The Dimasalang III International Artist Group of Filipino-Canadian artists has started its month-long exhibition at the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver. The art group is a registered non-profit society in British Columbia. It is dedicated to promote awareness of contemporary arts and culture in the community.
Dimasalang is a group that was co-founded by Sofronio Ylanan Mendoza (SYM) and the late artist-writer E. Aguilar (ABE) Cruz. When SYM moved his family to Vancouver, Canada he generously shared his vast knowledge, expertise and philosophies related to art.
The first set of Canadian Dimasalang artists in the mid-80s included Edgar Lantin, Rod Pedralba, Noel Trinidad, Simeon Dee, Maria Apelo Cruz and Jess Hipolito. The group is now actively headed by Leo Cunanan, publisher of Dahong Pilipino Business Directory.
The 1916 exhibition features the works of the following FILCAN artists – SYM Mendoza, Rod Pedralba, Jess Hispolito, Leo Cunanan Jr., Ferdinand “Chito Maravilla, Roland Tuliao, Antonio Dizon, Francis Herradura, Andy Naval and Maria Apela Cruz.
Wacky food at PNE summer fair
Pacific National Exhibition is a huge amusement park in Vancouver. Known also as Playland, it is a popular destination during the summer months. It is the oldest amusement park in Canada. It has many exciting rides, pop concerts and the much anticipated wacky food sold in several food stalls. Here are five unusual treats discovered by Nick Eagland of Vancouver Sun.
Bacon Candy Floss – Bacon in candy floss (salty and sweet taste) is a fluffier alternative to Canadian’s favorite breakfast meat. If you’re not into bacon, there is still maple, chocolate and traditional sugar-flavored versions.
Salted Caramel Deep Fried Coffee – In recent years we have seen, fried Mars chocolate bar, deep-fried bubble gum, coke and beer. Now, they have deep-fry coffee with toppings such as mocha chips, espresso flakes, French vanilla, cream and sugar and salted caramel.
Big Pickle Corn Dog – Imagine a big pickle and a hotdog weiner , both smothered in cornmeal batter until crispy and golden-brown then served on a stick.
Mac N Cheese Stuffed Burger – Creamy macaroni and cheese are crammed inside a handmade burger patty. It has lettuce and tomatoes also inside a huge bun.
Mini-Doughnut Ice Pop – A refreshing twist to the fried classic with its mini-doughnut ice pop, made with frozen dulce-caramel ice cream and cinnamon. Other offerings this year include:
Unbelievable: A Magical Experience, a showcase of international magicians and illusionists from around the world.
The interactive Alien Worlds and Androids exhibit, where science fiction meets science fact. It covers everything from fictional characters like Iron Man and Star Wars to the real-life science of NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
New this year is the countdown to Canada’s 150th anniversary. Canadiana will be on display along with daily on side parade Kaleidoscope on Parade, a nightly show on Canadian music and dance.
Best and worst for millennials
A new study revealed that Toronto and Vancouver are difficult cities for the budget of millennials. The survey looked at six urban centers across the country and the results were shocking. It painted a bleak picture when it comes to home ownership for people born from the early 1980s to the early 2000s.
If they want to live in Vancouver and they want to purchase a home, they would need to borrow $690 per month, that’s before money needed for transportation and food. If you live in Toronto, all you have left with a median income is $265 per month for everything else. There is a brighter picture for millennials who are living in Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary and Montreal.
Tourist boom in BC in first 6 months
I was at Granville Island this morning and it is wonderful to see so many tourists from around the world. Increased airline service to Vancouver and a low Canadian dollar are among the factors behind an increase in international visitors to BC in the first half of the year.
The BC Ministry of Tourism reported 2.3 million people visited British Columbia during the first six months of 2016. This is a 12.4 percent increase over the same period last years. Among the countries with the largest increase visitors were the United States, Mexico and China. This year continues to show that the world has chosen British Columbia as a top spot in their travel planning.
Real estate slump after foreign domestic tax
Home sales dropped in Metro Vancouver by up to 86 percent after the introduction of the foreign investor tax last Aug. 2. The region’s previously ultra-hot market for single-family houses has frozen solid. And some luxury homeowners have already reduced their asking prices to quickly escape changing market conditions.
The sales slump is a clear indication of just how powerful a force offshore buying is in the Lower Mainland Vancouver. The figures showed that the high-priced areas with the highest percentages of foreign buyers are not suffering the steepest drop-offs. The offshore tax obviously put on the brakes. Real estate agents said they expect the second half of August to even slower, as foreign buyers rushed into the market in late July and the first day of August to escape the introduction of the 15 percent tax.
Some say that sales will bounce back in September as offshore buyers will find new ways around the new tax. There will be under the table and side deals while some speculators will play the waiting game.