Author Archives: sierra

Round 1 April 28, 2013

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golf1

Spring cleaning

Ahoy there! Welcome. Welcome to the opening round of SGC’s golf tournament. Weather appears to have had an impact on participation. To say it again, weather has clearly influenced participation and obviously that’s not something anybody can control. Expecting cooler temps playing early this Spring but surprisingly, it was close to being an ideal weather condition if you asked the players who showed up last Sunday at Century Pines. There  were occasion of hitting balls to few wet spots in the fairway, but you’d be really unlucky enough to get your ball all muddied. With weather hovering up & down to low 70s F & high 60’s F, we heard no complaints from anyone. Wind was not a factor either. Golf balls were hitting and stopping with zero roll in the fairway and greens were receptive throughout the round. The only hitch that seemed to appear during the round was an advantage to hard hitters because of the lack of time for the ground to fully dry up due to rain for the past day or two that hit the territory. We timely finished our round as it rained cats and dogs as we were leaving for home.

ilaoThe only drama on this day came when the question of who would be the eventual winner. Ed I. (pictured) who gutted out a round of net 67, thought it was not good enough to win the round as someone else carded a lower net of 66. Unfortunately that someone else was part of the whole foursome that got disqualified for hitting from the wrong location. After debating the disqualification for the four players involved, the Rule Committee’s decision stayed which most players thought that it was the right thing to do. The player who got DQ’d took the penalty like a real gentleman would together with three others and all claimed that it was nothing but an honest mistake. We agreed, case closed. Anyway to Ed’s credit, he began his season in earnest with a win as he was declared the first SGC opening round winner. Congratulations.

It was an attention-grabbing day for every one last Sunday. To everybody’s amazement, Pat D. offered to donate a green jacket to the winner of this year’s regular POY and another one to the Senior POY. Seho O. who contributed an extra $100 earlier to be added to the prize money for Senior POY, again confirmed that the money is to be used for that purpose.

Two former regulars looked to be coming back – PJ P. & Dave Nelson. A new member recruit by Seb Demelo, a young looking Sam Kim is a possible prospect. All three played last Sunday. SGC welcomes them wholeheartedly. From what we heard from the grapevine, more players are thinking of joining us. Let us see come deadline time how true this is going to be. At any rate you know what they say – the more, the merrier.

Every member was treated to a hamburger sandwich after the round. We would like to thank Pat D. for the nice treat as we do not get surprised by him anymore with his kind gesture. Ed I. provided the drinks as well. Seho brought cake slices too. Thanks gentlemen!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. Membership fee is due next week.

2. Just a reminder for a round next week at Royal Ontario, tee time is 2:00 PM, split tees – 1st tee & 10th tee. Please be there early.

See you all next week.

Toronto Star’s Article on Dying Filipina Nanny

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Maricon Gerente

By:        Immigration reporter, Published on Friday, April 20, 2013

mari

Maricon Gerente has long dreamed of having her two daughters join her in Canada from the Philippines. The girls have finally arrived, at least temporarily, but she may never know it.

The 44-year-old Oakville woman has been in a coma since she underwent two surgeries to remove a benign brain tumour.

Lean, 14, and sister Saniel, 11, arrived Canada this week to visit their mother and are burdened with the task of deciding, with input from other relatives, if they should tell doctors to let her go peacefully.

“We brought the girls here to see their mother before she became a memory for them,” said Aileen Banzon Tan, Gerente’s cousin, who escorted the girls to Canada. “We’ll have to set a time to stop Maricon’s medication. We don’t want to see her suffer any more.”

      Photos       View gallery

  • A photo taken in the summer of 2012 in the Philippines when Maricon Gerente, middle, returned to visit her daughters Lean, 14, left, and Saniel, 11.zoom

Working in Canada as a live-in caregiver since 2008, Gerente, the breadwinner for the girls and her siblings, has been waiting to get permanent resident status in Canada since 2011.

She was so close to fulfilling her dream. Two days after she went into the coma, immigration officials tried to contact her for an interview regarding her application.

Her passing will put Lean’s and Saniel’s future in limbo.

Eli and Jodie Gilbert, Gerente’s former employers and now friends, are trying to help the dying woman’s hopes for her daughters come true.

The Oakville couple set up an Aeroplan Charitable Pooling Account to accept donated points to cover the plane tickets for the trio. A trust fund has been established to raise money to help support the young girls.

“It’s just so sad — all these women like Maricon have to move away and work so hard to provide for their family back home and bring them here,” said Jodie Gilbert. “She’s spent her entire life doing that, looking after others’ children while away from her own.”

Gerente, who is divorced for the girl’s father, left them in her care when they were still infants, working as a caregiver in Paris before coming to Canada because this country could offer her a pathway for permanent status.

While working for the Gilberts, she spent her evenings taking classes in a two-year program to become a personal support worker. She left the family’s employ in 2011, when she had met the live-in requirement and obtained an open work permit.

“She believes this is the place for the future of her children,” Tan said.

Lean and Saniel last saw their mother in the summer of 2012 and were told she had already started collecting items her girls would need when they joined her in Canada.

However, in October, Gerente was hit by a debilitating headache. The Gilberts, who remained good friends, took her to Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, which transferred her to Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga. A tumour the size of a mandarin was found in her brain. She has been in a “chronic vegetative state” since then.

“It’s hard to see her like this. I can’t imagine her in bed. She was a strong woman,” said Lean, who, along with her sister, attends a private school because Gerente wanted them to have the best education.

“She always talks about the dream of all of us being in Canada. She says she loves Canada because it is good for the kids and the people are very kind.”

Tan said the family plans to spread half of Gerente’s ashes in Canada and take the other half to the Philippines. “This is the place where she wants to be forever.”

An immigration application usually terminates with the death of the applicant, but there have been exceptional cases where processing of dependants proceeds, under humanitarian and compassionate considerations.

Gerente’s daughters said they want to live in Canada. But their case would be very complicated as they are still minors, with a living parent back in the Philippines, and have no immediate family in Canada.

Contributions to the girls’ air mileage can be made to the charitable pooling account 771296605. Donations can be made to the Bank of Montreal, at the account 2472-897-8219, or through Interac and e-transfers to maricontrust@icloud.com .
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You can read this article in today’s issue of Toronto Star in the GTA section.

Welcome to Sierra Golf Club’s 2013 Golf Season

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Click to enlarge to read info on my back!!!

As the Sierra Golf Club (SGC) golf tournament arrives for the start of six summer month’s swing, the 2013 season already is bursting with plotlines and buzzing with as many questions as there are surprises.

Have the SGC golfers awaken from their winter hibernation? With anticipation they will arrive in droves, current and new members alike to play in our opening game April 28th at Century Pines. Among the members making their debut are POY defending champion Sennix B. together with runners up Seho O., Levi M., & Rey P. One runner up missing is Joey C. who happens to be MIA for awhile enjoying hot weather somewhere on this planet. We suspect Joey is seriously honing his golf skills to get back strong this year. What about the returning Super Series Champions –  Joey C., Levi M., Eddie I., Fred H., and Bingoy P. who is also our Grand Final champion? Can Jimmy M. defend as Most Improved Player and Lowest Gross Champion? We dare not to disturb the temporary slumber of these ‘sleeping giants’ – Manny C., Julio R., Jun P., Mike M., Exe N., Saed J., and Paul H. Could hear them murmur enough is enough already! Well, take note. We take notice of rumbling from the rest of the members that a stiffer competition is in the offing this time around. Don’t you want to be a part of this year’s rivalry to see other players including yourself nipping at last year winner’s heels seething with desire to dethrone them? We’ll see.

We’d like to see the likes of JC M., Nap P., Carina V., Bong M., Rey P., Lina M., Manny M., Oscar J., Fred D., Sebastian D. Pat D., Mar DV., Bert C., Don D., and Jojo D., stepping up and claiming the winner’s podium. But setting winning aside, SGC wishes a few of these members could show up & play a little bit more often to engage plainly more socially with the rest of us and have fun.

SGC is optimistic that this should be a good year asserting hope for a healthy and worry free summer for members and their loved ones. With a little bit of luck, we hope to see SGC’s long lost broods back – Ed P., PJ P., Tony D., Stafford M., Renato M., Tom B., Paolo B. Sam R., and Nick D. We miss them all, do we not folks?

As we backtrack to SGC’s annual meeting held last January at Levi’s Fiesta Filipina restaurant, members who attended enjoyed the food as well as exchanging hello to everyone. Order of business came about and to no one’s surprise almost everything stayed the same, from POY, Super Series, Grand Finals, and Monthly contests to name a few to local rule changes. A major event addition is the oldman2 Senior Cup which is to be included this year. Although SGC decided NOT to make this obligatory, it is open to qualified golden members only – 60 years of age & up. Funding comes from those who enter the contest. One local rule was discussed and added to current rules. It is implemented this year and already posted on our website under “Sierra minutes/Sierra Local Rules”.

A new SGC picture banner was revealed during the meeting. Everyone gazed in delight for its huge size and amazingly quality picture resolution. Thanks to Bingoy P. who took all the trouble of having it made in Pinas and brought back here. Don D. offered himself for the banner’s safe keeping.

Mike M. who volunteered for the position to replace Joey in absentia also took the responsibility of representing SGC in dealing with other golf associations for this year’s participation in the GTA Interleague tournament hosted by BIGAT. Mike is also taking care of player’s handicapping. Meanwhile aside from Jimmy M’s duty as attendance person, the player’s flight schedule for every game and calculation of scores after every game fall on his shoulders. Please be reminded it is still the responsibility of players from the first foursome of every game to collect all scorecards and list down all the scores in the sheet list. Members are also asked to be more responsible and discreet when it comes to attendance. Remind yourselves to submit your attendance a week ahead if you want to play a round of golf for a particular week. SGC cannot emphasize this issue more as we had trouble last year with a couple of golf courses that meticulously accepted no changes to the list of people playing SGC had given the golf course at deadline.

Joey C. who seems to wear a lot of hats with this club is going to be missed as it takes a ration of people doing his numerous duties as mentioned above.

SGC once again credits Carina V. for having the trouble of managing our golf summer schedule. Our schedule has a new look this year with two or more golf courses removed from the list, replaced by something new. SGC offers many thanks to Pat D. for Royal Ontario’s inclusion to the schedule as well as Jimmy M. for Royal Ashburn, Don D. for Ballantrae and to Jojo D. for the budget saving Century Pines. Please take note that Ballantrae Golf Club management according to Don D., is sternly asking SGC and its guests to maintain 4 ½ hours length of play.

Much kudos to Lina M. for coordinating a wonderful awards night affair last October. We have not forgotten Ed Peñas’ exceptional contribution as we offer him a worthy praise for providing SGC with friendly handicapping software. If you enjoyed last year’s closest to the pin contest, then Bong M. deservedly gets a thumb’s up for running it with fervor or growing pains.

SGC would like to acknowledge the job well done for so many years by outgoing treasurer; Rey P. Bingoy P. is taking over the reins for now.

Is it true that Nelly D. and Pat D. are again treating members for a scrumptious dinner after a round of golf sometime this year? SGC does not want to put the Deocas on the spot but members for sure got the pleasure of their hospitality last year and we would like to thank them earnestly.

Rumor mill abound: It’s heard through the grapevine that SGC will have two new recruits this year, maybe more. Did I hear a player or two moving from SOGA to SGC? Only time will tell. At any rate SGC welcomes new members wholeheartedly.

SGC appreciates the people who contributed their time and effort to help achieve our goals during the years. SGC as always, gets the pleasure and is forever open of having volunteers every time there is a call for support or assistance to our club.

Once a golf nut, you’re always be a golf nut………..glory days are here again. Take care of yourselves, see you soon!!!

Practice…practice….practice….

Something New. A View From the Other Side

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Love letter to Filipinos

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11:39 pm | Sunday, February 17th, 2013

I am writing to thank Filipinos for the way you have treated me here, and to pass on a lesson I learned from observing the differences between your culture and mine over the years.

I am an expatriate worker. I refer to myself as an OAW, an overseas American worker, as a bad joke. The work I do involves a lot of traveling and changing locations, and I do it alone, without family. I have been in 21 countries now, not including my own. It was fun at first.  Now, many years later, I am getting tired. The Philippines remains my favorite country of all, though, and I’d like to tell you why before I have to go away again.

I have lived for short periods here, traveled here, and have family and friends here. My own family of origin in the United States is like that of many Americans—not much of a family. Americans do not stay very close to their families, geographically or emotionally, and that is a major mistake. I have long been looking for a home and a family, and the Philippines is the only place I have lived where people honestly seem to understand how important their families are.

I am American and hard-headed. I am a teacher, but it takes me a long time to learn some things. But I’ve been trying, and your culture has been patient in trying to teach me.

In the countries where I’ve lived and worked, all over the Middle East and Asia, it is Filipinos who do all the work and make everything happen. When I am working in a new company abroad, I seek out the Filipino staff when I need help getting something done, and done right. Your international reputation as employees is that you work hard, don’t complain, and are very capable. If all the Filipinos were to go home from the Middle East, the world would stop. Oil is the lifeblood of the world, but without Filipinos, the oil will not come from the ground, it will not be loaded onto the ships, and the ships will not sail.  The offices that make the deals and collect the payments will not even open in the morning. The schools will not have teachers, and, of course, the hospitals will have no staff.

What I have seen, that many of you have not seen, is how your family members, the ones who are overseas Filipino workers, do not tell you much about how hard their lives actually are. OFWs are very often mistreated in other countries, at work and in their personal lives. You probably have not heard much about how they do all the work but are severely underpaid, because they know that the money they are earning must be sent home to you, who depend on them.  The OFWs are very strong people, perhaps the strongest I have ever seen. They have their pictures taken in front of nice shops and locations to post on Facebook so that you won’t worry about them. But every Pinoy I have ever met abroad misses his/her family very, very much.

I often pity those of you who go to America. You see pictures of their houses and cars, but not what it took to get those things. We have nice things, too many things, in America, but we take on an incredible debt to get them, and the debt is lifelong.  America’s economy is based on debt. Very rarely is a house, car, nice piece of clothing, electronic appliance, and often even food, paid for.  We get them with credit, and this debt will take all of our lifetime to pay. That burden is true for anyone in America—the OFWs, those who are married to Americans, and the Americans themselves.

Most of us allow the American Dream to become the American Trap. Some of you who go there make it back home, but you give up most of your lives before you do. Some of you who go there learn the very bad American habits of wanting too many things in your hands, and the result is that you live only to work, instead of working only to live. The things we own actually own us. That is the great mistake we Americans make in our lives. We live only to work, and we work only to buy more things that we don’t need.  We lose our lives in the process.

I have sometimes tried to explain it like this: In America, our hands are full, but our hearts are empty.

You have many problems here, I understand that. Americans worry about having new cars, Filipinos worry about having enough food to eat. That’s an enormous difference. But do not envy us, because we should learn something from you. What I see is that even when your hands are empty, your hearts remain full.

I have many privileges in the countries where I work, because I am an expat. I do not deserve these things, but I have them. However, in every country I visit, I see that you are there also, taking care of your families, friends, bosses, and coworkers first, and yourselves last. And you have always taken care of me, in this country and in every other place where I have been.

These are places where I have been very alone, very tired, very hungry, and very worried, but there have always been Filipinos in my offices, in the shops, in the restaurants, in the hospitals, everywhere, who smile at and take good care of me. I always try to let you know that I have lived and traveled in the Philippines and how much I like your country. I know that behind those smiles of yours, here and abroad, are many worries and problems.

Please know that at least one of us expats has seen what you do for others and understands that you have a story behind your smiles. Know that at least one of us admires you, respects you, and thanks you for your sacrifices. Salamat po. Ingat lagi. Mahal ko kayong lahat.

David H. Harwell, PhD, is a former professor and assistant dean in the United States who now travels and works abroad designing language training programs. He is a published author and a son of a retired news editor.

If you want to see the article, go to this link:

http://opinion.inquirer.net/47047/love-letter-to-filipinos

Golden Members of SGC

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Posted below is just an amplication of Joey C’s comment about the SGC’s senior proposal for this year’s upcoming golf summer event. Joey C’s remark was blogged Feb. 5, 2013.

Here it is:

“After the annual general meeting, I received a proposal from some senior members, to explore the possibility of having a separate seniors prizing scheme.  The prizes for this scheme will come directly from additional membership dues to be paid by qualified members (60 year or older).
I will convene a seniors meeting to discuss the viability of this proposal.”

If you are a SGC member concerned or a senior member showing interest with this proposal, please contact Joey C. in confidentiality for now.

Senior Member News

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Year 2013 of SGC’s coming golf season is just around the corner. The club meeting was held last weekend and one interesting topic came up. One beloved senior member of SGC , Seho O., donated his own money of $100 going to the winner of any SGC senior member(s) who could shoot the lowest net scores for this year.  The catch? Not much –  except Seho assured the members who attended the SGC meeting prior to handing to SGC this generous award money, that he would win this prize himself. Two things that kept the other senior members thinking about Seho’s prediction were – one was they were a little hot under the collar for the abrasive prediction and the other was, it should be nice to collect the $100 at the end of the year and the pleasure of beating Seho as well. Aside from it all folks, this is a nice move from Seho. Some senior members were already motivated for SGC’s summer golf season. Should we call this the Seho Cup?

To qualify you need all of these things below:

  1. Paid SGC member.
  2. An SGC handicap already in place.
  3. 60 years old or older.
  4. Minimum of twelve sanctioned golf games by SGC.
  5. Show of government issued ID with photo to proof age to SGC. Ex. driver licence, passport.

Annual Sierra Meeting

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Posted below is the annual meeting for Sierra members as posted  today, January 14, 2013 via email by Joey C. Members, please try to check your schedule and reply via email to Joey or blog this site on or before January 16, 2013.

Date: Saturday, January 26, 2013
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: 1410 Unit 4 Victoria Park Ave., Toronto (Restaurant is owned by Levi M.)

Driving direction:
From 401 exit at Victoria Park South head South on Victoria Park until you pass Eglinton
1410 (Unit#4) is on the West side of Victoria Park and just South of Sunrise Avenue.

Agenda:
  1. Treasurer’s Report
  2. Election of Officers and Committees
  3. Membership Fee
  4. Schedule
  5. Handicapping
  6. Local Rules
  7. Other Items
Please bring in and identify any suggestions/recommendations.  Please advise members without email and bring potential members to the meeting…….Joey C.

HOLIDAY GREETINGS

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To all Sierra Golf Club Members, your families, and friends:

May the Peace and Joy of this Holiday Season be yours through the New Year!!

News……news…….news……………

Bingoy Pena who just got backed from Pinas recently has a surprise present to SGC. According to Bingoy, he noticed during our Awards Night last October that the SGC banner that was hanging proudly on the presentation side of the wall that night was so hardly noticeable because of its small size. He also claimed that it even appeared somewhat smaller in photographs. Mind you, Bingoy took the trouble of donating this beautiful banner made of silk about two years ago.

Well, so much so for that banner although we could still use it for future SGC events. Bingoy had another one made and he mentioned that this one is huge, 8 feet x 6 feet to be exact. He got this idea to blast our club member picture-with all members wearing our green uniform and all-on to the huge nylon tarpaulin. This is the very same picture that is on our website. He had a little problem bringing it back to TO because of its huge size but Bingoy says, “This is well worth it”.

Change to 2013 Golf Tournament

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There will be a new proposal for next year’s SGC summer golf tournament. This one is how to determine the winner of the grand Daddy of them all – the PLAYER of the YEAR. Currently, we have the best 12 of 25 net scores. The new proposal is to switch to a different process called the POINT SYSTEM. You may be familiar with this process as according to Joey C., SGC used to use this process a long time ago.

For a little elaboration this is how it works:

Every time a player plays a tournament, that player is given some number of points based on the player’s standing after each round. The winner of a round gets the full 50 points, 2nd place 40 points, 3rd place 35 points and so on. The points are tallied every game and added to previous rounds. The player with the most number of points at the end of the season is declared Player of the Year.

Example:

Point   System
Place Points Place Points
1st 50 11th 11
2nd 40 12th 10
3rd 35 13th 9
4th 30 14th 8
5th 25 15th 7
6th 20 16th 6
7th 18 17-20th 5
8th 16 21-25 4
9th 14 26-30th 3
10th 12 31th-up 2

Closest to the pin – 10 points that is if you want to include this one. Numbers above are just examples and subject to change

If you are an interested member which SGC knows you are, SGC would like to hear from you. Blog your comments and opinions to this site then bring them all with you to our next meeting together with other proposals that you might think will help our summer past time a fair, enjoyable and competitive affair. Just remember, they all come to nothing if you do not show up and vote.

When is the next meeting did you say? SGC will give notices weeks ahead of time via email as well as by posting on this site.