AlumniStories1

"I will always cherish the moments I had with my co-participants during the entire program. The experiences I had
with people whose culture differed from my own, made me a better person. I've learned a lot just being with them,
lessons in life, which I know I could not have just acquired in any classroom.

After the program, I went back to school and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Psychology in 1980. Right after graduation,
I was employed by the U.S. Embassy in Manila and stayed there until May 2007. I got married in 1981 and we have 4 children;
the eldest (twins) are now both working, my son, is currently a third year nursing student, and my youngest daughter, a high
school freshman. I'm currently working as an administrative assistant in the psychology department of the College of St. Elizabeth
here in New Jersey.

I just wish I could hear more news regarding my "batch mates"!

THE CWY EXPERIENCE:

"My CWY experience was "formative" -- it had a
lot to do with who I am and what I did in the years
following. It seems incredible that CWY lasted only 8
or 9 months! It wasn't always an easy or happy time,
but it left me feeling that I wanted to make a
difference in the world, to push things in the "right"
direction.

Currently, I'm in middle age, my kids are growing up,
and my parents both died in the past half decade --
so I'm thinking about my place in the world once
again, and feeling a little lost with the enormity of the
problems the world now faces. Life doesn't get any
easier; it just offers new challenges and ways to grow
I guess!

I live in Guelph, Ontario with my wife Nichola and two
boys (20 and 15). I work as a graphic designer for
non-profit and arts organizations (for clients like Pro
Bono Law Ontario, the Association in Defence of the
Wrongly Convicted, Talisker Players Chamber Music,
the Orpheus Choir, etc.). I work for myself, and make
brochures, posters, logos and newsletters all day
long on the computer, which I love. I serve on the
board of the Guelph Jazz Festival, in a marketing
capacity.

My currrent passions (subject to change) are:
running, latin dancing (with Nic), tennis, reading and
skiing with my kids. I also love to cook, and like
hearing the new music my kids constantly bring into
the house. I celebrate my 50th birthday this summer,
and hope to go back up to the Yukon to hike the
Chilkoot Trail with my twin sister, who lives in
Whitehorse.

Ciao and best wishes!"

AGNES ABACA-MANALO
RP-CWY 1977-78
Cebu City, Philippines
aamanalo@aol.com

"My CWY experience was in no doubt one of the highlights of
my young life. Through the program, I was able to grow and mature
as an individual because of my interactions with different kinds of
people, both from my country and Canada. I learned how to serve
my community without pursuit of material or personal gain. Serving
other people and learning at the same time was enough joy for me.

One of my most memorable experience was the first time I saw snow.
A friend called me that day and told me to look outside the window.
Lo and behold, little drops of feathery stuff were gently floating down
from the sky. Because of my excitement, I ran outside the house with
my arms flailing and in my pajamas! It might have looked very funny
for the neighbors who were looking from their windows as well. They
might have wondered who the scrawny brown kid was, dancing in
their neighbors' backyard! And of course the northern lights!!! What
can I say?!   No words could ever describe its beauty and splendor...

I was also very fortunate to meet and become friends with native
Canadian Indians who had a very beautiful culture, but sad to say
were losing it slowly through progress and its influence and new values
even at that time. And of course, I was very fortunate to be billeted
with my foster family in La Ronge, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Hamm, and their
three wonderful children, Trevor, Trent and Connie. I wonder how
they are now? I'm sure they're all grown up and have families of their
own.

After the program, I was able to work in a five-star hotel in the front
desk department. Then I moved on to become a pharmaceutical sales
representative of the Boots/Dupont company for many years. Then,
I worked in a tertiary hospital as an operations officer where I met my
ex-wife who was a nurse in the hospital. Then again I went back to
work with pharmaceutical companies, and after retiring, I worked as
the operations manager of La Maison, a fine dining restaurant. Now I'm
a trained caregiver looking and waiting for an opportunity to work and
migrate in Canada or in the United States. Throughout all the past
years though, I have never stopped serving my community. Be it
volunteering for disaster relief, poll duty during elections or just giving
out bundles of joy, with my Catholic Christian community, to the less
fortunate during the holiday seasons; all of which I would not have
been the man I am now if I did not have the opportunity to
learn and grow with CWY. So from the bottom of my heart, thank
you all my friends from CWY and thank you, Canada!!!"

Jose De Paula III
RP-CWY 1977-78
Cebu City, Philippines
jepjep_10@yahoo.com

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