Remember when these conversations were commonly overheard in Filipino gatherings?
“Pilipino ka?” “Oo. Ikaw?” “Obvious ba?” “Taga-saan ka?” “Sa Scarborough.” “Hindi. Sa Pilipinas!” “Ah! Visayas.” “Tinuod ka, bay?” “Ay, ambot!”
And off they go … new friends … talking in their native language.
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“Pards, taga-Luzon ako na lumaki sa Cebu.” “Ha? Taga-Cebu ako na nakapangasawa ng taga-Mindanao.” “Taga-Davao ako pero ang ninuno namin ay mga Ilocano.” “Basta! Ako ay Pilipino.”
And off they go … new friends … isang bansa, isang diwa.
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“Ano trabaho mo?” “Hmmm. Caregiver.” “Pareho tayo.” “Kailan off mo?” “Linggo.” “Kita-kits ulit, ha.”
And off they go … new friends … looking forward to good times.
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“Line dancing? Saan, kelan? Sama kami.”
And off they go … new friends … exploring new moves.
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Short, amiable, cordial and unassuming conversations like those preceding will always highlight the Filipino’s civil and gregarious ways, which have made the community glitter in the diverse Canadian mosaic.
“Psssttt.” Ang lumingon, Pilipino?
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Kuwentong Saling-Pusa: Tatlong bubuwit ang hinahabol ng pusang makulit. E, nasukol sa sulok ang tatlo. Hinarap ng panganay na bubuwit ang pusa at sumigaw: “Bow, wow, wow!” Nabigla’t natakot, kumaripas papalayo ang pusa. Nang naikuwento, ang sabi ni Mommy Bubuwit: “Kitam, ayos talaga ang bilingual!”
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I will never tire of praising and congratulating community leaders for resurrecting and reinvigorating activities and festivals that showcase the famous Filipino smile and hospitality, the romance and exuberance of Filipino music and dance, the exotic yet savory taste of Filipino bites, the mystery of “Kumusta?”, “Maraming Salamat Po”, and “Mabuhay!”, and the treasure trove of fun found only in the Pearl of the Orient Seas.
Against all doubts, over all odds and beyond all uncertainties, they have stepped up to the plate and have risen to the occasion to effectively, after a long pandemic hiatus, gather the community together this summer of 2022.
Huge thanks and gratitude too to all supportive sponsors, indefatigable business owners, pro-active groups that put up and manned booths, volunteers and the countless community denizens who enjoyed a great and accommodating weather to spend time, resources and “belonging ways” to be with family, friends and neighbors.
They have visibly expressed, in more re-emerging and shining ways than one, that the Filipino-Canadian community remains vibrant and resilient, as it is engaging.
Filipino festivals of 2022 have undeniably demonstrated the collective effort of everyone to paddle away from the boring Covid-19 pandemic waves that kept them at home for more than two years.
Once more, we all proved that we are good in sharing the exquisite richness of Filipino culture.
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Sense of belonging and attachment. Sense of esteem, confidence and respectability. Sense of hospitality and mutual civility. Sense of humor and clean fun.
Filipinos in Canada — say, around the world — have a glut of these universal qualities that bond them, motivate them to be united and inspire them to do the right thing all the time.
Being so has earned for the community its shine and luster in the Canadian and global mosaic.
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The Filipino-Canadian community has had its trials and tribulations through the years, but it has seen amazing moments, overcoming ethno-lingual differences and parochial interests in so many times.
Maalaala mo pa ba ang massive mobilization of Filipino time, money and effort to help victims of the Southern Leyte mudslides, the Ormoc flashfloods, the Ondoy and Pepeng super typhoons, the Pinatubo eruption, etc. etc.?
Natunghayan mo ba ang outpouring of Filipino support to the plight of abused and exploited, even dying and killed, kababayans whose brain and brawn are tied by the terms of a work visa?
Ikinasiya mo ba ang iba pang small and unheralded yet significant Filipino deeds of bayanihan?
I know. One thing Filipinos have in common is a long memory.
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The realm of seniority has its advantage in wealth of experience and healthy wisdom.
But when will the seniors decide to pass on the festive torch to younger, more active and innovative community movers and shakers?
Is it time for fresh ideas and initiatives to make community activities, festivals and gatherings a better representation of the contemporary Canadian experience?
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To all emerging community leaders: Light the flame, but beware of wildfires. Toast to bottoms up, but avoid flooding. Let creative juices, not scalding lava, flow.
Surely, an earthquake is no excuse to get butts off the couch for outdoor adventures like a Filipino festival.
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Ipagpatuloy and saya’t ligaya! Muling ikabit ang banderitas at maki-piyesta!
Higit sa lahat, muling lumahok sa parada; muling iwagayway ang dakilang bandila!
Expectedly, things will be better and greater in the summer of 2023. #####
Wakasan, Komiks Nga Lang
Sinasabi ko na nga ba, eh.
Kahit saan ka lumingon, kapag umugoy ang lupa tulad ng magnitude 7 earthquake na dumuyan sa hilagang Luzon sa Pilipinas nitong ika-27 ng Hulyo, 2022, siguradong to the max mag-react ang mga naniniwala sa Armageddon at sa mga predictive quatrains ni Bossing Nostradamus.
Idawit na rin ang bulung-bulungan at hiyawang “end of the world” ng mga naghihingutuhang marites.
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Isang pagbabalik tanaw. A magnitude 7.7 strike slip earthquake hit northern Luzon and devastated Baguio City — the Philippines’ summer capital — on July 16, 1990. Some 1,600 people died and about 3,000 others were hurt.
Long ago so far and yet so near, the tremor was only about 215 kilometers south of the recent July 27 shaker.
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Hay, naku! Ang hirap talagang manirahan sa Pacific Ring of Fire. Dumadalas ang ballroom dancing ng lupa.
Just last month, in southern Philippines, dalawang beses umuga si Mother Earth – on August 13, 2022 at a high of magnitude 6.1 and two days later at a high of magnitude 5.2. Shakers of lesser intensity were felt before the two.
Lingon sa nakaraan: The two recent temblors were on-spot or so adjacent to where the Philippines’ magnitude 8.0 killer-earthquake, officially classified as the most destructive to human life and property ever, happened 11 minutes past midnight on August 17, 1976.
The Moro Gulf earthquake spawned a tsunami, which huge walls of water rolled and roared to the coastlines of Maguindanao, the Zamboanga peninsula and Sulu
Imagine, just imagine, if the shake and tidal waves happened at daytime.
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Whatever, thanks to fast and extensive information, education and communication, the impact of earthquakes and other natural disasters on human existence as of late is greatly eased and reduced.
At the least, we are lucky to have an understanding of why and how ground shakes and temblors; flashfloods, tsunamis and water surges; volcanic eruptions and lava flows; forest blazes and wildfires; heavy storms and strong twisters; melting ice and rising ocean levels; heat waves and other devastating calamities happen.
Disaster preparedness is the norm.
Marami na rin ang na-develop na scientific tools na nakatutulong na malaman kung saan o kailan magaganap ang namimintong pananalanta ng mga natural catastrophes.
Gayunpaman, wala pa akong alam na taong to the bones ang ngiti kapag nakatanggap ng evacuation notice.
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Fake news po ang usaping may earthquake dahil sa ‘di mawaring stampede ng mga toro at dahil sa walang puknat na lundagan ng mga elepante’t hippo. Hindi rin po totoo na ang tsunami ay sanhi ng libo-libong nagyuyugyugang balyena sa dagat.
Pero mayroon theory, conspiratorial or not, na ang mga ‘di pangkaraniwang kilos ng mga hayop ay nagpapakita at nagpaparamdam na may parating na natural calamity.
Kabilang dito ay ang walang hintong tahol at alulong ng mga aso, ang magulo at wala sa ayos na galaw ng mga langgam, ang sama-samang paglipad ng napakaraming ibon patungo sa kung saan, at ang hindi mapakali at pa-urong sulong na galaw ng iba pang mga hayop.
Mang Tonying and Aling Maring are dancing the cha-cha. Is this included?
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Yet, we still have to comprehend Mother Nature’s other seemingly uncharacteristic acts of correction that continue to defy science and which, most of the time, are attributed to divine acts of intervention.
Pray pa rin tayo na hindi na mangyayari pa ang The Big Bang, magkabaklasan o magkadagdagan man ng mga satellite at space station nila Kalabog en Bosyo, Darna, Captain Barbel, Bakekang, Zuma at iba pa.
Total recall: Nuong sinaunang panahon, may Wakasan na. Komiks nga lang.
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Toronto is said to be a site of much micro-seismicity, being on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Did you know that an earthquake hit Toronto on August 15, 2022 at 2:37 a.m.? Yes, it was a magnitude 1.2, a very mild shake that people could barely feel and get excited about.
When Earthquake Trackers.com said that there were no tremor incidences in Toronto for the past 365 days, the website referred to earthquakes of between magnitude 1.5 and above. Forgettable ang nangyari nitong August 15.
Volcano Discovery counted that since 1900, Toronto was struck by four earthquakes above magnitude 4.0; 13 quakes between magnitudes 3.0 and 4.0; and 77 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0. There were 78 quakes below magnitude 2.0.
Energetic earthquakes do happen, infrequent as it might have been, in the zone.
Believe it or not, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Toronto on June 23, 2010, according to a report of the Toronto Star; and a magnitude 5.1 on May 17, 2013, as told by the Associated Press, both news providers citing official documents.
Not in a well-taken earthquake-free Toronto? I wish.
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Hindi na rin sana dumating pa ang panahon na ikinatatakot ng sanlibutan in modern times.
Ayon sa media, sosyal man o hindi, tinuran kamakailan lang ni United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres: “Humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation.”
Naman, naman, naman, sir! However, the dire warning may just bring about sanity, after all.
But until the UN boots out jokers in its deck and stops power players from hiding aces up dirty sleeves, there is little sense in doing the shuffle or in dealing hands.
Humankind never really needed poker faces and greedy gamblers.
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I wonder if insurance firms have factored nuke fallouts into their expected windfalls.
Buntong hininga: Buhay nga naman, parang life.
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Passing never offers an option. We only go once, at an appointed date, place and time.
Whether or not we rise and shine each day that we live is the choice.
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The date, the time and the place never really matter.
Leave the hole and be one with Nature. Feel the link and get good times going.
Share your blessings and sow seeds of peace.
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Of course, be well and safe this September. Enjoy the rest and best of Summer 2022.
It’s also BTS – Back To School – time! Whether you or the kids like it or not, it is what it is.
Most of all, begin indulging in the Filipino’s long celebration of the Yuletide Season.
For starters, JMC, anyone? #####