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PR-2021-60

18 October 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto is pleased to inform that a consular team led by Consul General Orontes V. Castro conducted the Consular Outreach Mission in Mississauga, Ontario on 16 October 2021.

The Overseas Filipino applicants were thankful to the consular team for undertaking the outreach mission and for providing consular and other services to Overseas Filipinos in Mississauga. The consular outreach mission was supported by the Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre (KCCC) led by its President, Mr. Resty Del Rosario and Ms. Judy Montenegro, Vice President for Operations and Programs.

The other members of the Consular Team were: Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague and Consular Assistants Marilyn Galanza, Cecilia Santos, Sarah Amihan-de Guzman, Errol Reyes, and Dennis Escobido.

A total of 145 consular services were extended to Overseas Filipinos in Mississauga.

Another Consular Outreach Missions are scheduled this week and in November this year in the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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Please click the following links to set an appointment: https://dfaincanada.com/tor/outreach-appointment/id/7a946274-261f-11ec-9ba5-765c75f6d58a/overview

1. For the Passport’s list of requirements, please click the link: http://www.philcongen- toronto.com/consular/consular_passport.php
2. For Dual Citizenship, please send your applications and required documents through email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Subject of email: Consular Outreach in Barrie, Ontario)
   For Dual Citizenship application form and list of requirements, please click the link: http://www.philcongen-toronto.com/consular/consular_dual.php
3. For Notarial, Authentication services appointments and all other inquiries, please send your email to – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
   For the list of requirements and downloadable legal document forms, please click this link: http://www.philcongentoronto.com/consular/consular_notarial.php
4. For Overseas Voting Registration – please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .Please bring a copy of your valid Philippine passport or a copy of the Oath of Allegiance or Identification Certificate if dual citizen.

For applicants of passport and notarial services, please bring a self-addressed pre-paid Canada Post Express Envelope and cash payment for the consular fee.  

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PR-2021-59

16 October 2021, Toronto – This year’s successful celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia or INA, the Patroness of the Bicol Region, was held in Scarborough in Toronto on Saturday, 18 September 2021.

The officers and members of the Bicol Canada Community Organization (BCCA), headed by its President Earl Francis Dacara, organized the whole day event celebration, which coincided with the festivities held in Naga City in the Philippines. There was the Translacion or procession of Our Lady of Peñafrancia at the Bluffers Park Marina, a fluvial or yacht parade along Bluffers Park Lane, and the Holy Mass in the evening at the Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) Parish in Bathurst, Toronto.

According to BCCA President Dacara, the annual celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia has been practiced in Canada for more than 15 years now. It is one way of enriching the Catholic faith. Pre-pandemic, there were an estimated 400 to 500 devotees in attendance but now it has been limited to 100 religious due to health protocols in effect in Canada. In Naga City, they use bancas for the fluvial procession but in Canada they use boats and yachts. This year’s celebration, with the support of the Black First Yacht Club, saw 12 yachts parading. The Black First Yacht Club is a member of both the BCCA and the Bluffers Park Yacht Club in Scarborough, and has included the annual feast in its programmed activities.

The annual festivity honoring the Queen of Bicol shows the extraordinary devotion and love of the devotees to Mother Mary. According to Mr. Dacara, it is also one way for Bicolanos in Canada to get-together and celebrate and enrich their faith, as well as celebrate the Filipino culture and tradition.

Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined the many devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia at he Holy Mass capping all the events of the religious celebration. The Mass was celebrated by Reverend Monsignor Edgardo Pan of St. Rose of Lima Parish, together with OLA Pastor, Reverend Father Lorenzo Salandanan, and OLA priests Reverend Fathers Norberto Eyule and Joseph Baal.

After the Mass, Consul General Castro presented the Consul General’s Quincentennial Awards to BCCA President Dacara, Father Lorenzo Salandanan (Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Assumption Church), and Reverend Monsignor Edgardo Pan for their invaluable effort and activities to foster unity among the Filipino Community and continued support to the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto. - END

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PR-2021-56

30 September 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto is pleased to inform that The Honourable, Member of Parliament-elect Rechie Valdez, a member of the Liberal Party and the first Filipino Canadian woman to be elected in the Canadian Parliament (The House of Commons of Canada) representing the riding (equivalent to a legislative district) of Mississauga-Streetsville, visited today the Consulate General’s office at Eglinton Avenue East, City of Toronto.

Consul General Orontes V. Castro warmly welcomed MP-elect Valdez, who was accompanied by her daughter Cassidy, parents Mr. Zosimo I. Salazar Jr. and Ms. Normita B. Salazar, parents-in-law Mr. Crispino Valdez and Ms. Lerma S. Valdez, and Legislative Executive Assistant Mr. Ajay Rakhra.

In his welcome remarks, Consul General Castro said that he joined the entire Filipino community in Canada in congratulating MP-elect Valdez on her exceptional accomplishment of winning as Member of Parliament in last week’s parliamentary election in Canada. It was also noted that after seventeen (17) years, the Filipinos have a strong voice and an advocate in the Canadian Parliament. With her election victory, MP-elect Valdez becomes the first Filipino Canadian woman to win a seat in the Canadian Parliament and second since Mr. Rey Pagtakhan of Winnipeg-North in 2004. MP-elect Valdez’ achievement became an inspiration and a role model to young boys and girls.

Consul General Castro also noted that MP-elect Valdez’ campaign focused on environment and fighting climate change, investing in women entrepreneurs, advancing pay-equity legislation, continuing health care investment, and supporting first-time home buyers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.

In her reply, MP-elect Valdez started her remarks by land acknowledgment and reminding that today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada where “we honor the lost children and survivors of Residential Schools, their families and communities.” She conveyed her thanks for the visit to the Consulate General and said: “It is not a coincidence that I was elected on this particular year when we celebrate the Quincentennial Anniversary. So first and foremost, I would like to praise the Lord our God who made this possible. We all know how big of a moment this is for our community and what this election meant to us. I want you all to understand that this is not just about me or about us here. It’s about what this means for our Filipino Community as a whole and that finally we have a voice in Parliament.”
For her exceptional accomplishment, the Consulate General presented MP-elect Valdez the Quincentennial Award as her election victory coincides with this year’s Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines. END-