Every new year starts a new beginning       

By Joe Larano Jr.

Every January, when the holiday lights are gone and the last echoes of Happy New Year fade into the cold Vancouver air, many Filipino immigrants sit quietly by a window with a cup of coffee, thinking about the road they have walked. It is never an easy path. It is filled with long nights, survival jobs, homesickness, and the steady hope that tomorrow can still be better.

This is the season when simple resolutions are born. Not the dramatic kind, but the honest promises we make to ourselves. To learn a new skill. To work harder. To believe that we deserve more than just getting by. For many overseas Filipino workers and immigrants in Canada, the new year is not about grand celebrations. It is about resetting the heart and mind so we can continue the journey with courage.

For Mark Chua, a thirty-five year old architect from Surigao del Sur, the journey began with a difficult family decision. Mark was already a registered architect with a small practice in his hometown. He designed homes and small commercial and retail spaces. Life was simple but meaningful. Yet as his children grew, the cost of education and the dream of a more secure future weighed heavily on his mind.

After many nights of discussion, the family decided that Mark would go to Canada on a student visa. They spent their savings on school applications, processing fees, travel costs, and living expenses. A part of their residential lot, which was meant to be a future investment, was sold to complete the needed funds. There were no guarantees. Only faith.

Mark landed in Vancouver alone, leaving his wife and children behind in the Philippines. He hoped that when he finally received Permanent Resident status, they would be reunited. The winter was colder than he expected. The city felt distant. But each morning he reminded himself why he was there.

He enrolled in a course related to architecture and construction. Even with his years of experience, he had to adjust to a new system, new standards, and new teaching methods. English was used every day, and the pressure to perform was real. On top of that, immigration rules for international students often changed. Work hours were limited. Sometimes he was allowed only twenty hours a week

Still, Mark did not stop. He studied during the day and worked part time whenever he could. He joined Filipino architects groups in British Columbia, where he met professionals who understood both his skills and his struggles. These connections became very important. They gave job referrals, wrote testimonials for him, and helped him understand how the local industry worked.

Slowly, doors opened. A small architectural office took interest in him. They saw not just a student, but an architectural designer who had real experience and strong work values. What started as a short contract turned into a regular position. For the first time in years, Mark felt that his long sacrifices were beginning to make sense. Every January, he wrote simple goals in his notebook. Improve his skills. Save more money. Prepare documents for Permanent Resident application. These goals were his reminder that his story was not finished yet.

Last year, Mark finally began his application for Permanent Resident status. It was not the end of the journey, but it was a sign that he was moving forward. He called his family in Surigao del Sur and shared the news. For the first time in a long while, their conversations were filled with clear plans, not just hopes.

When asked what the new year means to him now, Mark simply says it is about holding on. Holding on to faith, to patience, and to the belief that every sacrifice has a purpose.

To every kababayan in British Columbia and elsewhere, whether you are in healthcare, construction, hospitality, or still dreaming of returning to your profession, let this new year be your quiet turning point. Sit down with your coffee. Write your goals. Believe in your journey. (contact: jblarano@gmail.com)