People

Newly minted Lt. Colonel Joseph Nonato, commanding general of the Royal Regiment of Canada is the latest source of pride of the Canadian Filipino community.

 Last June, Nonato officially took the reins of the Canadian Army’s primary reserve regiment, one of the oldest army regiments in the Canadian Forces, which traces its roots to 1862. The Royal Regiment of Canada counts the Prince of Wales as honourary colonel-in-chief.

In an event organized by the Asian Canadian and Asian Migration studies Dialogues at UBC, one speaker’s words resonated with me deeply.

My parents were born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada in the 1970s.  My sisters and I were born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and were raised in Vancouver, BC.  We were lucky enough to spend a lot of time in the Philippines as we grew up.  We were exposed to Filipino ways of living first hand. 

A little-known fact is that Hollywood actor Matt Damon underwent three months of extensive training in Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) for role as amnesiac spy “Bourne Identity” movies. His new skill set made a credible action star out of Damon, whose fight scenes in this spy series are ranked among the best by movie insiders and combat enthusiasts.

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” - Mother Teresa

Journalist and film buff Mel Tobias feels blessed to be living his senior life in Vancouver.

"Retirement to me is the reward for working all those years...Traveling, volunteering, and just smelling the roses and enjoying life are the things I'm doing now and loving it," he adds.

Location: Vancouver, B.C.
When I was six years old, I experienced what it felt to be left out and excluded. That experience has fueled me to ensure everyone I meet feels seen, heard and loved.