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PR-2021-78

Toronto, 30 December 2021 – Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined today the members of the Filipino Canadian community and the Knights of Rizal (KOR) – Canada Region in events commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with the theme: “Rizal: Para sa Agham, Katotohanan, at Buhay” (Rizal for Science, Truth, and Life). The commemorative events were held in the cities of Toronto and Markham.

Consul General Castro led the wreath-laying ceremony held at Luneta Gardens in front of Rizal Avenue in the City of Markham where the life-size monument of Dr. Jose P. Rizal is located. The event was organized by the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians (MFFC) with its President, Mrs. Yolanda Ladines. As in previous year, this year’s commemoration was kept to the minimum due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Among those present were Sir Mario Alpuerto, Acting Regional Commander of the Knights of Rizal – Canada Region, Knight Commander of Rizal (KCR) Sir Ignacio Mogado (Markham artist who created the bronze statue of Dr. Rizal) and the widow of the late former Markham City Councillor Alex Chiu, who spearheaded the project of putting-up the monument in the city.

The second Rizal Day wreath-laying event was held in the afternoon at the Dr. Jose P. Rizal bust at Earl Bales Park in North York, Toronto, which was organized by the Knights of Rizal Toronto – Canada Region. Consul General Castro and KOR Acting Regional Commander Alpuerto led the wreath-laying of the wreaths before the bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, with the representatives from the Ladies of the Knights of Rizal. In his brief remarks, Consul General Castro echoed H.E. President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s message of honoring Dr. Jose P. Rizal by exemplifying patriotism and idealism in all endeavors and by fostering a greater sense of nationalism among the Filipino youth. END-  

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PR-2021-78

Toronto, 23 December 2021 – Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro met today with Filipino Canadians Keith Baybayon and Stephanie De Castro, Student Trustees of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), the largest Catholic District School Board in Canada with 92,000 students and about one third (1/3) of which is of Filipino descent. The 2 Student Trustees were accompanied during the meeting by Filipino Canadian TCDSB Trustee Gary Tanuan (Ward 8, Scarborough).

The Catholic taxpayers in Metropolitan Toronto elect 12 English Language Trustees to the Toronto Catholic District School Board during each municipal election. At present, there are 2 student trustees of the TCDSB who represent the interests of all students. According to Trustee Tanuan, it is the first time in the history of the TCDSB that two of its two students currently serving on the Board of Trustees (Keith Baybayon elected for 2020-2022 and Stephanie De Castro elected for 2021-2023), are of Filipino descent. While no binding vote in the Board and Committee meetings but allowed to suggest a motion, the 2 TCDSB Student Trustees are elected by the students and participate in all Board and Committee meetings.

During the meeting today at Post, Consul General Castro once again thanked the TCDSB as well as the students and their parents for their participation in this year’s successful Sentro Rizal-Toronto’s “Padayon Art Competition” sponsored by Toronto PCG and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), with the full support from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board (DPCSB). He recalled that even at the height of the third wave of the pandemic late last year and early this year, the parents and teachers in schools under the TCDSB and the DPCDSB assisted their students in submitting 182 artworks – 111 artworks from elementary and secondary students of TCDSB and 71 artworks from the students of DPCDSB-run schools.  There were 105 schools which participated in the art competition – 71 elementary and secondary schools from TCDSB and 34 from the DPCDSB-run schools.

Consul General Castro and Student Trustees Baybayon and De Castro and Trustee Tanuan discussed possible collaborations by Post with TCDSB in expanding the propagation of the Philippine national language among the young generation of Filipino Canadians in TCDSB-run schools; Philippine cuisine; and the “Winter Escapade” which promotes tourism and investment in the Philippines in addition to the yearly collaboration between Post and TCDSB on the celebration every June of the “Filipino Heritage Month.” He thanked the Trustees for their visit to the Philippine Consulate General’s Office at Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto.- END

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Toronto, 22 December 2021 – Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined today Canada’s Member of Parliament Honourable Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre), Member of Parliament Honurable Ya’ara Saks (York Centre), and Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 6 York Centre) in expressing full support and in promoting Filipino-owned businesses in the Bathurst area of the City of Toronto, which is the site of the yearly “Taste of Manila” festivities during the summer season. The Bathurst area is also known as “Little Manila” due to the presence of Filipino-owned businesses (SMEs) such as restaurants, remittance companies, barbershops, karaoke bars, and other small businesses.

The Harina Bakeshoppe (owned by Filipino Canadian business partners Danilo Hernandez and Jen dela Cruz) has been chosen by Councillor Pasternak and the organizers of the “Taste of Manila” to launch the councillor’s “Business Improvement Area” (BIA) in Wilson Avenue that includes the Bathurst area. The Wilson Village BIA has been working on a Masterplan for Wilson Avenue with a community consultation to showcase the capital improvements scheduled for implementation over the next several years. Designated areas along the Wilson corridor will feature sitting areas with new street furniture, lighting and artwork to improve the overall look of the area and boost development and investment.

In brief remarks, Consul General Castro commended the Filipino Canadian business owners of Harina Bakeshoppe and other businesses in the Bathurst area for their effort to continue their business venture despite the on-going pandemic. He underscored the significance of the entrepreneurship spirit of those behind the bread store and that it will surely become a role model for the growing population of Filipinos in the Province of Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area in particular, to also start their own businesses.  MPs Zahid and Saks, and Councilor Pasternak likewise lauded the business owners of Harina Bakeshoppe and other Filipino-owned businesses for their effort to continue their business operation despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic. - END