by Rod E. Cantiveros
Hey, the yellow corn and the apple cider tasted much sweeter, as the festival revelers braved the intermittent rains on the 6th Filipino Journal Sama-Summer’s Morden Corn and Apple Festival!
No,the rain did not dampen the more than one hundred kababayans, mostly new immigrants, who looked forward to join the thousands of people who were lining up to taste the newly cooked sweet yellow corn and a cup of cold apple cider for free; nor the rain washed out the enthusiasm of the group who joined the annual parade even if the Filipino Journal entourage was placed at the last, behind the humongous John Deree tractor, believe me, the best for last!
“This is my first time, and I am enjoying every minute of it, we have lots of fun,” said by one of the new immigrants who was scouring the steaming kernel of the sweet corn. “I am so happy that the Filipino Journal has this important event for the new immigrants.”
Lunch time was considered a communal event when the revelers went to a hexagonal koisk, near the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, and offered their “baon” and ate together.
“Ang sarap naman ng kainan, ang daming pagkain! We’re eating together,”said one of the members from Bus No. 2. “Sana laging ganito.” she said with a big smile.
After the great communal lunch, some new immigrants visited “BRUCE”, the world’s largest publicly displayed Mosasaur, an ancient sea creature who lived between 80 to 90 millions years. Also known as “T-REx of the Sea” who lived during the Cretaceous period, this monster reptile fossils were unearthed at west of Morden and Thornhill, Manitoba in 1974,and officially displayed at the fossil museum.
“Wow, this is the best educational trip i erver had, what a giant reptile,” said of the students who joined the trip to the museum, one of the sites visited by tour organized thru the effort of Ron Cantiveros, publisher and CEO of the Filipino Journal.
Heading to Morden was too short a time, thanks to the countless games participated by the festival revelers in Buses No. 1 and 2.who did not mind the one and a half hour trip. And minor and major prizes were awarded to the winners, and to their satisfaction, one said: “Bawing-bawi ang ibiniyad ko sa trip na ito, thanks!” And we say thanks a million to our never-tired sponsors and donors, Larry and Tova Vickar, Steve Lipischak of the Vickar Automotive Group, Felix and Evelyn Pao, of the Sunnyday Group of Companies (Canton Food Gallery, Green Ninja Eatery and Bakery, Sunnyday Heating & Air Conditioning, Coldwell and Banker-Sarah and Nathan Pao, realtors);Lucky Supermarket, MTS, McCafe, Tindahan Food Mart, Aristocrat, JS Furniture, UMAC, MGE Deli, Jimmels Bakery, Angelina Hair City (Claire and Ner), Joseph and Odette Chabal, Myxs Images, Dr. Mitzi Izzat and Ed Ramos.
Special thanks to the officials of the Morden Corn and Apple Festival for their generosity and hospitality to the Filipinos who received a gift of a bagful of fresh, sweet corn and apple cider. Most of the festival goers bought sacks of fresh corns! and thanks most specially to the volunteers: Carol Castro, Arlene and Adlane Kaidi, Julie Vila, Josie Olivares and Simbra Agapito, of Bus No. 2; Ellen S, Natividad, Rod E. Cantiveros, Carrie Barroga and Charina, Bus No. 1.
The rain continued to pour as the two buses left for Winnipeg: more games were held and prizes were awarded to the winners, this made the festival goers awake and asking for the next year’s trip.
Want to see and hold a garter snake at Narcisse, Manitoba this fall?
The annual Filipino Journal Sama-Summer 2014 started with a great bang; and ended with a greater bang, a warm welcome for the new immigrants!
Photos by Rod Cantiveros | Filipino Journal
