STOUGHTON - Kirscen Rulloda moved to Canada from Manila, a city that has nearly two million people.
He moved here after his mother Juvi had already settled with Rulloda's older sister Ferlyn and two younger brothers, Isaiah and Justin, and his stepfather Wade Caliba.
Landing in Regina on Feb. 8, 2016, he saw the snow but didn't think it was going to be extremely cold. He was wrong when he stepped outside.
Coming from such a large city, he wondered where they were taking his family when they went to Heward.
“It was in the middle of nowhere,” said Rulloda.
And being from a big city, Rulloda had never seen a cow, pigs or the vast wildlife here, and he was overwhelmed with the beauty of it all.
“I had never seen a round bale of hay or how cows were fed,” he said. “We never left the city, and everything was concrete, and here there is open land, trees and green grass.”
“It is such a breath of fresh air here to live in Saskatchewan," he sadded.
Rulloda completed his Grade 12 at the Stoughton Central School. This was another shock to him as the school he went to in Manila has 40 kids in a class and there are six classes for the one age group. When he saw the small classes here, it was a surprise. During his graduation year, he began to work at the Stoughton Meat Market. He remained there for two years, and he said he learned a great deal from owner Erin Clark.
In 2018, he started to work the night shift at the Poplar Tree Inn, and in 2021 started at Stought’s Eatery as the evening supervisor.
These two jobs also taught him a lot, and when the manager at the Poplar Tree Inn received other employment, he became the manager.
His responsibilities increased a great deal, including scheduling, ordering and hiring staff, but it was something he really enjoyed.
Recently the Poplar Tree Inn and Stought’s Eatery were sold, and he felt the new owners had everything under control. The recreation director job for the Town of Stoughton was posted, and he was hired. Having worked the position for a month, he feels that this is a welcome change and it is very different work.
Rulloda is responsible for the curling rink, golf course, swimming pool and the arena.
With ice issues in Weyburn, that city called Stoughton and Rulloda quickly jumped into action, making sure the natural ice in the Stoughton rink could be used.
Usually, the ice is not available at the arena until later in the month, but it was necessary to help out.
Each group has their own board, but Rulloda wants to make sure that these boards know that he is available to help and offer guidance if needed.
He will be applying for grants, hiring staff for all areas and looking for volunteers to help.
“I hope to help get our community together,” he said. “I plan in the future to have more programs for the children and seniors.”
Right now, he is settling into his new role and making plans for the future.
