I arrived here in Winnipeg on April 27, 2014. As a new immigrant, I was learning and at the same time exploring ways to settle here in Winnipeg. Most new immigrants like me were focused on finding employment and learning how to work toward achieving it. Before I came to Canada, I had planned what I was going to do when I arrived here. The jobs that I did in the Philippines were mostly customer service in nature. I had worked in the hospitality industry as a Telephone Supervisor and a Front Office Supervisor, in a call center doing customer service tasks, and also in office jobs like a receptionist, secretary or administrative assistant.

When I came here to Winnipeg, I was open to the idea that I may or may not be able to get the kind of jobs that I used to do in my home country. So my plan was, I would first look for a job, particularly a telephone job like a telephone operator or a receptionist or a call center job. Then, after 2 years, once I have saved up some funds, I would go back to school and take a course to become a teacher specifically in Adult Education to teach English as a Second Language to new immigrants. I wanted to help my fellow Filipinos who cannot speak English well, and in that way, I would also be helping them integrate and settle in their new homeland, Winnipeg.

I had an acquaintance while I was attending a free computer class at the library. She was also a new immigrant from the Philippines and it was from her that I heard about the Immigrant Centre. She told me that Immigrant Centre gives assistance to new immigrants like us to look for a job, and also has different other programs and services which are really helpful for us. So in 2015, I went to Immigrant Centre and registered for the Job Search class with Margaret Ko. Vance Taylor became my Employment Facilitator. I also took the Food Handling Course with Amie Membreno.
In June 2015, I accompanied my sister-in-law and her husband to an appointment at Immigrant Centre. Since they could not speak very fluently in English, I assisted with communication and that is when I met Rosa-Maria Menjivar, Language Bank Manager. During that appointment, I found out that there was a job opening for an office assistant at Language Bank. I personally approached Rosa-Maria and asked her about it; however at that time, I was not yet a volunteer and priority was being given to people who volunteered with Immigrant Centre. Rosa then encouraged me to become a volunteer. I did and the rest is history.
I have been a Filipino-English Language Interpreter for Filipino clients since October 2015 and it has been really a wonderful experience. I had never done this task in my own country and I never thought that I’d be able to do it. I get to encounter different people on every assignment given to me. As a new immigrant, it helped me integrate into a community that is totally new to me, because I get to be assigned to different government and private organizations and I get to learn how and what these organizations do in the community. It built my confidence as a person because I had the chance to interact with professional people like judges and lawyers in court and in law offices, police, doctors, and many more. Most importantly, I felt that somehow, I was helping people in the community by being a Language Interpreter; facilitating communication so that people would understand each other and be able to resolve whatever it is that is being tackled on a specific area of concern. And this is why the passion for what I do now as a Language Interpreter/Translator developed in me because it is so nice to be of help to the people and the community.

I have also learned that sometimes not everything we want happens. I must admit that it was a real challenge looking for a job and trying to discover what other skills I may have that could help me find a job. So I took computer classes to upgrade my computer skills and also opened myself to different trainings that would equip me with bigger chances of finding work.Today, as I look back, even though I have not yet achieved what I planned before I came here, somehow, what I am doing now, is almost what I have aimed for. The work I am doing now as a Filipino-English Language Interpreter/Translator is in a way allowing me to help my fellow Filipinos when it comes to communication in the English Language. At the same time I am also contributing to the betterment of the people and community.I am thankful that I was given the chance to be a part of Immigrant Centre’s continuing pursuit in helping.