Obituary Blog

Norma Pernes Abagon of Seymour Street,Winnipeg, Manitoba was born on May 14, 1967 and died at 12:46 a.m., Monday, January 17, 2011. She died of being electrocuted to the high voltage wire at the age of 43. She died in Winnipeg Health Science Center, surrounded by her only daughter Jessica, family and friends. She is second to the youngest in the family.  Norma was predeceased by her husband Joebert (2000), her father Marcos (2005) and her mother Tiburcia (2007). She is survived by her only daughter, her sister Margie, brother in law Freddie , nephew John Ross, the two foster kids of her sister namely John boy and Christina and many close relatives. It was with regret that she gave up her life, for she dearly wanted more time with her daughter, family and friends. Norma was born in Manila, Philippines. She finished her studies at De Ocampo Memorial College for a degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine on the year of 1990 and passed the Dental board exam on the year 1992. She took her post secondary studies in Herzing College in Canada as a health care aide on the year 2010. She was very friendly to everyone especially with her co-student and co-workers. She was a person that you can rely on when you have problem. Norma met her husband Joebert on the year 1994 in Palau, part of the Caroline Islands, is now an independent nation, and is not considered a part of the Federated States of Micronesia. They really have an intimate relationship with each other, until they finally decided to get married last June 06, 1996 in Marikina City, Philippines. Her husband was a kind-hearted, handsome and lovable and a very friendly person that makes her missed him so much since he passed 10 years ago. They are happily married for more than four years and together they are blessed with their one and only child. Norma had been working in Palau for 10 years, she liked this country for its simple living but then she still prepare to moved  here in Canada for a much better opportunity not only for her but also for her daughter’s future. She was a volunteer as a recreation assistant in Holy Family Home that helps her decide to pursue the Health Care Aide course. Her friends and family will surely remember her for being filled with kindness, a fun loving person, and a dependable colleague. Although not formally trained, Norma loved to sing so for those who were close to her know how hard it was her to keep from singing. She really enjoyed window shopping to different malls, going to movies and play jokes with friends, and had a wonderful smile that could light up a room. The most memorable moment of her life was when she gave birth to her daughter. She can proudly say that she was totally a full pledge woman. There will be a five days burial starting on Tuesday, January 18 up to January 22, 2011 at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in 748 Keewatin St, Winnipeg, Manitoba. The body of Norma will be sent back home in the Philippines on the 23 of January 2011.There will be a family only viewing at the St. Peter Funeral Home on Wednesday January 25, 2011 from 3 pm to 5 pm and a public viewing for friends and relatives from 7 pm until 9 pm. A celebration in her honour in the morning of the burial at 10 am, on the 30th of January 2011 with the procession to the cemetery to immediately follow. Norma will be interred at the Paraiso Memorial Park in the Pernes family pot with her husband Joebert. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Norma’s memory to Bantay Bata 163 of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc 2008, at 31 Mother Ignacia St., Quezon City, Philippines. Norma returned to God from whom she came. Gone yet not forgotten, although we are apart, your spirit lives within me, forever in my heart.

CULTURE AND DIVERSITY: Role of a man in Asian, Africa, Middle Eastern and Northwestern Society

In the Philippines Society, a manhood is not measured on the way he verbally or physically express himself but on the way he conducts himself appropriately under different social interaction. A Filipino man is trained to be gentleman, calm giving and sensitive to others. As a husband, he generally respects that the household belongs to his wife and thus typically provides opinions regarding household issues only if consulted by his spouse. A Filipino man takes pride of his success as a husband and a father based on his ability to provide comfort and financial support to his wife and his children. Since family is an important segment in the Philippine society, He also takes pride in his ability to raised good mannered, educated and successful children. A Filipino man is expected to be the father figure and the personification of emotional and physical strength because he is considered as the post of the house or pillar of the dwelling, figuratively meaning father of the home, the partner of the Filipino woman who takes the role of being the mother of his children and the light of the home.

In Afghanistan society, under such circumstances gender roles necessarily follow defined paths. Male prerogatives reside in family economic welfare, politics, and relationships with outsiders; within the family they are expected to be disciplinarian and providers for aged parents. In Islam, men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more strength than the other and because they support them from their means. Often times, the men are nowhere to be found or they are out making money to support the family. The man is the head of the home if he lives there.

In Saudi Arabia Society, the family was the most important social institution. It is primary basis of identity and status for the individual and the immediate focus of individual loyalty; just it was among those who recognized a tribal affiliation. Usually, a family business was open to participation by sons, uncles and males cousins, and functioned as the social welfare safety net for all members of the extended family. The structure of the family in Saudi Arabia was generally compatible with the structure of tribal lineage. Families were patrilineal, the boundaries of the family membership being drawn around lines of descent through males. Relations with maternal relatives were important, but family identity was tied to the father, and children were considered belong to him and not to the mother. At its narrowest, a family might therefore be defined as comprising a man, his children, and his children’s children through patrilineal descent.

In Canadian society, women and men have equal standing and equal status in terms of explicit rules. Over a twenty-years period there has been a rise in the number of women in the workforce in Canada. This shift has increased father participation in family tasks which is used primarily be the responsibility of the mother. Parental roles are becoming less traditional and the stay- at- home dad arrangement is becoming more common. The number of stay-home-dad has increased by three percent between 1976 and 1998. The average of stay-home-dad in Canada is forty-two. A bill was passed in by the Canadian government in October 1990 which granted paid leave for fathers for the purpose of primary care giving.

Brian Sinclair Case

This is not the accurate portrayal of our Canadian Health Care system because they are developed to provide a quality health care available to all citizens but totally it’s an irony of what it should be.

            I don’t think this is a race issue they only misunderstood Mr. Sinclair because they knew that he is a homeless person and needs a place to stay on. The staff was irresponsible for their duties because the security informed them what happened to him and that contribute a lot for this tragedy to happened.

            With regards to Brian Sinclair case, according to Dr. Balachandra that Mr Sinclair could have been saved by simple catheter change and antibiotics. So if it’s only simple why do Sinclair clinic physicians have to refer him to the Emergency Room physician. Why? Is his job only for consultation? Yes, I even asked my sister but then she said that its true and only prescribed medication and some are through referrals. Okay! So Sinclair went to the Winnipeg Health Science Center to seek medical attention but then he waited for 34 hours. Does the triage nurse don’t even bother to checked if everybody was called or not? It’s really negligence on their job. Why they also allowed people to come there but not for medical reasons. These people are homeless and it's really disgusting because it's a hospital; they should allow only those who come for medical reasons. For his family shame on you, when Mr. Sinclair needs you and you’re not around, he is homeless and sick and now you are going to file a suit for what reasons Mr. Sinclair was dead already or it’s obvious because of the money.