聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Redvers Long Term Care Centre works hard to ensure residents are enjoying themselves. On Monday, Jan. 29, one way to do this was to create a 鈥渟tay鈥漜ation by turning the activity room into the Philippines. With fun facts and food from the Philippines served, it was like being there for an hour.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Rael and Annie Familaran were born and raised in Romblon before moving to Manila and eventually the long journey to Canada.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nnie came over in December of 2007 and she sponsored me here in November of 2014,鈥� Rael explained.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Together Annie and Rael presented photos and spoke of their lives in the Philippines before moving to Canada.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e鈥檝e really been enjoying Canada,鈥� Rael said. 鈥淲e miss our hometown, but we were able to go on vacation there last year.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The residents were told about the unique cultural and environmental characteristics of the Philippines, while the Familarans were able to show photos of their recent trip and answer many questions about the Philippines as the residents had questions.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭here are many volcanoes because it is part of what they call the 鈥楻ing of Fire鈥� in the Pacific,鈥� Rael said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an archipelago and although there are active volcanoes, they are quite quiet, although there is one erupting there now.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚f you enjoy beaches then the Philippines are for you. There is about 1,200 miles of white sand beaches; and we only have two seasons rainy and dry. The rainy season is from June to December.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The country itself is bilingual with Filipino and English being their primary languages, although the country recognizes 19 regional languages as well.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Its biodiversity is impressive with nearly 100 mammals and 170 bird species not thought to exist anywhere else including the tarsier 鈥� a very small nocturnal primate.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Tubbataha Reef and Sulu Sea have been declared World Heritage Sites and thus are a protected area of corals and marine fish species.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Chocolate Hills were also spoken of, which are covered in grass that turns brown during the dry season. They are a tourist destination and a National Geological Monument.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Rael and Annie were very happy to share a piece of their home with the residence of the Redvers Long Term Care Centre. The residents were treated to the stories and photos from the Philippines, but also enjoyed an afternoon snack including Filipino desserts and native fruit.
