It's holy week!

I admit to not being religious but I love the observing the season of lent. I am a sucker for traditions "holy week" is filled with it. 

Today is Holy Monday and I couldn't help but wish that I am in the Philippines right now. Ibang-iba kasi ang pakiramdam ng holy week doon eh. Ang saya, ang kulay. Dito parang wala lang talaga (though people here 'celebrate' Easter). Buti nga ginawa pa nilang holiday ang Good Friday eh. Second holy-week-in-Canada ko na ito so I know.

Oh how I miss my mother terribly. We used to watch the Holy Wednesday and Good Friday processions together for 33 years. I feel guilty na iniwan ko siya. I am hoping na someday, magkasama uli kami sa holy week kaso parang hindi ko kakayaning umuwi sa Pilipinas kapag summer dahil sa sobrang init.

Anyway, we are going to my aunt's place in Bristish Columbia this coming Good Friday. Ford got bored and wanted to do a long drive this coming long weekend. Para daw kunwari nasa Pilipinas lang kami at uuwi sa probinsya dahil Mahal na Araw. Kaloka, hanggang ganito na lang kami -- papretend-pretend. 

Tawilis in Edmonton

We were at T&T Supermarket last Sunday and my eyes rolled in disbelief when I saw several packs of this...

Tawilis, is that really you???

I've been here in Edmonton for almost a year now and that was the first time I saw frozen tawilis in the supermarket.

You see, I am your typical promdi who grew up eating different types of fish. I love fish, yung mga non-sosyal fish daw sabi ng asawa ko like bangus, galunggong, dalagang-bukid, ayungin, hasa-hasa, tilapia, etc. I also love salmon and tuna but because I immigrated here, talagang yung mga Pinoy fish ang nami-miss ko. I even told my mother that when I go home next year, puro fresh fish ang ihanda niya for me. That is what we lack here in Edmonton eh, fresh seafoods. Lahat frozen.

Crispy fried tawilis is one of my favorites so talagang naatat ako nang makakita nito. I grabbed a pack and put it in our cart.

I was shocked though when I learned (after my husband has paid for it) that it costs $7.33 (or approximately Php300)! Waah, ang mahal naman pala! Around 20 pieces lang yun ha, kulang pa na kainin ko in one sitting. When I called my mother, ang sabi niya kabibili lang daw niya sa palengke nito... Php40 isang kilo! Asar-talo ako.

I mentally took note that this will probably be the last time na bibili ako nito, unless  i-sale ng 50% off haha! I just convinced myself that since I am pregnant, entitled akong kainin ang mga gusto kahit mahal (pampalubag-loob).

Hay, buhay-Canada! Filipinos here might be earning dollars pero sobrang taas din naman ng cost of living. Nasa disadvantage position ang mga Pinoy because of course, the food that we like to eat (i.e. Filipino products) are all "imported". Hence, doble o triple ang cost kumpara sa food ng Canadians.

Oh well, I guess kailangan na talagang mag-adjust soon. In order to save, we need to find cheaper, non-imported alternatives to some Filipino products that we like.

Bottomless aircon from now on

I am no longer scared to use our portable air conditioner. We just received our EPCOR statement and learned that our bill only increased by $20! Wow, ang mura ha! Kung sa Pinas kami nag-aircon, libo-libong piso for sure ang babayaran namin.

This is one of the things I love here in this country. Mura ang kuryente. Sabagay, sa Pilipinas lang naman yata mahal ang kuryente.

That sense of powerlessness

One of the things I love in living here in Canada is the 'free health care.' Coming from a country where hospitalization and unforeseen medical needs can drain all your resources, this is like a dream come true.

I first experienced my free medical privilege in December 2013, just barely a month after I immigrated In this country. As an Alberta resident, I was entitled to free medical services the moment I landed here (unlike in other provinces where you have to wait for three months). I remember having so many blood tests (which are expensive) and even an ultrasound because I had some 'abdominal' issues.

I never felt guilty though about using Canadian resources that early because my husband has been paying so much taxes since 2010. He's never availed any medical care so far, so I told him, "at least nakabawi ka sa akin." 

The experience of going to a clinic or a laboratory without having to pay anything was truly awesome.

Chicklet @ 23 weeks and 3 days

But now that I am pregnant, I realized that socialized health care has drawbacks too.

Inasmuch as I am thankful that I will be giving birth in a huge hospital for free, I couldn't help but think that I would have had an easier pregnancy had I been in the Philippines. Evidently, their medical approach here is very much different from what I got used to back home.

This is my first pregnancy and I am naturally scared. I have so many questions in mind that needed answers. I constantly long for assurances that me and the baby are okay. But I couldn't get that here.

You see, doctors here do not "baby" their clients. And because there is no abundance of medical practitioners here, they are always in a rush. Or could it be because we are not paying their fees directly? Everything is being done on appointment system. You can't just pop in the doctor's clinic if you have some pregnancy concerns. Just visit the ever-reliable google if you are in despair.

I am 24 weeks and 1 day as of this writing and I want to have another ultrasound. The last one I had was on June 12 and I had severe colds after that. I am even suffering from phlegm (in the throat) until now. I last saw my OB-GYNE last July 7 and when I told her about my colds and phlegm, it's as if she's heard nothing. I finally asked her about the schedule of my next ultrasound and she said it will be done on my 32nd week. Whoaah, that would be 10 weeks away from that day.

I honestly felt so powerless. Without her referral, I won't be able to have an ultrasound. I want to see my baby badly. I want to be assured that he's doing fine because I've been experiencing tummy pain the past weeks (due to constant coughing and hacking). Oh how I wish I am in Pinas during these times!

In our country, I can get a check-up anytime. I can even SMS my doctor if I have urgent concerns! And my bestcousin is a radiologist who can conduct an ultrasound test on me any day I want. Modesty aside, we are not exactly poor in the Philippines so we can afford to pay for medical services. I can even give birth to the most expensive hospital there. No doubt, I would have a smoother and calmer pregnancy if I am in my home country.

I am not saying that medical care in the Philippines is better (if you have money, that is). I guess it just takes time getting used to a different system.


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NOTE: I will be writing my more detailed medical experience here in Edmonton after giving birth.