By Ab. Velasco This past November, I embarked on an unforgettable three-week, cross country visit to the Philippines. I was born in Manila in 1981 and my family immigrated to Canada in 1989. I returned briefly for a one-week visit in 2008 – as part of a larger Asian trip – and enjoyed it so much that I… Read More »
It gives me great pleasure to utter this greeting in our language although I do not get much chance as most, even our own “kababayan” greet one another in English; “Merry Christmas!” The much-awaited day of the year will soon be here. The preparation starts early, usually in November, right after Halloween. It usually starts with the Santa… Read More »
I love to travel. For many years, I spent my savings in joining tours to different parts of the world. There is nothing like travel for education and socialization. Every new place I visited gave me a different perspective of the wonders of nature and the varied cultures of people. I made very pleasant acquaintances and friendships with… Read More »
Last year at about this period, people in the Greater Toronto Area got scared about the possibility of a pandemic of HINI influenza. Several cases of death, possibly caused by the virus causing this disease, were reported by the media. One was that of a teenager who just came from a camping trip, complained of headache and had… Read More »
By: THESA ANOBA DAYAGBIL My grandmother died a few days ago in the Philippines. She was 90 years old. Like any grandchild who adores and loves her grandmother deeply, I took the news very badly. More so because I am here in Canada and I wasn’t there to whisper in her ear one last time how much I… Read More »
I was interpreting recently for a client who was making a claim for injuries suffered from a car accident. At the end of the session, the lawyer representing my client commented that some of the words I used sounded Spanish. I explained to her that one out of every three words in Tagalog has roots in Spanish. … Read More »
June 12 is a date significant to Filipinos. It does not matter whether they are in their native land or in another part of this planet, June 12 is a date wherein Filipinos congregate and raise their national flag, June 12 is Philippine Independence Day. In Markham, Ontario, the town council declared a Philippine Independence Week, starting… Read More »
By Rudy M. Viernes THE PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS By Rudy M. Viernes The first day of May in the Philippines ushers in the start of a month of festivals, merrymakings, processions, Santacruzan, Flores de Mayo, flowers and the Virgin Mary. May is a festive month which implies feasting or celebration. In most little towns and villages… Read More »
I find that each day there is something new to learn. We keep some views that we hold for a long time; and then all of a sudden we get shocked when something happen and finds that the view we hold is wrong. For a long time, I had the perception that racism and discrimination are directed… Read More »
A Filipino caregiver who had worked several years in Canada suddenly discovered that she had cancer. Her physician told her that she would have about six months to live. She decided that she would go home to die in the Philippines. “Ayokong mamatay dito. Gusto kong mamatay sa sariling bayan, sa piling ng aking mga kapatid at iba… Read More »