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The Philippine delegates to the Collision 2023 and Canadian Embassy in Manila Trade Commissioner Charlene Ferrer with Consul General Angelica C. Escalona (fourth from the left) and Consulate officers.

Press Release no. 2023-33

26 June 2023 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto welcomed the Philippine delegates to the Collision 2023, considered Canada’s most important technology conference, held in Toronto from 26 to 29 June 2023.  Collision 2023 brought together thousands of companies, investors and innovators from 140 countries.  Toronto has the largest technology sector in Canada and the third largest in North America.

The delegation was composed of Start Up Village President Carlo Calimon, Enderun Start-up Founder Pamela Jane Aguilar, DigitalInnov President Mike Lorenz Sandig, The Fili Company Start Up Founder Marianne Buenconsejo and AltPayNet CEO Don Vacal before their official Collision 2023 activities.  The delegation’s participation in Collision 2023 and visits to tech companies were organized by Trade Commissioner Charlene Ferrer of the Canadian Embassy in Manila with the assistance of Philippine Trade Office-Toronto’s Jenny Racca.

(Left photo) Consul General Angelica Escalona with Canadian Embassy in Manila Trade Commissioner Charlene Ferrer (Right photo) Collision 2023 Philippine delegates and Consul General Escalona discussing plans for 2024. 

The Philippine delegation said that they hoped to have a greater understanding of the Canadian start-up environment, replicate best practices and link Philippine start-ups with investors.  Consul General Escalona conveyed the Consulate’s full support of the initiatives in Canada of Philippine technology industry companies and wished the delegates success.  END

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Press Release no. 2023-32

28 June 2023, Winnipeg – The Philippine Consulate General held its second consular outreach mission in the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba from 24 to 26 June 2023. Aside from the usual consular services, the mission also included promotion of tourism programs and visits to Overseas Filipino Workers at their job sites.

The mission renewed a total of 367 Philippine passports; notarized and authenticated 186 documents; and processed four (4) civil registry and 27 dual citizenship applications.

There were 184 former Filipinos and their dependents who took their oath to re-acquire their Filipino citizenship under Republic Act 9225. One of those who took their oath, Ms. Leticia Vicera Arenalo, 86 years old who has been in Canada for more than 57 years primarily as a teacher, expressed elation for re-acquiring her Philippine citizenship. “I am very happy to once again become a Filipino. I have been looking forward to this day as I plan to go home to Iloilo soon and stay there for good.”

Tourism Attaché Francisco Lardizabal, who is based in New York, promoted the Department of Tourism’s “Bisita, Be My Guest Program” and the soon-to-be launched “Winter Escapade” program of Philippine Posts in Canada.

The Migrant Workers Office (MWO)-Toronto, for its part, visited Filipino workers in   Wrinkler Meats, Hylife in Neepawa and Tim Hortons in Stonewall to ascertain their present condition and concerns.

The consular outreach mission was supported by the Philippine Honorary Consul in Winnipeg, Mr. Ronaldo Opina and his team.  Per the 2021 Census of Statistics Canada, there are 94,315 individuals of Filipino descent in Manitoba which represents 9.8% of the total 957,355 Filipinos all over Canada. END

Processing of passport renewal applicants.

Tourism Attaché Lardizabal (second from right) with some applicants inquiring about Philippine tourism programs. 

The MWO-Toronto Team led by Welfare Officer Malou Reyes (center) interviewing Filipino workers at Wrinkler Meats.

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Press Release no. 2023-30

18 June 2023 – The latest monument of Dr. Jose Rizal was unveiled in the City of Brampton, Ontario. The monument is located at the Jose Rizal Park along Sarno Road, which was renamed in honor of the Philippine national hero through a motion by the Brampton City Council in 2021.

The unveiling of the monument was attended by Brampton City Mayor Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament Rechie Valdez, members of the Brampton City Council, Consul Rodney Jonas L. Sumague of the Philippine Consulate General, members of the Knights of Rizal-Central Canada Region Chapter and the Filipino-Canadian community.

The heroism of Dr. Rizal as well as the sacrifices of the Filipino people to gain independence were highlighted during the unveiling ceremony. The installation of the monument of Rizal is also in recognition of the strong relations of the Filipino community with the City of Brampton. “We want this bust and park to be a symbol of our friendship with the (Filipino) community,” Mayor Brown said during an interview.

The renaming of the park to Jose Rizal Park and the installation of the monument was realized through the efforts of the Knights of Rizal-Central Canada Region Chapter, Alliance of Ladies of the Knights of Rizal, Federation of Filipino Canadians of Brampton and Filipino Senior Club of Brampton with the support of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and Brampton City Councillor Rowena Santos. 

The bust of Dr. Rizal was sculpted by award-winning Filipino artist Juan Sajid de Leon Imao. This is the sixth monument of Dr. Rizal in Canada. The other monuments are in the cities of Toronto, Markham, Airdrie, Montreal and Winnipeg. END

Unveiling of Dr. Jose Rizal monument with Consul Sumague (second from left), Councillor Santos (second from right) and Mayor Brown.

Members of the Knights of Rizal-Central Canada Region Chapter and other members of the Filipino Canadian community who attended the unveiling of the monument of Dr. Rizal.

Mayor Brown (center) and Councillor Santos (rightmost) present a plaque representing a miniature of the Rizal Park sign to the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto represented by Consul Sumague (leftmost). 

The bust of Dr. Rizal sculpted by award-winning Filipino artist Juan Sajid de Leon Imao.