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-2021-43

6 August 2021, Toronto, Ontario – Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles and Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined and participated in the second part of the Canada-wide online discussion on Pre-Colonial Philippine History, Arts and Culture organized and presented by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Toronto (UPAAT) Education and Awareness Committee. The online event was held on 5 August 2021 at 8:00 pm (Toronto time) via Zoom. The webinar is one of the Consulate General’s Filipino community events for the 2021 QCP and also a continuation of UPAAT’s event contribution to the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (2021 QCP) in Toronto and around the world. The event is the second partnership between the Consulate General and the UPAAT. The first collaboration was the initial Culture and History Talk held on 25 March 2021. The series of talks by renowned Filipino public historians, artists and scholars aim to promote the richness of Philippine heritage and culture from pre-colonial times and its continuing evolution through present times. UPAAT President Ms. Agnes Manasan welcomed the participants to the webinar. Consul General Castro introduced the Guest Speaker of the event, Philippine Ambassador to Canada Rodolfo D. Robles. Ambassador Robles delivered his Special Greetings to the participants.

*UPAAT President Ms. Agnes Manasan (left) welcomed the participants. Consul General Orontes V. Castro (right) introduced the Guest Speaker, Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles (middle).*

Dr. Patrick Alcedo, an alumnus of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Chair of the Department of Dance at York University in Canada and leading scholar and ethnographer on Philippine traditional dances, was the Lecturer and Presentor of the UPAAT webinar. Dr. Alcedo spoke of his researches on the Ati-atihan festival, Philippine folk dance, as well as his documentary filmmaking. His latest film “They Call Me Dax”, a short documentary on a 15-year-old student trying to survive as a ballet dancer, recently received the 2021 Best Short Documentary from the Cannes Indies Cinema Awards.

ofw day — *Dr. Patrick Alcedo (left) was introduced by Ms. Helen Balderama (right), the moderator of UPAAT’s Summer Talks. The pre-recorded presentation of Dr. Alcedo was shown during the Zoom webinar.*

Being a native of Andagao, Aklan, Dr. Alcedo grew up dancing in the Ati-atihan festival in Kalibo. Dr. Alcedo’s documentary film, “Ati-atihan Lives” is a product of his research on the lives of people who are devotees of this annual feast. It is known that every third week of January residents of Kalibo celebrate with their visitors the Ati-atihan (“to imitate Ati”) festival to honor both the indigenous Atis (local name of the Aeta people) and the Holy Child Jesus (otherwise known as the Sto. Niño). Dr. Alcedo also lectured on his passion for Philippine folk dances. He was born in a family of dancers and musicians and his mother, a piano teacher, is one of his inspirations. As a dance artist, he directed “Luzviminda: the Philippines Dances for Canada150”, a concert that filled York University’s Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre to capacity from 16 to 18 October 2021 and received a standing ovation. The final part of Dr. Alcedo’s presentation discussed his love for documentaries, which started in 2009. His first documentary film was “Boxing in the Shadow of Pacquiao”, which was cited in The New York Times. Todate, he has directed, written, and produced nine films – “Ati-atihan Lives”, “A Piece of Paradise“ (his first feature length documentary which received the first back-to-back win in the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival’s 20-year history), “Dancing Manilenyos”, “They Call Me Dax”, “A Will to Dream” and “Am I Being Selfish”, among others. Trailers of these films were presented shown during the lecture, including “Am I Being Selfish” which world-premiered during the lecture. Dr. Alcedo believes that dance and documentaries have a unique connection. His documentary films complement his written publications and are invaluable to his teaching and promotion of Filipino expressive culture. UPAAT

A Q&A, moderated by Ms. Helen Balderama and Philippine Senior Trade Commissioner Maria Roseni Alvero, followed after the talk. UPAAT President Manasan thanked Ambassador Robles and Consul General Castro for gracing the event. A Certificate of Appreciation was presented by Ms. Manasan to Dr. Alcedo for the very informative lecture and presentation. She expressed her wish that the young generation of Filipinos and Filipino Canadians would follow his footsteps. Consul General Castro also took the opportunity to present the Consul General’s Quincentennial Award to UPAAT for its invaluable effort and activities to foster unity among the Filipino Community and for the continued support to the Consulate General. A photo of the handing-over of the Quincentennial Award to Dr. Alcedo, held at the Consulate General on 9 July 2021, was also shown. The webinar was officially closed by Dr. Mayrose Salvador, Chair of the UPAAT Education and Awareness Committee. She thanked Dr. Alcedo for the amazing presentation which allowed the participants to appreciate the richness and diversity of Philippine heritage, culture and arts. She also invited everyone to the next Summer Talk on “Food in Identity – A Shortened Story of Philippine Branding”, which will be presented by Mrs. Felice Sta. Maria on 26 August 2021. – END

PR-2021-42

Toronto, 24 July 2021 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and the Mama Sita Foundation began the first of its three-part webinar series to bring Philippine cuisine to the forefront, with a look at Philippine culinary history and culture, today 23 July 2021, from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm Toronto time.

With its Filipino partner organizations and supporting organizations, the webinar drew the participation of 350 participants, mostly from the Canada, but also reaching other parts of the world. It was heartening to note the participation of overseas Filipinos of all ages, as well as foreigners interested to learn about Filipino food and cooking methods.

Ms. Clara Reyes Lapus of the Mama Sita Foundation delivered the welcome remarks with an introduction of the partnerships that made this Philippine culinary online initiative happen. The event was keynoted by Ambassador Rodolfo Dia Robles of the Embassy of the Philippines in Canada, who was introduced by Consul General Orontes V. Castro of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto.

The one and a half hour first episode on “Rice and Our Filipino Foodways” centered on rice, an essential part of the Filipino diet, starting with a presentation on the evolution of Philippine Cuisine and a shadow-play on the original of Rice. There was also a micro documentary on the harvest season in the Cordilleras where heirloom grain varieties are grown by descendants of rice farmers who have tilled the region’s vast ancestral lands for several generations, as well as a segment where noted food historian Felice Prudente Sta. Maria also shared nuggets of information on sustainable rice farming traditions and ancient rituals in the Cordilleras. She also gave a primer on cacao beans, which was brought to the Philippines via the galleon trade which began in 1565.

During this first episode, a video on how to cook rice sans a rice cooker was shown, and a live cooking demo of a well-loved rice snack, champorado, was also presented to nurture the viewers’ cultural connections with the homeland. The hosts, Filipino-Canadian food journalist Nastasha Alli and Mama Sita Legacy Custodian Cecile Nepomuceno Gamad, engaged the participants through meaningful discussions on Filipino foodways and practical tips and modern takes on iconic Filipino dishes. A sprinkling of Filipino language tutorials from the show’s emcees further enriched the first episode’s content.

Among the participants who were seen enjoying and cooking along the champorado were the mother-and-son tandem Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the Province of Manitoba Honourable Malaya Marcelino.

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and the Mama Sita Foundation invites everyone to stay tuned for the next episodes which will explore ancestral cuisine and indigenized food. Joining as co-emcees on episodes 2 and 3 is the father and daughter tandem of Paolo and Malaika Paculan of the Ateneo de Manila University.

The series holds special appeal for foodies and food nerds from all over Canada and the rest of the world who are looking at diversifying their arsenal of food wisdom through compact lectures from notable resource persons on very specialized topics that cover the provenance and origins, historical, cultural, nutritional, and sustainability aspects of Philippine food.

The next episodes go online on 06 August and 20 August 2021 at 7:30 PM (GMT -4) for participants in Toronto, and 07 August and 21 August 2021 at 7:30 AM (GMT +8) for participants in Manila.

“Mga Kuwentong Pagkain: Filipino Food Online Cook-along” is supported by Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and its partner organizations: Anderson College, b2Bpreneur, Filipino Canadian Association of Vaughan (FCAV), Filipino Canadian Students Association (FILCASA), Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians (MFFC) and Scarborough Ontario Seniors Association (SOSA); and supporting organizations: Pinoylicious, and Pueblo Science. - END

mama sita — *Ms. Clara Reyes Lapus of the Mama Sita Foundation delivered the Welcme Remarks, with an introduction of the partnerships that made this Philippine cultinary online initiative happen.*

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PR-2021-41

Toronto, 23 July 2021 – Consul General Orontes V. Castro and Vice Consul Edward D. Chan appeared at the Open Forum program of TOMz Radio yesterday, 22 July 2021 upon the invitation of the later to discuss the services of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and address the problems of Overseas Filipinos, as well as Filipino Canadians in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. TOMz Radio is a radio talk show hosted by Filipino Canadians Mr. Ramon Datol and Ms. Cecille Araneta.

At the Open Forum, Consul General Castro discussed the various consular services offered by the Consulate General, especially during this time when Ontario entered Step 3 of re-opening. He also mentioned that the Consulate General continues to follow health protocols and preventive measures against the COVID-19 that have been in place since the pandemic started. Because of the limited space of the consular area, the Consulate General adapts the appointment system for effective crowd control management. He informed that passport renewal services and dual oath-taking are held at the 7th floor and appointments for notarial and other legal services are entertained at the 6th floor, to maximize services while maintaining social distancing.

The other points discussed at the radio show were the forthcoming Philippine national elections on 9 May 2022. Consul General Castro highlighted the need for Filipinos to register for Overseas Voting (OV) so they can vote in next year’s election. The OV registration is available at the Consulate General until 30 September 2021. Former Filipinos also need to apply for reacquisition of Philippine citizenship (dual citizenship) so they can register for OV and subsequently be eligible to vote.

Another concern raised by Mr. Datol is the problem of undocumented Filipinos who are afraid to be vaccinated because of their immigration status. The Consul General assured that the Consulate General will assist them and encouraged them to communicate with the office so they can be referred to appropriate settlement organizations regarding their concern and appropriate assistance could be extended to them.

Consul General Castro thanked Mr. Datol and Ms. Araneta for the opportunity given to the Consulate General to discuss the services offered to Overseas Filipinos. Consul General Castro also expressed appreciation for TOMz Radio’s continuing support to the Philippine Consulate General and the Filipino Community hence the Quincentennial Award given to TOMz Radio on 12 June 2021 during the former’s virtual celebration of the 123rd anniversary of Philippine Independence. – END

Independence. – END