was barely walking to provide a brighter future for me, so I didn’t remember her that much. Our first few months in Canada were really focused on spending time together and my mom teaching us how to transition to life in Canada. It was great: we spent most of the days at the park, and evenings walking around the neighbourhood. I will forever treasure those days when we had almost nothing but enjoyed every second of life as we had each other. Days turned to weeks and our social responsibilities came up. My mom’s vacation days were over, my dad landed his first job, and I was starting my first day in elementary school. Given that at that time we didn’t have much money, my parents enrolled me in the nearest elementary school with the goal of moving me to an exclusive private school in the future. Once school had started, I began to see my parents less and less due to their hectic work schedule, and I began feeling less and less loved and appreciated. At that time, I didn’t know why they did it and it frustrated me to see my parents who were once lively and vibrant individuals acting like zombies on a daily basis and constantly feeling exhausted and

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Eventually my dad finished his course and we as a family began thinking life was finally going our way. However, life works in funny ways, and when my dad finished his course, my mom was a few months pregnant with my soon-to-be baby sister, and my mom’s union had just begun their strike. If this wasn’t bad enough, when my mom was eight months pregnant, both my parents were involved in a car accident. My parents never gave up faith, and my dad always had his eyes on his goal no matter what it took. During this point in my life, I was starting to see my parents a little bit more, but once my sister was born, everything changed. As a seven-year-old child that had more energy than I could even handle, having a sibling was hard to accept. I now had to share the limited time I had with my parents with an unknown alien-looking baby. Years went by and the time I used to have with my parents have disappeared. My parents have finally hit a point in their careers where they have taken off financially. My dad, a man who didn’t have the luxury to finish elementary school was now making more than a college graduate through his business and was gainfully employed with the government. My mom was now a licensed nurse in a government facility. On paper it sounds amazing but for me it was horrible, it meant having 0 time with my parents. Which led me to start looking for the missing attention. I thought I had found refuge in friends but little did I know those same friends would become my ultimate downfall in the years to come. Although I was showered with material wishes, I was never satisfied. I slowly began resenting my parents for their sacrifices. In my final years of elementary school I had grown into a delinquent, snot nosed, and ignorant teenager. I was involved in the wrong groups, I was in constant fights at school, I despised my family as I felt that I hadn’t been given any attention in my youth, and worst of all I had thought that the people I had associated myself with had better intentions for me than my parents did. Despite only being 12-13 years old, I had given up on any grandiose goals and I was convinced that living a life based off of drugs and gangs was the life I wanted to have. The spring of 2007 is when life decided to give me a wake-up call – my classmate and childhood friend for 5 years had been murdered. It was then and there where I realized how delicate life is, how fragile my body was, and that life can be taken away at any moment. No child at that age should have to go through the grief that I had gone through. At that time I was trying my hardest to slowly transition back into my family not as a delinquent but as their child. Due to the years that had gone by the anger that I held inside kept coming back. I never verbally expressed my problems and in a matter of months I was back to my old habits.

Once I had begun high school I had developed even worse habits and was progressively learning more bad habits with the people I associated myself with. In my first year of high school I had been in and out of the youth detention hall more times than my poor mother’s heart could handle. I was smoking, doing every drug out there (short of shooting needles), I was barley passing high school, and I had no plans for my future. Everyone except myself could see that I was spiraling towards a life that would end with death or prosecution. Mid way through my first year of high school I was put on trial for a crime that I had committed, I had pleaded guilty and promised to get my life back together. I knew at the time I didn’t really mean it, I was just afraid and wanted to get out of the situation I was in. That’s why only months after, I found myself doing the same crimes that I promised never to do again. By the end of the 8th grade I had been a cause of concern for everyone who loved me and a disappointment to so many who wanted to believe in me. My parents, uncles and aunts had given up on me, and I had given up on me. I was broke and I was broken, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The grandeur idea that I had in my adolescent years was no longer in reach, in fact, I was far from being a successful individual that would free my parents from poverty, realistically, I was the one putting them into the financial hole. During the summer of 2008 I had gotten into a fight with my dad over the decisions that I had been making in my life. Words were said and emotions ran high. I made a decision that night to leave home and live with the very friends that had gotten me involved with drugs & affiliated with gangs. I was able to sustain

my life by living on the couches of my friends and selling illicit drugs throughout the day. After a few weeks of living this lifestyle I was ambushed and beat up within inches of my life by the same people that I thought were friends. On the eve of my mom’s birthday I had decided to give up and admit that I had a problem. I called my parents and apologized over the phone and promised to be home for my mom’s birthday. My parents were ecstatic and welcomed the idea of me returning. When I arrived at my parent’s house the next day I was loaded on drugs and once again disappointed my parents, but this time it was different. They weren’t going to stand for it and just lecture me. My mom broke into tears, her only son coming back on her birthday but only to see him loaded on drugs. It was a bittersweet moment for her. As the loving mother she was, she couldn’t help her heart melt to see me back at home and she tried speaking to me before my dad came home but due to all the drugs I couldn’t comprehend anything. Once my dad came home we both broke down in tears but the drugs and emotional build up brought us to the same heated situation that caused me to leave to begin with. With emotions rising & words being said, my mom and dad gave me the final ultimatum before I left the house. They told me to never come back until I was ready to get my life back together. I may have left the house steaming but I took their ultimatum to heart. I knew I had to change and I knew I couldn’t do it alone. Within a few weeks, I had called my parents back and informed them I was ready to get my life back together. The decision of getting my life back together was tough. They gave me a few options, go to rehab, go to the Philippines, or live with family in another province. I chose to go back

home to the Philippines as I considered it to be a vacation, little did I know that this decision would be nowhere near a vacation. The day of my flight felt like a punch to the gut. I remember vividly, my mom and grandma in tears as I got to the check-in station. I couldn’t believe I was going to the Philippines alone, for the first time in my life I would be thousands of miles away from anyone that I knew. The time I spent on the flight to the Philippines was long and hard. I couldn’t sleep, and I still couldn’t wrap my head around why I made the decision to go back. When my plane landed in the Philippines, I had gotten about 3 hours of sleep and denied any food from the stewards. I remember walking out of the terminal contemplating on running back inside and getting on the next plane back to Canada only to realize that all the money I had was roughly $256. Knowing that would get me nowhere, I decided to stick my neck out and try out my decision. Upon leaving the airport I was greeted by my grandmother who I haven’t seen in years, I barely recognized her but she embraced me and talked to me as if she never left Canada. It made me feel welcomed and loved. Only a few hours after landing in Manila, she informed me that we had to go back to the airport and fly out to my dad’s province. My dad is from the Panay islands, in 2008 the whole province was undeveloped. I remember when I stepped off the plane thinking that I had travelled back 20 years in the past. There was no air-conditioning in the airport, the TV’s utilized were no longer flat screen & only offered 2 colors, black and white. The next day in the Panay islands is when my decision finally struck me. I no longer felt sad and frustrated, I now began feeling afraid. A type of fear that I had never felt before.

“I had become once again the youngest in company history to be promoted to a branch manager in training & assistant manager position (Just turned 20 years old).”

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Adapting to change in the Philippines was hard. Going to high school as a Canadian was even harder. On the first day of high school I remember feeling like an outsider, ego damaged, and confused. I spent the first day nodding my head and responding to only those that spoke English to me. When school ended, I was in a rush to go home and just end the day the only problem was I didn’t know how to get home. I had slept through the ride to school. Fortunately enough my family name is well recognized and established so a majority of the public transit drivers knew where my family resided. I got on the first tri-cycle that I saw and told them, Bacomo residence, the driver tried making small talk with me and I understood absolutely nothing. I just nodded and smiled. When I got off I gave him a crisp $10 bill and told him to just keep the change, he was so confused by this transaction that it warranted him speaking English to me. This was the first time since arriving in the Philippines that I had laughed. When I got inside the driver spoke to my relatives & grandma and was on his way. The next few weeks of school became even harder and harder because of my body going into withdrawal from the lack of drugs, and trying to fit in. The only thing looking up for me was that I had begun understanding the language. I had written in a notebook words & practiced speaking it every day when I got home. At times I would hang-out with the neighborhood guys just to practice. Shortly after 1 month, I could speak and understand Ilonggo. My accent wasn’t there yet but I could converse and that’s all that mattered. Life passed quickly once my body got rid of all the drugs. I began making friends, and began enjoying school. It wasn’t until my 3rd month in the Philippines when I had a bit of a mental breakdown, I was now 3 months without my parents and I began realizing how difficult I made their lives. At this point I had only spoken with my parents twice since arriving and on both occasions blaming them for who I was. I finally accepted whole heartedly that I was the problem and not them. I was ready to turn my life around. On the last week of 2009, I had been in the Philippines officially for 14 months. The funny thing about this situation was I had forgotten how to speak English. I recall the conversation I had, or tried to have with my mom in English, she couldn’t stop laughing. I had the very same accent that I used to imitate and mock, only now it was natural for me. I had done a complete recovery. My relationship with my parents had been mended and now even stronger than before and I started making goals in my life and was determined to come back to Canada a changed person. Every day that passed was one day closer to my goal of coming back home and one day erased of the nightmare past that I had.

Six months before graduating high school I was nominated as a running candidate for the high school mayor. I accepted the nomination and took full stead. I ended up winning by a landslide due to the speech I delivered about what it takes to be a leader. Little did I know, when I gave my speech a member of the senate was watching and decided that I would best fit the provincial leadership award. Three weeks before my graduation my dad called me informing me that he would be coming home. This would be the first time in 14 months that I would see my dad. I was blown away by excitement and joy. When my dad arrived I didn’t know how to approach him, I was ashamed of what I did in the past and knew I couldn’t take back anything I said. When he saw me however, he gave me what I can recall as the most sentimental hug in my teenage life. While hugging me, my eyes began to water as I began to recall all the times I told him I hated him, and wished negative things about him yet he still accepted me for who I was. Because of that I knew I was loved and that I could not let him down like I did again.

“I was nominated as a running candidate for the high school mayor. I accepted the nomination and took full stead. I ended up winning by a landslide due to the speech I delivered about what it takes to be a leader.” After my graduation, my dad offered me an opportunity to come back to Canada. At the time I declined. To be honest, I really wanted to return but I was afraid to come back. I was afraid that my past will haunt me, I was afraid of how family saw me, I was afraid of starting over again. My dad acknowledged that I declined the offer and provided me with another offer, to move into the island where my mom’s side lived on. I had accepted this offer as I felt it was the right thing to do. Two weeks after graduating high school I had packed my things and left with my dad to Manila. The trip was the most fun I had with my dad since I was 2.5. On his last day in the Philippines, he asked if I wanted to go see my grandfather which was an 8 hour drive away. I initially did not want to

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because it would mean missing out on saying goodbye to my dad but I accepted the offer because I don’t think I could have stomached saying goodbye to my dad again. The only thing I failed to realize was that my dad would be the one to drop me off at the bus terminal so regardless of the fact, I still had to say goodbye to my dad. Tears rolling down my cheek as I said goodbye, I apologized for making my mistakes once again and promised him I wouldn’t return to my old habits. My summer break that year went by extremely fast and I had to start pinpointing the career choice I wanted to go to school for. I wanted to do something more with my life however I didn’t know what I wanted to do. This frustration lead me to feel out of control with my life and I made the irrational decision to go with a course I had 0 understanding and 0 interest in. I decided to take a course in Computer Engineering as it was the most in demand career choice at the moment in the Philippines. What I failed to realize at the time was, the essence of time and enjoyment. I thought I could just go to class and get average scores and become an average engineer one day. This was one of the biggest mistakes I made in my adult life. See, wanting an average life is fine but it’s not meant for everyone. I found myself frustrated and bored in class. Little by little I began skipping class to drink and I had picked up the habit of smoking in between classes to kill time. I had wasted 3 years in college, getting average scores and barely passing. The thought of graduating as a computer engineer disgusted me at the time. The only reasons why I would attend class were to prevent my status of president of the foreigners club revoked, and to participate in afterschool activities like the debate club, and speech contests. Due to the status that I held in school I was nominated to run for the model face of the school, and later in that same year participate in the Panagbenga flower festival as a face of the school. I was in newspapers, radio shows, and on morning TV. That taste of publicity made me realize that becoming an engineer was definitely not going to cut it with me. The issue on hand however is that success only works when you do, I had stopped trying to gain publicity and also stopped attending events that would get me recognized. In addition, my grades began plummeting. It was in my 3rd year I had finally accepted and admitted I hated my course, and wanted to quit. I called my parents to inform them of my decision and they were furious, I don’t blame them. They wanted me to finish the course I had started but I had already made my decision to give my college withdrawal letter at the end of the semester.

During the summer vacation, I had taken up a full time job at a call centre, I had made the commitment before I accepted the job that I would figure out what course I really wanted to do and just do it, regardless if I got financial support I was determined to make my own way. At the end of summer I had saved up enough money to pay for 1 fiscal school year however I had not decided the course I wanted to take. I was in limbo between political science and education. I had chosen those 2 courses because they highlighted my strengths. I ended up choosing education as I thought if I took up political science I couldn’t transfer my transcripts when I came back to Canada. Once school had started again, my parents and I had patched up and made up again. I informed them of my choice and they respected it, they also informed me of their choice of not funding my education to which I acknowledged and respected as well. To which I had to go back to my summer job and request part time hours to be able to pay for expenses. My life at 18 hectic, my days started at 8AM and ended at 4AM. After school I would rush to the school’s speakers club and head home to sleep for 2 hours. After my short nap I would bathe and rush to work for my graveyard shift. I would finish my graveyard shift at 4AM and take the first jeepney going to school where I would sleep on the bleachers and wait for class to start. My parents played hardball for a bit and kept reminding me they wouldn’t help but they couldn’t resist helping me out every now and then with my rent. This schedule held up for about 8 months until my body couldn’t take it. I decided to take the next few weeks of school and work off to relax. Weeks turned into months and my relaxation became more of a quitting period. I had quit my ambition of finishing a full college degree. I wanted to see what was on the other side of the door in terms of my life. After 5 long years in the Philippines, my parents had agreed to let me come back, rather than me killing myself by going back to the schedule I had. On the plane ride coming back to Canada I felt so many emotions. The main emotion I felt was anxiety. I was anxious as I did not live up to my parents educational expectations, I didn’t know if I could amount to anything anymore, I didn’t know if I still had any drive left in me. Before the plane landed, I had written in my little school book that I kept with me a quote that I heard earlier that year “No Matter how bad it is or how bad it gets, I am going to make it!” My first few weeks back in Canada weren’t as bad as I thought, it was however equally as frightening as my first few weeks in the Philippines, if not more. Within a month of coming back I got a job at a call centre as a sales

agent, on my first day I made 2 sales and was ecstatic however knew that it wasn’t my long term career due to stability. Ironically enough in a span of 3 weeks I was laid off from that very job. That very night I had submitted my resume to multiple job ads and did not hear back from any. I began experiencing regret and fear. I started fearing that I would be jobless forever and regret not finishing my education, this drove me to pity myself and sell myself short of my potential. If it wasn’t for my dad who pointed me to a newly located alternative lender I don’t know where I would be today. Four days after being laid off and having my pity party, I was given a job offer. I was blown away, a multimillion dollar company wanted to hire me. Although I didn’t start at the top of the food chain, I was determined to get there. The company had hired me as a financial clerk initially. However, my drive and motivation escalate through the company ladder lead me to not only a promotion but also an appreciation for being the youngest in company history (19 years old) to be part of the management

“As of today, I am no longer the kid with the drug problem. I dominate in my field and act as the youngest in company history to represent my company in litigation & business development.” ladder. I had finally begun making not only my parents proud but myself proud. Just before the end of my first year with that company I was nominated sales man of the year and was flown out to California, New York City, Chicago, and New Jersey on an all-expense paid trip. It didn’t stop there, because I kept operating at obsessive and offensive levels I had become once again the youngest in company history to be promoted to a branch manager in training & assistant manager position (Just turned 20 years old). On my 20th birthday I remember I had promised my mom when I was intoxicated that I would pay for her vacation before the end of the year, since I was intoxicated my mom took it with a grain of salt. By the time I turned 21, I knew that I had outgrown the company and I was now the finally a big fish in a small sea. I wanted change,

financial change and also a career change. I decided to search for new opportunities, and decided to leave the company I was with for a more sophisticated detail oriented financial company. At 21, I was again a small fish in an ocean filled with sharks, and it excited me. By the end of my first year with the company I had generated over $750,000 in sales net revenue, my personal income did not reflect my efforts but knowing that I could make a dent that big gave me confidence in my abilities. Due to the amount of production I was putting out with the company they awarded me with a $2000 gift card, and you guessed it, I gave the gift card to my mom and sent her back home to the Philippines for a vacation. Just like my previous job I didn’t stay a low level agent for long, by the end of the fiscal year I had decided to pursue a new challenge as sales no longer enticed me nor did it challenge me. I sought out a path in the litigation field of the company. Within my first 6 months of doing litigation for the company’s branch in Vancouver I had collected over $86,000 on a monthly basis in court ordered and past due payments. Shortly after I turned 23, I was promoted to the litigation manager for the province of BC with plans on becoming a National Litigation Manager and potentially a lawyer. Due to all the success I had produced in my short frame, I had become a valuable asset to most companies, and now the tables turned, instead of me searching for opportunities I was being offered opportunities. As of today, I am no longer the kid with the drug problem. I dominate in my field and act as the youngest in company history to represent my company in litigation & business development. Now, finally making full grown steps to my claim when I was a child to become a financially able to care for my parents. As per my relationship with my parents, we have amended all burnt bridges and we now live happily together. We may not be a perfect family and we may not have time for each other all the time but you can bet that we are a family that loves and appreciates each other’s value and presence. It is only now that I realize that everything I prayed and asked for I got. I asked for my relationship with my parents to flourish and develop and I was given an opportunity for that to happen, I asked for financial abundance and I have been given the challenge to achieve it each time with my career choices. Life is really how you make it, when you get hit you can stay on the ground and pity yourself or you can get back up and fight. You have to commit not to quit to reach your goals and targets, perform on 10x levels and be obsessed with your goals to attain them. You are the director of your life, take control. To parents who are experiencing similar issues with their children, please feel free to contact me for advice.

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THE ULTIMATE FIVE-STEP GUIDE

ON HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL By: Nicole San Gabriel

when you have no idea what your goal is, I remember a one-on-one talk that I had in our youth ministry with one of the youth leaders, Wilmar Teves. I remember trying to comprehend all the pressure and anxiety I was feeling from figuring out what career to pursue in my post-secondary education. I remember feeling torn about the different paths I wanted to take. Kuya Wilmar asked, “What do you really want to do?” Easy. I wanted to become an accountant, engineer, architect, nurse, maybe all at the same time. I was in awe of how many careers came out of my mouth. And then it hit me: I realized that I haven’t really figured out what I wanted to do with my life. He asked me another question: “What are the motives behind your choices?” Again I was caught off guard. Hundreds of thoughts and answers were lingering in my brain, but no words came out of my mouth. Because of the way I reacted, he suggested that I pray and think about the path I really wanted to pursue. Motives. Motives. Motives. I contemplated for quite a while until I figured out what I really wanted and what God wanted me to do. Through God’s grace I have learned that no matter how much you want to pursue a career, if it is not for you, then it will never happen. Most of the time we aim to pursue what we think is best for us without realizing that God’s ways and plans are better than ours.

ow can I be successful when I do not know what I really want to do in the first place?

Perhaps this question sounds familiar to you—maybe not in the exact form, but you have probably asked yourself this question at least once in your life—maybe after you failed that one test that you badly wanted to pass or after you declined an opportunity to grow as an individual. Let me tell you something: If you ever came across the question above, that is okay. It is normal. We’ve all been in a similar situation at some point in our lives. We’ve all felt lost and unsure of our future. We’ve all been stuck between living in the past and trying to conquer the present. Again, that is okay.

Maybe that is what we need. Maybe we need to think and contemplate about what we are going to do, whether it be related to studies or any life-changing decisions. Maybe we do not need to answer the question, how? Rather we need to answer the question, why?

Why do we want to be successful? You may have inferred from the title of this article that I will be providing you with a guide on how to be successful. I cannot assure you that the steps will be easy, but I can assure you that it is going to be worth it. The Ultimate Five-Step Guide on How to Be Successful 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

You see, as cliché as it may sound, life is not a racetrack. You don’t live to compete with others. Rather, you live to grow with others. We should remove the mentality of trying to impress others with our achievements and success. We all have our own versions of ups and downs, which means we all have our own pathways to follow to become successful. Good things come to those who make their fate, and better things come to those who wait. No, I am not saying that you should sit in front of your television for five hours and expect success to knock on your door. Success is a combination of hard work, perseverance, determination, and faith. Every day, aim to be better than who you were yesterday.

No, what you are seeing is not a typographical error or a printing failure. The list is indeed empty because I want you to realize that there is no universal template for success and that you are the maker of your own success. There is no single guide or manual to success that will work on every single person. Your unique life experiences make you who you are. And because no one has the exact same experiences as you have, no one can say that their ways are the best ways to achieve your goals in life. Do not let anyone tell you how to turn your dreams into reality.

You are a seed waiting to bloom.

Now, I challenge you to write your own formula for success. Write your Ultimate Five-Step Guide on How to Make Yourself Successful. Because at the end of the day, you are you.

Going back to the question on how to find ways to become successful

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We all have our snowflake pathways. No two pathways are identical.

Certified Coach Practitioner or Life Coach

n our last issue, FCM connected with certified life coach Julia Lim from Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she talked about how to “Achieve Life and Improve Life Balance with a Life Coach.” (see our last issue). We caught up with her again to get more insights on the advantages of having a life coach. Here are her thoughts

4. A CCP can help you become more self-reliant, and be a BIG THINKER! I used to work as a manager at McDonald’s. During those five years, I have created multiple personal development plans for employees who wanted to be promoted to a managerial position.

1. You can take greater responsibility and accountability for your actions and commitments.

I’ve realized how effective coaching is in the workplace and how it increases a person’s motivation. Through coaching, employees develop a sense of well-being that sets them up to lead with confidence, continually acquire new skills, persevere, and become an effective brand ambassador. They also learn to take pride in the company they are working for.

One of the benefits of having a Certified Coach Practitioner (CCP) in your life is learning about accountability. You will feel more committed to follow through with your plans and stop your procrastination! At certain moments in our lives, we all have placed limits on ourselves and succumbed to negative thoughts. Having a CCP can push you beyond your limits.

5. Having a CCP will significantly increase your chances of gaining success and growth.

2. It can help in shaping realistic goals for improving your life. Change is something we can’t stop. As Photo Credit: Ray Penner Photography they say, “Change is inevitable.” Working with a CCP can keep you focused on your goals and guide you to improve your overall self. A CCP can show you how to reach your goals promptly and effectively, help you track your progress, and positively influence your attitudes and feelings.

3. A CCP can support you in achieving your goals and will keep you on track. Have you ever had a dream so grand that it seemed impossible to your friends and family, and you didn’t get the support you needed when you’re confident you would get it? I’ve been there. I’ve heard a lot of discouraging opinions when I first started chasing my dreams. Nonetheless, I persevered! Sure, there is no easy way to succeed and we all know that, and there are no shortcuts either. You will need someone to support you outside of your peers and family who will give you unbiased and expert advice. When things go downhill, a CCP can give you the encouragement and professional recommendations that will help you with your goals. A life coach will be fully committed to help you stay on track, structure your goals, and listen to what you are going through. A CCP will support you and monitor your plans and progress.

This is because clients enjoy the positive focus brought about by coaching. Because a CCP is trained in identifying strengths, resources, and successes, there is a positive result for growth and success.

Coaching is one of the most powerful tools for personal growth and transformation. Ever since I entered the life-coaching business, I’ve always told my clients to start somewhere, and that there’s no better time to start than right now. You have to take the first step. By taking action, everything will follow. My favorite aspect of being a CCP is empowering people to find their unique way and their “why,” so they can change their life and the life of others. Hard work, dedication, and motivation, with a strong support system from a CCP, are the keys to achieving your goals. Now, I would like to reach out and connect with you—yes, you! I am excited to meet you and help you with your goals today and make them a reality! __________________________________________________________ Reference: http://www.instituteofcoaching.org Raymond, J. (2014). Start living the life you want: The life coach workbook. UK: John Murray learning. Biswas-Deiner, R. ( 2009). Personal coaching as Positive intervention, Journal of Clinical Psychology, volume (65 (5), p. 545-546. doi: 10.1002/ jclp | FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

ZUMBA REGGAETON 2017!

With Cristina Camara-Macapili

n interview with the event organizer and dance coordinator Cristina Camara-Macapili!

The first ever Zumba Reggaeton was a big hit in Calgary! Over 200 attendees joined the sponsors and dance coordinators along with the two live bands. The result, several hours of Zumba fun! FCM connected with Cristina, who is one of the event’s dance maestros and coordinator, to see how she got started in Zumba. We also wanted to know more about Zumba in general.

1.) When did you start Zumba?

A: I started teaching on April 2016, a week after I got my Zumba License.

2.) What are the benefits of Zumba? A: How many am I allowed to say? LOL!

Physically: It's a workout. I've done different kinds of exercise but nothing makes me sweat for an hour of fitness than Zumba does. Dancing generally improves your coordination, and stamina. In Zumba, you get to dance to different type of music and routines. It is a mix of everything: Latin, hiphop, k-pop. It has really evolved so much today from when it started, but the main Zumba ingredients were always

there: Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia, Bachata, Reggaeton, Soca to name a few. Psychologically: I have personally proven this myself. It is a stress reliever. It helps with depression and just improves your overall health, not just physically. When you are in class, you can't help but get sucked in the energy of the people around you. It is also a great place to meet different people, who can eventually your lifelong friends.

3.) Who can do Zumba?

A: Anybody and everybody. Some people have this notion that they need to know how to dance or have "the moves" before enrolling or even try Zumba class. Dead wrong! You just have to want to do it. Everything else follows. Like I always say to my students, I just need a sprinkle of confidence from them to want to try, I will take care of the rest.

4.) What makes Zumba different from other workouts such as running, or circuit training? A: It’s not scary, Lol! Seriously, with Zumba you can start at any point, at your own pace and can catch up pretty quickly, depending on how often you attend a class. By “not scary” I meant this: For example, when you invite a friend who never work out her/his entire life and you say,

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let’s run! Do you think she will be super excited to do it right away? OR let’s do some circuit training! No. They will be scared of will feel that they will prevent you from normally doing your workout because they have to keep up with you. Not with Zumba. The instructor takes care of the new students, while everybody are still going at their own level, same amount of energy, and still manages to start and finish at the same time. A lot of people also thought that Zumba is not a serious workout. That is also a misconception. You can burn as much calories with Zumba as in running or doing a circuit training for an hour. Another huge difference is, it doesn’t feel like a workout. You are going to have so much fun, dancing with everybody and with lively music, that you don’t realize you are exercising for an hour already. I’ve done different beachbody home workout, like Insanity, T25, Les Mills Pump, and though I enjoyed those workouts, I must admit that my eyes were focused on that little timer on the screen and can’t wait for it to end lol!

5.) How long does a typical session go, and how much calories can a person burn in that session?

A: One (1) hour. You can burn up to 1,000 calories per session, depending on how intense or crazy you move.

6.) What does it take to become a Zumba instructor?

A: It takes passion, commitment, patience, interpersonal skills, and your natural care of desire to help other people. Memorizing 14 to 16 songs, and performing it in front of students, while cueing and somehow connecting to your students are no easy tasks. You need to practice and literally listen to the music and practice in your head ALL the time. But, if it’s your passion, it will come naturally. I love doing it and it doesn’t feel work for me. Zumba class is my happy time. After a long day at work, I look forward to those smiles and whoop from my students.

7.) Your last event attracted more than 200 people. Tell us about that experience, and what were some of the highlights?

A: First of all, I felt very proud and thankful. Being a new instructor, and not teaching in any gym, I never thought for one, that we will sold out all our tickets. Second, that we can get a lot of sponsors who trusts and supported us, even danced with us! The amount of support from sponsors, students, friends, and family were overwhelming. I must say that it’s the biggest crowd I’ve danced with, on stage, and it felt incredible. The first time that I went up on stage, and saw those faces smiling, very eager to dance, was definitely the high point for me. It sets me on fire for the rest of the event. Highlights: The bands. I am very thankful for their support. The Reggaeton with live bands idea came from Jobelle. Very creative, that woman. Having a live band play was definitely something different, and something that has not been done before, on any Zumba event. Another highlight were the sponsors and guest speakers. We have come to this realization that, we really can accomplish great things, if we do it together. People whose minds think alike can accomplish great things. All our sponsors were Filipino businessman and woman. Photobooths were also a hit. Lastly, was the chemistry. In that event, differences were set aside. We were just there having fun, smiling to each other, not thinking about the recession, or what culture or religion you were from. It felt like we’ve come together as a community.

8.) How can people reach you for Zumba lessons?

A: They can reach me through my number: 403-589-8764 if they want to book any private events or private classes, or even try it for free. My classes are every Tuesday, ,Thursdays at 7 – 8pm, at my basement studio, and Fridays 7 to 8pm at Energize Studio in Millrise. All my classes are also posted in my website: www.cmacapili.zumba.com . They can also reach me through my Instagram: Zumba_ with_Tina, or facebook account, if they search Cristina Macapili.

9.) What's next for your Zumba? Is there going to be another big event in the near future?

A: We will do the Reggaeton event again next year, but bigger! You guys have to watch out for it! There will be more exciting things that’s going to happen, but I’m not allowed to say it, just yet. This December, we will have our Christmas Party, where we dress up, dance to 2017 Zumba favorites, games, and have a healthy dance competition amongst my students. The Christmas party is open of course for my students, and their friends.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

In the Community

Great Impact Productions Inc.

Makes Its Mark In the Community!

reat Impact Productions (GIP) Inc. makes its debut production with the first Alay Sa Manggagawang Pilipino 2017 Tour which saw three famous comedians and singers from the Philippines – Donita Nose, Super Tekla, and Jennie Gabriel. The event was held on September 1 – 3, 2017 in Calgary, Edmonton, and Grand Prairie. “The purpose of the event is to appreciate the Filipino workers who have sacrificed one of the most important aspects of their lives – their time with their parents, kids, and spouses,” says Abel Pagaling, one of the directors of GIP. The tour was held in Calgary, Edmonton, and Grand Prairie where it drew hundreds of crowds.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

“The comedy and singing made people laugh,” says Abel. “It’s our first production event in partnership with EJD Productions Inc. We brought in a lot of our resources and contacts which played a key role in making the event happen. We learned a lot regarding production, logistics, and having partners with the right culture to work with. We’ll take our lessons with us to our next events.” To see more of Alay, visit www.AlaySMP.com. GIP’s next project is Pinoy Breakthrough 2017 conference, which is set to launch in Calgary on October 21, 2017. To know more, visit www. facebook.com/pinoybreakthrough/

AE Global Inc. Launches at

Adobo Experience’s 2nd AGM

dobo Experience celebrated its second annual general meeting at the prestigious Ranchmen’s Club in Calgary, Alberta. Adobo Experience was created two years ago by four Filipino temporary workers. It’s now one of the fastest growing restaurant brands in western Canada. During the AGM, AE Global Corp. was introduced to the group, a company that is an extension of the existing Adobo Experience company. “AE Global was created to be the hands and feet of Adobo Experience,” says Michael Siervo, one AG Global’s executive directors. “We want to see our brand across Canada.” “Adobo Experience is a gift,” says Jeffrey Angeles, one of the founders of Adobo Experience and the CEO of AE Global. “We want to expand across Canada. If we make this happen, we can help a lot of people in our community.” To know more about what is happening in the Filipino-Canadian community, visit FilCan Events at www.filcanmagazine.com/index.php/events/

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |

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| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 6 | 2017 |