AJ Mandani: Bigger Than Basketball
AJ Mandani has played the game at the highest levels. From college basketball in Missouri to pro leagues in Indonesia and Thailand, his journey was full of highs and lows. But after 14 years away, missing birthdays, holidays, and milestones, AJ found a new reason to come home. That reason was family. More specifically, his […]
Where Music Begins: Anjo’s Story at Long & McQuade
Every Filipino musician in Canada has a Long & McQuade story. Mine began 20 years ago. We had no budget, just a head full of melodies and dreams that needed mics, an audio interface, and a stand. We found everything—plus a little encouragement—at Long & McQuade. It’s more than a music store. It’s a launchpad. […]
Where the City Pauses: A Poetic Walk Through The Beaches
In the heart of Toronto’s relentless rhythm lies a rare kind of silence—gentle, salty, and lined with sand. Welcome to The Beaches, where time slows down, and the waves whisper stories older than the skyline. Once called the Ashbridge Estate in the 1800s, this lakeside neighborhood began as farmland and fishing grounds. By 1868, with the […]
Tropang Ilonggo: April Cabrias and the Taste of Grit, Garlic, and Gratitude
In a quiet commercial strip in the Greater Toronto Area, a humble kitchen simmers with stories of resilience, family, and Ilonggo flavor. This is Tropang Ilonggo—a restaurant built not just from scratch, but from pure heart and late-night teamwork. And at the center of it all is April Cabrias, whose journey from food festivals to full-fledged […]
Craving Comfort, Finding Compassion: Filbert & Rosary at Buddha’s Vegan
What do you get when you combine vegan nostalgia, Chinese comfort food, and good company? A warm, flavorful episode of Crave and Company—this time featuring Filbert and Rosary as they dine at Buddha’s Vegan Restaurant, a modest but mighty gem tucked in downtown Toronto. For Filbert, who has been vegan for over a decade, Buddha’s is more […]
Thrive in Canada: How Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities Is Redefining Health Care for Newcomers and Families
In Canada, especially in fast-growing urban areas like Scarborough, healthcare is more than checkups and prescriptions. It’s also about housing, food access, mental well-being, and a sense of belonging. On this episode of Thrive in Canada, host Cherie Mercado sits down with Mesh Marxa and Mimi Domano of the Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) to unpack how healthcare has evolved—especially for newcomers, seniors, and […]
The Sound We Inherited: Anjo’s Journey Back to the Beat that Started It All
Imagine this: 1970s Manila. The country was under martial law, the streets were tense, and yet—out of that pressure cooker of politics and passion—something bright, cheeky, and unbelievably catchy came alive. They called it Manila Sound. Growing up in Canada, I didn’t quite know what to call the songs I’d hear in my parents’ cassette tapes […]
Reggae Feels Na Malamang Miss Mo!
Krownless Kings – Cloud Nine (Live) After years apart, Krownless Kings reunite for an unforgettable performance—only on OPM LIVE STREAM! Feel the vibe as they bring back the love and the reggae feels with their classic hit “Cloud Nine”—a song about love, longing, and floating above it all. It’s not just a comeback—it’s a full-circle […]
Ali Nizam: From Pain to Purpose at Core Basketball
There’s a rhythm to Ali Nizam’s voice on the court (part coach, part motivator, part older brother). But behind the drills and instruction is a story rooted in adversity. Ali grew up facing brokenness, disappointment, and instability. The basketball court became more than a game. It was an escape, a space where he could release […]
Thrive in Canada: Why Therapy Needs to Speak Your Language: Mental Health for Immigrants in Canada
Moving to a new country is life-changing—but not always in the ways people expect. For immigrants and long-time residents alike, adjusting to Canadian life can bring stress, anxiety, identity struggles, and emotional burnout. In this episode of Thrive in Canada, host Cherie Mercado sits down with Claudia Jones and Teresa Salazar—registered therapists and founders of Well Journey Services—to talk about mental health, […]