Young Filipino-Canadian sells handmade jewelry to help local charity

RICHMOND, British Columbia - While other kids are busy asking for gifts this Christmas, 5-year old Estella Bañez is doing something else.

She’s selling handmade earrings, necklaces and bracelets to help a local charity.

“I like OMB, it stands for Oh My Bling,” said Bañez.

Bañez worked on her beads after school in the past months and made 300 pairs of earrings, 40 bracelets and 50 necklaces for sale.

They were showcased at a recent fashion show and launch party where proceeds go to the Richmond Christmas Fund that help local families in need.

“Toys, gift cards, baskets… it’s really tough when everybody seems to be happy during holidays with families and a lot of them don't have support or financial means to do so,” said Kaye Bañez, Estella's mom.

The kindergartener started the project last year in honor of her lola who passed away.

She donated $200 then and wanted to give bigger this year.

Friends and family came to support the project.

"It’s important to give back whenever we can," said Chantal Wu.

Many of them were inspired by the little girl who wanted to bring cheer to the community.

Read more on Balitang America:

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Fil-Canadian's project makes use of wasted food

NEW WESTMINSTER B.C. - Danison Buan drops by his local supermarket three times a week to pick up unsold food that the store would otherwise throw away.

After working in a restaurant for years, Buan knows a lot of good food goes to waste. So he rescues "them" to feed those in need thru a project called "Re-Food".

"We are reducing food wastage, and we are feeding people in need and we educate the youth," Buan said.

From produce that are unappealing but still perfectly edible, to meat and dairy products that are near dated, Buan takes them away and re-purposes them thru charities that get smoothies and fresh food to cook with.

He also saves the supermarket some costs in compost fees.

For the past seven months, Buan has worked with different charities and has begun working with schools to educate the youth about food waste.

"It's a sense of enjoyment as well because you get to see all the people that you helped, all the people that were not having nutritious meals. Now, they have nutritious meals," he said.

In January, Buan will launch a 50-50 campaign fundraiser to raise $50,000 for 50,000 meals and to raise more awareness.

Read more on Balitang America.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Why Facebook is abuzz about a gas station toilet in Bohol

MANILA – Filipino-Canadian model Jason Godfrey said the toilet he recently visited at a gas station in Tagbilaran City, Bohol looks better than his room – or even his apartment.

And he may not be exaggerating. The Shell toilet he visited is not only well-lit, but is also filled with paintings, elegant fixtures and other opulent-looking items.

Godfrey gave his fans a glimpse of the toilet by recording a video and posting it on Facebook. The clip has more than 17,000 shares on the social media site as of writing.


“This toilet is better than my room. It’s better than my entire apartment, actually,” he said of the restroom, which has background music and smells like menthol.

Replying to some of his Facebook followers, Godfrey said the toilet even has free Wi-Fi.

Other netizens commented that Shell toilets in other parts of Bohol and Cebu also have the same features.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fil-Canadian teen's invention gets Google's attention

MANILA – Fifteen-year old Ann Makosinski of Victoria, British Columbia has capitalized on the heat radiated by the body to create light.

The Filipino-Polish-Canadian teen is one of the finalists in this year's Google Science Fair for the age group, 15-16.

Her invention: The Hallow Flashlight.

"I power the flashlight solely from the heat of the human hand," she said in one of her presentations uploaded on video sharing website, YouTube.

She used peltier tiles set on an aluminum tube that transfers or take out the heat quickly. The electricity is created by placing a palm on the peltier ties and letting the other side cool with the ambient air.

Makosinski, the only daughter of Sandra and Arthur Makosinski, said she motivated to make the project following several trips to her mother's homeland, the Philippines.

"I've been to the Philippines quite a few times, and in some of these villages I know some of the boys and girls there personally and some of them in particular have failed their grades solely because they just didn't have any light to study in," she said in the video.

She added, "imagine what it would be like if they could just have free access to light, such as my flashlight to use".

Aside from her experience in the Philippines, Makosinski was also motivated to pursue the projects in the hopes of eliminating the use of batteries in the future.

The Google Science Fair will be held in Mountain View , California on September 23, 2013. The grand winner will enjoy a 10-day trip to the Galapagos Islands with the National Geographic Expeditions and US$50,000 in scholarship funding.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fil-Canadian boy now a recording artist in Canada

CALGARY – From being a finalist on reality show "The Next Star", Filipino-Canadian Darren Espanto is now a recording artist.

His first single is a Jackson 5 cover "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)". It was recently released on iTunes and his music video can now be seen on YTV.com.

Espanto said he didn't expect this to happen since he didn't win the competition.

But the recording industry had other plans. He was flown back to Toronto to record five songs.

"They're all cover singles, and also to shoot music videos for those singles. And we recorded the songs in just one day," he said.

It's been an inspiring and amazing ride for the talented young boy whose been singing and performing since he was 2 years old.

"Well it is a dream come true. I still can't believe this is happening to me. I hope everything still goes well in my future," he said.

His parents are proud of him and thankful for the many blessings coming his way.

"Syempre masaya. At the same time, hindi namin iniexpect na darating sa time na mabibigyan siya ng pagkakataon, the fact na hindi naman siya ang nanalo doon sa sinalihan nyang competition, he was given a chance para makapag recording nga. We're very happy and were very glad and were very excited doon sa future na haharapin niya," said the boy's father, Lyndon Espanto.

The family hopes kababayans all over the world support their son's music career.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com