www.filipinosmakingwaves.com DECEMBER 2020 VOL. 10, NO. 8 TORONTO, CANADA By RILEY MENDOZA Nothing else boosts our col- lective morale. Nothing GOOD TIDINGS WITH THE VACCINES Just when many of us are comes as timely at this time ready to give up hope and when the world takes a leave everything to Provi- pause to celebrate Christ- dence, word comes that at mas! least three pharmaceutical companies have developed I got mixed emotions when A Toronto vaccines to conquer the I heard the news. I wanted novel coronavirus and end to tear up. I wanted to the pandemic that has af- jump, dance, sing, run Christmas in flicted nearly 70 million around the neighbourhood people and claimed the for that wonderful gift to lives of 1.58 million others. mankind. I wanted to hug the Time of anyone near me. Regardless Nothing compares to the of politics, the news of the relief such news brings. vaccines gives us reason to the Pandemic Nothing's more welcome smile and rejoice. than the promise of a new lease of life for all of us. (Continued on page3 ) The COVID-19 vaccine is finally here Canadian Waves Entertainment Canada ranked #1 Filipino-Canadian Canadians waited most desirable Eric Bauza is the place to live new voice of for this shot in the world Bugs Bunny Story on Page 3 Page 4 Page 14 PSW Anita Quidangen Page 2 Filipinos Making WAV ES December 2020 Toronto’s “FEEL GOOD” Filipino Community Newspaper Catch the Waves ~ ~ ~ online at: www.filipinosmakingwaves.com December 2020 Filipinos Making WA V ES Page 3 WAVES NEWS—CANADA Filipino-Canadian makes history as the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario Every Canadian was waiting for this shot. By Mon Torralba to care for some of our most vulnerable, both throughout this pandemic and since her It has been almost a year first days as a PSW in 1988. since the deadly Covid-19 Anita has spent years rolling virus was discovered to up her sleeves to protect have flown into our air our province, and today, she space not knowing where it didn't hesitate to find a new came from. It presented a way to do so. She represents big challenge to our medical the best of the Ontario Spir- experts as this almost invisi- it,” Ontario Premier Doug ble army of intruders made Ford said in a statement its fast and wide reach to affect the health of many Several of Quidangen’s col- Canadians. leagues at Rekai also re- ceived their shots on Mon- Other countries reported day. the same invasion and very soon the Coronavirus, more They included Lucky Aguila, popularly called Covid-19, a registered practical nurse, was declared a global pan- Derek Thompson, a person- Tamara Dus (left), director of University Health Netwok Safety Services, administers the first demic. This modern-day al support worker, Cecile Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario to personal support worker Anita Quidangen at health scare was unprece- Lasco, a personal support a hospital in Toronto on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn dented and has caused un- workers and Colette Camer- certainty in every corner of on, a registered nurse. cases or to keep the virus “You can’t rush that, that was in Hamilton to welcome the world. out of the vulnerable long- work needs to be done so the UPS cargo plane Upon learning that 3 of the term facilities. we can certify to Ontarians The global problem needs a first 5 recipients of the that it is safe to receive that Infectious diseases special- global solution. With Covid- Covid-19 vaccines are Filipi- “It’s going to take a number vaccine,” Elliott said. ist Dr. Abdu Sharkawy told 19 cases on the rise, the best no-Canadian frontline work- of months before everyone CP24 on Monday said that medical experts and re- ers, the Filipino in me got can be vaccinated that Within minutes of the first even after widespread inoc- search teams around the poked with pride. When we wants to receive the vac- doses of the Pfizer/ ulation begins, people will world scrambled to concoct visit hospitals, long-term cine.” BioNTech vaccine landing in still have to mask in indoor and test a vaccine that facilities and health centres Canada on Sunday (Dec 13) settings and stay apart from would protect the world in Canada, it’s almost cer- Doses of a second vaccine night, Trudeau tweeted a one another. citizens from the deadly vi- tain that we will find a hard- manufactured by Moderna picture of the aircraft's pre- rus. working Filipino healthcare is expected to arrive in Can- cious cargo but noted "our "(The) vaccine is an insur- worker – a doctor, a nurse, a ada over the next two fight against COVID-19 is ance policy, it’s not a cure- Fast forward to this histori- personal support worker or months, but it has not yet not over." all, so we’re going to have to cal day of December 14, a caregiver. They are the been approved by Health be very disciplined." ∎ 2020. frontline workers risking Canada. Ontario Premier Doug Ford their lives to take care of Around noon on this day, others. It may not exactly be the big surprise, they have our Anita Quidangen, a Toronto A Toronto Christ- personal support worker, season to be jolly as we very own symbolism for Ontario Health Minister mas in the time of knew it prior to the pan- Christmas, the parol, or prepped herself and sat Christine Elliott said every- down for her jab in a gym- the Pandemic demic. The difference is in lantern, hanging outside thing appeared to working following health protocols the establishments either nasium at University Health smoothly in Toronto and Network’s Michener Insti- (Continued from page1 ) for our own sake, and for as a motif or items for sale. Ottawa today, as Monday’s our loved ones, for our tute campus. vaccinations were a pilot neighbours and friends. It doesn't matter what the run for larger distribution It was a quick inoculation reason is one way or anoth- around the province. but a symbolic one. After The severity of the pan- The merriment that follows er, the fact is we don't for- being defenceless against “It’s certainly a huge logisti- demic will be etched in eve- the joyous occasion will be get the culture, our religion, the pesky coronavirus, Ca- cal challenge – pleased to ry one of us. Just look: the tempered with the needs of our way of life even far nadians get a sigh of relief. have a smaller number of death toll in the United the times. Yes, we know from the homeland. Indeed, there is light at the doses come in. We will be States already surpasses that. We will oblige. That end of the tunnel and all are ready for larger shipments the number of victims of means a celebration within The parol is our means to hopeful that this is the be- probably before the end of the 911 attacks in New our immediate families but convey good tidings to the ginning to the end of Covid- December.” York, and the casualties in limited in number. world. It is the most visible 19. the first wave of the inva- icon of our Christian belief. She cautioned that it will sion of Germany in Nor- The spirit of Christmas is When I saw different varia- As soon as the needle was still be a while before the mandy, France. something the coronavirus tions of the parol, I knew it taken off her arm, applause general public can receive could not restrain; it's would just be a matter of broke out. vaccines. All things considered, yes, within each person and days before Christmas. dear folks, the pandemic every family that believes Anita Quidangen became The most vulnerable will get will not deter us from and wears their faith in There's another significant the first person in Ontario the vaccines first, according marking that day in ways their sleeves. meaning to it, and that's the to receive an approved vac- to Elliot . safe and secure and vaccine we'll soon be hav- cination against the novel healthy. Christmas in the I thought Christmas and the ing. It's a double ob- coronavirus. Officials are prioritizing time of COVID-19 is our accompanying celebration servance. those residents along with Quidangen has worked at tribute to humanity. It is an would be off this year, but I health care workers as new acceptance of our own fate, was wrong. A merry Christmas? Indeed The Rekai Centres on Sher- restrictions on businesses bourne Street since 1988. and an occasion to show it is a Merry Christmas (in and gatherings have failed our faith. I've gone to some Filipino moderation)! ∎ to stem the surge in new “She has worked tirelessly stores in the city and to my Page 4 Filipinos Making WAV ES December 2020 WAVES NEWS—CANADA Canada ranked #1 'most desirable' Toronto deemed place to live in the world second-fastest By: Elana Shepert rising global city The Great White North is in the world the most desirable place to Tweet live on the planet, accord- ing to new Google search data. Canada is officially the most desirable place to live on Earth, as the new data has revealed where people from around the world want to relocate to the most. Niagara Falls, Canada: The honeymoon capital of the world Financial services provider Remitly conducted the re- Canada is the number one other countries.