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

16 December 2021, Toronto – Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro called on today with The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor and Vice-Regal Representative of Queen Elizabeth II in the Province of Ontario at the latter’s office at the Ontario Legislative Building in Queen’s Park, Toronto. Consul General Castro was accompanied by Consular Assistant Marilyn V. Galanza.

Lt Governor call — *Consul General Orontes V. Castro signs the Guestbook as The Honorable Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell looks on.*

Consul General Castro expressed gratitude for the good treatment given to the Filipinos in the Province of Ontario, as well as conveyed the Holiday greetings from the Filipino community and the Philippine Consulate General. He highlighted the recent approval of Bill 217 proclaiming the month of June every year as “Filipino Heritage Month” in the Province of Ontario. The Act was given Royal Assent and became effective on 20 May 2021. There is a significant presence of the Filipino community in Ontario, which continues to be among the primary destinations of Filipino workers, students and other migrants in Canada.

Consul General Castro conveyed to the Lieutenant Governor that the Philippine Consulate General is working to strengthen bilateral relations with the Province of Ontario, especially in trade, film development and production cooperation, and the continuing investment activities of Filipino-owned businesses in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The Lieutenant Governor acknowledged the positive values and significant contributions of Filipinos in Canada and conveyed that the provincial government of Ontario looks forward to expanding bilateral relations with the Philippines. She expressed interest in strengthening further the cultural relations between Ontario and the Philippines.

In recognition of the Lieutenant Governor’s invaluable support to the Filipino community and the Philippine Consulate General, Consul General Castro presented the Lieutenant Governor with a Quincentennial Award. The award was particularly in recognition of the Lieutenant Governor’s full support for the approval of the Act on “Filipino Heritage Month” celebration in Ontario. The Lieutenant Governor expressed appreciation for the award. - END

PR-2021-76

500YRSTHANKSGIVING — The Concelebrated Mass for the “Closing and Thanksgiving Celebration” in Toronto of the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines was presided by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins on 01 December 2021 at the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church, the center of the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Filipino Catholic Mission in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and assisted by Reverend Father Lorenzo Salandanan, Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Assumption Church and Chair of the Toronto Organizing Committee on 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines; Reverend Monsignor Edgardo Pan, Parish Priest of Saint Rose of Lima Church; and the members of the Filipino Canadian clergy.

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FILCOM CHRISTMAS — Consul General Orontes V. Castro (in the middle) joins Honourable Roman Baber, Member of Provincial Parliament of Ontario and Mr. Ralph Basa, Adviser of RAM-Guardians Brotherhood, Inc. Panther Canada International which organized this year’s Christmas Party for Filipino caregivers in the Greater Toronto Area.

The seniors were serenaded and participated in the celebration of the 13th Year Annual Christmas Party organized by the Scarborough Ontario Seniors Association (SOSA) on 10 December 2021.

PR-2021-76

06 December 2021, Toronto, Ontario - The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto conducted an online Information Session on Violence Against Women for its personnel and those of the attached agencies. The webinar, which is in line with the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), was organized in cooperation with the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic (BSCC).

Ms. Maricela Lozano and Ms. Marybeth Durante, Manager and Languages Coordinator, respectively of the BSCC, discussed the different types of abuse (cultural/identity, financial/economic, mental/psychological, verbal/emotional, sexual, and physical); the signs and myths of abuse; the situation of victims of abuse; and the support that BSCC provides to victims of abuse.

vaw2021 — *Screenshots from the Virtual Information Session on Violence Against Women (VAW) held on 6 December 2021 with Ms. Lozano (left), Consul General Castro (center) and Ms. Durante (right).*

Notably, Ms. Durante emphasized that alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, there exists a “shadow pandemic” of violence against women, the prevalence and harmful effects of which are far less visible and efforts to address it are under-resourced. She noted that during the first few months since the COVID-19 pandemic started, there has been a 20-30% increase in rates of gender-based violence and domestic violence in some regions of Canada; and a 400% increase in calls for help in a shelter in the Greater Toronto Area.

A Q&A followed the VAW presentation, which was well-received by the officers and staff of the Consulate General and the personnel of the attached Philippine government agencies (POLO and Trade Office Section). Consul General Orontes V. Castro presented Misses Lozano and Durante with Certificates of Appreciation to express the Consulate General’s gratitude for conducting the online information session.

During the flag raising ceremony in the morning of the same day, Consul General Castro gave brief talk to the consular client of Post regarding the 18-day campaign against VAW. Ms. Ivy Evasco, one of the women clients, led the reading of the VAW prayer. - END

PR-2021-73

10 December 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto extends its congratulations to Mr. Edsel Mutia, RN for garnering the 2021 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award, as well as the 2021 Urban Heroes Award (Health Category) of the Star Metroland Media.

Another Filipino Canadian, Ms. Ida Beltran-Lucila from Edmonton, Canada, was also one of the awardees of the Top 2021 Canadian Immigrant Award.

seafoodcity — *Registered Nurse (RN) Edsel Mutia was conferred with the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award and the Star Metroland Media Urban Heroes Award for Health Category.*

Mr. Mutia works at the Intensive Care Unit of the North York General (NYG) Hospital. He worked in Saudi Arabia for seven years then migrated with his wife in Toronto, Canada in 2007. He encountered challenges with credentials recognition but with determination and perseverance, and support from the CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses, the registration requirements to qualify to take the Nursing Registration Exam was reduced from the initial requisite of a four-year degree to just a year of courses at the George Brown College in Toronto. Mr. Mutia also works at the Scarborough General Hospital’s Critical Care Response Team.

Mr. Mutia believes that nursing is not just a profession but a calling to help, serve, and give back to the community. He supports and encourages the patients under his care, as well as their families.

The Urban Heroes Award, presented by Star Metroland Media, the Toronto.com, and its community neighbourhood newspapers, is now in its 12th year. The Award recognizes individuals and groups, for work, leadership and good deeds in eight categories such as, Arts, Business, Education, Environment, Good Neighbour, Health, Social Issues and Sports. It was first introduced in Etobicoke in 2009 and grew to honour people in Scarborough and North York, and for the past four years have been open to residents across Toronto.

The Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award is a people’s choice awards program that recognizes inspirational immigrants who have made a positive impact on their communities since arriving in Canada. As the first Canadian national award program, the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards recognize the achievements of all immigrants including community advocates, volunteers, successful entrepreneurs, cultural icons. - END