Category Archives: Cities

We did it again! The 2nd Philippine Flag Raising Ceremony at Lethbridge City Hall

June 13, 2020 The Travel Pill Leave a comment

June 12, 2020. We did it again! Filipinos from different parts of Lethbridge gathered at the Lethbridge City Hall for the 2nd Philippine flag raising ceremony to commemorate the Philippine Independence Day.

Philippine Flag Raising Ceremony at Lethbridge City Hall on June 12, 2020.

Also on this day is the Stage 2 of Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy to safely launch the economy after recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to 100 people are now allowed to gather outdoors.

We have safely sang the Philippine National Anthem with our masks on and at a safe distance from one another, following Alberta Health protocol.

Apple Villano led the Philippine National Anthem and sang a couple of Filipino songs.

Francheska Dynamites and Apple Villano dressed up to showcase our Filipiniana dresses.

Professor Bonifacio from the University of Lethbridge also talked about some history of the Philippine flag.

Filipinos from different parts of Lethbridge celebrate the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Lethbridge City Hall

It is indeed another successful event while we are still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. See you again next year!!! Hopefully at a closer distance and without the masks on! 😂❤️🇵🇭🇨🇦

Activities, Canada, Festivals, Lethbridge, North America

FCALA Joins the Northern Lights Festival

October 10, 2019 The Travel Pill Leave a comment

October 4, 2019. The Filipino Association of Lethbridge, Alberta, together with other ethnic associations and some local businesses in Lethbridge, joined this year’s Northern Lights Festival held at the gym of Winston Churchill High School. It’s an event held to seek understanding of what people from all types of backgrounds contribute to the community. Attendees also asked what events are running throughout the year and it is a great platform wherein Canadians can get to know each other better.

It is an event filled with entertainment from the different neighbouring schools and from different ethnic communities. There were food trucks to fulfill your food cravings like Kona Shaved Ice and Churros. A flu clinic was also held to protect everyone from the flu this flu season.

Here are some of the pictures from the event.

This is a yearly event and we’re looking forward to see everyone again next year! =)

Australia, Melbourne, Sydney

What to Do in Australia in 10 Days

September 18, 2019 The Travel Pill

September 2019. We visited Australia for 10 days. We’re excited because it’s our first time to visit Australia. And of course, it’s a reunion trip with my high school friends.

Australia is a continent as big as the United States so we just picked 2 major cities and its surrounding areas. We alloted 4 days in Melbourne and 6 days in Sydney. We’ll probably visit the other cities next time!

Here’s a quick itinerary for the 2 cities:

Melbourne
- Downtown stroll
- Outlet shopping at DFO South Wharf
- Queen Victoria Market
- Coop’s Shot Tower
- Clifton Hill Street Arts
- Luna Park
- St Kilda Pier
- Brighton Bathing Houses
- Federation Square
- Hosier Lane

Sydney
- Downtown stroll
- St. Mary’s Cathedral
- The Rocks
- Sydney Opera House
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Bondi Beach
- Manly Bay
- Royal Botanic Gardens
- Watsons Bay
- The Gap
- Blue Mountains National Park
- Chinatown
- Darling Harbour
- Birkenhead Outlet Mall

It’s definitely a busy couple of weeks for us but it’s worth it. Follow our next blog posts for details on how to get there and what things to do!!! 😀🇦🇺👌🏼

Activities, Canada, Lethbridge, North America

The FCALA V-League 2019 Sponsors

September 3, 2019 The Travel Pill Leave a comment

September 7-8, 2019. After several weeks of games, we are finally going to the semifinals! Who will step up and make it to the finals? For the mens teams, will it be JRAM, Adoballs, OB Bigdigs or Brgy. West? For the womens teams, will it be the OB Finest, Kiss My Ace, Tambayan ni Kabayan or the Pabebe? Watch all the action at the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization Gym!

The Filipino-Canadian Association of Lethbridge Alberta would like to thank the following sponsors:

MENS
- 1st Place
  - Trophy – Save On Foods – West Lethbridge
  - Gold Medals – Norman Decano
  - Cash Prize – Dr. & Mrs. Villar
  - Additional prizes from Save On Foods Pharmacy
- 2nd Place
  - Trophy – DAD Immigration Consulting – Domingo & Rufa Doria
  - Silver Medals – The Travel Pill – Vic Visitacion
  - Additional prizes from Save On Foods Pharmacy
- 3rd Place
  - Trophy – 3 EJ Day Home Child Care – Ronnie Landayan
  - Bronze Medals – Tambayan ni Kabayan
  - Additional prizes from Save On Foods Pharmacy

WOMENS
- 1st Place
  - Trophy – Save On Foods – West Lethbridge
  - Gold Medals – Arlene Visser
  - Cash Prize – Dr. & Mrs. Villar
  - Additional prizes from Save On Foods Pharmacy
- 2nd Place
  - Trophy – Ben Oligario
  - Silver Medals – The Travel Pill – Vic Visitacion
  - Additional prizes from Save On Foods Pharmacy
- 3rd Place
  - Trophy – Dodon Nazar & Family
  - Bronze Medals – New Saigon
  - Additional prizes from Save On Foods Pharmacy

MVP
- Mens trophy – theBROcustomized Apparel by Maui Lucero
- Womens trophy – theBROcustomized Apparel by Maui Lucero
- Additional prizes from Jenny Rose

Again, a huge thank you to all the players, coaches, team managers and sponsors for making this sports event successful!!! And don’t forget to support the above sponsors and their businesses!!!

See you again next season!!! =)

Activities, Canada, Festivals, Lethbridge, North America

West Fest: the Kids’ Festival in West Lethbridge for a Good Cause

June 23, 2019 The Travel Pill Leave a comment

June 15, 2019. Save On Foods held its 8th Annual West Fest. The West Fest is the biggest kids’ festival in West Lethbridge.

It is held every spring at the Save On Foods West Lethbridge parking lot.

Kids get to jump up and down the bouncy castles and slide down inflatable slides. Smaller children were able to build sandcastles in the sandbox.

There’s also a fundraiser pancake breakfast and bbq hotdog lunch for a beneficiary local school. The proceeds of this year’s fundraising was given to Mike Mountain Horse Elementary School.

While you eat, you’ll be entertained by young bands and choirs from nearby schools.

You could also seat near the stage and watch the live performances.

This year’s special performers are the dancers from the Filipino-Canadian Association of Lethbridge dancing the “Sayaw sa Bangko” (Dance on a Bench).

With the amazing weather and the support of Lethbridge residents, we were able raise twice the amount of donations as compared to last year. Thanks to all the sponsors for making this event successful and contributing for the improvement of our schools in Lethbridge!

See you again next year!!! 😀👍🏼

Activities, Canada, Celebrations, Lethbridge, North America

We’ve Made History!!! The First-ever Philippine Flag Raising Ceremony in Lethbridge!!!

June 12, 2019 The Travel Pill Leave a comment

June 12, 2019. For the first time in the history of Lethbridge, Alberta, the Philippine Flag was raised at the City Hall.

The Philippine and Canadian National Anthems were sung by Ms. Shine Landayan.

Here is a highlight video of this momentous event!

This event also marks the 121st Philippine Independence Day.

From the Filipino-Canadian Association of Lethbridge, Alberta would like to thank the Lethbridge City Hall and the residents of Lethbridge for joining us in celebrating this historical event.

Asian, Canada, Festivals, Filipino, Food, Lethbridge, North America

The Biggest Filipino Fiesta in Southern Alberta Started with a Bang!!!

June 9, 2019 The Travel Pill Leave a comment

June 8, 2019 – The first-ever Filipino Heritage Celebration in Lethbridge started with a bang! The Filipino-Canadian Association of Lethbridge, Alberta’s hardwork definitely paid off! It’s a day filled with fun games, fashion shows of traditional Filipiniana costumes, lots of vendors selling your favourite Filipino food and a good number of goosebumps-inducing song performances.

There are also folk dances performed by our talented dancers led by Regina Jing-Jing Lopez. Standing out is the “Sayaw sa Bangko” (Dance on a Bench) which is definitely not for people with a fear of heights!

Sayaw sa Bangko (Dance on a Bench)

The Filipino-Canadian Association of Lethbridge, Alberta would like to thank our sponsors for this event: Save On Foods, Orange Blossom Food Imports, Tambayan Ni Kabayan, DAD Canada Immigration Consulting Inc, Norwex by Gigie and Analyn, ABM College, Davies GMC Buick, TFC, GMA Pinoy TV, FCM Live, Diaryo Alberta Society and Wacky Shots.

Most of all, we would like to thank everyone for joining the celebration and making this event the biggest Filipino Fiesta in Southern Alberta!!! People from Calgary, Taber, Pincher Creek, Coaldale, and even Montana joined the fun!!! See you again next year!!! You guys are awesome!!!

Activities, Cambridge, Europe, Punting, UK

Punting with “Ron Weasley”: the English Version of the Venetian Gondola Ride.

June 26, 2017 The Travel Pill Leave a comment

Do you want to experience a slow, scenic river ride in Cambridge? Then, you have to experience punting along the River Cam. We’re lucky to be treated by my cousin Evan on this tour. Thanks Evan!

Punting along the River Cam gives you a view of the different colleges of the University of Cambridge. We used the Scudamore Punting Company for the tour. In this tour, we rode a punt, a boat with a flat bottom. A punt has two ends: the Cambridge end is the flat deck (till) where the punter stands and the Oxford end is the open end where people sit (if you’re in a group tour); it is also where the punter stands in Oxford.

The ride was relaxing. It is also slow-paced, giving you a chance to take lots of pictures of the beautiful architecture of the different colleges of the University of Cambridge.

During our river tour, our punter introduced us to the “Ron Weasley” of punters.

There he is! It must be Ron’s part time job after the Harry Potter series. =)

Coffee, Europe, Food, Madrid, Spain, Starbucks

My Starbucks Name in Spain

June 9, 2017 The Travel Pill Leave a comment

Writing the name of customers on their cups is a fun culture in Starbucks. There is always a feeling of thrill to get your cup of coffee and know what is your Starbucks name for the day. You’ll never know if your barista will get your name right… or your barista will butcher your name… or he/she might decide to just give you a different name totally.

So here goes the story for my Starbucks name in Madrid. I ordered Gerlie a cup coffee because her coffee at the hotel is not yet enough to wake her up. LOL. It was then our turn so I gave Gerlie’s order. The barista asked for my name, and I said, “Vic, V-I-C.” He shrugged his shoulders. I thought, hmm.. did he find my name interesting? He handed me the receipt and I gave it to Gerlie so she could use the washroom.

Washrooms can only be used using the code printed on the receipt. So… you can only use their washroom if you are a buying customer. Which I think is fair.

I waited for Gerlie’s coffee. I know mine should be first because we were the first among the others that are still waiting for their orders. The second barista then called the next coffee. “Caramel macchiato for…” – (silence) – then said a name that is incomprehensible to everyone. It was a long name. Noone reacted or tried to pick up that cup. He then went back to the first barista taking orders and asked him who ordered it. To my surprise, the first barista pointed at me.

How come did the second barista said a long name and my name is just Vic, a single syllable name. I then grabbed the coffee, sat on a stool at the bar table by the window and waited for Gerlie.

While waiting, I checked what was the name on the cup and I just burst into laughter. Here is my Starbucks name in Madrid:

No wonder why the second barista had a difficulty saying that name! V-I-A-I-S-E!!! So unique eh!? hahaha!

I then showed it to Gerlie. Oh my goodness, that was one of our best laughs in Madrid!!! Awesome!!!

Brazilian, Calgary, Canada, Food, Latin, North America

Gaucho Brazilian BBQ: a Meat Lovers Haven in Calgary

Image March 23, 2015 The Travel Pill Leave a comment

March 2015 – We accompanied our friend on her search for her perfect wedding shoes in Calgary. Me knowing that they might take the whole day window shopping and I having nothing to buy on mind, I just told them that I will just walk around downtown and take some pictures.

Kabuki and Sadko - screw inspired art installation in Downtown Calgary — Kabuki and Sadko – screw inspired art installation in Downtown Calgary

"Wonderland" - a 12-meter sculpture in front of The Bow — “Wonderland” – a 12-meter sculpture in front of The Bow

The "Trees" of Stephen Avenue Walk — The “Trees” of Stephen Avenue Walk

The "Trees" and Towers of Calgary — The “Trees” and Towers of Calgary

Hungry from my downtown stroll and their never ending shoe fitting, we headed for our dinner at Gaucho.

Gaucho is a haven for meat lovers in Calgary. It is a rodizio or a steakhouse that serves all-you-can-eat meat and is located at 5920 Macleod Trail SW. Be sure you’re ready and hungry before you go here because there will be lots of food… I mean LOTS!

These cutleries will be in for a battle at Gaucho.

To start, there is a buffet where you can choose from some freshly baked bread, healthy green salads, crispy breaded seafood, rice and more sides.

Then, there goes the show. A double sided cow-shaped card will help you guide the servers whether you want more meat (green side) or you still want to enjoy the meat that you still have (red side).

One after the other, you’ll be offered with huge assortment of meat, all rotisseried perfectly. The amount served will be according to your liking. You can choose from a selection of sausages, top sirloin, rump steak, chicken wings, beef ribs, pork loin, lamb, and “meat sushi” – chicken wrapped in bacon. They also have grilled cheese that melts in your mouth. Awesome!