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Learning English as a second language

Native English speakers are surprised to learn that I can converse in English despite being a migrant worker in the U.S. and later an immigrant in Canada. English was not my first language; it is Filipino or Tagalog, one of the most commonly spoken dialects in the Philippines. I say dialect because each region or province in the Philippines — in the three island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao — has its own form of language. The Philippines has more than 7,000 islands, with about 2,000 inhabited.  For example, in Northern Luzon, you have Ilocano and Ibanag, while a deeper type of Tagalog is south of the island, along with Bicolano, Binisaya, Waray, Cebuano,  and Ilonggo. Growing up, I learned English by watching educational shows on television like Sesame Street and  reading English books. English was also a subject taught in the schools I attended, from kindergarten to college, in the Philippines.  Aside from Filipino or Filipino, English is the language used to teach subjects li
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Election season

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Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe, right, and Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison This will be my first time covering the provincial election. I monitored the 2021 federal election at the Saskatoon Inn when People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier lost his Parliament seat. However, there won't be a national election this time after Bloc Québécois and the NDP chose not to support the Tories' bid for a no-confidence vote on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government. Back to the Saskatchewan elections, MLA candidates here would rather focus on discussing the issues affecting Saskatchewan's people and policies on how to solve the problems. Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck, third left, with Saskatoon Nutana MLA Erika Ritchie and candidates Keith Jorgenson (Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood) and Kim Breckner (Saskatoon Riversdal) For me, they remain polite to each other despite having different political views. There are no Three G's here (guns, goons, and gold), unlike
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Paris still in their minds

SASKATOON—Los Angeles is now gearing up to host the 2028 Olympics. Still, the Paris Games will remain memorable for some athletes, like the four athletes who won their respective countries' first gold medals, just like  Hidilyn did for the Philippines in Tokyo three years ago.  The 33rd edition of this quadrennial sporting event, which gathered the world's best athletes, ended on Sunday, Aug. 11, in the French capital. Yes, Paris 2024 is behind us, but it remains a memorable moment for Saint Lucia's Julie Alfred, Domica's  Thea LaFond, Guatemala's Adriana Ruano,  and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo. After winning gold in their respective athletics events, Alfred and LaFond did it in style for their tiny Caribbean island nations.  Alfred ruled the women's 100-metre sprint with a national record of 10.72 seconds to become Saint Lucia's first-ever Olympic medalist. LaFond  was triumphant in the  women's triple jump with a leap of 15.02 metres on her second at
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Scam alert for Saskatoon residents

SASKATOON — City officials are telling the public to be vigilant on the latest utility services phone scam to target unsuspecting customers of their hard-earned money. The scammers pretend to be calling residents from the utility company. The caller then informs the resident or business of a delinquent account that needs to be settled to prevent their power from being shut off. The scam was discovered after several business owners called the city about this issue. The city reminds residents that they have not made phone calls, sent text messages, or emails demanding payment on "delinquent accounts" under the Saskatoon Light & Power. The phone messages are robocalls. The city never requests or collects residents' bank or credit card information by phone, text, or email. However, it does collect banking information when setting up new utility accounts, making direct debit payments, or using the Tax Instalment Payment Plan Service program. The city tells resident
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Philippines in Yulo fever

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SASKATOON--Everyone is on a feverish high because of the 2024 Paris Olympics, especially in my home country, the Philippines, where gymnast Carlos Yulo made history by winning two gold medals in one edition of the Summer Games. Yulo's exploits in the floor exercise and vault events of men's gymnastics were the Philippines' third Olympic gold medal after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz's historic feat in 2021 in Tokyo. Diaz, a silver medalist in the 2016 Rio Games, ended the Philippines' Olympic gold medal hunt to become the first Filipino to clinch the coveted prize. After three years, it was Yulo's turn, and he did it twice, the first in men's gymnastics floor exercise and vault events in 24 hours. He is the first Filipino male gold medalist and double gold medalist. Here is some trivia: Arianne Cerdena could have been the Philippines' first Olympic gold medalist when she ruled women's bowling  at the 1988 Seoul Games. Willy Wang gave the country another
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One winter night

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This is a late post. I should have published this a few months ago but held back. Whether seasonal affective disorder, AKA seasonal depression, or not,  I was urged to write my thoughts one winter night, and the words flowed like a raging river: Comfort me, my Lord. My fortress of solitude Touch my longing heart. Humbly, I cry out. Your spirit provides solace. Rest for the weary. In darkness, I dwell. Wandering, lost, searching. Trapped in silence. Bound, shackled by chains. Shall I embrace the darkness? Or, wait for a sign? Patiently, I wait, Like Samuel in the temple. To hear Your assuring voice. Your grace gives me strength. To quell the turmoil inside. An unseen battle.
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Bishop Hagemoen challenges pilgrims to be Prophets of the New Millennium

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SASKATOON — As Catholic youth gear up for the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Bishop Mark Hagemoen urged those who participated in the Mount Carmel Pilgrimage Site to embrace their role as prophets of the new millennium. On the Day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel feast, hundreds of pilgrims gathered at the Mount Carmel Pilgrimage site on Sunday, July 16, to participate in the annual liturgical services, and the day commenced with the recitation of the rosary and Marian hymns, culminating in a concelebrated mass led by Bishop Hagemoen. Bishop Mark Hagemoen During his homily, Bishop Hagemoen echoed the words of Pope Francis, calling on the pilgrims to embrace their prophetic calling and spread God's word to all. He emphasized that each individual, through baptism, has received the gift of Messianic prophecy, becoming a prophet themselves. "The pope says, ‘Each of us, brothers and sisters, is a prophet. In fact, with baptism, let us all receive the gift of the Messian
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