Philippine Asian News Today Vol 18 No 18 | Page 18

A18 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY September 16 - 30, 2016 ALBERTA / SASKATCHEWAN News Crystal meth (Shabu) use grows in Pinoy community in Banff Because of the need to extend working hours in two or three jobs, Filipinos in the Bow Valley community in Banff, Alberta, have turned to crystal meth, popularly known as shabu. The Bow Valley Immigration Partnership said that a few of their clients had reported knowledge of crystal meth being used, but because of the different name it was being peddled, they did not hear of it sooner. This created different kinds of barriers to aid and support the users to get them off of the drug. The Investigators in the Philippines examine chemicals and lab equipment used to make the drug shabu. Here in Canada, it’s known as crystal meth and is becoming a problem in the Bow Valley. (Pat Roque/AP) organization has met with Alberta Health Services and the RCMP to discuss the use of shabu within the Filipino community and the public that has been given access to it. According to RCMP Staff Sgt. Eneas, as more people in the community try to work multiple jobs and longer hours, they use the drug to access a greater level of stamina so that they can work more. A number of these workers work from anywhere to 14-18 hours a day in two or three jobs. The RCMP investigation has led them to believe that the production, sale and use of the drug is underground, so there is not a lot of information about it to the Canadian authorities. Heather Bates of Community Connections, a group that welcomes immigrants and workers to Bow Valley, say that the use of shabu isn’t common but it is important to get ahead of the issue before it becomes bigger. Banff Filipino community member Ericson Dizon said he’s surprised to hear that shabu is in the Bow Valley. Dizon moved to Canada three and a half years ago, works as a housekeeper at a hotel, and says that it isn’t necessary to have many jobs to live comfortably. He says that drugs destroy people, and taking it would not actually help the person. Dizon says that he has not heard of anyone or knew of any Filipinos using the drug. iRemit CEO, Bansan Choa visits Canada iRemit CEO and President Bansan Choa visited Canada and made a trip to the different cities where iRemit has branches and serves hundreds of Filipinos. He and his iRemit team first visited the Great Taste of Manila Festival in Toronto, where he had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Justine Trudeau, and presented him the iRemit OFW Card, which contains a Commemorative Coin to honour Filipino overseas workers as modern day heroes. “O ur kababayans are working in 232 countries all over the world, and we created the commemorative coin for our OFW friends to show our appreciation for their hard work, “ Choa explains. He said that PM Trudeau talked about the Filipinos, our food and values, and he even cooked barbeque at the booth beside Iremit while wearing his barong Tagalog. Choa and his team also had the opportunity to meet Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne during the 2nd day of Taste of Manila, before heading off to Ottawa to meet with Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia, as well as the Consular Officials(Generals) in Ottawa. The iRemit team then headed to Montreal to meet with their agents and partners. Choa also visited Winnipeg to seek more business and agents who will work with Iremit in the booming Manitoba city. They proceeded to Edmonton, to their West Edmonton Mall branch. In Calgary, the team met agents and presented their products and services at the Calgary Fiesta Filipino 2016, a festival on its second year. It was said to have been attended by about 35,000 people. The team also met with the new Consul General in Calgary Julius Torres. “The Philippine Consulates in Canada are offering many services to our kababayans that they do not realize they are entitled to, including services from government agencies,” Choa shares. He says that our kababayans have access to information about their SSS, Pag-Ibig and PhilHealth from the Consulates. The iRemit team also offers services that pertain to the three agencies mentioned. Choa says that iRemit is the largest, non-bank Filipino owned remittance company publicly listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange, and in operation since 2001. It is now operating in 27 countries where there are a lot of Filipinos. Some of the major products iRemit offers include bankto-bank transactions, doorto-door transactions, and notify-and-pick-up money remittance; and various services that most other companies do not offer such as direct bill payments to Philippine utility companies, real estate companies, supermarkets, drug stores and others. “The iRemit Visa Card debit card can be used in Canada and the Philippines. You can withdraw in Philippine peso in any of the 17,000 bank ATMS in the Philippines,” Choa adds. He says it is the safest way to bring money to the Philippines since you can deposit money here and withdraw it while you are there and even use it directly for shopping in any Visaaffiliated establishment, giving you the convenience of cashless shopping. iRemit has also received numerous awards as a top collection partner for of SSS, Pag-Ibig and PhilHealth contributions. All contributions made to WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM these agencies through iRemit are directly deposited in these institutions on the same day, and in the same amount that it was issued here in Canada. Choa adds that iRemit is also connected to 56 property developers in the Philippines, and monthly amortizations for property in the Philippines can be paid for through their offices, giving customers the confidence that their payments would be well accounted for. “You can visit any of our seven offices and about a hundred agents across Canada, including Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, and ask them about their SSS, Pag-Ibig and PhilHealth accounts and the privileges they are entitled to but may have been missing out on while they are here in Canada,” Choa said. “Our people are equipped to help our kababayans get the information they need so that their hard-earned money can be collected and delivered to the agencies that they contribute to.” Choa says that if Filipinos need more information, they can even directly email to iRemit in Manila for answers to their questions. Send your email to [email protected] or visit www.myiremit.com.