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PR-2021-41

July 19, 2021 (Manila) – “Mga Kuwentong Pagkain: Filipino Food Online Cook-Along”, a zoom webinar series that celebrates the unique heritage of Phillippine cuisine through storytelling and virtual cooking, features Mama Sita’s Heirloom Rice Champorado on its first episode which goes online this Friday, July 23, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in Toronto (and on Saturday, July 24, 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. in Manila).

Episode 1 titled “Rice and Our Filipino Foodways”, focuses on the humble Filipino staple, without which no meal is considered complete. The typical Filipino diet is characterized by a significant consumption of rice. Its chewy texture and subtle taste is the perfect complement to the bold flavors of the country’s diverse regional fare that are just meant to be savored with rice. Even snacks are replete with this ubiquitous grain.

Enter Heirloom Rice Champorado, a Mama Sita boutique product made with rare varieties of rice grains harvested from the ancestral lands of the Cordillera region, home of the famed UNSECO protected Philippine rice terraces. Planted and grown using ancient indigenous farming techniques passed on from generation to generation, heirloom rice grains are prized for their flavor and aroma, beautiful red to deep purple hues, lovely textures, and nutritional value.
In support of the farming communities that grow these fabled grains, Mama Sita’s has come up with a unique artisanal offering: Heirloom Rice Champorado Kit. The kit comes in 4 different heirloom rice varieties: Minaangan, Kalinga, Jekot, Balitanaw, and Ominio. Each grain variety has its own texture and taste. Complemented with 100% natural cacao tableas from Davao, Mama Sita’s Heirloom Rice Champorado delivers an exquisite spin to Filipinos’ beloved chocolate rice porridge – Champorado.

Mama Sita’s Heirloom Rice Champorado is produced in small batches and currently available in selected markets only. It is featured in episode 1 of “Mga Kuwentong Pagkain: Filipino Food Online Cook-Along” which is devoted to rice, an integral part of the country’s foodways.

“Mga Kuwentong Pagkain: Filipino Food Online Cook-Along” is presented in partnership with the Philippine Consulate in Toronto, with the support of Sentro Rizal, and 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.

The episodes go online on July 23, August 6, and August 20, 2021 at 7:30 PM (GMT -4) for participants in Toronto, and July 24, August 7, and August 21, 2021 at 7:30 AM (GMT +8) for participants in Manila. Interested participants can register for the first episode through this link: https://bit.ly/2SMAMASITA The next episodes will have a different registration link which will be shared in due time.

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ABOUT THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN TORONTO

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto is currently headed by Consul General Orontes V. Castro, and serves the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Western Ontario and Manitoba. It holds office at 7th Floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East Toronto, Ontario, Canada, ands can be reached through Telephone (416) 922.7181; Facsimile (416) 922.2638 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABOUT MAMA SITA FOUNDATION

Mama Sita Foundation (https://www.mamasitafoundation.com) is a non-stock non-profit organization birthed from the vision and legacy of Teresita “Mama Sita” Reyes, a Filipino food icon who was committed to spread awareness on Filipino food and honor the growers and producers of endemic agricultural crops that deliver its unique flavors and tastes. Its initiatives are focused on promoting Philippine culinary heritage and harnessing agricultural sustainability.

ABOUT MGA KUWENTONG PAGKAIN “Mga Kwentong Pagkain” (MKP) is an initiative of the Mama Sita Foundation which aims to preserve Philippine culinary heritage through the art of storytelling. Launched as a food writing contest in 2012, the initiative has since branched to other endeavors that seek to uphold Filipino foodways and culinary traditions, and work towards its inclusion in global conversations on food. MKP is inspired by Teresita Reyes’ own passion for putting into writing her own fascinating culinary adventures and experiences.

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For more information, please contact:

Marissa Albarace

Community Relations Manager

mailto: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

mobile: +63 9154416027

phone: +63 2 7182980

           +63 2 7256601

           +63 2 4046790

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19 July 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto extends its warm congratulations to Filipino-Canadian Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Waverley Jon Reyes for his appointment as Minister of Economic Development and Jobs for the Province of Manitoba on 15 July 2021. This singular achievement brings honor and pride not only to his family but also to the larger Filipino-Canadian community.  The appointment came even after a challenging week for the Conservative government whose two (2) statues in the Manitoba Legislature grounds were toppled on July 1st, Canada Day.  The protest was brought about by the accusations of abuse of indigenous children by Residential Schools.

MLA Reyes was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His parents immigrated to Winnipeg 50 years ago and his father worked in the garment industry. He is one of two Filipino Canadians in the Manitoba legislature. The other member is Ms. Malaya Marcelino of the NDP and daughter of former MLA Flor Marcelino, who was a cabinet minister under the NDP Government in the province.

MLA Reyes was elected to his first term as Member of Legislative Assembly for St. Norbert in the Province of Manitoba on 19 April 2016 and was later appointed as Special Envoy for Military Affairs for the Province of Manitoba, having served in the Canadian Forces for ten (10) years, including a stint with HMCS Winnipeg (a vessel that primarily served as convoy escort during WWII’s Battle of the Atlantic) as a Member of the Royal Canadian Navy. He also received a Special Services Medal (NATO) for his exemplary military service. Later, on 10 September 2019, he was re-elected in the new constituency of Waverley.

Despite his high position in government and busy schedule, MLA Reyes has been an active participant in Filipino community and Consulate General’s sponsored activities, thus maintaining link to his Filipino roots. Through his involvement in mentoring programs, he continues to inspire young Filipino-Canadians to pursue leadership positions in their respective fields and eventually to the mainstream community.

Just recently, during the Consulate General’s celebration of the 123rd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on 12 June 2021, the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto featured its Quincentennial Awardees during the virtual program, which included MLA Reyes, for his exemplary leadership, friendship, and invaluable support to the Filipino Community and the Philippine Consulate General. He was also one of the Consulate General’s featured personalities at “Proudly Philippines, Proudly Filipino!”, Vancouver PCG’s common cultural project with Ottawa PE and Calgary PCG and Toronto PCG.

Furthermore, late last year, the Consulate General liaised with MLA Reyes and MLA Malaya Marcelino for the submission and initiation of a Motion in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba on the Proclamation of the Quincentennial Celebration of the Philippines in the province, which was approved and signed by Manitoba’s Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage, the Honourable Cathy Cox on 25 November 2020.

MLA Reyes and his spouse, Cynthia, have two children, Reyna and Miguel, and owned and operated a successful small business in South Winnipeg before entering politics.

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PR-2021-40

July 19, 2021 (Manila) – In support of its vision to spread the essence of Philippine flavors to the rest of the world, the Mama Sita Foundation proudly presents “Mga Kuwentong Pagkain: Filipino Food Online Cook-Along”, a zoom webinar series made possible with the cooperation of the Philippine Consulate in Toronto and various Filipino-Canadian associations.

Storytelling and virtual cooking in a three-part series
The three-part webinar explores the unique heritage of Phillippine cuisine through a virtual feast of storytelling and cooking sessions. It hopes to deliver interesting facets of Philippine history, culture, and tradition through the lens of the country’s foodways, from its pre-colonial past to the modern era. Each one and a half hour episode is packed with live and recorded lectures, quick and easy cook-along segments, restaurant features, and fun games to ensure an enjoyable online experience for viewers of all ages.

The pilot episode focuses on rice – the staple of a true Filipino diet
The first episode – “Rice and Our Filipino Foodways” goes online this Friday, July 23, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in Toronto (and on Saturday, July 24, 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. in Manila). The program, which will be keynoted by Ambassador Rodolfo Dia Robles, puts the spotlight on rice, an essential part of the Filipino diet, without which no meal can be rendered complete. Among the highlights of this segment is 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.

Noted food historian Felice Prudente Sta. Maria also shares nuggets of information on sustainable rice farming traditions and ancient rituals in the Cordilleras. She also gives a primer on cacao beans, which was brought to the Philippines via the galleon trade which began in 1565.

Completing the lineup of the first episode is a cooking demo of a well-loved rice snack, a step-by-step guided instruction on how to achieve perfectly puffed steamed white rice with simple kitchen implements, sans the trusty rice cooker, and a surprise feature of a Filipino restaurant in Toronto which offers an array of delectable rice specialties. The first installment of the three-part series, as with the other two, promises to nurture viewers’ cultural connections with the homeland through meaningful conversations on its foodways and practical applications featuring modern takes on iconic Filipino dishes.

Reaching out to Filipino communities and food nerds everywhere
“Mga Kuwentong Pagkain: Filipino Food Online Cook-Along” reaches out to Filipino diaspora communities in Toronto and beyond by providing a platform for learning and interaction, with food from the homeland as its central theme – from its evolution and origins to its timeless traditions and modern adaptations. A sprinkling of Filipino language tutorials from the show’s emcees further enriches the program’s content.

The series also holds special appeal for foodies and food nerds from all over 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 food.
Emcees from Canada and the Philippines
The first episode will be emceed by Filipino-Canadian Nastasha Alli, an award-winning food journalist, culinarian, researcher, vlogger, blogger, and podcaster, headlining the podcast “Exploring Filipino Kitchens”. She will be joined by Cecile Nepomuceno Gamad, Legacy Custodian of Filipino food icon Teresita Reyes, the woman who inspired the creation of the Mama Sita Brand of food mixes, sauces and condiments.

Stay tuned also for the next episodes which explore ancestral cuisine and indiginized food. Joining as co-emcees on episode 2 and 3 is the father and daughter tandem of Paolo and Malaika Paculan of the Ateneo de Manila University.
Partner organizations

“Mga Kuwentong Pagkain: Filipino Food Online Cook-Along” is also supported by Sentro Rizal, and 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 organizaions: Pinoylicious, and Pueblo Science.

The episodes go online on July 23, August 6, and August 20, 2021 at 7:30 PM (GMT -4) for participants in Toronto, and July 24, August 7, and August 21, 2021 at 7:30 AM (GMT +8) for participants in Manila. Interested participants can register for the first episode through this link: https://bit.ly/2SMAMASITA The next episodes will have a different registration link which will be shared in due time.

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ABOUT THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN TORONTO

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto is currently headed by Consul General Orontes V. Castro, and serves the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Western Ontario and Manitoba. It holds office at 7th Floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East Toronto, Ontario, Canada, ands can be reached through Telephone (416) 922.7181; Facsimile (416) 922.2638 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABOUT MAMA SITA FOUNDATION

Mama Sita Foundation (https://www.mamasitafoundation.com) is a non-stock non-profit organization birthed from the vision and legacy of Teresita “Mama Sita” Reyes, a Filipino food icon who was committed to spread awareness on Filipino food and honor the growers and producers of endemic agricultural crops that deliver its unique flavors and tastes. Its initiatives are focused on promoting Philippine culinary heritage and harnessing agricultural sustainability.

ABOUT MGA KUWENTONG PAGKAIN

“Mga Kwentong Pagkain” (MKP) is an initiative of the Mama Sita Foundation which aims to preserve Philippine culinary heritage through the art of storytelling. Launched as a food writing contest in 2012, the initiative has since branched to other endeavors that seek to uphold Filipino foodways and culinary traditions, and work towards its inclusion in global conversations on food. MKP is inspired by Teresita Reyes’ own passion for putting into writing her own fascinating culinary adventures and experiences.

For more information, please contact: 

Marissa Albarace

Community Relations Manager

mailto: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

mobile: +63 9154416027

phone: +63 2 7182980

           +63 2 7256601

           +63 2 4046790

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PR-2021-36

13 July 2021, Toronto, Canada. – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto joined the Philippines in the celebration of July as National Disaster Resilience Month. A simple ceremony was held during the Consulate General’s flag-raising ceremony on Monday, 12 July 2021 to celebrate the occasion.

Immediately after the flag-raising and Panunumpa sa Watawat ceremonies and recitation of the DFA Foreign Policy, Consul General Orontes V. Castro gave brief remarks on the significance of the occasion. This year’s theme, “Tamang Pamamahala’t Kahandaan, Kaalaman at Pagtutulungan sa Sakuna at Pandemya’y Kalasag ng Bayan”, emphasizes the important role of Disaster Risk Governance. It also highlights the significance of “bayanihan” or collaboration between Filipinos to overcome the challenges of the current pandemic and build a green and resilient normal.

The month of July was designated as National Disaster Resilience Month throughout the country based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Memorandum No. 61 S. of 2021 and Executive Order No. 29 s. 2017.

The official electronic banner for the occasion was uploaded on the Consulate General’s official website and Facebook page, as well as in the television situated in the Consular Area where its clientele can see it. -END