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PR-2022-06

Toronto, 28 February 2022 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto in extends its congratulations to Mr. Edsel L. Mutia, RN for his landslide victory at the recent election for the Council of the College of Nurses of Ontario. Mr. Mutia, RN garnered the greatest number of votes, that is 517, with a lead of 215 votes from the far second, among ten (10) candidates during CNO’s Council Member election conducted in early 2022. He will start his term as Council Member for Metro Toronto in June 2022. With RN Mutia’s appointment, it is hoped that he will be a strong voice of Filipino nurses in Ontario. A meeting between Consul General Orontes V. Castro and officials of the Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association (IFCNA) was held on 9 February 2022 at the Philippine Consulate General. IFCNA President Ms. Jennifer Lopez, Founding Chairman Mr. Austine Gaqui, and member Mr. Edsel L. Mutia discussed the current nursing shortage in the Province of Ontario and how Filipino Internationally-Educated Nurses (IENs) can help in augmenting the problem. IFCNA officials shared during the meeting that the current workload of nurses in hospitals in Ontario is really heavy and that Canadian authorities should fast track the registration process of IENS so the latter they can immediately help and contribute in augmenting the shortage of nurses in the healthcare system.

IFCNA continues to be active in helping Filipino nurses through its free mentorship services, where they help IENs apply for the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) and its review classes. The IFCNA also conducts its own review classes for Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) and Registered Nurse (RN) exams. Consul General Castro reiterated the Credentials Recognition Project of the Philippine Posts in Canada, led by the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa. He also added the Consulate General’s continued support for Filipino nurses in Ontario and Manitoba. After the meeting, Consul General Castro presented a Certificate of Recognition to Mr. Mutia for his successful election to the CNO and for the prestige he has brought to the Nursing Profession through his hard work as a frontliner during the COVID-19 pandemic. - END

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 PR-2022-04

28 February 2022, Toronto – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto led by Consul General Orontes V. Castro kicked off the 2022 National Women’s Month and International Women’s Day celebration for March during its flag raising ceremony. Consul General Castro gave a brief background on the 2022 National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC), which was participated in by clients for passport renewal, notarial and other consular services.

To highlight the start of the celebration, the Lupang Hinirang was sung using the All-Women Cast Video provided by the Philippine Commission on Women. A streamer on the NWMC was also posted in the Consular Processing Area to raise awareness on the celebration.

The main theme of the NWMC is WE Make CHANGE Work for Women with the sub-theme of this year’s celebration: Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran. The Philippine Consulate General will be conducting a number of activities for the NWMC this March. END

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 PR-2022-05

Toronto, 28 February – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto is pleased to inform that in celebration of the Philippine National Arts Month in February, the Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto held a webinar presentation on 28 February 2022 at 6:30 PM (EST) with the subject “Kundiman: Examining the Philippine National Art Song,” which was conducted by Mr. Antoniel Roca of York University’s Doctor of Philosophy in Music Program. Mr. Roca shared part of his ethnomusicology doctoral study which touched on the kundiman music genre, and the ways it was utilized as propaganda during both the revolution against Spain and the United States. He enlightened the audience on the differences between the Kundiman and the Philippine’s other musical forms, the Kumintang and the Awit. Mr. Roca also presented on the Kundiman’s foremost creators --- Francisco Santiago, the father of Kundiman; and Nicanor Abelardo, who became known as the king of Kundiman. The presentation was made more enriching and enjoyable with the playing of samples of Philippine music, which were chosen to bring to life and better understanding the points that were underlined during the webinar presentation.

The one-hour webinar was capped by a question and answer portion wherein the participants were able to direct questions for Mr. Roca’s answer and clarification. Sentro Rizal-Toronto hopes that the webinar will encourage the curiosity and more interest in Filipino music. Consul General Orontes V. Castro also presented Mr. Antoniel Roca with a certificate of appreciation for his generosity in sharing his learnings and research findings on the Philippine national art song, the Kundiman.

The webinar was attended by 52 participants from all over Canada and other countries, who are interested to learn about Philippine music, its origins, historical impact and development to its current forms. Most of them are also regular followers of Sentro Rizal-Toronto’s webinar offerings on Philippine history, culture and heritage which are held throughout the year. Consul Mary Grace Villamayor served as the Moderator of the webinar. The webinar will be made available through the Consulate General’s Facebook page after its live presentation to allow later interested viewers. END--

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 PR-2021-03 04 February 2022, Toronto – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto was visited today by the Honourable Member of Parliament (MP) Melissa Lantsman, a member of the Conservative Party who represents the riding of Thornhill in Toronto.

MP Lantsman’s visit and meeting with Consul General Castro aims to strengthen her connection with the Filipino Community, which is one of the fastest growing migrant populations in the whole of Canada. She highlighted that it is important to reach out to every community, “particularly a community that has been so close to me in my personal journey and is a growing community in the riding that I come from, Thornhill.” According to her, there are about 5,000 Filipino Canadians in her riding (legislative district). MP Lantsman also commended the health care workers of the Filipino Community who played key roles on the frontlines, taking care of the sick and the seniors during the pandemic. She expressed willingness to help and meet with the Consulate General and the Filipino community leaders on issues to improve people-to-people ties and credentialling.

During the meeting with MP Lantsman, Consul General Castro informed her of Credential Recognition in Canada (CRC) Project of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa, with the support of the Philippine Consulates General in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, for Philippine trained/educated Filipino professionals, particularly the Filipino nurses. Consul General Castro expressed the hope that meetings like this with MP Lantsman will open avenues to “discuss things that will redound to the benefits of and at the same time maximize potentials and capabilities of Filipino Canadians here, to be able to contribute to the development of both the Philippines and Canada.” MP Lantsman was accompanied during the call by her assistant, Mr. David Hwang, and some Filipino Canadian community leaders under her constituency in Thornhill. END-