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2ND FILIPINO-CANADIAN PROFESSIONALS CONVENTION HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF FILIPINO PROFESSIONALS  IN CREDENTIALS RECOGNITION

The organizing committee of the 2nd Filipino-Canadian Professionals Convention with Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada Marc Miller (5th from left), Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini (7th from left) and Consul General Angelica Escalona (6th from left)

28 October 2023 - More than 100 Filipino-Canadian professionals attended the second Filipino-Canadian Professionals Convention held at the auditorium of the Improve Canada shopping complex in Vaughan, Ontario.

The event was organized by 11 Filipino-Canadian professional groups representing accountants, teachers, nurses, physiotherapists, engineers, architects, realtors, construction professionals, dentists, dental hygienists and former law enforcement officers, in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in Toronto (UPAAT).

With the theme “Continuing Integration of Filipino Professionals in Canada for Growth”, the convention aims to facilitate information sharing and networking to address barriers to credential recognition of Filipino professionals in Canada.

The event began with remarks from Eng. Gil Galang, Convention Chairperson and President of the Association of Filipino Canadian Engineers, and Philippine Consul General in Toronto Angelica Escalona.

Speakers include the Honorable Marc Miller, PC MP, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the Honorable David Piccini, MPP, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development of Ontario. Minister Piccini said, “Good public policy relies on us working closely together to improve your journey here in Canada”. Minister Miller encouraged Filipino professionals to hold their politicians accountable. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to us and your MPs if you feel your voice is no being heard,” he said.

Philippine officials who provided messages include Professional Regulation Commission Chair Charito A. Zamora and Commission on Higher Education CHED Chairman J. Prospero de Vera III.

The event featured two resource persons. Ms. Connie Manzo, Accreditation Specialist at Social Enterprise for Canada, talked about the process of obtaining a professional license in Canada from the viewpoint of a non-profit that assists newcomers in Canada. Mr. Gregory Wowchuck, President – elect of the Association of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), shared the perspective of a regulatory body. He noted that Canada is unique in that its professions self-regulate, and that it is in the interest of every practitioner to ensure that the public receive the best quality of service.

An open forum capped the convention. The resource persons were joined by Consul General Escalona, Engr. Galang and Director Morgan Owen of the Immigration Policy and Strategic Initiatives Branch, Ontario Ministry Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Highlighted during the open forum were the availability of multiple support programs for newcomers and internationally educated professionals, the importance of mentorship by professionals in one’s field, and active participation of the professionals themselves, through their respective regulatory bodies and politicians, in helping shape policies that affect their professions. (END)

Participants during the convention

Minister Miller (left) and Minister Piccini (right) delivering their remarks

Left to right: Open forum participants Director Morgan Owen of the Ontario Ministry Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Mr. Gregory Wowchuck of the Association of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), Ms. Connie Manzo of Social Enterprise for Canada, Convention Chair Eng. Gil Galang and Consul General Escalona

Minister Piccini presents a congratulatory scroll from Ontario Premier Doug Ford to Consul General Escalona

Consul General Escalona and Engr. Galang present Plaques of Appreciation to the resource persons

Participants posing for a group photo with the organizers and resource persons 

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 PHILIPPINE CONSULATE JOINS 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF CITY OF VAUGHAN-BAGUIO CITY FRIENDSHIP

Deputy Consul General Kerwin Tate (3rd from right) cuts the ceremonial cake with City of Vaughn Deputy Mayor Linda Jackson (in blue) and other government officials

28 October 2023 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto joined the Filipino-Canadian Association of Vaughan in celebrating the 26th Anniversary of the signing of the Friendship Agreement between the City of Vaughan in Ontario and Baguio City in the Philippines. Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville Tate represented the Consulate General at the anniversary celebration. Deputy Mayor of Vaughan Linda Jackson, along with Laura Smith, MPP for Thornhill, Mario Racco, Regional Councilor, City of Vaughan; and Gila Martow, Councilor, City of Vaughan were in attendance at the event. The Friendship Agreement was signed in 1997 by then-Mayor Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City and then-Mayor Lorna Jackson of the City of Vaughan (Linda Jackson is the daughter of Mayor Jackson). Since the signing of the Friendship Agreement, Vaughan and Baguio City officials have exchanged several visits, the last being a trip to Baguio City by a Vaughan government delegation in May 2023. The city governments of Vaughan and Baguio plan to update and expand on the Agreement, to expand economic cooperation and academic exchanges between the two cities. END

Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville Tate with the officers and members of the Filipino-Canadian Association of Vaughan

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PHILIPPINE CONSUL GENERAL INDUCTS NEW PHILIPPINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE-TORONTO OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Consul General Angelica C. Escalona inducting the new PCCT officers and board of directors

28 October 2023 – Philippine Consul General Angelica C. Escalona inducted the new Executive Officers and Board of Directors (2023-2024) of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto (PCCT) during its gala night at the Rembrandt Banquet Hotel in Scarborough, Ontario. The PCCT currently has around 200 members consisting of small and medium enterprises. During her remarks, Consul General Escalona encouraged the PCCT to see how it can make use of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy as a framework to achieve some of its goals. She reiterated the Consulate’s support to the Chamber in working towards the success of Filipino-owned businesses and greater economic activity between the Philippines and Canada.

The PCCT officers and board of directors with Ontario Minister for Seniors and Disability Raymond Cho, Ontario Minister for Education Stephen Lecce and Consul General Escalona 

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82 JOB SEEKERS JOIN JOB FAIR ORGANIZED BY

FILIPINO-CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL  ORGANIZATIONS 

Job seekers lining up for interviews by the participating companies

27 October 2023 – Filipino-Canadian professional organizations, in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Toronto, organized a job fair at the auditorium of the Improve Canada shopping complex in Vaughan, Ontario.

The job fair was held in conjunction with the 2nd Filipino-Canadian Professionals Convention in Ontario that was held the following day in the same venue. It is part of the efforts of the Consulate and Filipino-Canadian professional organizations to address the barriers to credentials recognition of Filipino professionals in Canada. Philippine Consul General in Toronto Angelica C. Escalona and officials of the Filipino-Canadian professional organizations led by Engr. Gil Galang, Chair of the Convention, officially opened the job fair.

According to Consul General Escalona, “This is an excellent opportunity for our Filipino professionals and international students to obtain information and contacts. This is a way for all stakeholders to help each other”.

There were ten participating companies representing the construction, engineering, architecture, accounting, education and health sectors. Also at the job fair were a non-profit group helping newcomers settle in Ontario and the Migrant Workers Office-Toronto.

A total of 82 job seekers joined the job fair, including many Filipino international students and their dependents who have open work permits. “I truly appreciate the opportunity this job fair provides. It also allowed us to connect with successful people and professionals who are willing to support and mentor aspiring professionals here in Canada. The event was not only informative but also highly motivating,” one of the job seekers said. (END)

Consul General Angelica C. Escalona (center) and heads of the Filipino-Canadian professional organizations at the ribbon cutting ceremony Consul General Escalona (center) and Convention Chair Engr. Gil Galang (3rd from left) presenting a certificate of appreciation to one of the participating companies