Soar high!
I could feel the cold leather as steel on my skin, awaking my senses but not so much. I draw the blinds, as far as it would go, and I would look out, as far as my eyes can see. And I see clouds, clarity, blue skies. Eyes half open, I close them again and feel the earth around me.
Growth
Guest post
As a business, there are a host of insurance costs that you need to suffer, just to keep you free from financial risk should a problem arise. Since most businesses use premises of some sort, they will need to make sure that they insure those premises.
Naturally, if you own the premises, insurance will be an essential cost. Just the same as insuring your residential property from theft, fire, and other risks, insuring your commercial property will be critical in alleviating the financial burden that may arise from certain risks.
Melissa
Yes, I went back to the Philippines after 1 year of leaving it to settle in beautiful British Columbia. I had no plans of returning that soon but it was a welcome respite to Canada’s winter. I have to say friends made it worth my while – it was an emotional trip (I realized what great friends and work! I had left behind) – and I was even rewarded the portrait here (hubby missed me – thank you, hon). Well, there’s the fact that my little boy asked for me in the 10 days I was gone only once (if hubby is to be believed), and he would now cling to his dad instead of me at nights. Not sure too if my daughter missed me (Danvic is proving to be a very adept dad). Yes, there was a trade off. But all in all I think that trip was a winner (thanks to my boss for making it possible).
The main comment I received, however, was that I had little or no photos to show for it. Thing is, I am not one to lug a heavy (or even light) camera. I prefer to replay everything in the privacy of my memory (where I will be free to embellish as necessary).
Here’s what I wrote in the Philippine Canadian Inquirer about it.
Modern Day Slavery
The UPAABC held a seminar on human trafficking with some community partners including the UBC Philippine Studies Series and the Liu Institute for Global Issues. The following is an article about the seminar that appeared in the Philippine Canadian Inquirer, another partner.
Human trafficking, sometimes called modern-day slavery, is the stuff a nightmare is made of. The most vulnerable – women and children – are taken from their homes, from their lives, from everything they know, against their will, to live in the underbelly of society, doing unspeakable things and having unspeakable things done to them. It is happening everywhere. It is happening in Canada
Both the destination and transit point for human trafficking, approximately 1,200 persons are trafficked to (and through) Canada each year. Authorities say, however, that the real number could be as high as 16,000.
Technology
Guest post
The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council is a council formed by multiple card providers (such as American Express, Visa, MasterCard) in order to formalise a set of standards known as the Payment Card Industry Digital Security Standards. The PCI Digital Security Standards are formed to ensure that companies comply with a standard set of security policies when taking card payments online. SSL international standards are one of the twelve requirements outlined in the Digital Security Standards. When investing in your digital certificate, although the Digital Security Standards does not explicitly state you should have Extended Validation, it is a fantastic step to take to ensure the trust of your customers.
Grow
The following is an excerpt (albeit revised) of a speech I gave during the Academic Conference held by the University of British Columbia Filipino Students Association (UBC-FSA).
But please know that loneliness and dissatisfaction are more expensive, not to mention damaging. So what I want to tell you is that we are given many chances, and allowed many starts. We can – in fact – be anything and everything we want. Our paths are not straight but meandering, allowing for that detour which would make us realize our fullest potentials. There may be in fact not just one path, but many paths, and many different sort of happiness and fulfillment.
To show you the truth of that, let me tell you about the stories of many Filipinos here in Canada.
This year, I wore so many hats – it’s great, and confusing, and draining – but let’s come back to it’s great, because it is. It is true, though, and many sleepless nights are testament to it – one can only do so much. But for me, I would take “only” out of the equation – because (and this is my mantra for the coming year), ONE CAN DO SO MUCH.
From the Philippine Canadian Inquirer, where I am the editor-in-chief. The Philippine Canadian Inquirer is the first and only Canada-wide Filipino-Canadian newspaper (distributed in Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and British Columbia – the home base). It’s my baby and since I took it over in February 2012 (barely a month after I landed in Canada), it has filled my days and nights with wonder and stress and challenges and opportunities. Looking forward to filling it with better content – and with a lot more heart – in 2013.
Another version from hubby, Danvic Briones, my partner and the one who makes my visions possible. Thanks, hon.
And of course, from hubby’s company, the Canadian counterpart of which we set up in 2012, poised for our entry into the North American market. Rescue72 is your partner in emergency preparedness. This has been a year of business plan writing, grant writing, pitching and expansion. We look forward to helping more people prepare in 2013 for the reality knocking on everyone’s doors – greater storms and earthquakes because of climate change.
Hubby is director of the Philippines Canada Trade Council (like me, he has been busy too), and I am a very willing volunteer (of course).
And of course, service to my (and hubby’s) alma mater and our fellow alumni via the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in British Columbia. I will be taking the helm in 2013 and I am stoked and excited and awed – and did I say excited? We have a lot of things we want to do for 2013 and I am looking forward to a year of fun and meaning and camaraderie.
And of course, my favorite hat of all, wife and mom. Being in this new and wonderful country – Canada – has allowed us to be closer and to grow as a family. There were challenges, and it has been quite a ride. But anywhere we go, as long as we are together, I am sure we are going to be okay.
Scholar!
That’s me! Thanks to the Lilian To Foundation, Ashton College and the Canadian Immigrant magazine. And of course to the friends who told me about it (thanks, Agnes and Angio! they were scholars too)
The Lilian To Scholarship was established in 2005 in honour of the late Lilian To, a longtime advocate for immigrants in British Columbia. Every year, eligible newcomers are offered the Lilian To Scholarship to cover the winners’ tuition at Ashton College.
Wonderful and exciting!
This is the first time I ever won a scholarship – maybe because I never joined one before. 🙂 Okay, I was iskolar ng bayan at the University of the Philippines (UP scholar, for lack of a better translation) and come to think of it – being put through college and law school by the Filipino people – that is really something too (thank you!!!).
For this scholarship, I have yet to decide between having a degree in immigration consultancy or finance or trade.
But whatever it is I choose – I am excited to study again.
Thank you again Lilian To Foundation, Ashton College and the Canadian Immigrant Magazine for this great opportunity.
Congratulations to my co-awardees Amelia Agbayani, Liza Dela Rosa (both from the Philippines!) and Luis Mendoza Cenares (from Mexico)!