Pilipino Express • Oct 1 2022

Alonzo

Dr. Flordeliz Osler

Manitoba’s new Senator

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed on September 26 that the Governor General has appointed Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler and Ian Shugart as independent Senators to fill vacancies for Manitoba and Ontario.

“I am pleased to welcome Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler and Ian Shugart as Parliament’s newest independent Senators,” said Trudeau. “I am confident that their dedication, unique perspectives, and stellar careers will help them best serve Canadians from all walks of life.”

Winnipeg Kidney Walk raises funds for a good cause

Dr. Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler fills the Manitoba seat vacated by former Justice Murray Sinclair, who retired from the Red Chamber in January 2021. She is an internationally renowned surgeon, an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba, and a dedicated advocate for equity,

See DR. OSLER p4

Canada drops COVID-19 border and travel restrictions

Effective October 1st, Canadians can travel and explore the world again without restrictions. However, it is still highly recommended that we continue to do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19, by getting vaccinated and boosted, using high quality and well-fitted masks where appropriate, and self-isolating if we have symptoms.

After two and a half years, travel restrictions are lifted. The Government of Canada has removed all COVID-19 entry restrictions, as well as

testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada, effective October 1, 2022.

The government announcement pointed to several factors

behind the removal of border measures, including modelling that indicates that Canada has largely passed the peak of the Omicron

CANADA p6

Dr. Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler

Todd & Katya Labelle

Mabuhay!

Mga mahal kong Kababayan/Kapitbahay:

Cindy Gilroy po, kasalukuyang Konsehal ng lungsod ng Winnipeg, Daniel McIntyre Ward. Nais ko pong hilingin ang inyong suporta sa aking re-election bilang Konsehal sa pangalawang pagkakataon.

Ako po ay lumaki dito sa Daniel McIntyre, dito ko rin pinalaki ang aking dalawang anak na babae, at sa kasalukuyan ay inyong kapitbahay. Palagi akong tumutulong at maaasahan sa anumang proyekto ng ating komunidad na tunay na mahal sa akin.

Sa aking paglilingkod bilang Konsehal, nagawa ko ang pagsasa-ayos ng iba’t-ibang pasilidad dito: ang mga palaruan, pasyalan, park, mga kalsada, sidewalk, at backlanes. Kapayapaan at kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan ang patuloy kong ipaglilingkod sa ating lugar.

Bilang inyong Konsehal, ako po ay may madalas na pakikipanayam sa ating lugar na ginaganap sa Cindy Klassen, nakikinig sa mga problema, at mga nais isangguni ninyo. Ang madalas na napag-uusapan ay ang pagkakaisa, pagsasama-sama, at pagtutulungan ng mga naninirahan dito.

Sumusuporta din po ako sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng grants sa iba’t-ibang pangangailangan ng ating komunidad. Sa inyong pakiki-isa at pagtulong, maraming pasilidad ang napaayos, napaunlad, at maaasahan po natin ang patuloy na gagawing mahalaga ang 311 service.

Bilang tagapamuno ng Unsafe Cities Committee, the Citizen Equity Committee, the Citizen Innovation Committee, at miyembro ng Executive Policy Committee, nagawa kong maimpluwensiyahan ang mga desisyon sa mga komiteng ito.

Hinihiling ko ang inyong suporta sa aking re-election upang maipagpatutoy natin ang lahat ng nagawa na at mga gagawin pa sa ika-uunlad ng ating lugar.

Ang aking pangunahing gagawin ay ang pagpapatuloy ng pakikiisa sa inyong lahat para sa kaunlaran, katahimikan, kaligtasan, at transportasyon.

Sa aking nakaraang paglilingkod bilang Konsehal, napatunayan ko na ang sama-samang paggawa ay higit na nagbigay ng kaunlaran. Kung kaya, muli, hinihiling at hinahangad ko ang inyong tulong upang maipagpatuloy ang kaunlaran na kasalukuyang nangyayari at mangyayari pa sa kinabukasan. Maraming salamat po.

Ang inyong lingkod, Councillor Cindy Gilroy

Although the prairie provinces are known to have open and sunny skies, we also get our fair share of grey and dreary weather. For some newcomers, the novelty of seeing snow for the first time can quickly give way to shock when they experience their first season of fall and winter. It can be a huge adjustment, especially when you are used to warmer temperatures all year round.

All Canadians can be affected by seasonal changes and experience some level of depression, especially once the fall begins and the daylight hours get shorter. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, some common symptoms of depression are:

• Feelings of sadness and loss

DR. OSLER...

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diversity, and inclusion.

Dr. Osler currently operates at two clinics, including one in the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Section of St. Boniface Hospital where she served as Section Head from 2010 to 2019. In 2018, Dr. Osler became the first woman surgeon and the first racialized woman elected President of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), where she led the development of the CMA’s first ever policy on equity and diversity. Dr. Osler has also been the President of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada since 2021, the Chair of the Canadian Medical Forum since 2020, and Co-Chair of the Virtual Care Task Force since 2019.

Born in Winnipeg to immigrant parents from the Philippines and India. Dr. Osler serves as a role model, research supervisor, and mentor for Filipino and other racialized medical students in Manitoba and across Canada, including within the Filipino Association of Medical Students in Manitoba. She also volunteers annually to train other surgeons in Africa and has been a key voice in raising awareness of the health impacts of climate change in Canada.

Dr. Osler holds a medical

• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness

• Feelings of extreme impatience, irritability, or a short temper

• Loss of interest or pleasure in usually enjoyed activities

• Changes in weight or appetite

• Changes in sleeping patterns, like insomnia

• Reduced ability to think clearly or make decisions

• Difficulties in concentrating or with short-term memory loss

• Constantly feeling tired

• Noticeable lack of motivation

• Anxiety and restlessness, sometimes leading to panic attacks

• Muscle and joint pain

• Constipation or other intestinal problems

• Frequent headaches

• Loss of interest in maintaining a

degree from the University of Manitoba, where she also completed her residency training, and a Graduate Certificate in Global Surgical Care from the University of British Columbia. She also completed a Rhinology fellowship at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.

Dr. Osler is the recipient of numerous honours and awards, including the University of Manitoba Distinguished Alumni Award and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada May Cohen Equity, Diversity and Gender Award. She has been named as a Women’s Executive Network (WXN) 2019 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner and to the Medical Post’s 2021 Power List. Dr. Osler was also inducted into the Government of Canada’s Women of Impact in Canada online gallery in 2022.

From her twitter account @ drgigiosler, Dr. Osler said: September 26, 2022

“I am honoured and humbled to be selected by the Prime Minister and appointed by the Governor General to serve in the Senate of Canada. The Prime Minister was clear that he expects me to make a significant contribution to the work of the Senate, and to help tackle the broad range of challenges and opportunities facing the country.

Grey skies and grey mood

good appearance and hygiene

• Lack of interest in sex

• Withdrawal from friends and family

• Recurring thoughts of suicide or self-harm

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is related to changes in seasons where symptoms most likely begin in the fall and continue throughout the winter months. In addition to the symptoms above, those related to SAD can include:

• Irritability

• Problems getting along with people

• Oversleeping

• Heaviness in the arms and/or legs

• Appetite changes, especially for foods high in carbohydrates

• Weight gain

If you are experiencing five or more of these symptoms and have been for at least two weeks, it is time to contact your doctor or other health professional. Be prepared to list all the symptoms you have

He also underlined the fact that I will be able to contribute to the work of the Senate in an independent and non-partisan fashion, as well as ensure integrity and collaboration in service to Parliament and to all Canadians. Working in health policy in recent years has given me a glimpse of how to affect change at a time when we must all roll up our sleeves. My contributions to the Senate will provide a health perspective, with all its determinants, as well as a voice for women and other historically underrepresented groups. I look forward to serving Manitoba and Canada in this capacity.”

The second appointee, Mr. Ian Shugart, devoted his life to public service and held increasingly senior leadership positions within the federal public service, most recently as the 24th Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet. He served as the principal link between the Prime Minister and the public service of Canada, delivering critical and timely support to Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout his career, Mr. Shugart also shaped the modernization of public health, provided leadership on international climate change negotiations, and managed sensitive national security

noticed, any patterns of occurrence, other physical or mental health problems, life changes or major situational stressors. You will likely be asked about medications, vitamins, or supplements that you are taking. Some effective treatments for SAD can include light therapy or phototherapy where you stay in close proximity to a special light therapy box or lamp. This exposure to bright light can mimic outdoor light and change the brain chemicals linked to mood. Some doctors prescribe certain anti-depressant medications. Psychotherapy can also help by learning to identify and change negative thoughts and behaviours. Counselling can be a way to explore healthier ways of coping and managing stress.

If you notice that you have a lower mood as the season changes, here are some tips to adopt a healthy lifestyle and start feeling better today:

• Exercise regularly like going

for walks, bike rides or yoga

• Pray and meditate daily

• Volunteer with a community organization or by helping a neighbour

• Talk to friends and family and spend more time with them

• Eat a healthy diet

• Limit your time with technology such as TV, the Internet, social media, and texting. These activities can take away valuable time with loved ones

• Eliminate addictive behaviours such as smoking, alcohol and drug use, gambling, and excessive shopping

• Count the blessings of every day: Start a gratitude journal, and say, “thank you” and “I love you” to family and friends.

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” – Mother Teresa Cheryl Dizon-Reynante is a licensed therapist with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

JOSUE NOEL LAPUZ

JON MALEK MALAYA MARCELINO ALONA MERCADO CST.

PAQUITO REY PACHECO

REY PAGTAKHAN

CHERYL DIZON REYNANTE

issues and key international relationships.

Dr. Osler and Mr. Shugart were recommended by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, and chosen using a merit-based process open to all Canadians.

This process ensures Senators are independent, reflect Canada’s diversity, and are able to tackle the broad range of challenges and opportunities facing the country.

Dr. Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler’s photos from kabangka.org and @drgigiosler.com

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A private members bill, which was passed in House in the spring, called for a “comprehensive plan to expand the economic immigration stream.” Several months later Minister Sean Fraser tabled the much-anticipated Strategy to Expand Transitions to Permanent Residency on September 20, 2022.

The plan to help foreign students and foreign workers become permanent residents is welcome but criticized by some as too little. The NDP immigration critic, Jenny Kwan, said that the announcement is just a recycling of what is already in place. Kwan wrote in an e-mail to CIC News, “This so-called strategy lacks any real information or details of what a true comprehensive plan would entail.” Jasraj Singh Hallan was equally unimpressed by the Liberal’s strategy. He wrote, “Instead of providing details and tangible goals, the Minister has created a wish list of things that his department should have done long before M-44 was passed in the House.”

The opposition is underwhelmed by the announcement. Beyond the unkind reaction from the opposition parties, let us examine what is contained in the plan.

“Simply put,” in the Executive Summary, “we’re focused on helping individuals transition from temporary to permanent residence by expanding or adjusting the existing pathways for foreign nationals who are working in Canada and seeking to stay, including international student graduates.” The government is hopeful and positive unlike the critics. We shall see over the next year which vision is closer to the truth. For the time being, let us consider the five pillars on which the Strategy is built.

Pillar 1: Increased immigration

The government is still working on the existing immigration targets outlined in the 2022-2024

Immigration Levels Plan. Canada is expecting to welcome 431,645 newcomers for 2022, 447,055 in 2023 and 451,000 in 2024, to meet the current demand for increased immigration. The bulk of the expected arrivals will come from the Economic Class with projected numbers of 241,850 in 2022, 253,000 in 2023 and 267,750 by 2024. The anticipated arrival

numbers are expected to change before November 1 when Minister Fraser presents a new Immigration Levels Plan to include 2025.

Pillar 2: Express Entry reform

The government intends to reform the Express Entry system to invite candidates by occupation-specific invitations through Express Entry in early 2023. There are also changes under the assessment of EOI profiles under the Comparative Ranking System (CRS), which will place more emphasis on Canadian work experience and education, language skills and job offers. IRCC will add a number of occupations to the eligibility list including: payroll administrators; dental and laboratory assistants; nurses’ aides, orderlies and patient service associates; pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants; sheriffs and bailiffs; correctional service officers; bylaw enforcement and regulatory officers; estheticians, electrologists and related occupations; residential and commercial installers and servicers; pest controllers and fumigators; other repairers and servicers; transport truck drivers; bus drivers, subway and other transit operators; and aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors.

In addition to the additions, several occupations are being deleted in November, including performers; program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness; and tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners.

Pillar 3: Other economic immigration improvements

The other changes include the introduction of a new National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021 due to be released in November. The long familiar distinction between High Skilled 0, A and B occupations and Low Skilled C and D occupations will be replaced with TEER levels, in which TEER 0 equivalent to the current 0 level, TEER 1 and TEER 2 matching A level and TEER 3 replacing skilled level B. Skill level C replaced by TEER 4 and D by TEER 5.

The other economic immigration changes are improvements in foreign qualifications recognition to ease the transition for foreign trained

Canada’s new plan to help foreign students and workers become permanent residents

professionals, enhancements to the Agri-Food Pilot and Care Giver Pilot, changes for transition of foreign trained doctors and the general transition to the work force for foreign trained students.

Pillar 4: Helping communities

The major addition is the new Municipal Nominee Program, which has been in works for several years but was delayed by the COVID pandemic. Canada also intends to assist the francophone minority communities outside of Quebec by implementing a 4.4 per cent target for French speaking immigrants by 2024.

Pillar 5: Modernizing the system

IRCC is working towards implementing more on-line

application submissions to speed up the process and reducing the sizable backlog in processing cues. It is working towards modernizing the system by technological enhancements.

The Strategy is a start, and hopefully a new direction. Canada cannot remain competitive in attracting the brightest and the best immigrant applicants without changing the ways things are done.

A backlog of over two million speaks badly of the system in place.

The opposition critics have been quick to jump on the plan, which is not fully developed. However, change is in the air with the online submission of sponsorship applications and the hope that

this will improve efficiencies and make for faster outcomes. Let’s give the government a chance to show that change is beneficial, and things are improving. A change normally comes with a start not a finished product. So, patience is prescribed for all concerned.

Michael Scott is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC, R525678) who has 30 years of experience with Immigration Canada and the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. He currently works as a licensed consultant with Immigration Connexion International Ltd. Contact him at 204-691-1166 or 204-227-0292. E-mail: mscott.ici@gmail.com.

Let’s get to know Moe ElTassi

Candidate for City Councillor, Point Douglas Ward

On October 26, Winnipeggers will choose the next mayor to lead the city.

Since incumbent Brian Bowman has decided not to run for a third term, the political field became wide open for those who have the vision and the ambition to steer City Council in running a better community.

But the mayor cannot do it alone, he needs reliable and genuine Council members to help him.

The City of Winnipeg is subdivided into 15 electoral wards, each represented by an individual member of City Council. One of these wards is Point Douglas, where one candidate for councillor hopes to be given a chance to help solve various issues plaguing the city and push for better changes.

Moe ElTassi is a businessman, his family founded Peerless Garments. He’s also a community advocate on many social issues and most recently was a member for the Winnipeg Police Board. The son of Lebanese and Brazilian immigrants, he puts utmost importance in being a father, a son, a brother, a husband, and an uncle.

Let’s get to know Moe ElTassi (MOE) more in this Q&A with Pilipino Express (PE)

PE: What made you decide to run for Winnipeg Council?

MOE: I am not pleased with how things are going in our city, and I’m sure neither are you. Crime feels out of control, homelessness is not getting the attention it deserves and our area is not getting its fair share of infrastructure spending.

I am running for City Councillor because our area needs a strong advocate who can deliver results.

More importantly, I am running for my five kids. I don’t want them growing up hoping to leave here at the first chance they get. I want them to be proud our city. And I will put in the work to build a better city that the next generation can be proud of.

PE: As a former member of the Winnipeg Police Board, what do you think are the major drivers of crime in the city?

MOE: Crime, and its root causes, is a complex issue that can’t be fixed by one City

CANADA...

From page 1

BA.4 and BA.5 fuelled wave, Canada’s high vaccination rates, lower hospitalization and death rates, as well as the availability and use of vaccine boosters (including the new bivalent formulation), rapid tests, and treatments for COVID-19.

Effective October 1, 2022, all travellers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer have to:

• submit public health information through the

Councillor. What I can do is commit to you that I will work to bring together the right partners so that we have a coordinated and strategic approach. We need to have the city council, the province, social agencies and grassroots community organizations all working together. We need everyone rowing in the same direction at the same time.

PE: How do you plan to address crime and safety in our city once elected?

MOE: In the meantime, there are things that we should be doing now that are within the control of the city. We need to improve lighting in high crime areas. We need better enforcement of our bylaws to force owners of abandoned and derelict building to repair the building or sell it. We need more funding for foot patrols in key areas.

PE: Let’s talk about Point Douglas ward wherein some areas have a reputation of being one of the least desirable to live or work in…what are your plans to change that notoriety?

MOE: I would challenge that our area is not a desirable place to live or work. Tens of thousands of Winnipeggers live in the area and many more work here.

Yet, we see infrastructure spending flowing to other areas of the city. Our residents pay taxes and are not seeing a good return on their investment. I commit to advocating for more infrastructure spending in our neighbourhoods.

PE: More and more young people get involved in homicides, robberies, etc.. often because of gang affiliations. What can we do to keep our youth from committing crimes and running with the bad crowd, so to speak?

MOE: As a father of five young children, I know the importance of having safe and accessible community spaces for kids to play. I will ensure that all children have access to a community playground in their neighbourhood. I will advocate for proper funding of youth recreation facilities in the ward.

PE: What is your take on racism and discrimination?

MOE: My dad immigrated from Lebanon, my mom immigrated from Brazil, and I was born in Canada. I

ArriveCAN app or website;

• provide proof of vaccination;

• undergo pre- or on-arrival testing;

• carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation;

• monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada.

Transport Canada is also removing existing travel requirements.

As of October 1, 2022, travellers will no longer be required to:

have experienced racism and discrimination and have seen my family experience it. That is why I work to ensure a more inclusive future for my kids.

I believe it is the job of elected officials to speak up for marginalized groups and advocate for equal access to government services.

PE: Is there a particular issue that you would like to tackle first once you get elected? Why?

MOE: The number one priority that I hear from residents is safety. Everyone deserves to feel safe. That will be at the top of my list.

PE: So far, there are three of you running for councillor in Point Douglas, what do you think makes you the best candidate to represent the area?

MOE: I will be a strong advocate for the area and will produce results. I will use my position as City Councillor to bring together city departments and other levels of government to ensure that our residents are getting the services they deserve.

PE: Thank you.

The northwest Winnipeg ward includes the neighborhoods of South Point Douglas, the Exchange District, Inkster Gardens and Tyndall Park.

Winnipeg residents head to the polls on October 26 to vote for a new mayor, school trustees and councillors.

Advance voting is also available at all Community Advance Voting Locations from October 18-20, 2022. For details and more information, visit: Winnipeg.ca

• undergo health checks for travel on air and rail; or

• wear masks on planes and trains.

Although the masking requirement is being lifted, all travellers are strongly recommended to wear high quality and well-fitted masks during their journeys.

Cruise measures are also being lifted, and travellers will no longer be required to have pre-board tests, be vaccinated, or use ArriveCAN. A set of guidelines will remain to protect passengers and crew,

which will align with the approach used in the United States.

Individuals are reminded that they should not travel if they have symptoms of COVID-19. If travellers become sick while travelling, and are still sick when they arrive in Canada, they should inform a flight attendant, cruise staff, or a border services officer upon arrival. They may then be referred to a quarantine officer who will decide whether the traveller needs further medical assessment as COVID-19 remains one of many communicable diseases listed in the Quarantine Act.

The Government of Canada also reminds travellers to make

informed decisions when considering travel outside of Canada to protect their health and safety. They are encouraged to review the travel advice at https:// travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories for more information on safe travel.

Canadians can continue to do their part to protect themselves and others, and reduce the spread of COVID-19, by getting vaccinated and boosted, using high quality and well-fitted masks where appropriate, self-isolating if they have symptoms and self-testing if they can.

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada

Candidate Moe ElTassi (3rd from left) with his family

SHOWBIZ SHOWBUZZ

Start-Up PH all set to inspire dreamers

What drives us to chase our dreams? And what motivates us to be at our best?

GMA Network continues to be an entertainment powerhouse for Kapuso viewers worldwide as it presents an inspirational story on pursuing dreams and believing in

oneself with the ground-breaking primetime series Start-Up PH

This program is the first-ever TV adaptation of the breakthrough 2020 South Korean series which is based on the original format StartUp created by Hyeryeon Park and produced by Studio Dragon

Corporation, co-produced by Studio Dragon and CJ ENM.

Start-Up PH is topbilled by Alden Richards as Tristan a.k.a. Good Boy and Bea Alonzo as Dani. All set to spice up the lives of Tristan and Dani are the

See START-UP p12

Ailing Kris Aquino offers aid for Lolit Solis’ dialysis needs

In spite of Kris Aquino’s on-going tough battle to conquer her autoimmune diseases, she has unselfishly offered to help columnist and talent manager Lolit Solis for her dialysis needs. This was revealed by Lolit solis on her IG account @akosilolitsolis.

On Sept. 27, Aquino reached out to Solis. This gesture was highly appreciated by Solis as she wrote on her IG account:

“Kaya hindi ko puwede hindi mahalin si Kris Aquino dahil lagi siyang ready to help out kung kailangan mo siya, Salve. Dahil nasabi sa kaniya ni Ronite

na nagda-dialysis ako, kaagad niyang pinatawag si Alvin para alamin kung ano kailangan ko at ibibigay niya agad.

“To think na mayroon siyang sakit at nasa abroad siya. Talagang kahit love/hate ang relationship namin dalawa, hindi talaga nalimutan ni Kris Aquino ang naging friendship namin.

“Kahit kelan sasabihin ko na walang mean bone si Kris, puwede na naughty siya, tactless pero magaan at bukas palad siya dahil mabait ang puso niya.

“More than anything gusto See KRIS p10

Back, l-r: Neil Ryan Sese, Kaloy Tingcungco, Tim Yap, Lovely Rivero, Niño Muhlach, Kevin Santos, Jay Arcilla and Brianna. Front, l-r: Boy2 Quizon, Jackielou Blanco, Gabby Eigenmann, Gina Alajar, Kim Domingo, Ayen Munji Laurel, and Royce Cabrera.

Bimby, Kris & Josh Aquino

Yasmien Kurdi, Jeric Gonzales, Alden Richards & Bea Alonzo

KRIS...

From

ko

si

will always

nagmamahal sa kaniya.

“Pagaling ka Kris, don’t stress yourself sa mga bagay na walang kuwenta, you are loved and you are worth the love. Thank you, will always remember your sweetness and kindness. Salamat.”

Photos Kris Aquino and Lolit Solis: Instagram @krisaquino & @akosilolitsolis

Tonton Gutierrez visits Lolit Solis during one of her dialysis treatments

Kris Aquino & Lolit Solis

OUR COMMUNITY

Winnipeg Kidney Walk raises funds for a good cause

On September 25, the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Kidney Walk saw enthusiastic Winnipeggers marching to raise funds for the foundation’s financial assistance program. According to the foundation, kidney disease is a leading cause of death in Canada and a silent killer – by the time you know you’ve got it, it is often too late. Currently, around 131,000 Manitobans live with chronic kidney disease, and 382 are waiting on a transplant. Kidney disease can’t be cured, nor can kidney damage be reversed, the foundation says.

Todd LaBelle and his wife, Katya, organized a team to participate in this year’s Kidney Walk. He said, “After my wife was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2018 and started doing dialysis, I started to realize how many other people were affected the same way. I wanted to make a difference, so I joined the Board of the Kidney Foundation of Canada – MB Branch and put a team together for the Kidney Walk. I know how much the Kidney Foundation has helped us and this was my way to return

the help. I want to thank everyone who supported me and came out to walk. Big or small, everyone can make a difference.”

On her Facebook page, Katya Labelle announced, “Team Avison Young Kidney Walk 2022! Thank you to all who donated money. And supported this wonderful cause. Todd’s Team raised $5,365 in total.”

“People don’t often think about their kidneys, not as often as they think about every heartbeat or every breath,” said Sylvie Charbonneau, volunteer National President of The Kidney Foundation. “The work these small but mighty organs do to clean toxins from the body and keep hormones balanced, among other functions, is vital to overall good health.”

One in 10 Canadians has kidney disease and the number of people diagnosed annually continues to rise, particularly with high incidence rates of diabetes and high blood pressure. Over 52,000 people are being treated with life-saving dialysis treatments and nearly 18,000 are living with a kidney transplant, the optimal treatment.

Kidney Walk fundraisers

Todd and Katya LaBelle (5th and 4th from right) with some members of their Team Avison Young Kidney Walk

L-r: Greg Unger, Kidney Foundation of Canada Executive Director (MB branch); Gurpreet Deol, Kidney Walk Committee Chair and CJOB’s Richard Cloutier

Donovan DeBattista, Kidney Walk champion

Indomitable Canadian Filipinos. Wow! What a title for a book! Do not be upset if you have not yet spied this in hardcover or paperback. It’s not YET available, but it’s coming soon. I have been privileged to preview the whole manuscript and I shall share my takeaway of it.

I am told that as early as the New Year, the book will be ours to purchase, own and read. A family heirloom to cherish, perhaps? Or a gift to family members, neighbours and friends?

Whether it is a community memoir or a contemporary history book – it can qualify for both. The title reflects the enviable work ethic, unyielding confidence, and passionate spirit of a people – the Canadian Filipino community.

Edited by Eleanor R. Laquian, an established Canadian Filipino author and acknowledged authority on Filipino migration

to Canada, the book promises to be informative, inspiring, and entertaining.

To remind readers, Eleanor and her husband, University of British Columbia Professor Emeritus Dr. Aprodicio, jointly authored the pioneering bestseller, Seeking a Better Life Abroad: A Study of Filipinos in Canada (1957–2007), which was printed by Anvil Publishing in 2008 and distributed in Manila by National Bookstore. Now a vintage publication, it provided the natural groundwork for the forthcoming book, now being published by Friesen Press for distribution in Canada.

Many have toiled on this book. The core of the CanadianFilipino. Net (CFNet) staff constitute the editorial team: Emmy Buccat, Carlito Pablo, and Rachel RamosRead. These volunteers all have expertise in the fields of journalism and communications and are

Indomitable Canadian Filipinos: a book to watch for!

passionate about community engagement. They shared their keen media minds and untiring eagle lens.

The introduction begins with a quote from one of them:

“It is and will continue to be a long and hard grind for every Filipino who has a spot to claim in the Canadian landscape, but success can certainly be had and be rightfully deserved by those who do not hesitate to take that journey.” – Rachel Ramos-Reid, CFNet Managing Editor, 2022.

Then, it describes the experiences of generations of the Canadian Filipino immigrant community nationwide as witnessed and recorded in real time on CFNet, a digital newsmagazine in operation since 2016.

The Purpose and Scope section reads, and I quote at length:

“The first Filipino migrated to British Columbia in 1861, six years before Canada’s Confederation in 1867 and a century earlier before the first wave of Filipino migration to the

country started cautiously in the 1960s. Today, 70 years since the onset of the first migration wave, close to a million Filipinos across the country call Canada home. In grateful celebration, the Canadian Filipino community is pleased to share their contemporary Canadian story.

“This is where CanadianFilipino.Net comes in with its novel history book, Indomitable Canadian Filipinos, telling the broad story about the past seventy years of Filipino immigration to Canada from a uniquely Filipino viewpoint on Canadian life.

“How can one best judge it is, indeed, one-of-a-kind, a novelty?

“University of Manitoba history teacher Dr. Jon G. Malek provides a guide on how to answer such a question. When he accepted the invitation from the Canadian Historical Association (CHA) to do a “summary history of the Filipino community in Canada,” he included in his Pilipino Express column, It’s All History, these twin guidelines in the form of interrogatives: 1) How can one best represent the lives, activities, and experiences of those who have come to call Canada home? and

2) What broad story should be told?”

When he released in December 2021 his CHA-sponsored booklet, Filipinos in Canada, he wrote:

START-UP...

From page 8

equally important characters of Ina portrayed by Yasmien Kurdi and Dave Jeric Gonzales

Alden takes pride in bannering the much-awaited Pinoy remake, “We have a show and it is something that we can be very proud of. ‘Yung fans ng Korean version, gusto nilang makita na itong Filipino adaptation is something worth their while and based sa trailer, may laban po kami. Aside from that, I’m sure that the whole cast is very proud to have Bea in this show. She puts good pressure on us, especially with the way she handles her character.”

As she stars in her very first Kapuso series, Bea enjoys the challenge of working with the entire cast, “Of course, may adjusting period kasi first time ko silang makasama lahat. But I’m always on my toes trying to let them feel na okay akong katrabaho and I try to be the best version of myself in front of them. Now that I’m restarting, mas ine-enjoy ko every moment. Hindi ako fearful to try new things.”

Yasmien, who is a certified K-Drama fan, shares how she landed her dream role in this local adaptation, “Nung in-offer sa akin itong project, talagang tinanggap ko agad. At first nakaka-pressure siya, so pinanood ko ulit saka ko na-realize na kaya naman pala!

“History is something that is lived, experienced, remembered, and shared.”

Aptly, the forthcoming CFNet book is a virtual window into the experiences of the first, firstand-half, and second generations of Canadian Filipino migrants across the vast geography of the country from the Arctic North to the Atlantic Eastern Shores and the Pacific West Coast.

It mirrors that broad Filipinoshared immigrant story of aspirations, sacrifices, triumphs, and the search for a better life.

It reflects the arduous path travelled; the heritage and cultural values summoned to anchor one’s fortitude; the unyielding confidence and strong work ethic marshalled and applied; the indomitable spirit mustered to conquer adversity; and the rewards of success harvested at the end of an audacious journey.”

To be continued.

Dr. Pagtakhan will share his preview of the forthcoming CFNet book, Indomitable Canadian Filipinos, in the upcoming issues of the Pilipino Express until December. Dr. Pagtakhan is a retired physician (lung specialist), professor and parliamentarian, a widely published author of articles and chapters in medical journals and books; and a regular contributor to CanadianFilipino.Net and the Pilipino Express.

Happy din ako kasi nakatrabaho ko silang lahat at ito na rin ‘yung time na hinihingi ng fans na sana maging magkapatid kami sa isang show ni Bea.”

Meanwhile, Jeric who was in fact Alden’s personal choice to be his co-star in the program, feels overwhelmed to be part of this huge project, “It’s my first time na maka-work sina Alden at Bea and it’s definitely a dreamcome-true. At first, nahihiya at na-starstruck ako sa kanila pero naging magaan ang pakiramdam sa set. Nagtutulungan talaga lahat para mapaganda ang mga eksena. I’m very grateful kasi hindi ko inexpect na ako ang magpo-portray ng role na ito.”

Start-Up PH tackles the different journeys to success and self-discovery. It highlights the importance of being surrounded by supportive and loving people, and proves that through sheer will and determination, every dream is worth pursuing no matter how hard it can get.

Joining them is an all-star cast of some of the country’s most respected artists in film and television: Gabby Eigenmann, Kim Domingo, Jackielou Blanco, Ayen Munji Laurel; Boy2 Quizon, Royce Cabrera, Niño Muhlach, Lovely Rivero, Kevin Santos, Tim Yap, Jay Arcilla, Kaloy Tingcungco, Brianna, Neil Ryan Sese, and Gina Alajar.

Viewers abroad can catch the program via GMA Pinoy TV.

In June 2021, I asked why Winnipeg did not have a Filipino Town after sixty years of community growth. There are certainly potential sites or areas that could serve as a base for such an ethnic centre, such as sites of Filipino cultural performance, buildings where community groups have met (such as the old Filipino centre on Juno or the current PCCM on Keewatin, just for an example); areas that have seen Filipinos settle such as Notre Dame, the Maples, or Tyndall Park; or the formation of a new centre for the community, one that would house a cultural display, a Filipino library, and a space for activities and group meetings. Personally, I don’t think there is a lack of desire, but perhaps a lack of communication among community leaders. One individual or group could not establish this alone, as there would be many steps necessary, as well as significant funds, and overall community unity. But together, a unified push could make things happen.

I return to this again because I believe in its viability, its necessity, and because I’ve seen how energized the community has become. My new research project on Filipino food and culture has quickly exposed me to several trends of which I had not been aware, and I feel that the Winnipeg Filipino community has been going through a sort of a cultural renaissance lately. What started well before the pandemic, is once again blossoming as public health restrictions ease and society

returns to some sort of a normal.

I’ll point out only a few examples, and their choice has not been an act of judging their merit. My first observation of this was the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival, whose first celebration I reported on in 2013. This was not the first Filipino festival, but it had a distinct flare to it and has gained a lot of attention in the community over the years. It has also reached out beyond the Filipino community to engage others in the Manitoban ethnic mosaic. Along these lines, Foodtrip Market has also showcased local Filipino culinary talents, given a fighting chance for new and established food outlets to showcase their offerings. The unique model of the Foodtrip Market, held three times this summer, is an innovative approach to the idea of collaboration and appears to show no sign of slowing down. The Kultivation Festival is another excellent example, one which received significant interest from the CBC. This brings together a dynamic and inventive group of Filipino entrepreneurs and creators to showcase the avant garde of Filipino culture in the city, and indeed the Filipino diaspora. It is, after all, at this Festival that its popular Halo-halo beer made its appearance (and let’s hope it shows up again, somewhere in the city). A final note to the semimysterious Manila Nights pop-up phenomenon that has pushed the boundaries of Filipino cuisine.

This past June saw several nights of Filipino performances that showcased the brilliant cultural talents of the community.

Towards forging a Filipino Town in Winnipeg

Thinking beyond the Philippine Independence Ball – itself a time-honoured institution of the community – I focus on the cultural presentation of the Manitoba Association of Filipino Teachers, Inc. (MAFTI, of which I have been a board member since 2019), which showcased both youth and adult performers, or Musica: An evening of Kundiman & Philippine Art Songs held at the PCCM. This last event exposed me to a new segment of the community’s exceptional musical talent. The rendition of Sa Ugoy ng Duyan still echoes in my memory. This year also saw the rejuvenation of the Pinoy Pop Star competition in a final night of performances on August 26th that were amazing to watch. To say there was only one winner is a difficult statement to make, as every artist demonstrated exceptional skill. I’d also like to point to the Filipino Music & Arts Association of Canada, Inc., which has provided a further venue to Winnipeg’s Filipino musical talent. Each of these cultural outlets highlight a unique section of the community’s talent – it is not the same group of artists performing in different events, but rather a unique range of venues showcasing the variety of artistry within the Filipino community.

MAFTI has for long been a

preserver of Filipino heritage in the city since its inception fortyfive years ago. It introduces Winnipeg’s youth to Filipino culture through its after-school heritage program – which grew incredibly over the pandemic – and adult language classes, of which I have been blessed to partake. Most notably, MAFTI has also secured with the Winnipeg School Division (WSD) the introduction of a Filipino Bilingual program, starting in 2023-2024. This adds to that already offered by the Seven Oaks School Division, but the enthusiasm with which the WSD has supported the program is a sign of how much its administrators recognize the value of a Filipino bilingual program in Winnipeg, which is itself a testament to the decades-long advocacy of Filipino teachers in the division.

Finally, I’d like to point to the publishing activities of ANAK, whose hard work and collaboration with Filipino authors has created a dynamic library of titles that celebrate and explain Filipino culture.

These are only a smattering of events and activities, and this list is not intended to be definitive but rather representative. All of this is evidence of the enthusiasm of the Filipino community, and of an energy that comes from a belief

in the value of the preservation and spread of Filipino culture. As a historian, I know that the community has long engaged in these activities, but at the same time I see new elements emerging. In particular, the engagement of Filipino youth – especially those who were born in Canada – is adding to the dynamism of the community.

I believe the energy to re-create a Filipino Town in Winnipeg is there, and it will come about with the coming together of Winnipeg’s various Filipino groups. There is much leadership, so much desire for change, and so much pride in Filipino culture in the community that there is no real reason it cannot happen. Given the per capita concentration of the Filipinos in Winnipeg compared to other cities in Canada, there is no reason Winnipeg cannot become a national leader and even an international centre of Filipino culture. I hope to see this happen, and to happen soon.

And why not? Let’s make it happen.

Jon Malek received his PhD from Western University and currently teaches history at the University of Manitoba. He is working on a book manuscript on the history of the Winnipeg Filipino community.

FMAACI holds Dancercise event

The Filipino Music and Arts Association of Canada Inc. or FMAACI held a 10-session dance workshop on August 31, 2022. The event was part of the Seven Oaks Healthy Living - Healthy Together Now (HTN) Program of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority with the support of Manitoba Health, Active Living, and Seniors.

Dancercise is a dance workshop with easy-to-

follow dance steps and chair routines. Community members participated in the workshop at the Filipino Seniors Group Event Hall at 49 Euclid Avenue and was facilitated by Ms. Alma Ganaden, former representative of Dancing with the StarsCanada, and head of the Movin’ Up Dancers.

A different workshop will also start this coming October under the same grant, which is

a 10-session ukulele class for beginners. Interested individuals may e-mail fmaaci2014@gmail. com for more information.

FMAACI is a federally registered non-profit organization that aims to explore and develop unique and creative approaches in the preservation, promotion, and blending of Filipino music and arts in a multicultural Canadian environment. – Ernesto Ofiaza

Participants in the Dancercise workshop

Alma Ganaden of the Movin’ Up Dancers and former representative of Dancing with the StarsCanada leads the dance workshop