The Philippine Consulate General

Philippine Consulate General

7th Floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 3B5
Tel.: (416) 922.7181
Fax.: (416) 922.2638
Email: consularmatters@philcongen-toronto.com

Direction from the Consulate General to:

the nearest Bus Station:
Eglinton Ave. East at Redpath Ave.
(Bus no. 34A, 34C, 34S, 51, 54A)
Click for direction.
the nearest Train Station:
Eglinton Subway Station (Train No. 1)
Click for direction.
the nearest Post office:
250 A Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P 1K0
Click for direction

Trade Office

Suite 903, 80 Richmond Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2A4
Tel.: (416) 855.1775
Fax.: (647) 729.5028
Email: toronto@dti.gov.ph

Web : https://www.dti.gov.ph/overseas/toronto/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DTI-Toronto-127477961223211/

Migrant Workers Office (MWO)

2nd Floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 3B5
Tel.: (416) 975.8252
Hotline.: (647) 992-7656

Email- official: mwo_toronto@dmw.gov.ph

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MWOToronto

Social Security System (SSS)

2nd Floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 3B5
Tel.: (416) 485.2999; (416)485.2888
Telefax.: (416) 485.2881
Email: toronto@sss.gov.ph

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ssstoronto/

Pag-IBIG Fund

Email: vo_northamerica@pagibigfund.gov.ph

PR-2022-24

Toronto, 16 April – The Philippine Consulate General visited the Islas Filipino BBQ & Bar at Queen Street West in Toronto, together with members of media to get to know more about what inspired its Filipino food creations and how they got started. Chef-Owner Mark Buenaventura shared with Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro that the dishes in Islas’ menu, including its current prix fixe offerings for the FRM 2022, are largely influenced by the food he enjoyed during his travels throughout the Philippines, his food memories from childhood and how family members cooked the Filipino dishes they shared during family gatherings and even ordinary days. As an example, his FRM 2022 prix fixe main dish of chicken adobo is served with egg, silog-style, similar to how his father would serve the dish.

Chef Mark recounted that both he and his wife, Mariel Buenaventura, started in the finance and marketing industry, but the idea of opening a restaurant was something they were able to follow-through once it germinated. Their business background and love for the food dining experience produced Islas Filipino BBQ & Bar that has an upbeat vibe and hip food presentation that is enjoyed by its dining public comprising mostly of local Canadians.

ISLAS (L-R) FRM 2022 prix fixe menu of Kare-Kare Bagnet and Chicken Adobo, both served with rice, lumpia starter and a choice of karioka or turon with ice cream for dessert ; facade of Islas Filipino BBQ & Bar, with the FRM 2022 posters showing the names of the different restaurant participants prominently displayed. Having no previous food industry background, they saw the value of networking with like-minded individuals and are actively engaging with relevant organizations. Chef Mark and Ms. Mariel Buenaventura hope that FRM 2022 become a yearly project that would unite and strengthen Filipino enterprises in the food and restaurant industry in Canada. They hope that not only the marketing and promotion gets a focus, but the sourcing and importation of ingredients from the Philippines be facilitated as well. END—

PR-2022-23

kanto — *(L-R) Ms. Michelle Ramos of the Philippine Reporter and Mr. James Ma of OMNI interview Consul General Orontes Castro and Kanto by Tita Flips Chef-Owner Diona Joyce*

Toronto, 16 April – Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro travelled the historic arterial Dundas road of Toronto to Dundas West or The Junction, one of the trendy neighbourhoods in Toronto, a destination for vintage fashion and thriving night scene, with bars and restaurants that have garnered a lot of popularity in years prior to the pandemic. In that neighbourhood, Consul General Orontes Castro visited, together with the media’s OMNI and The Philippine Reporter, the Kanto by Tita Flips restaurant, a Filipino cuisine destination for foodies of Filipino, Canadian and other international descent. Kanto by Tita Flips is a participant of the Filipino Restaurant Month 2022, and is also among the first Filipino restaurants in Toronto that garnered mainstream attention and patronage when Filipino cuisine started to become a trend in the early 2010’s. Its specialty is Filipino street food, and its secret to good food as shared by its Chef-Owner Ms. Diona Joyce is fresh ingredients, thoughtfully prepared and cooked from scratch. Mainstream Canadian media have singled-out and featured Kanto by Tita Flips’ Ukoy and Sisig-fries, a Filipino-Canadian fusion dish served like poutine. These are must-try dishes when visiting their restaurant, as well as the bringing home of their home-made Filipino snacks and condiments. They also have choices for those looking for vegan and gluten-free Filipino food.

Luckily, Kanto by Tita Flips’ prix fixe menu for FRM 2022 includes its well-loved Ukoy, made of crispy squash or pumpkin and shrimps as a choice for starters, the other being fresh lumpia with peanut sauce. The main dishes for the prix fixe provides a wide choice of the Filipino comfort food Beef Kare-Kare or Lechon Kawali, a vegan option of Laing, and the Piyanggang Chicken, a dish that is familiar to Filipinos from Southern Philippines but would be a new food experience for Filipinos from the provinces of Luzon. The choice of prix fixe desserts should not be missed, as Kanto by Tita Flips’ rich-tasting leche flan and turon with ube ice-cream will linger in your memory and taste buds, making you want to come back for more. END—

Other sources: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/83965/balut-sells-in-toronto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orzw4tMHSTQ

PR-2022-21

14 April 2022, Toronto - The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Toronto conducted the second feeding of the ballots received at around 9:00 a.m. at the Sentro Rizal Toronto.

2nd ballot feeding — Consul Mary Grace Villamayor (left) and Consul Rodney Jonas L. Sumague (right), Chairpersons of the Consulate General’s two (2) Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) initialize the Vote Counting Machines (VCM).

There were four (4) ballots fed to the Vote Counting Machines (VCM). The feeding of the ballot was witnessed by representatives from the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and Sagip Party-list as Poll watchers. The event was covered by Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Mr. Antonio Arcangel of Sagip Party-list noted that the procedures and the system are very transparent and expressed appreciation for them being allowed to witness the event. Consul General Orontes V. Castro reiterated his call to the voters to immediately mail back or personally deliver to the Consulate General their accomplished ballots so that it will be counted before the closing of the elections on 09 May 2022 at 7:00 a.m. (Toronto time). The Consulate General expects to receive more accomplished ballots by next week as the Consulate General continues to work round-the-clock to ensure that all ballots are sent to the voters. END

PHOTO RELEASE

PR-2022-22

18 April 2022, Toronto - The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Toronto conducted the third feeding of the ballots received at around 9:00 a.m. at the Sentro Rizal Toronto.

3RD BALLOT FEEDING — *Consul Mary Grace Villamayor, SBEI Chair, (enter), opens the ballots received for feeding into the Vote Counting Machines as Poll watchers and media representatives looks on*

Present during the feeding of the ballots were representatives from the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Sagip Party-list and of Senator Joel Villanueva as Poll watchers. UNTV News covered the event. Accredited independent media representatives from Radyo Migrante, Atin Ito News and Filipiniana News also attended the event.

There was an open forum after the feeding of the ballots. Discussed were the election process, the status of the ballots and concerns on pre-shaded ballots. The poll watchers and media representatives expressed appreciation for being able to witness the feeding of the ballots and how the process was very orderly. Consul General Orontes V. Castro emphasized that the Consulate General is dedicated to ensuring a transparent and orderly elections. END

PHOTO RELEASE

PR-2022-19

Toronto, 12 April 2022 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto is pleased to inform that Dr. Christine N. Ferrer, Director for External Linkages and International Affairs of the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) presented on 30 March 2022 to the Consulate General the University’s Certificate of Appreciation “for ensuring the welfare of the two (2) TAU Global Ambassadors (TAU Exchange Students or Filipino students SEED scholars) at Centennial College in Toronto, Canada in 2020.” The Certificate was received by Consul General Orontes V. Castro for the Consulate General during the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Delegation’s visit to Toronto from 30 March to 01 April 2022, with TAU as one of the members of the delegation.

Consul General Orontes V. Castro receiving the Certificate of Appreciation from Dr. Christine N. Ferrer, Director for External Linkages and International Affairs of the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU).

Another Filipino SEED Scholar who studied at Memorial University in Newfoundland was also assisted by Post at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic during the second quarter of 2020. The three students were assisted by the Consulate General until they returned to the Philippines in 2020. The University was originally known as Camiling Boys/Girls High School in 1944, and Tarlac College of Agriculture (TCA) in 1974 until it was officially converted to Tarlac Agricultural University in 2016. END-