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Consul General Angelica Escalona and Niagara Falls City Mayor Jim Diodati at the awarding ceremony of the OFCAS Niagara Basketball League

17 December 2023 – Philippine Consul General in Toronto Angelica Escalona attended the championship game of the Ontario Festival of Culture, Arts and Sports (OFCAS) Niagara Basketball League that was held at Stamford Collegiate High School in Niagara Falls City, Ontario. The league saw 12 teams competing this season.

The Consul General and Niagara Falls City Mayor Jim Diodati were among those who presented awards for the winning teams and most valuable players in each division.

In her remarks during the awarding ceremony, Consul General Escalona said, “When I was invited to attend, I did not hesitate because we are celebrating World Basketball Day in a few days and we Filipinos love basketball”. She noted that the Philippines initiated a World Basketball Day resolution at the United Nations General Assembly. Adopted in August of this year, the resolution proclaimed December 21 as World Basketball Day in recognition of basketball’s global popularity and its ability to promote peace, empowerment and health.

Consul General Escalona commended the basketball players, referees and organizers of the OFCAS Niagara Basketball League and encouraged them to continue holding friendly basketball competitions in the future. The league sought the Philippine Consulate General’s support in inviting basketball teams from the Greater Toronto Area for friendly competitions next year. END

Action at the court on the final day of the OFCAS Niagara Basketball League

Consul General Escalona, Mayor Diodati and members of the Filipino community cheering for the teams 

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Left to right: Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague, Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville Tate, Consul General Angelica C. Escalona, Prof. Lisa Philips, Dr. Patrick Alcedo, Dir. Helen Balderama and Dr. Ethel Tungohan.

01 December 2023 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto met with York University to discuss opportunities for collaboration for 2024. Discussed were possible research projects, lecture series and arts and cultural projects to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Philippines-Canada bilateral relations next year.

Present during the meeting were Consul General Angelica C. Escalona, Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville Tate and Consul Rodney Jonas L. Sumague for the Consulate General and Prof. Lisa Philips, Provost and Vice President for Academic, Dr. Ethel Tungohan, Associate Professor, Department of Politics; Dr. Patrick Alcedo, Professor and Chair, Department of Dance; and Dir. Helen Balderama of the Global Engagement and Partnerships Department for York University.

Prof. Philips reiterated the gratitude of York University for the grant given by the Philippine government for a Philippine studies program

After meeting, the York University’s Philippine Studies Group (PSG) conducted an end-of-year celebration, wherein the status of the research projects funded by the Philippine grant were presented by students and faculty beneficiaries. The PSG also presented their plans to expand the Filipiniana collection of the university.

The Philippine government, through the Consulate General, donated Php5,000,000.00 or around CAD$116,000.00 to York University on 21 November 2022 to implement a Philippine Studies Program. END

Ms Myla Chawla (left), a doctoral student, and Dr. Philip Kelly (right) present the status and initial findings of research projects funded under the Philippine donation.

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Consul General Angelica Escalona handing over to Angel Foundation Executive Director John Yan the donation of Philippine Consulate General, MWO Toronto and SSS Toronto personnel for the Proudly Pinoy Scholarship Fund

8 December 2023 – The officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, including the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Toronto and Social Security System (SSS) Toronto, personally donated a total of CA$ 800 to the Proudly Pinoy Scholarship Fund, which was launched by the Angel Foundation for Learning, the official charity of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), at the Catholic Education Centre in Toronto.

The scholarship aims to fund two awards at CA$ 5,000 each to graduating Filipino students who are registered students in the TCDSB and require financial assistance to pursue post-secondary studies for a Bachelor of Education degree.

The award is part of ongoing efforts to increase educator representation from the Filipino community. According to the Angel Foundation, Filipinos comprise over 30 percent of total enrolment in TCDSB schools. However, only around one percent of the teachers at TCDSB schools are Filipino.

Consul General Angelica Escalona handed over the cash donation to Mr. John Yan, Angel Foundation Executive Director. Among those who witnessed the handover were TCDSB Chair Nancy Crawford, Director of Education Brendan Browne, Superintendent Equity and Community Relations Roy Fernandes, Filipino-Canadian Trustee Garry Tanuan, Filipino Advisory Committee Community Relations Officer Jody Huang, Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague, Consul Grace Villamayor, Cultural Officer Maricel Samonte and members of the Filipino community.

In her remarks during the launch, Consul General Escalona shared that Filipinos believe in the value of higher education. The Consul General said, “I hope more young Filipino-Canadians will pursue education as a career. This is an opportunity to bring part of themselves – their Filipino culture, Filipino values and the aspirations of the Filipino community – into the education system, enriching the system in the process.”

Consul General Escalona added that a number of children of Consulate personnel have studied at TCDSB schools and that donating to the Proudly Pinoy Scholarship Fund is a way for Consulate personnel to give back. END

(Left to right) Filipino Advisory Committee Community Relations Officer Jody Huang, Consul General Angelica Escalona, Angel Foundation Executive Director John Yan and Director of Education Brendan Browne

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A client avails of the new ePayment facility of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto

01 December 2023 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto formally launched its ePayment facility on 01 December 2023, fulfilling one of Consul General Angelica Escalona’s promises to make transactions with the Consulate General more convenient for its clients.

Until the launch of the new system, payments for consular services could only be made in cash, bank drafts or money orders. The new system allows clients to pay by debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, in addition to the more traditional modes of payment.

The response to the launch has been overwhelmingly positive, with many of the clients expressing appreciation for the increased ease of transaction. Ms. Rosie Hilario, one of the first clients who availed of the ePayment facility, said, “Ito po yung matagal na naming gusto.” Other clients remarked that they had been looking forward to card payments, instead of having to carry cash or look for an ATM nearby.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, under the leadership of Secretary Enrique Manalo, has been looking for ways to improve the delivery of services to Filipinos overseas, as well as to people who require consular assistance. END