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by CK May is the month of flowers not just in the Philippines but also here in Calgary. A lot of my neighbors have done their spring cleaning and unfortunately I cannot cope up with them. I remember that during this time of the year my husband, Hank gets busier day by day. He takes care [...]
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Page added on September 17, 2010

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Filipino Community Development Program – Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association

By: Arnida Bituin – Guillermo
Coordinator – Filipino Community Development Program
Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association

Bringing Filipinos closer…together!

It has been the desire of the Filipino Community Development Program of CIWA (Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association) to bring Filipinos together, to connect individuals and integrate them into the Filipino community, and to make it easier for Filipinos to integrate into Canadian society. This is especially true for newcomers, regardless of their immigration status (i.e. landed immigrants, live-in caregivers or temporary contract workers).

On August 14, 2010, after more than one-month’s planning and preparation, and with the support of our dedicated volunteers, FCDP’s desire to bring Filipinos together once again became reality. Compared to the first get-together held last April, with almost fifty people in attendance, this year’s event was very well attended – almost one hundred and fifty proud and happy Filipinos! Despite the huge number of people, the activity went smoothly as planned. Chairs were purposely removed to encourage everyone to walk around, mingle and most of all to network and make connections with each other. It yielded positive results. One participant got a job after bumping into another participant who was looking for a baker to work in a coffee shop. Leonor Europa met Dr. Ruel and Elena Manago and discovered they were relatives! High school friends and classmates also bumped into each other and became reacquainted after almost two decades!

During the event, Filipino Bayanihan spirit once again emerged. People did not only come to participate. They came to help in any way they could. Truly, when Filipinos get together, you can expect everything!

To serve as inspiration and encouragement, Lerma Sotto, Gina Sahangin and Melva Dutallas shared their own experiences and success stories. Lerma shared how she came to know CIWA and FCDP. She mentioned how she and her husband, together with their only child would brave the very cold winter just to attend workshops. She attended training at CIWA, landed an accounting job and now, she is the trusted office manager of a documentation company. She was able to accomplish all this in less than six months, since her arrival in Canada. She encouraged everyone to be patient yet determined, resourceful yet focused and always keep the faith!

Gina Sahangin, a live-in caregiver, shared how she developed self-confidence since attending the Saturday workshops at CIWA. She mentioned that even her employers are very happy with her transformation and personality development. She hopes to obtain her permanent residency in the near future and said, that even then, she will continue to participate in CIWA programs and activities. She invited everyone to do the same, to acquire the same benefits.

Melva Dutallas, an accountant and a business woman in the Philippines expressed her gratitude to CIWA and its Bridging the Gap for foreign trained accountants program which she is currently attending. She said she almost lost hope and was thinking of going back to the Philippines. Then she came to know the Filipino Community Development Program at CIWA, where she was introduced to the Bridging the Gap program. Now, she is looking forward to completing the course and getting an accounting job soon! She told everyone, “Let us not lose hope, there is a lot that Canada can offer. We just need to be persistent. Positive development will come our way.”

To summarize what transpired during the event, here is what Mariam Elghahuagi, an outreach coordinator at CIWA had to say. She attended the event which, according to her, was a real success!
“The event was very well attended with a crowd of over 150 people. All activities, including games, food and networking were very well organized. The clients attending were not only participating, but also volunteering to ensure that the event ran smoothly and that the premises returned to the exact state it was in before the potluck. Everyone seemed to be in extremely good spirits, and there was a tangible sense of belonging and trust among the participants – not only towards each other, but also towards the establishment that had brought them together. Very fruitful connections were made amongst the participants by offering support to each other in different aspects of their lives”.

The event was conceptualized with the objective of connecting Filipinos from communities throughout the city and from each quadrant i.e. SW, SE, NW & NE. Volunteer coordinators willingly took on the responsibility to lead members from their respective communities. Tessa Yabut will be the caretaker for the NW group. Dr. Ruel Manago will be in charge of NE. Cristine Balamban will lead the South East group while Cecil Factura will be responsible for the SW group, which incidentally has the largest number of Filipino residents among all the areas. We aim to activate these communities to serve as support systems for Filipinos, particularly newcomers. FCDP will encourage them to join these community groups with the hope of reducing feelings of isolation and homesickness. The volunteer community coordinators will serve as the link between the members and CIWA. Thus, it will be easier for CIWA/FCDP to reach out to as many Filipinos as we can and improve services offered to them as they begin their new lives, settle and integrate into the Canadian society.

Here are some of the feedback we received after the event.
Violeta Cacho – “I love the picture. We all had a great time…sana maulit ang mga ganitong event”.

Florian Manzano – “Congratulations on Saturday’s event. It has proven its noble purpose…to gather and bring people together to know one another, so we can help one another. Christopher will be starting tomorrow as our new baker, and I’m glad that I was able to help him get an experience. Once again congrats po and mabuhay”!

Imelda Del Rosario – “We are very thankful too, for being a part of the family in CIWA masaya po kami na nakadalo last Sat…at nakakita po kami ng kapamilya at mga kapusong pinoy …hoping mag karoon po muli ng ganitong pag sasalo para lalo pa mapalawak ang pagkakakilala…Marami pong salamat din …hoping to see you nextime … God Bless po!”

Annable Bullen – “Thank you so much din po ma’am, for the opportunity to get together and meet fellow Filipinos. It was indeed a good venue to comingle and have fun with one another and most of all create what we call FAMILY.
More power and success to all of us …God bless!”

Connie Garcia – “Salamat din pos a warm welcome sa amin. God Bless!”

Belinda Montemayor – “Thank you! We are happy to be part of this event.”

So what’s next? Our Filipino community Christmas Party!

Filipino Community Development Program – Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association

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