FCM Sample Magazine by Filipino Canadian Magazine

FCM Filipino Canadian Magazine

Eng. Lourdes “Lulu” Lugue

Sample Edition www.filcanmagazine.com www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016 |

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Business

The Transaction Scale By Valen Vergara

efore I was aware that there was a scale of exchanges, I hadn’t given much thought into the science behind how things were transacted in business and life. All I knew about at the time were some well-known sayings

like, “It’s better to give than receive,” and you “reap what you sow!” I’m sure you may felt the same way or are feeling this way right now. What I’ve found based off of experience is that most people could use a deeper understanding when it comes to one of the most important dynamics of business, success or money; that being, T

This is a pedagogy, which is rarely practiced and once realized, can uncap limitless potential as a professional product and service provider! In business, career and life, we are ALWAYS in a state of transaction, most just aren’t aware of this fact. The lion’s share of people are operating at a novice level of exchange. To the masses,

this is the only “modus operandi” that they know. As the saying goes, “you don’t know what you don’t know!” In an effort to help you be “in the know,” I’d like to unpack, “The Transaction Scale,” so you can “be in the know.”

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Criminal Transaction: This is a harm-

what is agreed upon. For the most part,

ful exchange when there isn’t an ear-

in business and life when someone ex-

nest deposit given for the help, there-

periences a fair transaction, when the

fore the receiver does not place value

stakes are high, they feel like they just

on what is given and or abuses the gen-

won the lottery.

erosity. You get what you enable. When someone takes something with-

Transaction In Abundance: Where

out “paying” for it, they’re unintention-

one party over delivers and gives

ally stealing from you, aren’t they? The

above and beyond the expectations of

receiver must be involved in the pro-

the other, ONLY AFTER a fair transac-

cess of what they’re receiving; other-

tion has taken place. Transaction in

wise it’s taken for granted! An example

abundance is the most rare form of ex-

of this would be an animal caught in a

change and when it happens it’s usual-

trap that bites you when you attempt to

ly because someone gave you the fol-

rescue it. You mean well, but the ani-

lowing, more time; quality time; or bo-

mal in the human hasn’t learned what

nuses.

to do with abundance… yet. I’ll leave you with this, and after doing Unfair Transaction: When an unbal-

this exercise; it should change your

anced exchange takes place where one

business and life!

party under delivers and breaks a predetermined transaction agreement. In

Drill: Write down a list of everyone

business and life, this is when someone

that you’re in a transaction relationship

doesn’t fulfill their end of the bargain.

with and figure out what form of trans-

This happens all the time in business

action you have with them. After doing

and life and is why most people are

that, ask yourself this question: How

weary in professional transactions and

can I create transaction in abundance

say things like, “Can I get that in writ-

with these relationships?

ing please?” Even then, further protec-

____________________________________

tion and assurance is needed these days with the amount of unfair transac-

Valen Vergara

tions taking place! The good ol’ hand-

Award Winning Bestselling Author, National Columnist,

shake is now just a figure of speech!

As Seen On “Game Changer” Movie, Social Entrepre-

Isn’t it?

neur, Investor, Humanitarian & Entrepreneur Trainer.

Fair Transaction: Where two parties

Become visible and credible in your business and

create a mutual exchange and uphold

career at www.valenvergara.com

www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016 |

Family

Building Our Home: Using The Ordinary To Do The Extraordinary By Al Manzano

a Canadian-born Filipino, I’ve always felt like I lived my life straddled between two worlds – I was never really Canadian but never really Filipino either. True to my Canadian teachers, I always strived to be punctual while foregoing the bologna sandwiches for some version of rice. It was never easy being this self-aware as it often gave me a bit of an inferiority complex in many areas of my life that often stunted me from overachieving – too short to dunk a basketball, too pacific islander to skate with the best. Always running in the middle of the pack, getting lost in the mix – in a word…Ordinary. Fortunately, two things happened; First, I grew up beyond the oversimplification of identifying myself by either individual culture; and second Canada as a whole has bloomed into a truly cultural mosaic we have all come to appreciate. Through this time of growth, I have had the privilege of working with people’s no migrated from different countries in the churches I served with – from people who derived from the Far East to people who hailed from the land down under. More and more, I began to see people beyond the color of their skin, the tone of their accent, and the smell of their food. Rather I began to appreciate that embedded within the landscape of this cultural mosaic ran a similar theme among New Canadians I spent time with; the goal was always Canada – the land of snow, ice, universal healthcare, Wayne Gretzky…and fresh opportunities. Let me expand this point by saying: Yes, the goal was Canada; but below the surface, were stories. Stories that were often fraught with great sacrifice, years hard work, expensive application and relocation fees, and lengthy tests of patience and prayer. It always amazed me the lengths people were willing to undergo to migrate to my home. A quick snapshot of some memorable stories were:



The Card carrying Communist who was indicted by his home country after formally requesting the opportunity to go to school in Canada to escape the regime he felt handcuffed by;



The successful hotelier from Central America, who sold generations worth of family properties for the opportunity to bring his children to Canada to escape the drug war;



the Filipino mother who sacrifices years away from her children to rear the offspring of another with the ultimate dream of reuniting her family again;



the Indian Surgeon who traded in his scalpel for a Canadian mop to leave persecution his family faced back home;



the Cambodian accountant who flipped burgers six days a week so she can go to school five nights a week to fund Her father’s cancer treatment. In short, they were often stories of ordinary people willing to go to extraordinary lengths to achieve their personal goals in Canada.

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Many of you reading this can identify with some of these sacrifices. Many of you can remember the blood, sweat, and tears you shed for the single opportunity that awaited across the globe. Landmarks that you planted along your journey to Canada are coming back to mind as you can remember the flood of emotions you felt at certain times – when the application was accepted, the bags were packed, and you finally made it past the immigration counter and stepped onto Canadian soil. For several people, you can look back at your journey to Canada and smile because there were several moments you truly felt like there were extraordinary things happening that were transforming your ordinary life. As a Canadian who has never felt the need to leave my country but has had the privilege of meeting hundreds upon hundreds of people who have all told me amazing stories like the ones listed above, I have one ask. Please do not look at the immigration counter as the finish line of your journey. Canada needs people who have dared to dream outside their realm of possibility, who have dipped their toes into the sea of opportunity, who have been stretched beyond comfort of their own culture – to continue to propel us forward in order to ensure that the cultural inferiority complex I felt growing up doesn’t affect the generation I am now trying to raise. Your voice, your knowledge, your experience, your motivation, your passion, and your heart is what will drive our workplaces, neighborhoods, soccer teams, churches, towns, cities…and our nation forward ultimately. We need your vitality, your spirit of hard work, your compassion for the oppressed, to ensure that everyone is represented in the boardrooms, in the lecture halls, in the coffee shops, the water coolers, and the political arenas all across this country. With my part of the country now in a recession, we are relying heavily on people like you who have already journeyed through difficulty to bring a fresh voice and help us innovate solutions, develop ideas, start businesses, speak up for what is right, and help navigate our collective home into the future. Earlier this year, Canada was rated the second best country in the world to live at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. I would love to see Canada remain a World leader and one of the most desirable places to live, but it will take all ordinary Canadians doing extraordinary things to keep on that path. To you who consider yourselves new Canadians, I say “Welcome”! – now it’s time for us all to roll up our sleeves step out of our comfortable communities, strive to overachieve, and build the home around us an even better place to live, eh? Allan is a passionate leader who is not afraid to paint outside the lines, a motivated speaker/teacher who wants nothing more than to instill Truth to shape future generations, and a loving father and husband who is not concerned

www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016 |

Health

Get Off Your Butt: 5 Ways to Get Motivated By Apple Cebedo

| www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016

You’ve heard this phrase time and time again. Be yourself and don’t allow negativity to affect your life. If it doesn’t lift you up, leave it on the bottom. It will stay there, but you won’t. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Do activities that make you happy. Go to places you’ve always wanted to go. Just live! Nothing holds you back more than your own insecurities. Conquer them and be brave. You will love yourself more for it. 5. Believe in yourself. Motivation starts internally – from within yourself. It all starts with YOU. Nobody will do it for you but YOU.

ach one of us has our own health and fitness journey, and each one of us struggle in achieving our goals. One of the biggest struggles we face is the lack of motivation to start living a healthier lifestyle. We all know it’s better for us to eat healthy and exercise, but we all struggle to push ourselves into actually doing it. Motivation plays a huge factor in achieving our goals and it all starts in the mind. The more positive our thoughts are, the more positive our actions are, and the more successful we will be!

Here are 5 ways to get vated:

moti-

2. Set one, small goal. Set goals and start small. Drink one more glass of water every day this week. Eat out only once a week. Walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator at work. Have only 2 cookies instead of 3. Progress takes time and it’s better to set smaller, achievable goals and accomplish them one by one rather than setting a big goal that’s too complicated and you won’t even know where to start. Not only will you be more successful in doing so, it will be less stress for you and you will see results quicker, which will motivate you even more!

1. Find your WHY.

3. Prioritize.

Think about ‘WHY’ you want to be healthy. Is it to lose weight? Gain/ build muscle? Increase flexibility? Eat better to avoid illness? Those are all great physical goals. But think about your mental and emotional goals as well.

“Health is wealth.” Yes, it’s a cliché, but it is 100% true. When you are healthy, you can do anything you set your mind to. But you have to tell yourself that it’s important, otherwise, you won’t do it!

Do you want to achieve a certain level of accomplishment? Do you waste time by making excuses and would like to change that? Do you want to be more confident? Do you want to SUCCEED? Your ‘Why’ will be the center of your goals and will be the purpose for you to change your life. It will help motivate you to do ANYTHING. Think about it. You can change the way you think if you let yourself! What is YOUR Why?

Prioritize your health and you will be amazed at the results that follow. Schedule your workouts in your calendar. Set a reminder on your phone for when you have to drink water and eat a proper meal. Make sure you eat breakfast every morning to kick start your day. Prepare your meals ahead of time. Remind yourself every day that it matters to you.

If YOU want success, YOU have to work for it. If YOU want to change your lifestyle, YOU have to do it. If YOU want to be better, YOU have to do more than ‘good’. Your accomplishments are yours, your successes are yours, your happiness is yours. Be proud of your journey – no matter how small or big your achievements will be, or how long it may take, or how many sacrifices you will make. The journey is the most exciting and rewarding part of it all, the destination is just a bonus. So keep pushing, keep going, and keep being a better YOU! _______________________________

Apple Cebedo is an aspiring Personal Fitness Trainer, Nutritionist, and Health Coach studying at Elevated Learning Academy. She is currently an Independent Beachbody Coach and is motivating others to live healthier lives. She is a parttime Admin Assistant at Calgary Lab Services, and a Screening Coordinator and volunteer at St. Patrick’s Church. She is passionate about health, fitness, nutrition, and helping others. If you are looking for help to get started with your health and fitness journey, you can contact her at abcebedo@gmail.com or 403-397-6335

4. Draw inspiration from positive sources.

“Life is too short…” www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016 |

Career

Choosing The Right Career By Monique Flores

hoosing a career can be a fun and exciting process, but it can also be a stressful one. It is one of the biggest decisions we make in our lives and one that may affect other aspects of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifestyle. It is important to choose a career that you will love, but it is as important to be careful in the steps you take in choosing one. Here are some key aspects to think about when choosing the right career for you:

1. Do What You Love

2. Self-Assessment

When choosing the right career for yourself, think about the things in your daily life that you enjoy doing and what your talents are. If you are passionate about something, see if there are any careers out there that may be related to your passion. It may help to create a list of these things that you enjoy. It can be as simple as your everyday hobbies, but also take the time to hone in on what things you excel at. Perhaps you enjoy spending time on the computer and are really good at fixing computer issues. It may be fitting to consider a career in IT.

Take time to reflect on what characteristics define you as a person. Again, you could make a list of these qualities. For example, are you a people-person and perhaps would work well in a team? Consider if the characteristics that define you would make you suitable for the career that you are interested in. Focus on what your strengths are and how you can apply these strengths to a certain job. Think about specific careers and the characteristics a perfect candidate would possess for the job. But always remember, you may be the perfect person for the job,

| www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016

but is that job the perfect one for you? You also want to think about what benefits you would receive in that chosen career â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is it rewarding? Does it excite you? Does it allow you to grow as a person?

3. What Kind of Lifestyle Do You Want? Your career can greatly impact the lifestyle that you live. When choosing the right career, think about the work schedule that you would like to have. Do you prefer the typical 9-5 job on weekdays?

a process itself, and it may involve attaining certain skills first, or maybe getting educated in that area first. You may have to work in similar fields or in other positions first to get the career you are aiming for. Think of the right career as a learning process and have fun with it, especially because you will learn new skills, develop your professional self, and gain experience along the way. 5. Do Your Research When you have an idea of what the right career for you may be, it is important to spend some time to research that career, so you can be well prepared in what steps you need to take. Find out what prerequisites or skills are required for the position you are interested in. If you need to have related education, research what programs and schools allow you to gain that background. There are so many resources out there that can assist you in finding more information regarding your chosen career. The internet is an easy source, but you can also speak with school representatives or get in touch with someone who works in your field of interest. There are career counsellors/coaches at schools that can help you in finding a job and even writing your resume. You can also visit the public library where they offer career coaching sessions. The above aspects are more so guidelines than steps in helping you choose the right career for yourself. Use it as an aid to ease the process of determining which career to choose, but remember to also have fun in doing so. __________________________________________

Or would you prefer to work different shifts? Think about how your schedule would impact the other aspects of your life, such as your family or social life. Make sure that your schedule will still allow you to make time for the things that you enjoy doing. You may also want to think about how much your chosen career would pay, as this can influence the lifestyle you live. Make sure your pay can accommodate the lifestyle you would like to have. However, be realistic of your desires, and separate your wants vs. your needs.

Monique is a nurse and reservist with the Canadian Forces. She is a big believer in gaining knowledge and life experience to better oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self. She can be reached at moniqueflores08@hotmail.com, for any assistance in creating a resume/cover letter or advice in applying for a job.

4. Be Patient

Patience is an important value to have when choosing the right career. Be patient in the timing of where you want to be in your career and remember that the career you want may not always be the one you get right off the bat. Finding the right career is www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016 |

Inspiration

By Tracey Anne De Jesus

Miss Philippines Canada Calgary 2015 First Runner Up Miss Beauty Petite International 2016 sometimes confuses me if it is the ideal look that I want to achieve. We also tend to compare ourselves to others. I'm a shy type of girl, and public speaking is not my forte! I would always get so shy and nervous doing school presentations or speeches in front of many people thinking I would just mess up the whole thing. I admire those who can do it so comfortably and sometimes I would have thoughts to myself saying, “I can’t do that” or “I could never be as good as them."

live in a society where peer pressure and social media easily influences our mind and behavior. When we see a model with a sexy body, a successful person or an inspiring individual, we are exposed to a generation that impacts the way we act and should look.

I'm sure that many of us can relate to the times when you just don’t feel so great about yourself. Sometimes, we encounter people who say the wrong words that can affect us in a negative way. Believe it or not, I’ve been criticized before about my weight. I’ve had people tell me that I'm "too skinny" or that I should "eat more," which made me feel unhappy about my body for years. Although being "skinny" is idealized as being fit in society, it

Competing in a beauty pageant was an opportunity for me to get out of my comfort zone. Although I still carried insecurities, doubts that I could never be good enough and feared that I will just make a fool out myself in front of everyone, it came to a point in my life that I wanted to change. I wanted to challenge myself and try something new that could benefit me in some way. Whether I win or lose, I also wanted to enjoy the experience and make every effort count by bringing my best self to the table. With that being said, I chose to work on myself more physically and mentally. I created goals for myself such as exercising and eating healthy every day, practice my posture, walks & turns, questions and answers and took dance lessons for the first time to present as my talent portion. Without the expectation of winning, I was crowned Miss Philippines Calgary Canada 2015, along with winning other titles such as Best in Talent, Best in Gown, Best in Swimsuit and Miss Charity. I was also given the opportunity to compete in the Dominican Republic and won First Runner Up for Miss Beauty Petite International 2016. I honestly didn't think I would get this far in my life, but as I look back on my journey I am so grateful to have experienced it all! Surrounding myself with like-minded

| www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016

people who push each other towards each other’s goals has not only inspired me but motivated me to become a better version of myself. I've become healthier and happier with my body and I thank the Lord for giving me the courage to get myself out there and let go of all my insecurities and fears. I have grown not only mentally stronger as a person but have learned to love myself even more. I want to inspire others to build their confidence by becoming fearless. To step out of their comfort zones and explore something new. Avoid comparing yourself to others accomplishments and start setting your mind to think positive towards yourself. Better yourself each day by creating your goals. Push yourself to something that isn't easy, work hard and stay consistent towards it. You never know how much you can achieve once you put yourself out there.

www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016 |

Community

John Feliciano – Culinary Olympian

By Judianne Jayme he

Filipino

Food

Manitoba at the 2012 Culinary Olympics, which was held in

Movement

Erfurt, Germany. He will represent Manitoba once more in

has taken the world by storm

international level of competition representing Culinary Team

this year’s 2016 Culinary Olympics.

with

pop-up

and

restau-

Chef Feliciano will be participating in the upcoming Food-o-

rants featuring Filipino

rama event at the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba at

food (with innovative

the Kusina Showdown on August 7th at 12:00pm.

dinners

twists

and

fusions)

happening everywhere you look.

As a member of the CCFCC, he has taken on the role as mentor to up-and-coming young chefs making their mark on in the culinary arts. Congratulations to our kababayan John

Filipino chefs are really taking the spotlight and are entering

Feliciano and the best of luck as you take your culinary art

various high-level competitions – Winnipegger Jeremy

overseas for the 2016 Culinary Olympics!

Senaris is a great example with 1st runner up win in Masterchef Canada. Another Winnipeg chef to keep an eye on is Mr. John

Feliciano – currently the Executive Chef of the Glendale Golf and Country Club. Feliciano is a member of the Canadian Culinary Federation (CCFCC) and has an evident taste for culinary competitions including the 2010 Centrex Iron Chef competition in Winnipeg. Early on in his career, this drive earned him 5 Gold medals, 4 Best in Category awards and a Top in Show award at the annual Local Culinary Saloon in Manila. He has gone to the

| www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016

Judianne Jayme Educator & Mentor – Winnipeg School Division jjayme@shaw.ca http://www.itllwsd.org/jjayme Founder & Owner – JudiMeetsWorld info@judimeetsworld.com http://www.judimeetsworld.com

www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016 |

Family

Working Through the Challenges of Raising Filipino Kids in a Canadian Society By Abel Pagaling

Croods”, you know what I mean. In my attempt to prepare myself for this eventual clash between me and my kids who will hit puberty in the next several years, I met with a good friend of mine Marycris Reyes and talked about how she successfully navigated her two boys in their teen and young adult years.

(Article originally posted at www.thefilipinochampionsofcanada.com)

om and dad, I’m going out with my friends and will be home late.”

For many Filipino parents, these words can be unsettling. Not because they don’t trust their kids to do the right thing, but because the environment that their children are going into is very different than where they’re from. For traditional parents who grew up in a strict, religious, and disciplined home in the Philippines, the Canadian social life can be “too liberal”, or “unrestricted”, making it easy for teens and young adults to explore sex, drugs, gangs, and other activities that could turn them into statistics. Add cultural difference to this, the increasing sexualisation of “pop” culture from music videos to video games, and easy access to information online from both good and bad sources (such as porn). It’s understandable why parents worry.

As a father of three beautiful young kids, keeping my kids safe from harm is my top priority. I’m sure this goes for all loving parents, but this doesn’t always go well with the kids.

Like many immigrant families from the Philippines, Marycris and her husband AJ came to Canada with their two teenage boys in 2005 in the hope of a better future. As incredible as this sounds, the “cultural transition” was not an easy journey. What typically takes Canadian families their whole life to learn and grow into is compressed to only a few months if not weeks for new immigrant families to adapt to. It’s similar to having 20 years of cultural education crammed into a few months!

Marycris and AJ experienced this difficult transition. They started from scratch in a foreign culture. Back then they did not know many At some point, all kids want to “explore people. Every day, they worried about what’s out there”. There is this natural putting food on the table, how they desire to be a would pay their part of the larger bills, and how to ‘Like many immigrant group. Even at a keep their jobs very young age, while they work families from the kids automatically hard to gather together. Philippines, Marycris and assimilate to Just observe a become more her husband AJ came to playground and “Canadian”. see how kids start Canada with their two playing after a But I learned teenage boys in 2005 in few minutes of from Marycris coming into and AJ that the the hope of a better contact with each hardship was other. worth it as long as their kids turn out well and become productive members But wanting to “explore what’s out of society. The difficult transition was there” is particularly challenging for an acceptable sacrifice in exchange for parents when kids become teens and a bright future for their boys. young adults. This is the “high risk” age category where all the bad things that So could you blame immigrant parents could happen “might” happen. This is like Marycris and AJ if they come when parents become “protective”. If across as overprotective to their kids? you watched the cartoon movie “The

| www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016

Still, it’s a struggle. I know my wife and I will face this one day. It’s inevitable. Looking at my eldest son who reminds me of me (only he is smarter), I know we’re going to deal with a headstrong kid someday who will push for what he thinks is right, so we better be ready.



Know your child’s love language – words of affirmation, physical touch, receive gifts, acts of service, or quality time.



Guide them even after they turn 18 years



Teach them the habit of priority and work on schedules.

I asked Marycris for her insights to help prepare me and my wife to face  No money as “baon” (lunch the “high risk” age category that’s money). Bring food to lunch Show coming. She openly shared her the value of money and hard work. thoughts with  Let them use a me. But before student loan to help them we go through “Spend quality be responsible for their the list, I’d like but support them time with the kids tuition, to tell you more with their car and other about Marycris and know what’s needs. and AJ. They are one of the happening in their  Power of human pioneers of connection – kids don’t life “daily”. Champion Life listen to people they don’t Center (CLC) like, so build a church where relationship. they currently serve as leaders.  Before you correct their mistakes, praise first their efforts. Aside from her church work, Marycris serves the Filipino  Power of the tongue – tongue community as part of FCT – Filipino holds the power of life and death, Champions Talk committee. And curse, and blessings. yes, Marycris and AJ successfully  Power of words and declaration. transitioned in Canada. Their two “I Can! “ I am a Champion- your boys are now grown men and have words become a reality, encourage completed their studies. Both kids, use words that win! No to currently work in the medical field. “you’re a loser”. AJ and Marycris Reyes, with their  But the biggest factor is Church sons CJ and Christian. involvement at Champion Life Here are her thoughts on how she and AJ successfully raised and “navigated” through the tough years:



Have a weekly family prayer and “devotion”.



Connect with a support group from the church.



Connect the kids to the church and encourage them to use their skills in the church.



Spend quality time with the kids and know what’s happening in their life “daily”.



Involve kids in family situations and decision making. Ask them what they think they should do. It makes them more aware of life’s struggles, makes them feel valued and part of the family.



Say “sorry” too. Parent’s humility shows we’re not perfect. Let the kids know it’s ok to make mistakes.

Abel Pagaling is a cofounder of FCM. He is a manager, an entrepreneur, a writer, a community servant, and a motivational speaker. His passion is personal development and leadership.

Center (CLC) – a church passionate about loving God and discipline people to become followers of Christ through meaningful relationships and community programs. Empower lives to build healthy Discover the Champion in you. As we close our conversation, I sense both gratitude and joy from Marycris. Gratitude that she found purpose, comfort, and strength from her church group, and joy from knowing that she and her husband AJ have been blessed with two wonderful sons. I think the successful outcome was the result of their sacrifice, prayer, and determination to see their kids grow properly even if sometimes they came across as overprotective. For that, I give a big salute to Marycris and AJ and to all the members of CLC church group who helped them along the way.

www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016 |

Inspiration

Engineer Lourdes (Lulu) Lugue – In Pursuit of Excellence: Polluted water does not stand a chance against this passionate Filipino Process Engineer By Abel Pagaling

n the Filipino community, we have many talented singers, entertainers, and my favorite, boxers. These individuals have worked hard and excelled in their craft. I’ve observed that they fill the social media space. The “stars” of the entertainment scene dominate the spotlight and fans follow them with great interest. Just look at the “Likes” and “Comments” on Facebook or Instagram whenever a new photo or a story about an artist is posted.

Engr. Lugue showing how the raw leachate turned into a clear water

But outside the entertainment scene, there are Filipinos – engineers, accountants, doctors, nurses, public servants – who are making significant impact in our communities. They are the quiet representatives of the Filipino community. They overcame significant challenges so they too, like the stars in

“But outside the entertainment scene, there are Filipinos – engineers, accountants, doctors, nurses, public servants – who are making significant impact in our communities.”

the entertainment industry, can shine in their chosen discipline. But their motivation is not to capture the spotlight but to pursue excellence in their field of work. In my view, these are the individuals that truly show the best of what we Filipinos have to offer. They are the people that inspire me.

One such inspirational person is Lourdes Lugue. I call her Tita Lourdes. Tita Lourdes is one of the leading engineers of the City of Calgary. She’s also one of those City employees who ensures that the City of Calgary’s water environment is safe and clean. But before I talk about her role in the City of Calgary, I’d like to talk about her inspiring journey in pursuit of excellence in the field of engineering.But outside the entertainment scene, there are Filipinos – engineers, accountants, doctors, nurses, public servants – who are making significant impact in our communities. They are the quiet representatives of the Filipino community. They overcame significant challenges so they too, like the stars in the entertainment industry, can shine in their chosen discipline. But their motivation is not to capture the spotlight

| www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016

but to pursue excellence in their field of work. In my view, these are the individuals that truly show the best of what we Filipinos have to offer. They are the people that inspire me. Tita Lourdes was born in Pangasinan but grew up in Pampanga. Her family is a family of academics which is very impressive. She has 7 siblings: -One graduated with a degree in Economics and has CGA designation -One graduated as a Nutritionist -One an electrical engineer -One Orthodontist -One very successful business lady with an MBA -One surgeon -One with a degree in Foreign Studies But of all the siblings, I think Tita Lourdes is the most studious. She has two bachelor’s degree in engineering – Civil and Environmental, and a Masters in Environmental Engineering. She also completed a certificate in Continuing Education at the University of Calgary where she now teaches a Waste Management Course to postgraduate students.

While her credentials look impressive, the story of how she got there is what really inspired me. “There were only 10 ladies in the engineering class, and the majority were men,” said Tita Lourdes about her university years. “We didn’t have internet back then, so I was always studying and doing research through available books in the University library. While many students partied, my friends and I focused on our studies until we finished. Now all or my barkadas are very successful in the Philippines and here in Canada.”

Engr. Lugue in action during the building of The City of Calgary Leachate Project

But Tita Lourdes did not stop there. She went to Belgium to pursue her masters in engineering. And it wasn’t easy. At the second year of her study, she became pregnant with her first baby. While most students would pause or slow down given such circumstance, Tita Lourdes pressed on, determined to complete her studies. “I was due to give birth, so I requested to write my exams ahead of time. My program coordinator was so impressed. Even with my baby, I graduated second place in the entire class.” This determination to pursue excellence was demonstrated again when Tita Lourdes and her family moved to Canada. In July, 2000, they moved to Toronto. Since she couldn’t find a job in her profession, she worked in the Toronto East General Hospital as food aid delivery, bringing food to patients and later as a Diet Assistant determining correct diet for hospital patients. “I also worked part-time at the Future Shop as a Customer Service representative,”said Tita Lourdes. “But I wasn’t happy about my job. I studied hard to earn a career and I did not come to Canada just to waste this career.”

True to her word, she moved to Calgary in August 2007 where she pursued a career in Engineering. “I pursued until I got it. I didn’t give up!”

Now, Tita Lourdes is a Senior Process Engineer for the City of Calgary where she plays a key role in keeping Calgary’s water system free of toxic pollutants. “I process the ‘leachate’, yung ‘katas ng basura’, or the garbage juice as a result of the decomposition sa landfill natin,” says Tita Lourdes. “Inumpisahan ko yung treatment project for the City of Calgary. From the conceptual design, to managing the construction of the actual pilot plant, to commissioning, start up and full operation of the plant. Now, I have fully trained young engineers on how to run the treatment plant. I just manage the overall project and the staff.” Tita Lourdes’ previous work as an operator on the water treatment facilities of The City of Calgary and her current role in Waste & Recycling Services is one of the many contributions of City employees like her that makes Calgary ranks at the very top in the clean water category amongst major developed cities.

Here’s what she shared: For Filipinos who recently moved to Canada but are finding it difficult to get a job in their profession: “Keep pursuing, persevere, work hard and don’t give up. Don’t say, “Matanda na kami. Ayaw na naming mag-aral. Ganito nalang kami. Pinaghirapan mo yung profession mo, so don’t waste it.” For the younger generation: “Study hard and study well. Just because you get a job after completing high-school doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue higher education. There’s a fierce global competition out there. If you don’t have a strong card to play, how can you compete? You have to pursue higher education. That’s the ‘Ace’ in your pocket wherever you go.”

“Keep pursuing, persevere, work hard and don’t give up.”

In 2015, Calgary has been ranked # 1 on the MBC Group’s 12 “Cleanest Cities in the World”, #1 on ABC News Points “Top Ten List of Most Cleanest Cities in the World”, and # 1 on Top Ten Central’s “Top 10 Cleanest Cities in the World 2015”. These are achievements that everyone in Calgary can be proud of, especially Calgary’s Filipino community. It’s hard not be inspired by someone like Tita Lourdes. She’s a great role model and has a lot of insights to teach us. So I asked her for some life lessons she can give to Filipinos.

For parents: “Support your children until they finish their degree or their chosen career path. If a child wants to study but has to support himself or herself, it’s going to be difficult to focus and study properly. As a parent, if my kids fail, it’s my failure as well. There’s so many kids who can’t finish because they are on their own. It’s ideal for parents to support their kids until they are done with their studies. And once they’ve developed their wings and can fly on their own, then that’s when your job is done.” Excellence comes in many form. Tita Lourdes has put excellence, and to a great extent the entire concept of success into perspective for me. It’s not about pursuing fame, or being popular, or being rich that makes us successful, but it’s the perseverance and determination to pursue excellence in our chosen field that makes us a success. Because like Tita Lourdes, when we pursue excellence, we achieve not only what we want in life, but we also become great ambassadors for our community. And most importantly, we provide a powerful example to our kids and for generations of Filipinos to come. Abel Pagaling is a co-founder of FCM.

TFCC Team with Engr. Lulu Lugue (R-L Abel, Jerry, Lulu, Hanes)

He is a manager, an entrepreneur, a writer, a community servant, and a motivational speaker. His passion is personal development and leadership.

www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016 |

| www.filcanmagazine.com | FCM | Aug 2016