Hamilton Filipino Community Centre
1275 King Street East L8M 1G7 Hamilton, ON, Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JttPYJF6SdI HOW TO TRAVEL SIARGAO - The Next Bali?

This face, our face, within the city of Toronto. A portrait of Apo Whang-Od, also known as Fang-od Odday, one of the last Kalinga master tattooists, showcase...d in a tattoo art exhibit @ the Royal Ontario Museum. Credit : AngryPanda Tattoo Works Admin Lie |

Nightfam (Project Nightfall Community) I am so happy for this collaboration with Will! As many of you know, I love the Filipino culture, I even sang a Filipino ...song in Tagalog with all my heart! :) that's why I want to share even more of that culture... but this time it comes from the US. This is a "Finding West in East" Facebook Original episode, I hope you like it! See more

About the Philippine Flag

What a beautiful reminder from the mouth of a child as we face another hectic week. Let us never tire of caring for one another. Thank you dear Tiana. Keep safe everyone

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO CANADA ARRIVES IN OTTAWA The Embassy of the Philippines to Canada is pleased to announce the arrival of Ambassador-designate ...Rodolfo D. Robles in Ottawa last October. Ambassador-designate Robles’s appointment as Philippine Ambassador to Canada follows a distinguished career in the Philippine private and public sector. An honors graduate of San Beda College, he topped the bar exam in 1967 and proceeded to take his Master of Laws at Harvard University. While known as founder and Senior Partner of Robles, Brillantes, Ricafrente, Nachura, & Aguirre Law Firm, Ambassador-designate Robles also has the distinction of being one of the founders of Arellano University School of Law, currently one of the largest law schools in the Philippines. He has also served in the academe as Professor of Law at San Beda College and Dean of Arellano Law School from 1977 to 1983. His storied legal career includes his election as Delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention and, more recently, appointment as a member of the Consultative Committee to review the 1987 Constitution. Ambassador-designate Robles is also known as the principal author of the law creating the Office of the Ombudsman and principal author of the Philippines’ Miranda Doctrine. Ambassador-designate Robles is scheduled to present his credentials to the Governor-General of Canada later this year. END.

"It is with a great sorrow to announce the passing of Josephine (Josie) Monaco who served the HFCC Board for a solid 15 years. Josie brought stern professionalism in the performance of her job as a Board member and as an executive team member. HFCC and the Hamilton Filipino will certainly miss her. Our thoughts and prayers go to her husband Joe and her two children Veronica and Jennifer." -Bonner Villabroza (HFCC President/CEO)

It is with a great sorrow to announce the passing of Josephine (Josie) Monaco who served the HFCC Board for a solid 15 years. Josie brought stern professionalis...m in the performance of her job as a Board member and as an executive team member. HFCC and the Hamilton Filipino will certainly miss her. Our thoughts and prayers go to her husband Joe and her two children Veronica and Jennifer. See more

DETAIL SERVICES INC. We specialize in the corporate, industrial, educational, residential and commercial sectors. Our mission is to ensure that our clients get the best service available in the cleaning industry. Customer satisfaction leading to repeat business is our goal. We are looking for Long Term Care Facility Staff (Housekeeping/Laundry Aide) to join our team. As the Housekeeper you are responsible for all general housekeeping and laundry duties, ensuring all assigned ...areas are kept at the highest cleaning standard and all tasks are completed in a professional and timely manner. YOU MUST HAVE: 1 Year of housekeeping experience in a residential property is an asset Knowledge of W.H.M.I.S. principles is an asset 1+ years experience cleaning residential homes professionally Or 1+ years experience in hotel cleaning/ hotel housekeeping Customer-service focused What we are looking for: Demonstrated ability to meet the physical and mental requirements of the position Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Ability to work within a team environment Strong problem solving and decision making skills Detail oriented, with good organizational abilities Demonstrated ability to prioritize and respond with a sense of urgency when required Demonstrates consistent well-groomed and hygienic appearance Must provide a complete and current (within six months) Vulnerable Sector Check (including a Criminal Background Check) or be willing to obtain one SHOULD HAVE HAD RECENT COVID-19 NEGATIVE RESULTS OR BE WILLING TO OBTAIN ONE Expected start date: 2020-11-09 Job Types: Full-time, Contract, Permanent Salary: $15.00-$16.00 per hour COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS: Masks, gloves and Sanitizers are provided IF INTERESTED CONTACT: [email protected]

He can rap too? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fDM5CdHYLo

Walking down memory lane in the Philippines...

Keep safe everyone and keep doing what needs to be done to help stop Covid-19 virus from spreading

Truly a great "ambassador" for the Philippines Miss Catriona Gray

Another story based in the Philippines

If you can't dance -sing If you can't sing -listen to your favourite song

If this job is for you, please kindly contact the person and number as provided.

SUPER TYPHOON* R. Coe It was coming. Everybody knew and they had started preparing for it. The better off could stock up on items sold such as rice, drinking wa...ter and candles. Store shelves quickly emptied of many things. Those in the squatter areas knew that they needed to secure as many things that they could in and around their shacks, sit tight and hope for the best. Everyone rich or poor who had access to the news reports listened to the storm’s track. The meteorologists plotting the storm gave no doubt that it was powerful and that Manila was directly in its path. The media people were excited to report this severe weather event, which would stir the emotions of their raptly listening audience. Emotions got charged that normally were restrained in people’s day to day lives. John Klein had not yet experienced a typhoon in the Philippines. And the news that a super typhoon was on its way caused in him excited anticipation. He looked forward to this coming event, but tried also to present an outwardly concerned demeanour, which seemed appropriate. He stood outside their apartment’s screen-door holding it partially open and listened intently. He listened to detect if the storm was near. Keren remained inside and would occasionally call out to him their radio’s news concerning the storm’s location. The tenant family that worked for the apartment owner also had a tindahan or sari-sari store located at the building’s front near the road. This small store now had its serving area shuttered and locked making it look like a large plywood shipping crate. John went inside to listen to the reports coming minute by minute now. The announcer’s voice held much excitement. You should stay in now, John, Keren advised. The radio is announcing that the storm is about to hit our area any moment now. I admit to being excited about that. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. There is much concern that it will kill many people and cause a lot of damage. We should be okay heremight lose our electricity though. You experienced one of these super storms, didn’t you? queried John. Yes, that was years ago in Roxas City. There was widespread flooding even in the downtown part. The poor always suffer the most from these storms. Their dwellings got torn apart by the wind and devastated by the flooding rain. Some are made only of bamboo and cast off materials. John’s face slightly twisted in concentration. He heard a faint rumbling sound. He went outside again telling his wife that he was just slipping out for a short time. The sky was black, but there were still only intermittent gusts of wind chasing about the outside corridor. Then, like someone suddenly threw open an electric switch, the typhoon struck. It was a powerful sustained force driving continuously up the concrete corridor between the two rows of single storey apartments. John ducked back inside closing the screen door. Through its screen, he watched several men struggle to hold down with ropes Aling Inday’s tindahan. Just out of his vision at the property behind the apartment building, he heard a series of loud cracks. Shut the main door as well, John, Keren called. She was sitting on a cushioned, rattan weaved chair with arm rests in the main room. John came and stood near her chair. In these typhoons a lot of things go flying through the air, she explained. A major danger in the area can be galvanized steel sheets being ripped away from roofs and hitting people. People are killed in this way by a typhoon. I just can’t believe how powerful that wind is. It doesn’t drop in intensity. And that constant loud whine is incredible. I have never heard anything like it. As John spoke, the apartment’s roof creaked and groaned. He could feel within his body the sensation of the roof lifting. I don’t like that, Keren said. I hope the roof holds. John saw her worried look. He reached out and placed his arm about her shoulder. John didn’t say anything but also looked upward and listened. The radio station had gone off the air and only a fussy interference was heard. The storm might have done something to the station’s antennae or something, Keren commented. The roof is holding. We’ll be okay. I am really concerned for the people in the squatter area. I think of Tatay Dodong and his family. Fortunately, this storm has come in daylight and not the night. Still, I can see them huddled together just waiting for this monster to end. That’s all anyone can do now, added John. It’s just that some are in safer places. The squatter houses are no match for these winds. People are praying with seriousness now. I am too. After some time, it abruptly became quiet. John thought the typhoon must be over. He went to the main door and carefully opened it,and then just partially the screen one. He peered out. There is no more wind, John announced. The corridor’s surface is covered with tiny bits and pieces of shredded leaves. Must have been from the wind. What else could it be? The pavement is wet but the rain has stopped. He stepped out onto the concrete and stood in the centre of the corridor. It was strangely quiet. There were no street noises or movement anywhere; not the least stirring of air. John saw that the tindahan of Aling Inday had been twisted and pushed away from its original position. No one was around. His eyes looked to the back of the property to find the cause of the cracking noise that he had heard earlier. A line of tall palm trees had their trunks broken right through and now lay sprawled on the ground like men shot from a firing squad. Then it came to John. He remembered reading somewhere about the ‘eye of the hurricane’ and he knew that a typhoon is the South Eastern name given for hurricane. He shared this realization with Keren who was now standing at the door. The storm isn’t over. We’re in the actual eye of this super typhoon, John said excitedly. Keren paused and after giving it some thought said: I believe you are right, dear. This wind will come through one more time. They both listened. And then they heard the ominous sound from its approach. This time it was John to say: I’d better get inside now. He had just got inside when the typhoon struck as suddenly as before. It burst through with even fiercer attack. Again, there was flickering of the light and then it went out. The couple experienced a nerve tingling anxiety as they heard the loud bangs and squeals coming from those unseen areas of the roof. The strong unceasing wind made the apartment shiver. John and Keren now sat close and still on the rattan couch not venturing to say a word and just listening to the ferocious storm blowing wind and rain. And then it passed. Keren was first to stand. Well, the electricity did go off. But we still have propane gas. I’ll go and make us some tea. That is a good idea. You know, for me that typhoon was enough excitement to last for quite awhile. In truth, I never want to experience anything like it again. Exciting for some perhaps, but a nightmare for many others. Yes, when safe, we must go to the squatter area and see how everyone made out. These storms certainly should not be taken lightly, spoke John with gained authority. ______________________ *Picture credit to a dear niece whose house was gutted of its roof after super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013 that brought devastation to many.

Looks who's celebrating back-to-back HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mr. President and Joe! From HFCC community and friends.

"We're back to stage 2. HFCC Resource Centre Hours is closed until further notice." A caring reminder from our HFCC President"We're back to stage 2. HFCC Resource Centre Hours is closed until further notice." A caring reminder from our HFCC President

With the sun brightly shinning, what a beautiful day it is to go for a walk. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration everyone and be safe

A BLESSED THANKSGIVING 2020 TO ALL

Let us continue doing our part to keep everyone safe -BE RESPONSIBLE by wearing a mask, wash hands properly, observe social distancing from one another and follow basic required protocol

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 -Congratulations!

My name is Jon. My wife and I are looking for a PSW to help support my dad. Based on your qualifications we believe you may be a good fit and wanted to reach out. We are looking to find a live in PSW to support our father on a part time basis, approx. 25-30 hours per week with potential to increase based on need.... Current challenges include mild cognitive disorder, slight mobility issues as well as grief over the loss of spouse. Candidate would be required to provide company, share meals as well as time to recollect stories. Valid driver’s license to assist with grocery and other errands preferred. Fully renovated and furnished 2 bedroom basement apartment in Burlington which includes a private 3 piece bathroom, kitchenette with shared kitchen and laundry on the main floor. Free driveway parking as well access to the backyard (including patio, green space and BBQ). Reduced rent in exchange for support. The rate is flexible and to be discussed based on qualifications, family size, etc. All utilities included. My email is [email protected]

SPEEDY JEEPNEY* R. Coe The driver was animated and full of joviality as he caroused at the waiting area with other trike and jeepney drivers. He was in the same... state of gaiety when he fairly bounced up into the driver’s seat of the jeepney that John and Keren Klein were to ride to Roxas City. This driver had been drinking no doubt about it. His face was flushed all over. An unnatural glassy gleam to his eyes was discomforting as he turned to see how full the jeepney was. Beneath this startling redness that had spread across his face, it was possible to detect that the man still had some claim to youth. John assumed that the requisite time had come for the jeepney to leave the station area. However, he corrected this thought realizing the main factor was not entirely dependent upon time. Rather, the driver’s main purpose was to linger, if possible, to hopefully fill his vehicle with passengers to make the trip more profitable. Along the way, some passengers would leave at various stops at towns and villages while others would come aboard. But still, a jeepney starting off full was most favoured by the driver if not the passengers. John and Keren patiently waited aboard their jeepney while the beet faced driver malingered. The jeepney’s side benches now were full of riders bunched tightly together. An extra middle bench kept on the roof was not yet considered needed. The passengers were mostly women and children with a sprinkling of men. People wore clothing appropriate to their destinations and even their felt status. Keren wore fitting jeans and top while John preferred shorts and t-shirt for his travelling comfort that began with an extended motorcycle ride from a village’s muddy road. Their motorcycle even took on as passengers a woman and her child for most of the trip to the town’s jeepney station. A distinct diesel smell permeated the air. The driver let the engine idle long enough for any further arriving passengers. A woman appeared, but at first held back after looking unhappily into the already overcrowded jeepney. The driver prompted her saying: Isa pa. (One more.), which is a universal understanding that there is always room for one more passenger. The woman, middle aged and carrying a large pandan weaved bag reluctantly boarded with the help of the conductor. The conductor abruptly indicated with his hands for the other passengers to tighten up their seating to make a wedged sitting space for the ample sized woman. John saw them do this, a few grumpily, on the opposite side bench. Children sat on mothers’ laps. There was a shuffling of already tight bodies until the woman could squeeze in. The jeepney pulled away after the station dispatcher indicated that it could wait no longer by giving the side several good thumps. The conductor ran a few quick steps and agilely hopped onto the back grasping the jeepney’s hand rail. He had a bandana tied about his forehead making him appear as a movie styled pirate. He seemed to John sprightly enough and not actually drunk, perhaps just moderately. The conductor showed no concern that the younger driver was. John’s wife, Keren, did not share this lack of concern however. Our driver has been drinking, John, she confided. And it seems that he has had quite a bit. John grimaced. Yes, I’m afraid that is definitely the case. But what should we do? If we don’t take this jeepney, there is no telling when we will get back to Roxas. That is so, Keren conceded. No more was said. They both accepted that they were committing to the trip while being apprehensive about it having a good outcome. John said a silent prayer and wondered if Keren did the same. He looked around at the other passengers to see if their faces showed any sign of alarm, but without result. The jeepney left the allotted town space serving as a station. Our driver negotiated the tight turns, weaving the jeepney skilfully through the traffic and pedestrian filled streets leading to the outskirts of the town. John closely observed how the driver was operating the vehicle. He seemed to be in control and there was not any noticeable drifting about the road or jerkiness. John turned to Keren and said: So far so good. He seems to be okay, but there is a lot of trip left. Yeah, the alcohol probably has not done all its work yet. The jeepney left the town and began building up its speed on the road’s concrete surface. Now instead of a jumble of mostly block buildings, rural scenes of nipa huts and rice paddies slid swiftly by. John tried to detect some breeze in the tops of coconut trees, but the jeepney moved with too much speed to see. The driver sounded the klaxon horn. John saw a young woman standing in front of her nipa home return the greeting with a broad smile and a wave of her hand. John wondered if she might be the driver’s wife. The jeepney soon met and passed an old man on the other side of the road. Wearing a sombrero sized hat, he looked very small riding his carabao. His legs stretched outwards straddling the broad back of the beast. The old man was bare-footed, topless and wore only shorts. There were passing scenes of women planting rice in the flooded paddies. They wore wide-brimmed hats made of pandan leaves. Where there were twists and turns, the driver hardly slowed down but still managed to negotiate them well. When a passenger needed to get off or on, the jeepney came to a quick but surprisingly smooth stop. Then the engine again roared and smoke belched from its tail pipe leaving a dark whirling cloud trail as the machine was adroitly put through its gears. The road was leaving the higher mountainous region to enter an expanse of low land, which extended to the northern coastal area. There were several towns along the way. The road’s drop to low land was steep and the road became straight. The driver took this opportunity that gravity offered to let the jeepney go. John became alarmed as the jeepney built up more and more speed. Everyone on board remained silent. But John did manage to say to Keren: My God, we are flying! He visualized what would happen if they suddenly got a flat tire. He imagined the jeepney turning over and over with everyone thrown every which way, some being jettisoned out onto the roadway. Even under normal jeepney use, a tire already frighteningly bald frequently burst only to be changed by another spare bald one. The speed became almost too much to bear. Keren looked at her husband as if to say, ‘When is this going to end?’ Surely John thought: This driver will have to ease off on the gas. But no, it was frighteningly true that he was determined to take his machine to the limit and seemingly beyond. Finally, it became too much for a neatly dressed middle-aged woman seated towards the back of the jeepney. She screamed: Hinay-hinay lang ‘Noy! (Don’t go so fast 'Noy!) The conductor who was hanging onto the back of the jeepney poked his head inside and stared at her as if thinking, ‘What’s all this fuss about?’. The driver perfunctorily glanced back in the direction of the voice heard. but did not let up on the speed. What that woman pleaded is what every passenger so much wanted to happen. The jeepney came out onto the low land and the speed became reduced. The driver kept the jeepney going at a robust, if not entirely break neck pace. But it had to be said, John realized, that considering the driver’s state of inebriation, he performed an amazing trip. It would be a trip that he would never forget mainly in regards to how the driver managed to drive the way he did. It didn’t really make any sense but it happened. He shouldn’t have been able to do it. At the Roxas stop, the conductor handed John and Keren’s belongings including a carton of bananas and pineapple down from the jeepney’s roof. They were glad to be back and able to rest in their apartment after spending several days roughing it without electricity at the remote mission site. That was quite a speedy jeepney, Keren said giving emphasis by taking a deep breath and raising her eye lids. It was an amazing trip, replied John. Let’s get a trike and go home, hon. The couple hired a ride and left. The jeepney driver was now leaning over the steering wheel. The conductor came to him and said in Ilonggo: Daw naga palangmuti ka ‘Pre. OK ka lang? (You don’t look so good 'Pre. Are you all right?) I’ll be okay, he responded. I just suddenly feel tired and a little nauseated. The alcohol had entered a new stage. Are you able to make the trip back? the conductor enquired. I have too. Look, the passengers are already waiting. Wait. Let me get you some banana cue first. Maybe some food in your stomach will help. Don’t bother, I don’t want to throw up. _____________________________ *The jeepney scene in the picture was quite a sight as the team was hiking in the mountains on another mission trip to Hopevale/Aglinab, Tapaz Capiz.

December special alert at sampaguitaharsalon.com, Book early,limited spots. Visit website for details.

Sharing the need and helping to spread awareness in saving lives by registering through Canadian Blood Services stem cell registry: https://www.blood.ca//stemcell-eligibility-and-registration

Did you know that the Philippines currently ranks as the third largest rum market in the world, after India and the U.S.? Visit the Philippine Consulate General... in Vancouver’s website,www.vancouverpcg.org,and click "Resources" tab to know more about Philippine Alcoholic Beverages. #donpapa #tanduay #Tondeña #zabanarum #palawanblanco #rhum #cocktail #rumlovers #drinks #bar #drink #bartender #mixology #happyhour

Typical Filipino houses back in time...

Filipino song ‘Pen-pen de Sarapen’ gets a foreign flavor in this children choir’s rendition.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thespec/obituary.aspx

If you like Filipino food, they are inviting new members to join in

Have fun learning

Looks who's celebrating back-to-back HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mr. President and Joe! From HFCC community and friends.

With the sun brightly shinning, what a beautiful day it is to go for a walk. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration everyone and be safe

Life in the province

"At this time of pandemic, I hope to share the fun & leisure of reading through my new sci-fi novel which I wrote especially for young people who are faced with issues like belongingness & discrimination, bullying, self-doubt, and falling in love. " -Sheila Lopez