A man true to his word, Michael Applebaum is a self-described “hands on” Borough Mayor.  Devoted to providing quality, first-class community services to residents of Cote-des-Neiges/NDG, Mayor Applebaum sits in and chairs over many different committees and governing bodies that directly affect living conditions within the borough. Although he is saddled with responsibilities and functions, his first priority has always been, and will continue to be, the best interests of his constituency.

Mayor Applebaum’s political career had its jump start in 1994, when the administration of then-Mayor of Montreal, Jean Dore, sought to shut down twenty-nine of Montreal’s public skating rinks.  Rather than allow his local rink to be closed, Applebaum rallied community members to protest the plan.  By volunteering and petitioning, their efforts to prevent the shut-down were successful and the rink was left alone.  As a result of his active involvement in this project, he ran for City Councillor in the 1994 municipal elections, which he subsequently won.  A second mandate as City Councillor began after winning the 1998 municipal elections.

Since then, Mayor Applebaum has earned various appointed titles before being elected as Borough Mayor of CDN/NDG in 2005.  However, as an official dedicated to providing the best services to the citizens, Applebaum is also deeply involved in various other committees and executive bodies.  As the newly appointed member of Mayor Tremblay’s Executive Committee, Mayor Applebaum is responsible for the Sports and Recreation dossiers.  Over a span of eight years, the City of Montreal has spent more than sixty-five million dollars in building and renovating community centres, sports arenas, and parks.  A whopping four parks are renovated per year, not including the renovation of several outdoor pools, wading pools, water play areas, and tennis courts.  Kent Park is perhaps the most obvious example of these renovation efforts: by this coming summer, approximately fifteen million dollars would have been spent on revamping the synthetic sports fields, chalet, and water play area.  He hopes to develop the park chalets into mini-community centres, where community members and families can congregate and hold activities.

Another important issue to Mayor Applebaum is helping to maintain the dignity and serviceability of Cote-des-Neiges’ various multicultural communities.  He tries to provide multicultural communities with the resources and “first-class facilities” necessary to deliver their services.  In our case, Applebaum’s administration collaborated to renovate the facade of the FAMAS community centre, although the FAMAS centre is not a building owned by the City of Montreal.  Plans to redo and beautify the backyard will commence in the spring of this year.  Also, it was at the behest of Mayor Applebaum that the Jose Rizal statue in McKenzie King Park was elevated and surrounded by new and more decorative flowers.  Benches were also added in front of the statue, so that members of our community could congregate there more comfortably.

Multicultural communities are not the only ones receiving support from the Applebaum administration, however. As Chairman of the Housing Commission of the Borough of CDN/NDG, Mayor Applebaum is working with the City of Montreal to protect the rights of tenants and leasees.  In known cases of delinquent landlords and substandard housing, task forces have been sent by the City to investigate and legally enforce changes according to set standards.  Additionally, in order to counter the steady rise of rent in the Cote-des-Neiges area, Mayor Applebaum is currently working with community-based groups to push plans forward for social and affordable housing.  There will be some major development of the Namur and Blue Bonnets areas of Cote-des-Neiges, and he is pushing for the construction of social housing within these areas.

As a frequent consumer and visitor of local restaurants and stores, Mayor Applebaum has also initiated a massive project to completely revamp Victoria Avenue and Cote-des-Neiges Road, both of which are major streets in the Cote-des-Neiges area.  Starting this spring, the City and Borough will embark on an exciting construction project that will beautify Victoria Avenue and expand the local businesses already in place: the roads and sidewalks will be redone; part of the expenses necessary to revamp building facades will be subsidized by the City; restaurants will be given sidewalk space to build terraces in the summer; second-floor businesses will be given advertising space to attract more business.  By the end of the construction, Victoria Avenue will be a modern, refreshed space with a rich, multicultural, local twist.

So, Mayor Applebaum has proven himself to be a capable and dedicated elected official who puts the needs of the Borough’s communities at the forefront of his agenda.  Whether it’s the beautification of the Borough’s parks and streets, the expansion of local businesses, or the protection of residents who pay rent, Mayor Applebaum is aware of pertinent issues and has viable solutions to solve them.

As a Canadian permanent resident or citizen who is at least 18 years and residing in Canada, you can sponsor your family members to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents.

Canadian citizens not presently residing in Canada may sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner and/or dependent children who have no dependent children of their own.  However, these sponsors who are not residing in Canada must provide evidence that they reside exclusively outside Canada on the date of giving the undertaking and will reside in Canada at the time their sponsored spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner and/or children become permanent residents of Canada.

To sponsor, you must have an income that is at least equal to the minimum necessary income, the amount of which is published yearly by the Canadian government.

You will to provide Immigration Canada with documents that show your financial resources for the past 12 months and prove you are financially able to sponsor members of the family class.  You may solicit the help of a co-signer (must be your or common-law partner).

What does it mean to “sponsor”?
When you sponsor persons who are members of the family class, you must sign an undertaking with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (or with the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautéss culturelles (MICC) if you live in Quebec) promising to provide financial support for their basic requirements and those of their family members immigrating to Canada with them.  Basic requirements are food, clothing, shelter and other basic requirements for everyday living.  Dental care, eye care and other health needs not covered by public health services are also included.  The undertaking ensures these persons and their family members do not have to apply for social assistance.  Its length varies according to their age and/or their relationships to you.

Who cannot sponsor?
You are not eligible to sponsor if you are in default of a previous sponsorship undertaking, of an immigration loan, of court ordered support payment obligations or of a performance bond (an amount you agreed to pay as a guarantee of performance of an obligation under the immigration legislation).

Legal requirements for sponsored applicants
All family members of a would-be immigrant, whether accompanying or not, must be examined.  If you were previously made an application for permanent residence and became a permanent resident of Canada, your family members who were not examined in accordance with Canadian Immigration Regulations at the time you made your application, are excluded from the family class and you may not sponsor them.

An immigrant who comes to Canada to live permanently does not become a permanent resident before having satisfied immigration officials that he or she meets all applicable requirements.

It took me quite some years of contemplation until finally I had the courage to achieve what seems to be just dormant in the bed of my inspirations. Along with the onset of spring, timing seems perfect. And so, in dedication to the Filipino community of Montreal and Suburbs and with the help of our wonderful staff and some kind and generous members of our community who have supported my desires in many ways, and for which I will always be grateful, here, le voila, my long time dream, The Montreal Pinoy Post is born! My sincere thanks to all of you.

I decided to embark in trhis independent community newspaper project because I felt it was the right time to fill in the need for new opportunities, ideas and interest in our readership today.

The objective of this newspaper is to inform, educate, entertain our readers in a variety of categories within the pages. My staff shares the same vision and they are individuals with talents and expertise antwined with genuine community spirit. We wish that this paper is a good medium for both the young and the not so young in our community.

It is also my vision to go with the flow of the fast changing times and the era of the information age. In the world of internet communications everything is accessible, in just a click you are globally with everyone. But I believe that not everyone is computer savvy so print media will alwyas be a mainstay. It is my goal to blend with what is out on the internet highway and give it importance in print.

This newspaper is open to contributors from multicultural communities in Montreal, Canada, USA, Philippines, Europe and Asia.

I hope you enjoy this humble contribution.

Thank you,

Jayjay T. Villanueva
Founder/Owner/Publisher

The birth of a new newspaper is a positive sign of growth and change. It ushers in the awareness that needs are expected to be met, and purpose a resolute vehicle towards progress and process in human growth and societal evolution.

The world has shifted to a new pace and rhythm. We have to march to the beat of that calling to make a change in our values. New directions have to be plotted for life to have new meaning and depth.

Montreal Pinoy Post is a visionary spark to make a difference in the lives of people from the vantage point of print media. Our objectives is a troika: inform, educate, and entertain.

The newspaper’s sections or categories are doors that open wide to new ideas, thoughts, dynamic actions and movements lived in the daily flow of life. It gives everyone an opportunity to feel empowered by what they have shared or what they have learned or gained from the contents.

It wants the readers to have an easy read, a lightness of feeling as they peruse through the pages. Each section becomes a feel good moment. When you put the paper down, you are charged by action towards what inspired you to change or to foster new thoughts towards positive resolutions. But what matters is you laugh at the humor of life.

The newspaper is an ongoing invitation to link and network in a global community where contributors come from diverse cultures, and different parts of the world. It affords everyone the opportunity for expression and identification. We have young and mature writers with dynamic ideas they wish to share .

The birth of Montreal Pinoy Post, your new paper on the block is an occasion that merits a celebration. Birth is new life and growth.

The Alliance of South Asian Communities (ASAC) promotes the development of the South Asian Community. It mobilizes and integrates the community with the mainstream society. Its mission is to provide a means for resolution of issues common to the members of the South Asian community thus  share information, expertise and other resources that would address  the collective welfare of the South Asian community.

ASAC targeted the youth group of the South Asian origin and conducted a survey to find the problems of the South Asian youth.  ASAC conducted a survey in five different schools of Montreal where the majority of the students are of South Asian origin.  The 1100 questionnaires were distributed and 704 were returned back.  ASAC analyzed the answers and found out the problem in the youth of the South Asian origin:

1. School Dropouts
2. Drug and Alcoholism
3. Lack of leadership
4. Less communication between teachers, parents and students
5. Language barriers
6. Racism (Jobs, Schools, etc)

ASAC has arranged (18) seminars for the benefit of the youth emphasizing the importance of education, good behaviour and staying away from criminal activities.  The parents are completely unaware of the activities of their children. They are very busy in meeting the household requirements and have no time to discuss all the matters with the teachers. Another reason is the language barrier.

The majority of the South Asian youth are unaware of the possibility of participating in the entrepreneurial ventures.  Their parents migrated to Canada from their countries and came for economic and political reasons. Most of them were employed in companies, provincial, federal and municipal governments. They did not focus on entrepreneurship. In order to motivate the youth towards business the following items are to be considered :

1. Desire
2. Confidence
3. Willingness
4. Skill and Knowledge
5. Goals (short and long term)
6. Decision making skill
7. Organizational skill – Marketing ,etc

 ASAC is convinced that once the youth is on the right path then they can go in the right direction.  The organizations cannot change the youth without the help of the parents and the teachers and the community workers and there should be a direct and continuous communication among them which will then reduce the possibility of indulging them in the criminal activities.

On February 7, PAMANA ng LuzViMinda celebrated a successful 3rd anniversary at Chateau Royal in Chomedy, Laval. The evening was spent honouring former members of PAMANA’s Executive Board – Mr. & Mrs. Leo Tuvida and Joaquina Tino and special plaques of appreciation to former PAMANA presidents – John Tuvida and Neil Yapp. PAMANA end their evening showcasing a 40-minute set of dances that they learned during their one week in the Philippines last summer.

 PAMANA was formed in 2005 with only 15 dancers. With Leticia Bulotano Wheeler as the group’s leading inspiration, parents of the dancers and other supporters invested their money and their backyards to get the group off the ground.  PAMANA has wowed audiences all over Montreal, Drummondville, New Jersey, Vancouver and Ottawa.

            In July 2008, 30 dancers and 20 parents of PAMANA travelled to the Philippines to meet and receive formal training from Edwin Duero of ECD Dance Company and Victor Flor of the Philippine High School of the Arts in Los Banos, Laguna.   PAMANA spent four 10-hour days training and learning new dances at the National Arts Center on Mount Makiling and returned to Montreal enriched in new folk dance material.  To bring a taste of Canada to the Philippines, PAMANA performed two shows in one day at the Christian School International to help raise money for the Philippine High School of the Arts Employees Association to cover expenses food, transportation and lodging expenses.   And by special request, Cora Inigo, CIOFF delegate for the Philippines, arranged a performance at Diliman Preparatory School. The group performed “Pinagkalooban,” a dance/theatre production from 2007 that tells the story of a father and son relationship and finding the connection through the common heritage that they share.  All three shows had a full house of spectators. 

             At the gala, the group presented their new dances from all five categories of Philippine folk dance as well as some traditional favourites like Pandanggo sa Ilaw and Tinikling. The event was attended by specials guests of numerous Philippine associations in Montreal, as well as the Philippine Ambassador to Canada, Mr. José S. Brilliantes.  PAMANA’s showcase was well praised by the guests, not only for their flawless performance but also for their collection of the authentic Cordillera, Muslim and Southern Tribal costumes that were acquired in the Philippines. That evening was the first time the group performed these new dances with even more to share in 2009.

PAMANA has proven to have a bright future ahead of them and no sign of backing down from continuing their venture to promote and share an essential part of the Philippine culture. In 2009, PAMANA will participate for the 2^nd year in a row at the Ottawa Tulip Festival in May and join forces with the Karilagan Dance Society of Edmonton this summer as part of an exchange program with SEVEC. PAMANA will satge ther 3^rd grand production at the end of the August. In 2010, PAMANA will represent Canada and the Philippines in a CIOFF festival in Europe.

My trip to the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa in the month of February was to inform Ambassador Brillantes of the publication of a new independent Filipino newspaper in Montreal. It was also an opportunity for us to hear his views and thoughts about pertinent issues in this era of change and movement.

Our first interesting topic was the impact of President Barack Obama in the lives of Americans and the global community as a whole. “The world has changed and we must change with it,” a political byword or cliché, as the Ambassador called it, was a line that President Obama utilized throughout his campaign. This  byword  took a life of its own in the minds of the Americans and the world. What was remarkable,   he said,  was that President Obama acted and moved with  awareness   effecting  change in a short span of time since his inauguration.

His first foreign trip was to visit Canada.  It was a gesture of appreciation to a next door neighbor that  shared singular views in the process of global growth and expansion. It was evident that President Obama gave Prime Minister Harper assurance that they both would agree to see issues from the vantage points of harmony and respect.

The Ambassador was moved by the stimulus package which   President Obama signed as  a  bill on Feb. 17, 2009, and with it,  the “Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation” a.k.a. lump sum payment worth $198 million. That was a distinct indication of  President Obama’s sentiments towards people who are less fortunate or who have been diminished in the rising tide of materialism .

I wanted to know how the economic situation globally would affect our skilled migrant workers and caregivers. It was encouraging to know that despite layoffs from various companies,  our Filipino workers continue to enter  Canada  in big statistical records . They have been recorded as the top of the list in the influx of immigration numbers over Chinese and Indians.

The Ambassador supported that information by stating  the presence  of  five  new Labor officers from  the Philippines here in Canada. Their task is  specifically assigned to handle those papers.

As a final topic we were informed that the ‘ Consular Outreach to Montreal ‘ February 28 at the Famas Philippine Center , 4708 Van Horne will be ready to serve the community for the now machine readable passports.
Other services such as notarial and legal papers, Balikbayan stamp services, passport amendments, travel documents , dual citizenship, report of death, birth, marriage, visa , and  mortuary certificate application  will be given to the community on that day or subsequent schedules within the year.

In closing the Ambassador’s  encouraging words in reference to Montreal  Pinoy Post , the new Filipino publication were as follows: ‘ If there is a need to be met , a vacuum to be filled or a purpose to be achieved,  then these are things to be considered in the publication of a new newspaper.’

Dear Ate V. ,
My boyfriend and I broke up 7 months ago. Since then, he has made no attempt to contact me. Two weeks ago, he saw my sister and one of my best friends and told them he’s been meaning to contact me, but he’s been too busy with work and his new girlfriend. I’ve been meaning to call him for the longest time, but afraid get really angry and emotional.  But I am standing my ground and not going to call him. What do you think?

Yes, you are. If he hurt you and he’s been telling everyone that he’s been meaning to contact you and has not yet done so, then I say keep it that way.  He’s making himself look like a coward to everyone else because he can’t keep to his word.  If you are doing well until now, then you don’t need to hear from him. You are probably looking for closure, but sometimes life works out better without it. Closure is usually an excuse to see each other once last time before officially calling it quits. The person that is asking for closure usually comes out stronger and happier once they’ve regained themselves from the depression. If he respected you enough, he would have made that phone call long before. You have the advantage in this situation and you do not want to lose that.

Dear Ka-Blog,
How are two people in a relationship supposed to function freely, my girlfriend’s parents are very strict?

The most important thing to do in this situation is to try and gain the trust of your girlfriend’s parents. The last thing they want is to discover that their daughter is sneaking around behind their backs. Don’t hide the relationship but also don’t flaunt it. In some cultures, public display of affection is not accepted. Respect boundaries and culture difference if you want them to respect you as well.
To gain their trust, be more present and not shy away. Invite each other to family parties or hang out together with groups of friends. Parents feel more comfortable when they know their daughter is not alone with her boyfriend. They want to keep their kids under a watchful eye.  Parents are also afraid of the relationship causing a distraction, especially from school. It’s only natural for parents to be protective of their kids. Do not expect to gain their trust overnight.  It will certainly take time until her parents can be more comfortable and assured that their daughter is in good hands.
Your girlfriend can also be open about you to her parents – talk about your special attributes, goals in life or why she likes you. That way, her parents can know you a little better and see that you are not a bad guy.
If all the above fails, ask a family member of close friend to talk to her parents and give them a different perspective on the situation.  This may help her relieve the situation knowing that their daughter is growing up and that dating is an inevitable part of life

It seems the world is getting worse each day and we all know we have to do something about it. Climate change, exploitative child labor, deforestation and animal cruelty are some of the concerns. The answer I hear most often is that every little action will help. Personally, I try to always recycle my papers. Yet it never gives me the feeling that I just saved the world. The world’s problems are too big to be solved by only one person and one action.

Somebody once told me, “If you dream alone it is only a dream. If you are many to dream, it is the start of a reality”. Awareness of global issues amongst your family and friends is a big factor. Imagine if every single person you meet would do a little act to stop global warming. For example, they stopped using plastic bags to help the environment. The difference would be remarkable.

You should know that you are never alone in striving for a better world. A lot of organizations exist for different causes in your school or your community. Giving them your time and effort will certainly help their purpose.

 While Surfing the Internet, I stumbled across a Filipino Youth organization in America: ANAKBAYAN. Although there is no chapter here in Montreal, they seem to be relevant in a few American cities like New Jersey, Seattle and Los Angeles. 

Being the youth of our times makes us responsible of the whole world. The present problems in our society will be handed down to us sooner or later. We should really act together and without any delay because someday it might be too late.

                Gasgas  na raw. Gasgas na nag marahil. Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa hayop at malansang isda. Gasgas na nga ba?

                Sa galing daw sa pag-akma sa kaniyang ginagalawan, walang hihigpit pa sa Pilipino. Mapapansin ang katotohanang iyan sa kanyang kilos, pananamit, at maging sa kanyang pagsasalita. Ang katangian niyang iyan ay isang dahilan kung kaya siya ay hindi nahihirapang magkaroon ng sariling lugar, saan man siya mapadpad. Ngunit ang katotohanan, ang katangian din niyang iyan ay siya ring kaniyang ikinasisira. Hindi man siya tahasang matatawag na hunyango, siya naman ay may pagkahunyango.

                Hindi ilang beses na nag Pilipino ay napapansin ng ibang mga kultura, hindi lamang sa kaniyang mga gawi, kundi pati na rin sa kaniyang pakikisalamuha sa iba. Mangyari’y parang sa dayuhan ang kaniyang mga pamamaraan. Sa kaniyang  pagnanais na maging akma sa bago niyang mundo siya ay tuluyang yumayakap sa kaniynag bagong kultura at tila nakalilimutan na siya ay may sariling kulturang pinanggalingan. Siyaay parang ahas na naghuhunos sa kaniyang pagbababgong kultura, bagama’t ang paghuhunos niya ay panloob. Banyaga siya sa gawi, samantalang ang kaniyang balat ay nananatiling kayumanggi-kayumangging hindi maipagkakailang sa Pilipino. Para siyang saging na puti man sa loob, ay nananatili naming dilaw sa labas.

                Hindi mapahihindian na nag ka-Pilipinuhan, lalo na sa ibang bansa, ay kulang sa pagmamalaki sa kanilang pinagmulan. Kung maaari nga raw nilang baguhin ang kanilang kulay, ito ay walang pag-aatubili nilang gagawin. Hindi kakunti ang mga magulang na ni ayaw matuto ng wika ng Pilipinas ang kanilang mga anak. May nagsasabing baduy daw.

                May nagsasabi ring wala na raw dahilan at hindi na rin namna sila nakatira sa Pilipinas. Ilan pa ba ang mga nagtuturo ng pagmamano sa kanilang mga anak? At mayroon pa bang nagbabahagi sa kanilang mga anak ng kahalagahan ng delikadesa at pagtanaw ng utang na loob? Binabawalan pa ba ang mga bata na sumali sa usapan ng mga nakatatanda? At sila ba ay tinuturuan pa ring sumagot ng PO at OPO kapag ang kausap ay mas may edad? Iisa lang ang tiyak, gasino lang kung mayroon pa nga!

                Ang katotohanan, walang sukat ikahiya sa pagiging Pilipino. Mayaman ang lahing Pilipino sa mga tradisyon at mga kinagawian na siya nating ikinatatangi, kasama na nag mga naunang nabanggit.

                Walang dahilan upang hindi natin sukat naisin na mapangalagaan an gating kultura na siyang tanging may-katiyakang ating maipamana sa mga  susunod nating salin-lahi. Anong inam kung ating mapahahalagahan at mapangangalagaan ang yaman-kalinangang pinagyaman ng mga naunang henerasyon, matiyak lamang na ito ay patuloy na mabubuhay at maipapasa sa mga susunod pang henerasyon. Atin bang pawawalan ng saysay ang kasaysayang nililok ng lahi ng mga bayani? Hindi mahirap na masigurong ang ating kalinangan ay patuloy pa ring pagyayamanin ng mga susunod pang mga Pilipino. Kailangan lang maisakatuparan ang pagpasa nito sa ating mga anak. Kailangan lang magsimula.

                O baka naman tayo nga ay mga BANYAGANG HINDI BANYAGA.

This new cultural publication will undoubtedly play an important role in keeping Filipino Canadians informed on a variety of nationla and international issues. By featuring stories from the old country, as well as articles ofinterest to other cultural groups in Montreal, Ottawa and Kingston, The Montreal Pinoy Post is sure to attain its goals of educating, informing and entertaining its readers.

As you publish your inaugural issue, it is my hope that your newspaper will foster fellowship amongst Canadians of Filipino descent, while promoting the values of respect and mutual understanding that are a cornerstone of Canadian society.

Please accept my contratulations and best wishes for success.

The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.

Ottawa 2009

Spring, a time for sprucing up. After a long winter, many of us enjoy being outdoors in the fresh air, cleaning the yard or preparing the soil for the garden. Our home is put in order and made beautiful.

Lent is a time when we do a spring cleaning of our souls. We take an inventory of our lives by asking ourselves how we are living and where we need to change. What kind of relationship with God and our concern for others? This is the time when we pull up the weeds of self-centredness, laziness and rash judgement about others. The tools we use in cleansing our hearts are prayer and reflection with scriptures, fasting for justice and sharing with othersin need. We also participate in the sacrament of the Eucharist so that we may be nourished by God’s love. So we will breathe the f resh air of Resurrection. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

When one thinks of couture fashion, Galliano, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace almost immediately come to mind. What some do not know is that the Philippines Islands have offered a number of amazing couturiers. One example is the talented Monique Lhuillier.

Growing up in Cebu, Pilippines, Lhuillier had a great love for fashion. Aftergraduating high school in Switzerland, in 1989, her parents sent her to The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, United States. While attending FIDM she met Tom Bugbee, the man she would later marry and who would also become her business partner. After graduating, she began working with a sportswear label, Melivier, but later realized that her passion was leading her somewhere else.

Monique Lhuillier began her career in 1996 while endlessly searching for a wedding dress. While doing so, she discovered that the bridal market lacked a modern view. Therefore, she spent time designing her own dress for her wedding. While designing for her wedding, Lhuillier was unknowingly designing for what would soon become her self-titled bridal design company, Monique Lhuillier.

Many have reviewed Lhuillier’s bridal collection as modern yet traditional. Her 2009 Spring Collection showcases a number of dresses that Lhuillier describes as a “tropical-island getaway.” The trends seen in this year’s collection are the use of the colors yellow and gold, as well as, Mediterranean inspired prints. Monique Lhuillier’s 2009 Spring Collection is both chic and fresh.

Today, many of us are preoccupied and concerned with the issues of aging.  We want answers on how we age and how we can slow down the process of aging so that we may continue to enjoy good Health and Wellness and maintain an active lifestyle that provides meaning for living.

One of the primary agers that affect us is stress and the manner and attitude we adopt and hold on to in coping with life’s stress factors.

Aside from common sense activities that we can engage in such as cultivating friendships, exercising, eating healthy well balanced meals, flossing and taking a vitamin-mineral capsule everyday.

Here is a practical 10 step program to slow down and reduce your real age.
            1. Take your vitamins.  Regularly talking vitamin C (1,200 mg/day) Vitamin E (400 iu/day) calcium 1000-2000 mg/day,       vitamin D (400-800 iu/day), foliate 400 mg/day and vitamin B6 (6mg/day) can help you to look years younger.
            2. Stop smoking and stay away from passive smoke.  Smoking over many years makes you look years older.  All you have to do to confirm this is look around you at those with smoke.  Save your money or spend it on more worthwhile things.
           3. Know your blood pressure.  A person with a blood pressure of 115/75 mmHg.
           4. Reduce your stress.  Not managing bad stress can also raise your age many years higher than your real age.  Build positive social networks and learn stress reducing strategies and you will look and feel years younger.
          5. Floss your teeth.  Flossing and brushing daily (after meals if possible) can reduce your real age 6-7 years.
          6. Get active.  Exercise even a minimum amount for about 20 minutes a day can reduce your real age by 3-4 years, go dancing, take walks, go bowling cycling, swimming etc.  Get together with others and participate in interesting activities.
          7. Be a lifelong learner: people who take an interest in what is going on around them and in the world and who remain interlocutory   enjoy a 2-5 year more youthful edge.
         8. Get your fiber fill.  Get at least 25 grams of fiber per day to keep yourself regular and maintain good digestion.
         9. Smile and laugh a lot.  Laughter reduces stress and strengthens the immune system and releases feel good endorphins in the brain.  You’ll not only look good but feel great in the process.
      10. Maintain a positive mind and attitude in your daily activities true your actions with family, friends and associate.  Look around for ways in which you can continue to serve your community.  And how you can make a positive difference in your life and in the life or others.

In realizing and practicing the above lifestyle change suggestion you will empower yourself to put more meaning in your life and more life in your meaning.