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PR-2021-64

11 November 2021, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Consul General Orontes V. Castro called on The Honourable Heather Stefanson, Premier of the Province of Manitoba today at the latter’s office at the Manitoba Legislative Building. During the courtesy call, Consul General Castro was accompanied by Consul Rodney Jonas L. Sumague, Consul (honorary) Ronaldo Opina, and Consular Assistant Marilyn V. Galanza. The Premier was joined in the meeting by Mr. Michael Richards, Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and of Crown Services, and Mr. Brad Robertson, Chief of Protocol of Manitoba.

 

Consul General Castro expressed gratitude for the good treatment given to the Filipinos in the Province of Manitoba. He noted in particular, the significant presence of the Filipino community in Manitoba with Filipino garments workers in the provinces as among the pioneers in Canada. Notably, Manitoba was the first province of Canada to issue the Proclamation on the Quincentennial Commemorations of the Philippines.

Consul General Castro conveyed to the Premier that the Philippine Consulate General is working to strengthen bilateral relations with the Province of Manitoba, especially in trade, film development and production cooperation, and the aerospace industry.

The Premier acknowledged the significant contributions of Filipinos in Canada and conveyed that the provincial government of Canada looks forward to expanding bilateral relations with the Philippines. She expressed interest on cooperation in the creative industries and in strengthening cultural relations between Manitoba and the Philippines, including support in the passage of an Act proclaiming June every year as Filipino Heritage Month in Manitoba.

In recognition of the Premier’s invaluable support to the Filipino community, Consul General Castro presented the Premier with a Quincentennial Award. The award was particularly in recognition of the Premier’s initiative for Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN), which provides financial assistance amounting to C$23,000 per successful applicants for assessment and training costs to support their goal of working and being licensed as registered nurses (RN) in Manitoba. Some of the Filipino nurses who availed of the grant are now working to secure a license to work as registered nurses (RNs) in the Province of Manitoba. The Premier expressed appreciation for the award.

The Philippines was the first among the 28-members Consular Corps in Manitoba to pay a courtesy call on Premier Stefanson immediately after her election as Premier of Manitoba. It is doubly significant as Manitoba is also celebrating Canada’s Remembrance Day today. Premier Stefansion is the first female Premier of Manitoba. END -

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12 November 2021, Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Philippine Consulate General is pleased to inform that incumbent and former Filipino and Canadian provincial and federal government officials in the Province of Manitoba conducted a brief visit of Post’s consular outreach mission at Holiday Inn Express Hotel in the City of Winnipeg on 9 and 10 November 2021.

The incumbent and former Filipino and Canadian government officials who came to visit the outreach mission were: Hon. Kevin Lamoureux, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North and Chair of the Canada-Philippines Interparliamentary Friendship Group; Hon. Jon Reyes, Filipino Canadian Minister of Economic Development and Jobs of Manitoba; Hon. Cindy Lamoureux, Member of Legislative Assembly, Tyndall Park; Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, former Member of Canadian Parliament and former Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of Veterans Affairs; Hon. Florfina Marcelino, former Member of Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and former Manitoba’s Minister of Multiculturalism and Literacy and Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism; Hon. Dominador Marcelino, former Member of Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Tyndall Park; and Mr. Mike Pagtakhan, former Deputy Mayor of the City of Winnipeg and Winnipeg City Councillor for Point Douglas.

A short program was held to welcome the above officials, with the playing of the National Anthems of the Philippines and Canada. Consul General Orontes V. Castro thanked them for visiting the outreach mission and taking their time to meet with the Filipino applicants and the consular team. Filipino Canadian Ethan Benedict Lluisna, Grade 5 student from the Amber Trails Community School in Winnipeg, and Louise Klenn Santos, Grade 12 student at Major Pratt School, Russell, Manitoba, read the Land Acknowledgment for Manitoba. A land acknowledgement or territorial acknowledgement is a formal statement, often spoken at the beginning of a public event, that it is taking place on land originally inhabited by or belonging to indigenous peoples in Canada.

In brief remarks during the program, Consul General Castro acknowledged and presented each of the above incumbent and former government officials from the Province of Manitoba with the Quincentennial Award in recognition of their “dedicated service and invaluable support to the Filipino community and the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto.” During brief remarks, the invited officials individually thanked the Consulate General for the invitation to observe the consular outreach service and the opportunity to meet and greet the members of the Filipino community at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel, Winnipeg and the recognition of the said officials’ service and continuing support to the community.

A Consular Team is in the City of Winnipeg for the fourth and final outreach mission for the year 2021 in the Province of Manitoba from 08 to 15 November 2021. END -

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PR-2021-67

14 November 2021, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Consul General Orontes V. Castro was invited today in the inauguration and grand opening of the first “Potato Corner” store in the City of Winnipeg at Saint Vital Centre, a retail shopping mall located at 1225 St. Mary's Road, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Despite the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and the early onset of the winter season with heavy snow in the City of Winnipeg, the opening of the Potato Corner store was a success with patrons taking a long queue to wait for their turn to savor the taste of the different flavors of french fries being offered by the popular franchise store in the Philippines and some countries in Southeast Asia, Middle East, North America, and Australia.

Among those who were also invited in the inauguration and ribbon cutting were: Hon. Kevin Lamoureux, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North and Chair of the Canada-Philippines Interparliamentary Friendship Group; Hon. Jon Reyes, Filipino Canadian Minister of Economic Development and Jobs of Manitoba; and Consul (honorary) Ronaldo Opina. The franchisor for Canada is Mr. Nelson N. Rodriguez.

In brief remarks, Consul General Castro conveyed the congratulatory message in behalf of H.E. Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles and best wishes for the success of the business venture. He underscored the significance of the entrepreneurship spirit of those behind the franchise store and that it will surely become a role model for the growing population of Filipinos in the Province of Manitoba to also start their own businesses. MP Lamoureux and Minister Reyes likewise extended their congratulatory messages to Mr. Rodriguez who informed that he will soon open additional franchise stores in Manitoba.

Spudster, Potato Corner’s official mascot provided an entertainment to the guests and patrons of the store. END -

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PR-2021-65

12 November 2021, Toronto, Ontario – Remembrance Day was celebrated across Canada yesterday, 11 November 2021 to pay tribute and remember the sacrifices of the Canadians who fought in World War I. In Ontario, the commemoration was held at the Ontario Veterans Memorial, in front of Ontario’s Legislature in Queen’s Park, Toronto.

This year’s Remembrance Commemoration was not far from last year’s celebration since the pandemic is not completely over yet and public health restrictions are still in place, including the mask wearing. Like last year, there were fewer attendees and the public were advised to join online via YouTube livestream.

The commemoration ceremonies started with the Arrival of the Platform Party and followed by the usual parts of the program as the Viceregal Salute, the Canadian National Anthem, the recitation of the Act of Remembrance, the playing of the horn marking the Last Post, the two (2) minutes of silence, the 21-Gun Salute at precisely 11:00 am, the Piper’s Lament, the Trumpeter’s Rouse, the Prayer, the recitation of In Flanders Fields, the Prayer, the Commitment to Remember, the Wreath Laying, then the playing of God Save the Queen.

The dignitaries gave their greetings during the program, led by the Honourable Premier Doug Ford. He mentioned that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the attacks on September 11th and the start of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. He added that Remembrance Day is a time for all Ontarians to pay tribute and honor the memory of those who fought not only the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, the Persian Gulf War, and the Afghanistan War, but also those who served at home on many missions that provided aid and security to Canadians across the country, as well as the heroes at home during the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The other dignitaries which composed the Platform Party were Brigadier-General Peter Scott (Commander of the 4th Canadian Division), Honourable Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland (Minister of Finance), Honourable Carolyn Ann Bennett (Federal Minister of Health), Honourable Lisa MacLeod (Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries), Honourable Ted Arnott (Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario), Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Glen Hare, Master Corporal Jody Mitic, Secretary Michelle DiEmanuele (Head of Ontario Public Service), Master Warrant Officer (Retired) Adjutant-maitre Garry Pond (President of the Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario Command), and Honourable Susan Crystal (Consul General of the United States to Toronto), among others.

The highlight of the ceremony was the Laying of the Wreaths by the distinguished guests. Veterans and community organizations, as well as members of the Consular Corps of Toronto, brought wreaths in advance to Queen's Park to take part in the Remembrance Day ceremony, which were placed along the Veteran Memorial.

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto was among those who donated a wreath for this momentous occasion. The donors of wreaths were duly acknowledged during the live streaming by flashing their names on the screen.

The ceremony ended with the playing of “God Save the Queen”, followed by the egress of the Platform Party. - END

Bottom photos from left: Lt. Col. Michel Dion, Chaplain, 4th Canada Division led the Prayer while Cadet Warrant Officer Second Class Jane Yang read the Commitment to Remember. (Photos taken from YouTube)