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PRESS RELEAS NO. 2023-08

24 February 2023, Toronto – The Philippine Consulate General recently hosted the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Elementary School as part of the school’s “Beyond the Classroom Experiential Program” for its elementary students on 24 February 2023.

During the visit, Consul General Orontes V. Castro gave a presentation to the 16 students on the Philippines including its geography, history and national costumes, highlighting the cultural heritage of the Philippines. Consul General Castro also took the opportunity to congratulate Principal Roy Fernandes on his promotion to the position of Superintendent during the presentation.

Mr. Garry Tanuan, Trustee of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), also attended the program as the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Elementary School is one of the schools he represents. The TCDSB is the largest Catholic District School Board based in Canada and about one third (1/3) of its 92,000 Canadian students are of Filipino descent.

The 16 students, accompanied by Teachers Marie Claire Mukankubana, Barb Stoner and Connie Chan, actively participated in the program by posing questions about the Philippines such as the number of islands of the Philippines, the significance of the colors of the Philippine flag and the wars that the Philippines fought. These questions were enthusiastically replied by Consul General Castro.

The Philippine Consulate General was the second Consulate General in Toronto that the students visited after Sri Lanka according to Superintendent Fernandes.

Consul General Castro awarded certificates of appreciation to Superintendent Fernandes, Trustee Tanuan and Teachers Mukankubana, Stoner and Chan; while each student received a certificate of attendance. The students excitedly feasted on the Jollibee meal that was served to them. The students and school officials were delighted to know the presence of Canadian multinational coffee house and restaurant chain Tim Hortons in the Philippines.

The experiential program is one of the cultural diplomacy activities of the Consulate General for this year and as part of its continuing partnership program with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). END

Left to Right – Trustee Garry Tanuan, Consul General Orontes V. Castro and Superintendent Roy Fernandes with the students of the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Elementary School)

(Left photo: Consul General Orontes V. Castro giving a power point presentation on the Philippines; Right photo: The students were invited to a tour of the processing area of the Consulate General) 

(The students receiving their Certificates of Attendance and tokens composed of Philippine Map, a Philippine Flag, A Book from Mama Sita” What Kids Should know About Filipino Food” and a Travelite Magazine “Its More Fun in the Philippines from Consul General Orontes V. Castro)

(Clockwise right photo: Consul General Orontes V. Castro awarding Superintendent Roy Fernandes a Certificate of Appreciation for partnering with the Philippine Consulate General for the “Beyond the Classroom Experiental Program of the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Elementary School”; Trustee Garry Tanuan receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from Consul General Orontes V. Castro for assisting the Philippine Consulate General during the “Beyond the Classroom Experiental Program of the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Elementary School”; Teacher Connie Chan and Teacher Marie Claire Mukankubana receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from Consul General Orontes V. Castro for assisting the Philippine Consulate General during the the “Beyond the Classroom Experiental Program of the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Elementary School)

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PRESS RELEASE no. 06-2023

Toronto, 10 February 2023 – The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Toronto had a Basic Life Saving (BLS) training for its personnel, conducted by the Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association (IFCNA) instructors Ms. Doris Barrion and Mr. Jeremy Pantig. Both instructors were awarded by Consul General Orontes V. Castro with certificates of appreciation at the end of the course for the voluntary training they gave to PCG personnel.

Mr. Austine Gaqui, co-founder of IFCNA, and Ms. Jennifer Lopez, current IFCNA president, were also present during the holding of the in-person training. IFCNA offers other related free online courses and reviewers. Its members are also active in volunteering medical assistance during Filipino community events. The IFCNA membership includes Filipino nurses who are retired, practicing or non-practicing, licensed or non-licensed, and nursing graduates of the Philippines and of Canada.

Consul General in Toronto Orontes V. Castro with IFCNA Mr. Austine Gaqui, Ms. Jennifer Lopez, Ms. Doris Barrion and Mr. Jeremy Pantig.  Also in the photo are the officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto.

The BLS Provider course is a complete in-person experience that includes lectures and video segments.  The PCG personnel who joined the BLS Provider course also had the opportunity to avail of hands-on practice and expert coaching for individual and team emergency response scenarios.  Each participant was given a chance for immediate skills application with one-on-one feedback during the training. 

The BLS course covered 1-rescuer, 2-rescuer and multi rescuer team cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); adult, child and infant CPR and relief of choking; and the use of an AED, barrier device and bag mask device.

(L-R) PCG personnel are taught by IFCNA volunteer instructors on CPR for adults and for infants

PCG personnel were taught how to recognize a cardiac arrest, activate the emergency response system early and perform high-quality single-rescuer CPR and multi-rescuer team CPR to ensure the best chance of survival for people in cardiac arrest.

In his brief opening remarks, Consul General Castro highlighted the importance of BLS knowledge among the Consulate General’s personnel who provide consular services to Overseas Filipinos and the public.  He thanked the IFCNA for sharing their knowledge of BLS to the Consulate Genera’s personnel.

The BLS Provider course is a prerequisite for advanced resuscitation courses and other healthcare-related training programs.  A BLS certification is often required for employment in the healthcare field but, it is also most useful for people outside of the healthcare field to aid in emergency response for friends, family and co-workers who are experiencing medical emergencies needing CPR.END-

PHOTO RELEASE

Consul General in Toronto Orontes V. Castro presented Certificates of Appreciation to Ms. Doris Barrion and Mr. Jeremy Pantig, with IFCNA Mr. Austine Gaqu and Ms. Jennifer Lopez.

Mr. Jeremy Pantig explaining the BLS technique to the Consulate General’s personnel.

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Press Release no. 2023-07

Toronto, 24 February - The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto sponsored a Customer Service Workshop for its personnel on 17 February 2023 to better serve the public. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Dionisio Mabalot, HR Director of Lafarge Holcim Canada, Inc. In his opening remarks, Consul General Orontes V. Castro highlighted the importance of the workshop in providing consular service to the Overseas Filipinos and the public within the Consulate General’s jurisdiction. He thanked Mr. Mabalot for sharing his expertise and experience on customer service.

Consul General in Toronto Orontes V. Castro (center) with Mr. Dionisio Mabalot and officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto.

Mr. Dionisio Mabalot sharing his expertise on customer service with the Consulate General’s personnel.

Among the topics discussed during the workshop were the following: application of new ideas and useful skills in service interaction; how to handle customers on various situations; developing excellent customer relationship to overcome communication barriers; and to improve listening and communication skills.

Consul General Orontes V. Castro presented Mr. Dionision Mabalot a Certificate of Appreciation after his presentation.

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Press Release No. 2023-01

Consul General Orontes V. Castro Conveys New Year Greetings to the  Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

Toronto, 01 January 2023 – Consul General Orontes V. Castro conveys today to Her Honour, Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, the Vice-Regal Representative of His Majesty King Charles III in Right of Ontario, the New Year’s greetings and best wishes of the Philippine Government and the Filipino Canadian Community in the Philippine Consulate General’s jurisdiction on the occasion of the Lieutenant Governor’s 2023 New Year’s Levee (Reception) at the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite, Queen’s Park, Toronto. The Lieutenant Governor reciprocated the greetings by expressing her best wishes to the Philippine Government led by His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and the Filipino Canadian Community in the Province of Ontario. END-