Filipino papers thrive in Canada

The progressive Peryodiko Radical Philippine newspaper published in Scarborough, Ontario now has a Durham Region edition. The Region of Durham is situated in the centre of Ontario known as the Golden Horsehoe that stretches from Oshawa to Niagara Falls. Durham lies immediately to the east of the City of Toronto and encompasses an area of approximately 1,000 square miles.

In the region is the municipality of Ajax which is now one of the fastest growing areas of Ontario while the Brock Township is becoming popular for its expanding artistic community. The town of Whitby is near Lake Ontario which makes it the fastest growing oldtimers in the Region of Durham. There are many Filipino oldtimers here and the new immigrants are increasing yearly which prompted the newspaper to branch out to the region. Peryodiko Radical is the first Filipino multicultural newspaper in Durham, published by Rodel Garcia and Anna Pineda. Filipinesca Canadiana Social Club Inc. is the leading Filipino association there.

Meanwhile, in Vancouver, Philippine Asian Chronicle, published by Bodeng and Erly Juatco already branched out in Calgary and Edmonton. The Philippine News Today, published by Rey Fortaleza took another route by having a San Francisco, California edition. And this coming spring, Reyfort Publication is set to launch the publication of a new entertainment bi-monthly tabloid newspaper.

Here’s a bit of information for those taking the popular sleep aid Supplement Melatonin. According to the latest study from the University of Alberta, there is no evidence that Melatonin had an effect on sleep onset latency, which is the time between lying down to sleep and the onset of sleep.

Melatonin is the hormone from the brain’s pineal gland which regulates sleep cycles. Melatonin levels in the bloodstream is generally up in the evening and then drop back in the morning.

Melatonin supplements, which come from the pineal glands of cattle, have become very popular with people struggling with insomnia or lack of sleep from medical problems.

The Simon Fraser University’s report on Canada’s and British Columbia’s baby boomers, submitted to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation was quite alarming.

The report stated that the country’s baby boom generation (born between 1945 and 1964) is fatter and more sedentary than ever. Rampant obesity rates and inactivity are sending a wave of aging boomers on a "downward spiral" threatening years of progress toward better heart health.

It said that one-thirds of deaths in Canada are caused by heart disease and stroke. And that about 1.3 million people, or 21 percent of baby boomers aged 45 to 49, have already been diagnosed with heart disease, stroke or high blood pressure. More than 40 percent of Canadians in their 60s have cardiovascular disease.

The positive note in the report is that smoking rates decreased significantly. About 21 percent were regular or daily smokers which used to be 29 percent a decade ago.

According to Human Resources Skills Development Canada, by the year 2011, nearly 100 percent of Canada’s labor force growth will be from immigrants, many from Southeast Asia, many from the Philippines. Some community leaders are advocating reforms and ways to equip immigrants in order to succeed in Canada, such as:

• Improve programs to enhance English Skills of new immigrants.

• Start a clearing division or office to recognize, facilitate and validate credentials.

• Educate the business community about immigrants and diversity in the workplace.

• Develop special programs to help immigrants to know and learn how to adapt to subtle Canadian ways through cross-cultural awareness classes and mentors.

The concept of mentorship is currently being implemented by the Multicultural Helping House in Vancouver with their Bamboo Networking mentoring service. MHHS was started by the much-loved and respected community leader Tatay "Tom" Avendano, a Filipino oldtimer in British Columbia.

Ms. Eleanor Guerrero-Campbell is currently the executive director of MHHS. The Bamboo Network has been providing mentors to skilled immigrants to help them get work in their field since 2001.