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Press Release no. 12-2023

16 March 2023, Toronto, Ontario – The Officers and Staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto attended on 15 March 2023 the “Webinar on Financial Literacy” in partnership with the Social Security Services (SSS) Representative to Toronto.

Ms. Lucille Blesilda L. Simbol, SSS Representative, was the Resource Person of the webinar.

Consul General Orontes V. Castro (left) with SSS Representative Lucille Blesilda L. Simbol (right).

The webinar discussed the SSS benefits for its member, membership enrollment and registration online, overview of its new-product (Worker's Investment and Savings Programs (WISP) Plus.

Consul General Orontes V. Castro thanked SSS Representative Ms. Lucille Blesilda L. Simbol for the very informative webinar and for sharing invaluable information on the benefits of SSS membership and to those who attended the webinar, including the personnel of the Philippine Consulate General.

Screenshot of the participants and resource person including Consul General Orontes V. Castro (top right).

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PR NO. 2023-10

06 March 2023, Toronto – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto led by Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined the Filipino nation in the celebration of the 2023 National Women’s Month (NWM) and International Women’s Day during its flag raising ceremony.

Consul General Castro gave a brief background on the annual observance of women’s month every March and the International Women’s Day every 8^th day of March. He highlighted the role of women in the society and their contributions to the Philippine history, economy and politics. He also emphasized that women should not only be celebrated every month but every day. 

The all-women cast video singing the Lupang Hinirang provided by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) was played during the flag ceremony.

The banner of the 2023 NWM is displayed at the Consulate General’s monitor for the awareness of the celebration by the Consular clients.

Consul General Castro likewise reminded the public on special lane for women, seniors, PWDs and pregnant women and the availability of breastfeeding area at the Consulate.

(Left photo: Consul General Orontes V. Castro giving a brief background on the celebration of National Women’s Month; Right photo: Consulate personnel with Consular clients during the flag raising ceremony.)

(Left to right : The 2023 banner of the National Women’s Month is displayed at the Consular area of the Consulate General.  The all-women cast video was played during the flag raising ceremony.)

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Press Release No. 07-2023

Toronto, 20 March 2023– The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto joined the hybrid launching and press conference of the 2023 Filipino Restaurant Month in Canada (FRMC 2023) with the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulates General in Calgary and Vancouver, with the support of the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) - San Francisco Office and the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (PDTI) - Toronto Office, on 20 March 2022, Monday, at 5 PM (Calgary) / 7PM (Toronto).

The FRMC 2023 launch held separate in-person programs at the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulates General in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver, with the Facebook page and Zoom platform livestream from the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary.

The good will and success of the previous year’s FRMC helped the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto (Toronto PCG) encourage more restaurants under its jurisdiction to participate in the FRMC’s second year. Consul General Orontes V. Castro thanked the participating restaurants for their willingness in promoting Philippine cuisine and culture within Post’s jurisdiction. The original nine (9) participating restaurants from 2022 returned to participate this year namely: B’s Sizzling Kitchen in Etobicoke, Casa Manila in York Mills, FV Foods in Scarborough, Islas Filipino BBQ & Bar in Toronto, Kanto by Tita Flips in Toronto, Lechon Republik in Toronto,  Republika Restobar and Grill in North York, MB the Place to Be in North York and Food Trip in Winnipeg.  They were joined by the new entrants to the FRMC 2023 — Casa Manila in Danforth, The Crane Kitchen in Toronto, Bao Mama in Toronto,  The Original Barrio Fiesta in Toronto and Sari-Sari Filipino Cuisine in Kitchener. 

Seven restaurants of the 13 FRMC 2023 restaurants participating from Ontario and Winnipeg joined in PCG Toronto’s in-person program for the FRMC 2023 launching event with the presentation of their prix fixe menu offering this month of April 2023.  The creativity that went into the food staging they did at the in-person launch at the Consulate to present their restaurants’ prix fixe menu was equaled by the history behind each dish choice and the pride each dish was held by their chef and owner, as well as by the delicious culinary experience the dishes brought to the guests at the launch who were able to taste the memorable Filipino dish offerings of FRMC 2023’s GTA participating restaurants.

During the in-person launch program at Toronto PCG, Ms. Nancy Napoles of B’s Sizzing  Kitchen in Etobicoke showcased their all-time favorite sampler lechon cooked three-ways, as well as Kilawin na Lechon as its appetizer offerings.  Diners can drop by their restaurant in Etobicoke during lunch and dinner time to also enjoy a choice of Kare-Kare or Barbeque ribs as prix fixe entrée.  These dishes are definitely worth the trip. 

Casa Manila in York Mills Road and Danforth represented by its owner, Ms. Mila Nabor Cuachon, proudly announced their vegetarian menu offered boodle “Kamayan style” and their bestseller Kalamansi Mojito as part of their FRMC 2023 prix fixe menu, aside from their regular boodle Kamayan menu offerings.  Diners can look forward to their healthy dishes famously cooked without artificial preservatives and artificial flavorings.    

Those who are craving for homemade style dishes can make their way to FV Foods in Scarborough during the FRMC 2023, as owner Mr. Melchor Galeon chose their restaurant bestsellers Beef Caldereta, Chicken Barbeque, Lumpiang Shanghai and Crispy Chicken Chicharon as part of their FRMC 2023 prix fixe menu.  Diners would not also want to miss FV Foods’ baked goods when they stop by the restaurant.

Islas Filipino BBQ & Bar in Toronto’ s Ms. Mariel and Mr. Mark Buenaventura encouraged people who want to have a memorable Filipino cuisine experience to try their restaurant’s Chicken Adobo or Skewered Pork or Chicken barbeque, empanada and peanut slaw salad, which are part of their FRMC 2023 prix fixe menu choices.  Diners in the ultra-hip Islas Filipino restobar can also partake of specially mixed Philippine alcoholic beverages containing Tanduay and Red Horse, which are Philippine beers and spirits.

The Original Barrio Fiesta, represented by Misses Carla Dela Cruz and Maica Dela Cruz, highlighted Filipino creativity with the beautiful and intricate fruit carvings that accompanied their prix fixe menu presentation during the FRMC 2023 launch.  They are the lone franchise in GTA of the famous Filipino restaurant chain specializing in traditional Filipino dishes like Beef Caldereta, Chicken Inasal, Mango Salad, Leche Flan and Halo-Halo which are mainstays during Filipino fiestas and celebrations.  Diners will have a taste of Filipino fiesta celebratory dishes when they order from the prix fixe menu of The Original Barrio Fiesta restaurant during the April 2023 FRMC.

Enthusiastic first-time FRMC participants Misses Aileen and Jeanette Enriquez of Sari- Sari Filipino Cuisine announced that their prix fixe offering will include their signature Pork Barbeque, Lechon Kawali, Barbeque Pork Belly and Pork Lumpia dishes.  Diners looking for rich and savory Filipino dishes carefully prepared using Filipino fresh marinades should drop by their Kitchener-located restaurant on the second and third week of April 2023 to taste Sari-Sari’s FRMC 2023 menu, and enjoy the gustatory adventure of eating each dish in Philippine dipping sauces that bring out another level of taste to each dish.

At the launch, Mr. Clyde Pacis and Mr. Andrew Anderson of The Crane Xpress proudly announced that their prix fixe menu offering will include their most sought-after Sizzling Beef Sisig as entrée, with Crunchy Calamari as appetizer and Ube Cookies as dessert.  The menu choice will bring diners in a gastronomical trip of unique Filipino food flavors and textures that combine traditional and modern use of Filipino ingredients and cooking.  The Crane Express dining experience can also be enjoyed with the wide variety of their bubble tea offerings.  Diners can catch their prix fixe menu during the first week of the FRMC 2023.

The owners and chefs of FRMC 2023 participating restaurants in Toronto who were present during the joint launching were given an opportunity to introduce and promote their restaurant and prix fixe dishes before the media present at the Consulate.  All the participants who attended the launch were treated with the food tasting of the sample of the prix fixe dishes prepared and brought by all the participating restaurants.  END—

Left Photo: Consul General Orontes V. castro with the owners and chefs of the participating restaurants for the 2023 Filipino Restaurant Month in Canada with guests of the Consulate. Right Photo: Consul General Orontes V. Castro responding to the queries of Ms. Paula Saraza of OMNI News)

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PRESS RELEAS NO. 2023-09

Toronto, 27 February – The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Toronto, led by Consul General Orontes V. Castro, hosted a leg of PDOT’s 2023 Very Important Pinoy Tour at the consular area of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto on 27 February 2023, Monday, at 4 pm, at the end of its regular consular operation hours.

After introductions made by Consul General Orontes V. Castro, PDOT Attache Francisco Hilario M. Lardizabal gave a presentation on two of DOT’s major tour programs, “Bisita Be My Guest” and Very Important Pinoy (VIP), to around 70 overseas Filipinos that were invited and present at the Consulate. Mr. Lardizabal encouraged the participants to inform other Filipinos and Canadians regarding the two campaigns as it will help the Philippines reach its tourism and economic targets, while giving the participants and referrers a chance to avail of the incentives that are a part of both programs.

Philippine Consul General in Toronto Orontes V. Castro heads a meeting between PDOT officials and representtaives of Filipino organizations and media in Toronto at the Consulate’s conference room.

PDOT Attache Francisco Lardizabal presents “Bisita Be My Guest” and Very Important Pinoy (VIP) to around 70 overseas Filipinos.

The “Bisita Be My Guest” (BBMGY) program aims to involve the active participation of Filipinos in promoting the Philippines as a tourism destination.  It is an incentivized promotional campaign launched last 13 December 2022 wherein OFWs, Overseas Filipinos, and Filipinos who invite foreigners to visit the country will be entitled to a raffle ticket and have a chance to win special prizes such as travel discounts and a chance to win a condominium and free vacation trips.

 The "Bisita, Be My Guest" program hopes to bring benefits to the Philippines by way of increased tourism numbers through generating travellers’ interest on a larger scale. The campaign, which will run from January 2023 to April 2024, is led by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

Consul General Orontes Castro thanking PDOT and the event’s participants.

Meanwhile, the Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour is a campaign that is returning this year after a three-year hiatus and will take place from 16 to 24 July 2023.  The tour will bring participants to scenic sights in Manila, Iloilo, and Boracay.  The VIP tour packages start at US$1,968 for single occupancy, US$1,468.00 per person for double occupancy, and US$1,368 per person for triple occupancy.  Children 3 to 12 years of age will be charged US$480 each.  The first 100 participants availing of the combined tour package and airfare will be given special package rates from Philippine Airlines.  

More information on the tour package rates and package inclusions are available on the VIP Tour website: https://viptourphilippines2023.com.  To register for the VIP Tour, visit the website and fill out the online registration form. Deadline for registration is 01 April 2023 while the full payment deadline is on 01 May 2023. Registration after 01 April 2023 will be accepted but subject to room availability and the best available rate from the resorts/hotels and airline.

Consul General Orontes Castro also invited the participants to the Winter Escapade as soon as it is resumed.  He informed them that they will be informed as soon as the schedule of Winter Escapade is finalized.  END--