The Philippine Consulate General

Philippine Consulate General

7th Floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 3B5
Tel.: (416) 922.7181
Fax.: (416) 922.2638
Email: consularmatters@philcongen-toronto.com

Direction from the Consulate General to:

the nearest Bus Station:
Eglinton Ave. East at Redpath Ave.
(Bus no. 34A, 34C, 34S, 51, 54A)
Click for direction.
the nearest Train Station:
Eglinton Subway Station (Train No. 1)
Click for direction.
the nearest Post office:
250 A Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P 1K0
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Trade Office

Suite 903, 80 Richmond Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2A4
Tel.: (416) 855.1775
Fax.: (647) 729.5028
Email: toronto@dti.gov.ph

Web : https://www.dti.gov.ph/overseas/toronto/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DTI-Toronto-127477961223211/

Migrant Workers Office (MWO)

2nd Floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 3B5
Tel.: (416) 975.8252
Hotline.: (647) 992-7656

Email- official: mwo_toronto@dmw.gov.ph

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MWOToronto

Social Security System (SSS)

2nd Floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 3B5
Tel.: (416) 485.2999; (416)485.2888
Telefax.: (416) 485.2881
Email: toronto@sss.gov.ph

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ssstoronto/

Pag-IBIG Fund

Email: vo_northamerica@pagibigfund.gov.ph

PR 36-2020

28 July 2020, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto participated in the online celebration of the largest Filipino-Canadian summer event in the City of Vaughan, dubbed as “Vaughan Fiesta Extravaganza 2020 – Virtual Muna”, which was streamed live on Facebook, Youtube, and all MCBN digital platforms on 18 July 2020, with a replay on 26 July 2020. The event was organized by the Filipino-Canadian Association of Vaughan (FCAV), the MCBN Media Group, and the Canadian Heritage, in cooperation with The Filipino Channel (TFC).

Now on its 3rd year, the Vaughan Fiesta Extravaganza, is an annual summer event that celebrates Filipino Heritage Month and promotes multicultural awareness and appreciation. It also recognizes the achievements of Filipino-Canadians who have contributed tremendously to the socio-economic fabric of Canada. This year’s celebration was dedicated to all the Filipino-Canadian frontline and essential workers, and first responders all over the world, with special mention of Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, who is a Canadian of Filipino descent.

The event started with a prayer, followed by the singing of the Philippine and Canadian national anthems, then the Opening Special message from Vaughan City Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. Other Canadian government officials who also sent in their video messages hailing the many contributions of Filipino-Canadians in their riding, especially the generosity of the spirit of frontline and essential workers during these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, were Minister of Parliament (MP) Peter Kent (Vaughan-Thornhill), Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce, Conservative Party Leader Andrew Sheer, and MP Anthony Housefather (Mt. Royal, Montreal Riding).

The video message of Her Excellency Petronila P. Garcia, Philippine Ambassador to Canada, was also featured in the program. In her message, Ambassador Garcia emphasized that the occasion is an opportunity to remember the “members of the Filipino community who count among Canada’s frontline workers and who continue to keep the community safe amidst this pandemic, some of them have made the ultimate sacrifice in fulfillment of their oath to humanity, and we honor them today”.

Consul General Orontes V. Castro likewise participated in the almost 8-hour virtual event with his video message for the Filipino-Canadians. In his remarks, Consul General Castro recognized the achievements of the Filipino-Canadian community and their contributions to the City of Vaughan, as well as the dedication and perseverance of the organizers in bringing the community together through the Fiesta and celebrate Filipino heritage.

The event also featured a tribute to Ms. Erlinda Insigne, the President of FCAV since 1993. It was during her term that the Friendship/Sister City Agreement between the cities of Vaughan and Baguio was signed in 1997. The Educational Exchange Program between the St. Elizabeth Catholic High School in Vaughan and the Baguio City Catholic High School was also established during her term. Under this program, 216 exchange students, parents and teachers went to the Baguio City in July 2000 and 212 exchange students, guardians and teachers from the Philippines visited Vaughan in May 2001.

Other milestones under Ms. Insigne’s term include: the naming of the Philippine Canadian Friendship Parkette; the signing of the City’s grant to FCAV of a 20-year lease of the Patricia Kemp Community Centre, which also later housed the MCBN Media’s Pinoy Radio; the signing of the proclamation of Filipino Day in Vaughan in 2004; and many other fundraising events and programs for seniors.

This year in January, after participating in Winter Escapade 7, Consul General Castro paid a courtesy call on Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong. Also present during the meeting were other officials from Baguio City led by Councillor Leila Sembrano, Ms. Insigne and her husband, Mr. Antonio Insigne. During the meeting, Mayor Magalong emphasized that among his top priorities is the improvement of the economic and cultural ties under the Sister City Twinning Agreement between the City of Baguio and the City of Vaughan. He also presented Consul General Castro with a symbolic key to the City.

MCBN Media Group’s giving back to the community through charity projects in the Philippines, named “Bahay Mo, Sagip Ko”, was also featured during the program.

The celebration showcased non-stop entertainment featuring Filipino talents from different parts of the world. There were home-grown talents from Canada (Toronto, Hamilton, and Montreal), from the USA (New York, New Jersey, and Las Vegas), from Australia (Melbourne), and the Philippines. The fiesta also featured games and prizes from different sponsors were given to the winners. Music videos from the Philippine Department of Tourism and a Philippine band named REtroSPECT, paying tribute to Filipino frontline workers, were also shown in the virtual celebration. –END

flagraising — *An All Filipino band from New Jersey, USA named Sounds of Manila performed Original Pilipino Music (OPM) songs at the virtual fiesta.*

PR 35-2020

24 July 2020 - PCG Toronto officials, led by Consul General Orontes Castro and POLO Toronto Labor Officer Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo, participated in a video conference via ZOOM with Mr. Austine Gaqui, Founding Chairman of the Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association (IFCNA) and Mr. Mark Guinto, Manager, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, Office of the Mayor of Pickering to discuss issues regarding the accreditation of internationally-educated nursing graduates of Filipino ethnic origin in Ontario, Canada on 22 July 2020. The video conference was hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto (PCG Toronto).

Consul General Castro expressed his gratitude to the participants for their efforts to assist Filipino and Filipino-Canadian nursing graduates become accredited nurses in Ontario. Their accreditation as nurses would not only help address the current demand for health workers in Ontario to address the prevailing public health crisis, but also contribute tremendously to improving the living conditions of nursing graduates and their families.

Labor Officer Zozobrado-Nagayo informed the meeting that POLO Toronto is prepared to provide free language training to the nursing graduates as part of their assistance. The virtual meeting also discussed other issues related to the accreditation process of the nursing graduates. – END

PR 32-2020

13 July 2020 - Consul General Orontes Castro, other PCG Toronto officials and POLO Toronto Labor Officer Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo, held a video conference via ZOOM with officials of Filipino professional organizations in Ontario on 11 July 2020. The meeting was attended by several Filipino-Canadian professionals belonging to various organizations, including the Association of Filipino Canadian Accountants (AFCA), Association of Filipino Canadian Engineers (AFCE), Filipino Construction Professionals of Ontario (FilConPro), Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association (IFCNA), Philippine Teachers Association of Canada (PTAC), United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) and a representative from the Physiotherapists group in Ontario.

The officials of the organizations briefed the conference on the respective backgrounds of their organizations, their membership composition, the different concerns and challenges faced by Filipino professionals in Ontario and other provinces in Canada, including the accreditation of their education and work credentials, the services offered by the organizations to their members and to the Filipino Community, as well as the various events and programs they have sponsored over the past years.

Consul General Castro, in his remarks, thanked the participating organizations for their presentations and assistance to the Filipino and Filipino-Canadian professionals working in Ontario, the newly-arrived Filipino professionals, and to the larger Filipino Community. He said that it is very important to address issues regarding the accreditation of Filipino professionals in the province to help uplift the welfare of the concerned professionals and their families as well as ease the transition process for other professionals.

Labor Officer Zozobrado-Nagayo provided a brief background on the functions and jurisdiction of POLO-Toronto and updates on the assistance her office had provided to OFWs in Ontario and other provinces in Canada, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also mentioned that her Office is also working on a Memorandum of Understanding on Labor/Manpower Cooperation between the Philippines and Ontario.

The conference also discussed a Memorandum of Cooperation among the Filipino professional organizations that outlines some channels of collaboration and provides guidance on future activities and programs. – END

PR 33-2020

16 July 2020, Toronto, Canada – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto hosted a Zoom teleconference on 16 July 2020 with members of the Toronto Organizing Committee (TOC) to discuss updates on the preparations for the celebration of the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines. The Consulate General and the TOC has had three (3) meetings prior to the declaration of a state of emergency in Toronto brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Present at the virtual meeting were members of the Toronto Organizing Committee (TOC) chaired by Reverend Father Sherwin M. Holandez, Parish Pastor of the Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) Church in Toronto, members of the El Shaddai-DWXI PPFI Toronto Chapter, headed by Council of Elders Sister Theresa Jose, and Mr. Garry Tanuan, Trustee of Ward 8 of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). TCDSB and El Shaddai were invited to the meeting to explore possible areas of cooperation in connection with the religious component of the Quincentennial celebrations in Toronto, as well as to encourage the active participation of young Filipino-Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Rev. Father Holandez mentioned that the Archdiocese of Toronto approved TOC’s taking the lead in the religious component of the quincentenary celebrations in Toronto. Father Holandez also updated the group on the preparations for the launch, as well as the various planned activities leading to the main events for the 2021 Quincentennial celebrations. He also agreed with the proposal to conduct an interfaith prayer to highlight the presence of other denominations and harmony among them in Philippine society. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the launch, initially scheduled for August 2020, has been moved to 3 October 2020. The kick-off celebration will be a pre-recorded Mass, either at OLA Church or at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, and a short program, which will all be made accessible on YouTube.

Other planned events at the Parish-level are the Living Rosary in October 2020, Simbang Gabi from 16 to 24 December 2020, and Kumpisalang Bayan, Visita Iglesia and Lenten activities in March 2021. Fr. Holandez also mentioned about a Filipino-Canadian Conference on New Evangelization in May 2021, with the theme “Filipino-Canadian Families and Young People Walking with Jesus”, with Fr. Jerry Orbos as proposed speaker, as well as a conference in July 2021 for the Filipino-Canadian religious, consecrated persons and associates, and a Talk with families, youth and lay groups. His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has been invited as Guest Speaker in this Talk, as well as to celebrate the Mass with the participants. A grand Fiesta sa Nayon featuring food and traditions from different regions of the Philippines is also being planned. TOC is also working on a PH500 Souvenir Program project. A Mass to be celebrated by Cardinal Thomas Collins of the Archdiocese of Toronto, will be the highlight of the Closing Celebration in August 2021. It was also mentioned that the TOC is in the process of engaging Filipino-Canadian religious and secular communities as event convenors, to assist in the above-mentioned planned events.

Consul General Castro informed the group about a proposed art contest and exhibition depicting the quincentennial jubilee of Christianity, which will be a project of Sentro Rizal Toronto, in collaboration with the TCDSB. The contest and exhibition will be open to students from Catholic elementary and secondary schools in Toronto.

Trustee Tanuan and Sister Jose expressed delight on the opportunity to be a part of the quincentennial celebrations. The former committed to support the TOC in reaching out to the youth, through its 92,000 Catholic students in Toronto and Filipino-Canadian staff in the Board. El Shaddai also pledged support to the celebrations. Sister Jose mentioned that 2021 is also a big year for them as they will host in July 2021 the USA-Canada-Europe El Shaddai Anniversary event. They have invited Bishop Ted Bacani and Brother Mike Velarde from the Philippines.

Consul General Castro ended the meeting with the assurance of the Consulate General’s support and active participation in the events leading up to the Quincentennial commemoration in 2021. END

PR 31 - 2020

09 July 2020 Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto officials, led by Consul General Orontes Castro, paid tribute to two prominent Filipino-Canadians who made significant contributions in promoting Filipino culture and identity in Markham City and providing assistance to Filipino nationals.
Consul General Castro presented certificates of appreciation to Mr. Ignacio “Mogi” Mogado, sculptor, and to former Markham City Councillor Alex Chiu, at a ceremony held in Mr. Chiu’s residence in Markham City on 26 June 2020. Mr. Mogado created the six feet tall, bronze statue of Dr. Rizal, now standing at the Luneta Gardens, Boxgrove Community Park in Markham City. As Councillor of Markham City for 33 years and leader of various organizations, Mr. Chiu organized and directed numerous programs and activities that made Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians proud of their heritage. He led the naming of Rizal Avenue, Manila Avenue and Luzon Avenue in Markham City, in honor of the national hero of the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rizal, the Capital City of the Philippines, Manila, and the largest and most populous island in the Philippines, Luzon, respectively. Mr. Chiu was also responsible for raising funds to install the life-size statue of Dr. Rizal at the Luneta Gardens, Markham City. He also assisted in establishing a “Rainbow Center” in the City to address the concerns of Filipino household service workers as early as 1987. Messrs. Chiu and Mogado are both Knights Commander of Rizal of the Knights of Rizal (KOR) Markham Chapter.
Also in attendance at the event were Deputy Consul General Edna May Lazaro, Consul Edwin Gil Mendoza, Cultural Officer Cecile Santos, Alicia, Mr. Chiu’s wife, Cherry-Marie, Mr. Chiu’s daughter, Sir Jose “Joe” Damasco, KGOR, Regional Commander of the KOR Canada Region, Sir Jimmy Marasigan, KGOR, Adviser of KOR Canada Region, and Yolanda Ladines, President of the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians. -END