Leaders and members of various Filipino organizations in Calgary joined the staff of Philippine Consul General Gilberto Asuque in the “flag raising” followed by fellowship with Filipino breakfast of fried rice, langoniza, pandesal, scrambled eggs, smoked cad fish, fried dried fish  (tuyo), beef tapa, coffee and juice held at the  Philippine Consulate General Office. Attendees raised their voices in singing the National Anthem in Pilipino right in the spacious main lobby of the Consulate building. ConGen Asuque delivered a very warm greetings and thanks to the members of the Filipino community in responding to his call of solidarity in the celebration of this historic event. During the program, ConGen Asuque read the message of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Honorable Alan Cayetano, which incorporated the vision of President Rodrigo Duterte of a country that is drug free and corruption free. He also envisions the smooth operational functions of various government agencies through the stern implementation of good governance which is a grand and tall order.

The Filipino Seniors Structure in Calgary of six coordonated associations of about 1500 members would not have seen the light of day without a helping hand from the Alberta provincial government through the kindness of favoured elected politicians.

The quotation above is frank and bold. I am citing it here because it inscribes how politics play its role to cultural communities in Calagry. It also implies as to what expectation may come about if we continue to harbour self wanting towards the process of electing someone from our own community.

The pros and cons of politics are precisely based on how we make of it. Our primary setback is from our stiffness to participate. We are still fearful that politics is politics wherever we are. It is in our failure to collectively engage that we fall short. This is primarily the reason why we lag badly behind in community development.

We need to accept reality. Politics is not a game. It defines our future and determines our values. We could employ our kipit-bisig spirit into it. This is where we are seriously listened to also avail with initiatives that we too are entitled. Our cohesiveness is where we are respected. It is basically correct to postulate that unity amongst us is relatively proportional to the prosperity of our community.

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We are already noted with excellence in showing our culture through dances, parades and songs etcetera. This is good. But it is not enough. We must go farther beyond to mingle correspondingly with society to share equally both in task and merit. This is of being Canadians. It has its gain and yes, it certainly includes politics.

I open my ears keenly to conversations at coffee shops, food courts and anywhere where Filipinos converge. I want to know by heart their views on politics. In between colourful expressions, I learn what they have in mind. There are varied assertions, but with one common deduction. Unlike other major cultural groups, we are terribly fractionalized into individual directions. It is true that we have the numbers, but we lack the ingenuity to secure ourselves into focus.

It is on this regard that our community is not politically significant. It has neither the substance nor the weight worthy enough to be seriously considered. It is politically redundant that no one cares about it anymore. It becomes annoying for anyone to talk about. It is kept away as a plague. We are hesitant to participate and even at times neglectful to exercise our right to vote. Painful as it is, but this is what we still are today.

Can we turn this around? Yes, we can. We could take our seniors as example. With effort and patience, we may also have a chance to gain what is appropriately essential. I know that this is wishful thinking. But what is there to waste? Politics is an integral component of our system and practicality necessitate us to partake.

It was not easy for our leaders to bury their pride and bowed their head to ethnic seated politicians. They pleaded for what was necessary to unshackle the adversity of our community. They did it despite humility and at times even angry that there was no one with right position and distinction to lean on. This time we can measure our worth by supporting a candidate of our own flesh and blood.

Yes, the open door is again availing. After 25 years of dormancy in the provincial and federal politics, a Filiipina by the name of Sherrisa Celis challenges to be a candidate for MLA in Calgary.

Many are wondering as to why we can not have our own elected public officials. The answer is simple but irritating. We were not unified then and neither are we now. The difference however is our present numbers. There are so many of us already and maybe our fundamental needs may have encouraging persuasion towards the understanding that it is in unity alone that our community will prosper.

LET’S SUPPORT SHERISSA CELiS. SHE IS OUR COMMUNITY ‘S    CANDIDATE FOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (MLA} OF ALBERTA UNDER THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY.

The Filipino Calgarian Seniors Club  (FCSC) celebrated its 34th anniversary with a spring gala celebration  at the Polish Canadian Cultural centre  last March 17, 2017.  About 220 attendees graced the occasion including   members of other senior organizations in Calgary. It was an eventful  evening of delightful fellowship  and camaraderie  of the Filipino community.

The program commenced with the singing of the national anthems led by the FCSC officers followed by the opening remarks of the newly elected president, Celestino Bautista, an unassuming and principled guy.  He remarked,”I am humbled by this great opportunity that has been bestowed upon me, however, I am also excited by what opportunities lay ahead.  Thank you to my fellow officers for helping me in my growth and new beginning as President.  I am excited by what we can achieve by working together in good faith, cooperation and unity.”

One of the significant  highlights of the program was the recognition of octogenarian members of the club, namely: Constante (Stan) Collado, Felizardo Emirenciana, Remedios Garcellano, Leonora Guanzon and Mario Reuto.  Special recognition  was also accorded to Mr. and Mrs. Felomino Guanzon for reaching a milestone on the occasion of their 62nd wedding anniversary.  Both were tremendously happy for the special attention and best wishes they received.

A group of nine (9) talented couples performed a well-received performance of Tango Royale, the high point of the program’s entertainment. Led by the ever-skillful and graceful choreographer, Wilson Danu, an associate member of the club, he painstakingly mentored the senior dancers for weeks to their  great level of confidence to perform.

The spring gala of the Filipino Calgarian Seniors Club was also a celebration for members of the club who turned a milestone in their lives in the months of January, February, March and April.  Each of the celebrants were presented with a lovely, colourful  rose.  Ube (purple yam) and mocha-flavoured cakes  donated by a few generous  club members  were distributed and shared with guests and attendees.

The ever-able Vice-President  of the club, Joven Bautista, hosted the evening’s event.

The Political Content Department of the proposed Filipino Leadership Association of Calgary (FLACA) is a department to take charge our community’s political involvement. It’s function is not only to support chosen candidates, but also to encourage Filipinos to run for public office.

Electing Filipinos in Calgary has been an elusive dream. It’s kind of an unreachable itch. Five Filipinos on different times did try so far and they all failed. It was indeed outright discouraging that no one attempted to do it for the last twenty years. This was understandable. Our community had not been in ideal attitude to engage collectively in putting our own candidates to win an election.

But are we going to just roll over and play dead? These guys knew what they were up too. They were aware that there chances were not good. Politics is a game of numbers and we were not many then. But it was not a total waste. To be reckoned alone that we existed as a real community in the city was already something of value. The timing was not right, but someday it will.

That someday is a generation after. It is now. Our growth is unprecedented. We now have the needed numbers. We have all the elements necessary to succeed. The lesson is learned. Yes, the dream can be realized; the itch can be scratched anew, but only if we can manage our resources into focus. This is our biggest challenge.

We have adequate time to work on this. This is not easy, but it can be done upon absorbing in mind that advancement of our community is definitely riding on it. We need not go far to prove this. We just have to look around and visualize where we are today as compared with other cultural groups.

We are the largest, but we are at the bottom in progress. We are often renting their facilities because our Philippine Community Center is not really a center of anything. It’s kind of a little compartment to supposedly accommodate 56,000 Filipinos. It’s paid up and stays humble to serve as a reminder to illustrate what disunity is doing to us. We are aware of this, but down deep in ourselves is still that burning urge to rebuke on what is for the good of all. We just can’t put our act together.

A community will not flourish by adopting the mentality of individualism. Society exists successfully when shared intention is fulfilled. We didn’t cross the ocean just for employment and neither to form an exclusive commune. We have to understand that Canada is not just a workplace. It is our home. It’s a country with its own traditional ways. We can not exclude ourselves from its nature. We are a part of it and this includes politics. We have to intertwine by its conduct by shaking off congenital dust in both habit and manners.

We shall rightfully behave as Calgarians because Calgary is our city; Albertans because Alberta is our province and above all Canadians because Canada is our country too.  It is only fair that like any others, we too shall have a little say in the affairs of government.

The  longing of previous leaders about politics were not much different to what we want today. The political triumph of putting elected Filipinos in Calgary has been an emblematic barometer to signify maturity as a community. It is a valued prize. It was impractical then, but we have all the necessary ingredients to do it now.

It is true that we are presently the fastest growing community. But numbers alone is insignificant. We have to do better than just multiply. We have to cater into ourselves a degree of understanding that it is in togetherness both in purpose and performance that we are respected. It is also correct to assume  that it is  a tall mountain to climb; but it shall be overcome for our need and want are on it. We ride on dreams long enough and now is the time to seek reality. Let’s put our combined effort into it and prevail.

Yes, we have a good Filipino candidate on October 17, 2017 city election.

Her name is Sherissa Celis, a well known personality with the cultural communities in Calgary. She also has done many good things to Filipinos. Her help to deter seniors abuse in our community has been marvelous. It is in our willingness to support her that could pave a way for good things ahead.

Let us therefore utilize our resources to face the challenge. It is in us that Sherrisa will make it. She is running for city council in Ward 13 to consist the areas of Evergreen, Bridlewood, Somerset, Shawnessy, Shownee Slope, Millrise, Woodbine, Woodland and Canyon Meadows.

1. SENIORS – ELVIE ABELLA VALEROSO – a teacher in the Philippines who worked in Oil & Gas administration after her arrival in Canada, Elvie volunteers by assisting seniors in the Filipino Community, Filipino flood victims and is described as follows:  “She may be one person in the world, but she is the world to so many people whose lives she has touched”.  Walter Kubitz Q.C. and I had the honor of presenting Elvie with her award.
2. VOLUNTEERISM– JULITA CASUNCAD, a porter @ a local hospital and an active volunteer and honorary member with the Golden Generations Seniors Club and Filipino community;
3. MEDIA:  TEOFY BULURAN a radio announcer for CJSW 90.9, a Chaplain, a busy mother of 6 and a shining example of volunteerism with some of the following local organizations (to name a few):
   1. Calgary Pregnancy Care Centre;
   2. Bridge of Love ministries;
   3. CoSA with the Mennonite Central Committee;
   4. COMMUNITY SERVICE:  MARLOUN MANUEL, a business owner of a landscaping company who chairs the TAU GAMMA / SIGMA FRATERNITY and SORORITY.  Marloun’s volunteerism includes serving @ the Mustard Seed Street Ministry, Calgary Interfaith food bank as well as a host of other organizations in the Philippines;
   5. AMBASSADOR OF GOODWILL:  LIMUEL HAYAG VILELA, a model, flight attendant, entrepreneur and global advocate of hope, whose volunteer commitments include the Brigada Eskwela Public School project, Young Generation Talents program, and a number of other international volunteering programs;
   6. YOUTH: CATHIA GARALDE is a high school student and was awarded for her leadership at her local Parish, high academic standing, extracurricular activities, numerous volunteer commitments and leadership amongst her peers;
   7. BUSINESS – ENRIQUE ASUNCION is a chef and owner of MAMA NITA’S BINALOT.  He started a restaurant that serves Filipino cuisine by using the “boodle fight” concept of feasting.  The “boodle fight” tradition of eating has its origins in the Filipino military in which soldiers feast on food that sits over banana leaves over long tables.  Eaten with bare hands, the boodle fight is a symbol of fraternity and equality.

I was humbled when the PINOY times asked me to prepare a short speech to their community, which I present below:

Good evening.  We are delighted and honored to be here.

My name is Peter Trieu.  I am married to Katherine.  I am a lawyer @ Kubitz & Company and I have the great privilege of practicing alongside Walter Kubitz Q.C and Ryan Lee, who is here with his lovely wife, Rhea.  Our firm practices exclusively in Personal Injury Law where we represent the rights of injured Albertans whose injuries have created a life-changing impact or resulted in their deaths.

As I’ve said earlier, it is a real privilege for us to be here – To journey alongside you by celebrating the distinguished accomplishments of several recipients in the Filipino community.

I’m here to speak briefly about the links between community and success.

History, tradition, culture

By way of background, my father jointly owned a rice company, and my mother operated a small grocery store that was seized by the Vietnamese Communist government after the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.  My dad tells me that the communist government purchased their equipment and goods with South Vietnamese currency, and when my dad (and a host of other business people) tried to purchase other goods with the money they had received, he discovered that the South Vietnamese currency was worthless.  To survive, my parents bought fish sauce in bulk, and re-sold it.

They struggled and faithfully did this for 4 years.  Then, an opportunity came.  My parents are ethnically Chinese, and had an extensive Chinese community around them.  In 1979, they were in contact with a Chinese shipbuilder, and eventually, my parents paid a registration fee to the Vietnamese government to leave Vietnam.  They were on the last registered boat for their region and fled Vietnam in May 1979.  They were sponsored by a Church in Norquay Saskatchewan, and moved to Calgary in September 1980.

A week after I was born, my dad worked for 31 years as a meat packer at XL Foods packing and shipping meat.  My dad worked alongside several tremendous and hardworking Filipino colleagues.  My dad got laid off from XL foods in 2012, and operated a small donair shop with my mom until their retirement in 2015.

Humility – none of our success occurs in a vacuum.

I graduated from law school shortly before my dad was laid off and was called to the bar in 2013.  My accomplishments and success did not occur in a vacuum—I could not get to where I am today without the hard work and sacrifice of my family, a great community of friends, and great community of colleagues within the legal profession.   I cannot get to where I hope to be without drawing strength & inspiration from my community of faith, cultivating my relationships with my family, friends, and colleagues, and continuing to serve the community at large.  For some of you, that may be with your local Filipino community, your neighborhood, or within your profession.

Regardless of whether you are in a community of faith (or not), there’s a verse in the Bible that says, “You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hid”.  May your path be lit by the source of all that is good and all that is beautiful.  May you look for that light – and may that light shine.

Held at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel from 8:00 to 11:00 in the morning, this momentous event was participated by 51 invited guests, with a total of 82 people coming together to be introduced to the BCBP and to celebrate fellowship with each other.

The meeting started with an opening prayer and welcoming song, followed by a video clip on the history of the BCBP.  The central part of the program was the touching and inspiring sharing of Glenn and Aileen Labus, who spoke about how their Christian faith and love for Christ helped them through their life journey — the trials and ordeals they had to face, and ultimately their success in overcoming these difficulties.  Glenn and Aileen have been with the brotherhood since 2001 from Cebu City.

Founded in 1979, the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals is an Christian organization whose objective is to evangelize men and women in business leadership roles with the mission of “bringing Christ to the marketplace and into professions,” thus creating about a transformation of people in the business world in keeping with the values of the Gospel.  The movement has grown by leaps and bounds and has chapters all over the world, continuing to touch the lives of businessmen and women and professionals, and inspiring each to uphold and espouse Christian values, personally and at work.

According to Glenn “Our highest priority is to love God, and this means that the quality and strength of all our relationships and undertakings should be founded on a deep personal connection with the Lord”.  Furthermore, Glenn states that leading an orderly life that is constantly examined and balance (family, work, finances, health, and relationship) is essential to overall wellbeing.

The affair ended with brief messages from Jun Obra and Frank Nuquid, BCBP officers from the Philippines and Toronto respectively, who spoke more about the mission of the BCBP in Calgary and then formally invited all the participants to join the Brotherhood Christian Life Program (BCLP) that will be held in Calgary on December 5 & 6, 2016 .

The next breakfast meeting is scheduled on November 27, 2016 at the Sandman Hotel/Moxies located at 25 Hopewell Way NE,Calgary.

Not everyone knows that to be a part of the CALGARY STAMPEDE SHOWBAND is such a big honor and privilege to an individual. But how easy is it to join such a group?  We might have the talent and skill but is that all we need to be a part of it?  Let’s find out from Ashley Baes she managed to be a part of this showband and what she gained from all her hard work for the years she has been with the group.

Can you give us a background about yourself, i.e. parents, born in Canada? siblings, favorite hobbies, favorite subjects, etc.

I was born and raised in Calgary. I have two siblings, both younger than me; my sister Jelsey is currently in high school and my brother Jenard is going into grade 3. I am currently a student at the University of Calgary.

Was it ever you dream to join the CS Showband and if so why?

My marching band career started when I was in grade 8. I joined the Calgary Round-Up Band in September 2010. I was in that band for 2 years, I did 1 year with the Calgary Stetson Show Band and I have just finished my third year with the Calgary Stampede Showband.

I think it’s a pretty common thing that when you’re growing up within this band community that you’re always looking for a challenge and that next step forward. That’s what the Stampede Showband was to me. I had always admired the Stampede Showband as a member of both the Calgary Round-Up Band and Stetson Show Band. I loved watching the Calgary Stampede Showband’s performances; from the high quality 10 minute field show to the really fun step show performance, performed on the Saddledome Steps every single day during Stampede Week. The more I watched the band, the more I wanted to be a part of it.

What musical instruments do you play and what do you play with the CS Showband?

I play the flute with the Calgary Stampede Showband. I also took piano lessons for 10 years previous to joining the Showband.

Whom did you get your musical influence from?

There is no one person that influenced me musically. I am surrounded by a group of amazing musicians and that inspires me.

How did you audition for the CS Showband?  When was this?  What was the process?

I auditioned for the Stampede Showband in May of 2013. There are 3 parts to the audition; marching, music and an interview. It was pretty nerve wracking, but I knew that I had done enough to prepare.

Describe your experience as a member of the CS Showband, i.e. competitions?  travels? scholarships? and how many years have you been with the showband?

I’ve had an amazing experience as a part of the Stampede Showband. I travelled to Brazil in my first year with the group (2014) for the World Association of Marching Show Bands Competition, which we won.

Last year we went up to Edmonton to perform at K-Days, Saskatoon  for Saskatoon Ex, and we went down to Indianapolis to watch DCI finals and perform at SoundSport.

This year we did our tour before Stampede week down to Wisconsin where we did another competition circuit. It was a lot of rehearsing, but we got to spend a day Chicago which was fantastic.

How did you manage your time between school and being a part of the CS Showband?

I was in the Stampede Showband for my last 2 years of high school and my first year of university. I’m really good at planning out what I want to do with my time, but not so much following through with the plan. I juggled my time around and found what was best for me. It’s all about finding that balance between school and band. There were days when I had band all weekend and I had to do a test on the Monday, so an ideal situation would be for me to have done all my studying before my weekend of band. Realistically, I spent a lot of nights cramming, but that’s what worked for me. I’m generally pretty good when it comes to school.

When is your last year with the showband?  will you continue to play your instrument even if you’re not with the band anymore?

I still have a couple more years that I want to spend with the Showband. Yes. I love music. I love playing the flute. You probably won’t see me performing out in public but I’ll definitely still be playing my flute.

Future plans after your CS showband term is over.

I don’t have any plans yet! That’s still a couple years away. I’ll still be in school but expect that I’ll still be keeping involved with the bands here in Calgary.

What were the advantages and disadvantages of being with the CS SHOWBAND?

Being a part of this band is obviously such a huge time commitment, and such a huge commitment in general, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love spending countless hours with some of my closest friends in sometimes the most inopportune conditions. That’s what makes this experience all worth it I find. The more time and effort you put into this activity, the more you get out of it.

What advise can you give to other aspiring youth who wants to join the CS Showband.

Just do it. It’s something different. It’s not only a different musical experience, but a physical and an emotional one as well. It’s a really special group to be a part of, and you don’t know how special it is until you are a part of it. As a side note, if you’ve never been in a marching band before you DON’T need any marching experience. At auditions (which happens in May) be prepared to learn!

Overall, is there anyone who you would like to thank specifically for the mentorship you got from CS Showband?

I’d just like to thank anybody who has been a part of my band experience. To my friends, thanks for continuing to make my time with the bands such a fun experience; I’m thankful for the staff for always pushing me  and the group to do the best that I can in every aspect of this activity.

By Prodie Gar. Padios

PRESERVING the cultural and religious beliefs of the Filipino Community in Red Deer, particularly the Santacruzan, is really a fantastic move, and it is extremely worth to reckon with.

In cognizant with the Filipino Cultural Heritage, it is also one way of bridging the traditional and cultural lives of the Filipinos from the Philippines to the Filipino immigrants, and/or Filipino-Canadians to foreign nations, like Canada.

The “Philippine-Canadian Association of Red Deer and District (PCARDD)” headed by Janice Kong-Schmidt, and the “Fil-Can Seniors Society of Red Deer (PCSSRD)” by Zena Cauchi, hosted its first Santacruzan on May 28, 2016 at the historical Bower Ponds.

Fifty five young girls participated representing various “Reynas” (Queens) and Angels on their beautiful gowns under their beautifully decorated arches parade.

About 200 Red Deerians gathered together at Bower Ponds to witness one of the most colorful May-time traditions observed in the Philippines.

“It increases awareness and provides good understanding of the importance of these beliefs to the young ones who has Filipino parents but was born or grew up in Canada and Canadians alike,” Kong-Schmidt said when this author asked her about the significance of Santacruzan to our Filipino Community here in Red Deer.

Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pageant held throughout the Philippines during the month of May, in celebration of “Flores De Mayo” (May Flower Festival).

A procession is held which re-enacts the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reyna Elena) and her son, Constantine.

The incumbent PCARDD President, a Registered Architect and Principal of “Turpin Kong Architects, Inc., Red Deer,” revealed that the Santacruzan was an idea brought to PCARDD by the “Fil-Can Seniors Society of Red Deer.”

“The initiative was a joint-effort hosted by the two groups,” she said. “By celebrating the Santaruzan, it helps preserve the culture and religious beliefs of the Filipino community in Red Deer.”

What is the primary objective why her incumbency revived this Filipino tradition and belief in the first world country, like Canada?

Janice, as her friends and relatives fondly called this eldest of four siblings who was born and raised in Naga City, Bicol, Philippines, said that “it takes us back to commemorating the significance of Christianity to Filipinos.”

“It is a way of gathering Filipinos together as one, and at the same time, it is a fun activity for everyone to enjoy,” she added.

Janice is the newly elected president of the PCARDD recently.

She immigrated to Canada (Red Deer) with her siblings in 2003 and has been in Red Deer since.

As a Registered Architect, she is a member of the Alberta Association of Architects and the Royal Architectural Institute of Alberta.

She is also a member of the Rotary Club of Red Deer.

Born as a leader, she is the Chair of “RAIC Center Alberta Chapter,” and also as the Citizen Representative of “City of Red Deer Municipal Planning Commission.”

Before elected as president of PCARDD, she was the Vice President of this “Filipino-Canadian organization in Red Deer District.”

Janice is newly married to Vaughn Schmidt, a Canadian national (Red Deerian), and a Chartered Accountant with a local Accounting Firm here in Red Deer.

What are Janice’ visions for PCARDD under her leadership?

Our organization’s mission will be geared towards holding fundraising events where proceeds will be used in supporting a worthy cause and local community projects;

Fun activities and celebrations that will continue to promote our culture and focus on networking and connecting newcomers to various community resources;

Furthermore, our organization will be centered on volunteerism, wherein those who have been helped will be encouraged to pay it forward.

The newly elected Officers and Board of Directors of  PCARDD:

Janice Kong-Schmidt, President

Glenn Kubaron, Vice President

Jess Ramos, Treasurer

Tess Leslie, Secretary

Vaughn Schmidt, Auditor

Board of Directors:

Derille J-R Abaya

Emil Alipio

Herson Cara

Jane Compton

Jingle Corrales

Victor dela Cruz

Mildred Manuel

Victor Pascua

Nieva Rosales

Jeremy Tabbu

The umbrella system to manage our then small Calgary Filipino community came to being in 1986. The passage of time did increase our population in folds that the format under the wings of associations becomes impractical. It served its purpose, but it already outlived its usefulness for sometime. It’s kind of using an old umbrella to shelter from  falling snow. It becomes obsolete and needs to be updated or change.

It is therefore necessary to move out from under a worn-out umbrella. It’s precisely naive and even foolish to continually pattern our community’s management on a system that needs realignment to current realities. We have to look for new alternative that is appropriately conducive to present condition.

On this regard, I open my ears to various levels. I learn that what is apparently fitting is a simple and honest leadership entity where every adult Filipinos who want to shall have free and direct access in choosing leaders. I call it as right of suffrage; the central covenant of a free society. I believe that the time has come where efficient general community election is the abiding process in choosing our leaders.

We are the top cultural community in size in the city and the fastest growing. We did possess the right potential and was then believed to lead other ethnic groups to progress. We never did. On the contrary, we instead lagged badly behind. We simply failed to leap up from just being potential.

There had been various reasons and many alibis. We learned our lessons. We therefore must discard away our petty excuses and start to look seriously onward both individually and collectively. I know deep down that the said ‘potential’ is still in us. We proved this with our seniors. It is through simplicity, tenacity and good planning that we’ll gain fair distance.

It is time for us to look farther ahead and endeavour to pull together our resources into a turning point. I believe that we have the talent and the audacity to achieve. It is just a matter of hard work.

There were just 68 of us Filipinos in Calgary when we decided to build a community. Being orphaned from the comfort of love ones, we adhered together as a neighbourly group which catered comradeship as proxy to families and friends we left behind. It was a shelter from lonesomeness of home. We sowed the seeds of our culture with aspiration that it would grow to be a respected community someday. That was about half a century ago and many stories did come to pass.

Today, we desire that before our final curtain, we could see signs to reveal the coming into reality what we worked for. It is indeed a wonderful feeling to realize that what we started is rightly in the hands of those that follows.

We can only say from experience that regardless of how things turn out, never ever allow the vigour of disappointment to dampen the thoughts of fulfilment. Our community is what we make of it. Setbacks may come at times, but as long as honest intention continues to thrive, there is always hope.

The ‘originals’ are now going into noble exit. What they leave behind are still dreams to realize. They did what was ought to be done with exalting belief that the next generation will pick up the stride.

And yes, they can do it. They are capable.