{"id":64057,"date":"2015-10-30T23:55:04","date_gmt":"2015-10-31T04:55:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=64057"},"modified":"2015-11-02T22:58:07","modified_gmt":"2015-11-03T04:58:07","slug":"a-wider-perspective-in-life-rowena-rozal-zamora","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2015\/10\/30\/a-wider-perspective-in-life-rowena-rozal-zamora\/","title":{"rendered":"A Wider Perspective In Life: Rowena Rozal-Zamora"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Husband<\/a>
Husband and wife, Rowena and Virgilio Zamora<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Born in the quiet province of Tarlac, Rowena Rozal grew up in a big family. Together with her five siblings, her parents provided them with more than just food and a roof over their head.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy parents provided us with a unique foundation in life with their wisdom and profound insight of the human soul,\u201d Rowena said. \u201cThey instilled in us to be kind, compassionate and forgiving\u2014values that remain resonate in our hearts and mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she grew up and started to go through life as a young woman, finding herself in the process, Rowena clung even tighter to the values her parents instilled in her.<\/p>\n

After earning her nursing degree from the University of Santo Tomas and getting her license as a registered nurse, she decided to seek employment abroad for a chance at a better life. It was when was working in Qatar when she applied to immigrate to Canada. But an opportunity to move to Canada wasn\u2019t the only thing she found in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

Worth the wait<\/strong>
\nRowena met her husband Virgilion Zamora while she was working in Qatar. Rowena admits she got restless because it took so long for her immigration application to be approved. Her restlessness led her to find a job in Florida, USA. It was in Florida that they received an immigration update from Canada.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe decided to take our chances, packed and crammed our worldly belongings in a cube van and drove up to Toronto,\u201d Rowena recalled.<\/p>\n

That was 22 years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we tell people that we came from Florida but decided to live in Canada, there is disbelief that we moved from a sunny place to a cold and freezing country. So what made us make the move?\u201d Rowena shared. \u201cNot what my husband jokingly tell people\u2014that I like wearing a hat, gloves and a fashionable coat\u2014but that Canada, especially Toronto, is a big place but has the small town feel that I am comfortable with.\u201d<\/p>\n

She adds, \u201cI felt the warmth of the people and instinctly knew that I can grow and mature while being able to hold on to the values instilled in me by my parents.\u201d<\/p>\n

The friends of Rowena\u2019s brother and sister-in-law graciously welcomed them when they arrived in Canada and helped them get on their feet when they landed. \u201c[They] were kind enough to welcome us and offer us advice on being new immigrants. They eventually became one of our closest friends as we were honoured with being the godparents of their children,\u201d Rowena said.<\/p>\n

Being a registered nurse with experience, Rowena didn\u2019t have a hard time finding a job. But it was a challenge for her husband. \u201cIt was not the same for him with a degree in the sciences,\u201d Rowena explained. \u201cFor the first few years I was juggling three jobs and he [had two] jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite having multiple jobs to sustain their new life in the Great White North, Rowena and Virgilion made it a point to make time for each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made it a point [to make] time together, even if it was just seeing each other while coming off one job and going on to the next,\u201d she recalled. \u201cWhen we eventually got a car, he would drop me off or pick me up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Rowena works as a Registered Nurse at the Critical Care Unit of the Hospital for Sick Children (Sickkids) in Toronto.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started working in the CCU, I was the only other Filipino-Canadian RN in the unit,\u201d she recalls. \u201cBeing new in the country, I felt I needed someone who understood what I was experiencing and will give me a good insight on the work environment. At the start I was shy and quiet while quickly absorbing the work culture. The expectations from me were high and I felt the pressure to prove myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite getting restless while waiting for their immigration status, Rowena believes it was all worth the wait. Not only did they find better opportunities in Canada eventually, but they also had a newfound appreciate of each other as husband and wife.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband has been very supportive with all my endeavours in my career and education. He encouraged me to finish my Master\u2019s Degree when I began to lose interest and energy,\u201d she said. \u201cHe also has not lost sight of the fact that to be able to have a meaningful career, he has to supplement his degree with educational courses that will provide him the leverage needed to advance to a better job opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rowena<\/a>
Rowena with her family in Canada<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Best Thing About Canada is\u2026<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe best thing about life in Canada is the people,\u201d Rowena says.<\/p>\n

She adds, \u201cAs my late mother observed and experienced while living here for a short period, the people are warm, welcoming and compassionate to their fellow human beings regardless of where they come from and their [beliefs].\u201d<\/p>\n

Rowena is also very appreciative of Canada\u2019s universal healthcare system\u2014something she personally encounters with several people on a day-to-day basis as a nurse.<\/p>\n

\u201cUniversal health care is the other best thing about life in Canada. Being in healthcare, I have the inside knowledge on the excellent quality of care that Canadians get that is not compromised by the cost.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite finding better opportunities in Canada, Rowena can\u2019t help but miss home, especially Filipino food.<\/p>\n

\u201cI miss the life that we had while growing up. I miss [everyday] conversations with my family,\u201d she beamed. \u201cI miss the food peddled by hawkers\u2014fish ball, turon, banana cue, \u2018dirty\u2019 ice cream, fried mani (peanuts). We can get those here, but it is not the same as we cannot stand or sit at the sidewalk while chomping and chatting with friends. I miss the afternoon naps and waking up to a merienda of hot kakanin (rice delicacies) and a bottle of [soda].\u201d<\/p>\n

Her new life in Canada is filled with new experiences and exciting opportunities, which she openly welcomes with \u201cthe knowledge that [she has] a sound and solid foundation from [her] education and experience in the Philippines. With this strength, [she] evolved into a better clinician with a newfound confidence in [her] abilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rowena<\/a>
Rowena Zamora with colleagues, Elisa Cercado and Craig Campbell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pinay and Proud<\/strong>
\n\u201cWhen we came to Canada we did not have family here,\u201d Rowena recalls. \u201cNow, my brother and his family as well as my cousins are here. We keep in touch on a regular basis with \u201cfam-jams\u201d as this is a way of keeping our heritage and legacy alive for the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rowena explains that their \u2018fam-jams\u2019 often include stories about the way of life in the Philippines, delicious Filipino food, \u201cand anything related to Philippine life to broaden the young generation\u2019s understanding and appreciation of [the Filipino] heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are proud to share with Canadians who appreciate the unique taste of Filipino cuisine,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n

Rowena and her husband also frequent Filipino festivals organized by Filipino communities \u201cas a way of showing [their] support and solidarity with kababayans.\u201d She adds, \u201cWe have widened our circle of friends with Filipino-Canadians who have enriched our lives and who have kept us connected with the wider Filipino-Canadian community.\u201d<\/p>\n

At work, Rowena continues to exhibit the values her parents taught her, as well as her general upbringing in the Philippines.<\/p>\n

She says, \u201cWith my Filipino background and heritage, I was able to relate well with an international audience that had similar cultural and social background\u2026 This job has given me the chance to be involved in global health care. I had the opportunity to share my knowledge with other healthcare providers in Qatar as a Subject Matter Expert and Clinical Instructor under Sickkids International.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy job as paediatric RN in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) has given me the opportunity to take care of the \u2018sickest of the sick.\u2019 It is a demanding and stressful job, but the rewards are immeasurable,\u201d she said. \u201cTelling parents that I will be taking care of their child comes with an enormous responsibility that I do not take lightly. Whatever the outcome of their child\u2019s stay in the CCU, they leave knowing that their child received the very best of care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rowena<\/a>
Rowena with her family in Canada<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Life-Changing Opportunities
\n<\/strong>After 22 years, Rowena says, \u201cCanada has given me a home away from home.\u201d<\/p>\n

She continues, \u201cMoving here has widened my perspective of life, exposed me to cultures that enriched my adult life, provided the social milieu that made me grow as a person, and affirmed my belief that there is goodness in every one. The generosity of Canadians to the less fortunate never fails to move me and encourages me to be as altruistic and selfless.\u201d<\/p>\n

For those who are thinking of moving to Canada for good, or for those who just arrived at the Great White North in search of a better life for themselves and their families, Rowena has a few words of wisdom.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is easy to forget or compromise your values when you are trying to integrate into a new society, [but] you should remain strong and steadfast in holding on to those values inculcated in you by your parents and family,\u201d Rowena points out, adding that a strong faith in whatever religion you have, and values like loyalty, fidelity, selfless devotion to family, strong work ethics, and respect are all important traits to have when making a new life\u2014anywhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour brain or mind should be like a sponge\u2014absorb everything\u2014but at the same time be like a sieve so you can filter out that which makes you less,\u201d she says about work, explaining that setting a career goal for yourself will also be helpful to keep you on track and not be overwhelmed with all the changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe ambitious but temper it with realism and common sense\u2026 Perseverance is a key to success. Do not throw in the towel at the first sign of failure\u2026 Take risks but do so responsibly\u2026 Lastly, remind yourself that you are a Filipino and a Canadian and with that in mind you are already truly a success.\u201d<\/p>\n

All photos courtesy of Rowena Rozal-Zamora<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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