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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

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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

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PR-2021-40

Toronto, 19 July 2021 – H.E. Ambassador Rodolfo A. Robles and Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined the “Vaughan Fiesta Extravaganza 2021 Virtual Saya!” presented by the Filipino Canadian Association of Vaughan (FCAV) on 17 July 2021. Ms. Erlinda Insigne, President of FCAV, in cooperation with MCBN Media Group’s Founder & CEO Mr. Nestor Von Canton, organized the virtual event due to restrictions on large gatherings that are still in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was broadcasted live from the MCBN Broadcast Centre at the Patricia Kemp Community Centre (PKCC) in Vaughan, Ontario, which is FCAV’s home. The event was also streamed live in all MCBN digital platforms.

Now on its 4th year (2nd year virtually), the Vaughan Fiesta Extravaganza, is an annual summer event in Ontario and across Canada that celebrates Filipino Heritage Month and promotes multicultural awareness and appreciation of Filipino heritage. This year, it also celebrates the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, including the 500th Anniversary of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, as well as the 10th year Anniversary of MCBN’s Pinoy Radio. The festival also recognizes the achievements of Filipino-Canadians who have contributed tremendously to the socio-economic fabric of Canada.

Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles thanked FCAV for organizing once again the virtual edition of Vaughan Fiesta Extravaganza and for providing a venue for the community to continue to engage with one another. He also expressed his hope that “this event will be another stepping stone towards fostering deeper understanding the Filipino culture while it simultaneously highlights the many contributions of Filipino Canadians in this country over many decades.”