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PR-2021-24

17 June 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General would like to inform that Consul General Orontes V. Castro was joined on 13 June 2021 in the flag raising at “Little Manila” in Bathurst Wilson Parkette, York by Hon. Marco Mendicino, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship; Hon. Salma Zahid, Member of Parliament of Canada’s House of Commons representing the federal riding of Scarborough Center; newly-elected Hon. Ya’ara Saks, Member of Parliament, York Center; Hon. James Pasternak, Councillor of the City of Toronto, Rolly Mangante and other officers and members of the organizers of the annual “Taste of Manila” in the City of Toronto; and other Filipino community leaders. Consul General Castro was joined by Mr. Managante during the wreatlaying at the bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal before the start of the Program.

In his remarks, Consul General Castro read the Independence Day Message of H.E. President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Minister Mendicino and the other distinguished guests, meanwhile, took turns in recognizing the positive contributions of the Filipinos in the development of Canada in their speeches, as well as the invaluable services of Filipino health care workers and other frontliners during the pandemic. Consul General Castro likewise distributed during the event the Consul General’s “Quincentennial Award” to Minister Mendicino, MP Zahid, Councillor Pasternak, Mr. Ramon Datol of TOMZ Radio Toronto, and Mr. Mangante of “Taste of Manila.” The awards were given to Filipino Canadian and Canadian individuals, Filipino community organizations, media, government agencies, and settlement organizations in recognition of their invaluable effort, support, and activities to foster unity among the Filipino community and continued support to the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto.

Relatedly, Consul General Orontes V. Castro led the officers and staff of the Consulate General with Filipino Canadian DPCDSB Vice Chair Luz del Rosario in the flag raising on 11 June 2011 to commemorate the 123rd Proclamation of Philippine Independence at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) Main Office.

Ms. Del Rosario is the first Filipino elected as Vice Chair of the DPCDSB, which is one of the largest school boards in the Province of Ontario, with approximately 77,000 students in 151 schools located throughout Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, and Orangeville, in Ontario. Ms. Del Rosario has served in various leadership capacities during her ten (10) years on the Board of Trustees.

On request by the Consulate General, Ms. Del Rosario successfully spearheaded the approval of the Proclamation celebrating the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines in all Schools at the DPCDSB on 29 September 2020, the 2nd recognition from a Canadian government agency of the Quincentennial Celebration in the Philippines, the first being from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). On 25 May 2021 and upon request by the Consulate General, another Proclamation was unanimously approved by the DPCDSB Board of Trustees on the annual celebration of “Filipino Heritage Month” in all DPCDSB-run schools. The signing of the Proclamation is scheduled sometime this year at least after the easing of restrictions due to the pandemic.

On the night of 14 June 2021, the Mississauga Civic Centre clock tower was lighted blue, red and white for the 123rd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.-END-

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PR-2021-22

Toronto, 14 June 2021 – Consul General Orontes V. Castro led the Officers and Staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and its Attached Government Agencies in the Virtual “Kalayaan 2021”, in celebration of the 123rd Anniversary of Philippine Independence, Filipino Heritage Month, and the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines. The event was live streamed via the Consulate General’s official website and Facebook Page at 10:00 am of 12 June 2021.

Part 1 of the Virtual Programme included the First Flag-Raising held at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB), as well as the different Proclamations on Filipino Heritage Month issued by the Cities of Toronto and Vaughan, as well as the Filipino Heritage Month Act of 2021 issued by the Province of Ontario.
The Virtual Programme featured the messages of Philippine government officials as President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles, and Consul General Orontes V. Castro. The congratulatory messages/greetings from Canadian Government officials, Consular Corps, Interfaith Religious Leaders, Elected Trustees from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB), and Filipino Canadian Community Leaders, were also in the second part of the Programme.
Part Three of the Programme was the online launch of the one hundred eighty-two (182) Padayon artworks from participating students from the TCDSB and DPCDSB, followed by the Presentation of the Quincentennial Awardees (Government Officials, Interfaith Religious Leaders, Posthumous Awardees, Individual Awardees, Filipino Community Organizations, Media, and Settlement Organizations).

Vocal and piano performances from two (2) featured artists, Filipina mezzo-soprano Renee Fajardo and pianist Ron Michael Adea, capped the day’s historic virtual celebration of the 123rd Anniversary of Philippine Independence, Filipino Heritage Month, and the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines.

To date, the Virtual Celebration has now 2,100 views.

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PR-2021-23

16 June 2021, Toronto, Ontario – Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, led by Consul General Orontes V. Castro, participated in the Virtual School Visits organized and conducted by the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines (QJCP) team, held from 16-31 March 2021. The QJCP Team was composed of the Consul General Castro, Trustee Garry Tanuan, the Community Relations Department of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), and other Filipino Canadian Community members.

The virtual class visits to the schools that participated in Sentro Rizal Toronto’s Padayon Art Competition were opportunities to talk to the students about their paintings and Artist’s Statements, which were based on the theme “Paghilom at Pag-asa Mula sa Pandemya” (Healing and Hope from the Pandemic). The online visit was also a platform to share with the Filipino Canadian and mainstream Canadian students the 500-year rich heritage, culture and faith of the Philippines, to learn what the QJCP Proclamation and celebration is all about.

The following were the virtual class visits held in March 2021:

➢ 19 March 2021 (2:00 pm): Grade 7/8 Class of Ms. Julie D’Alelio, St. Paschal Baylon Catholic School;
➢ 22 March 2021 (12:30 pm – 1:40 pm): Grade 6 Class of Ms. Karen Reyes Tam, St. Paschal Baylon Catholic School;
➢ 22 March 2021 (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm): St. Columba Catholic School, Mr. John Pasia (first and only Filipino-Canadian Principal in TCDSB-run schools); and
➢ 24 March 2021, (2:00 pm): Five (5) classes, Grades 3 – 8 and the Special Education Class, Cardinal Leger School, Mr. Peter Fitzpatrick (Principal).

During one of the virtual class visits, the QJCP Virtual Commemoration video, which was live streamed on 16 March 2021, was re-shown. There was also a QJCP Jeopardy Game wherein questions about the Philippines and the historic 500 years celebration, as well as the Padayon Art Competition were asked. - END

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PR-2021-21

Toronto, 7 June 2021 – Ambassador Rodolfo A. Robles and Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined the Virtual Celebration of the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians (MFFC) on 6 June 2021. The virtual event, aired via YouTube, was in celebration of the 123rd Anniversary of Philippine Independence. Ms. Yolanda Ladines and Mr. Arturo Canseco, co-Chairs of the MFFC, organized the event despite the health restrictions still in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles mentioned in his Message that our ancestors offered their lives for the freedom we now enjoy and that we have a responsibility to continue protecting this freedom for future generations of Filipinos and to use this freedom to unite and heal our communities.

Consul General Orontes V. Castro on the other hand lauded the MFFC team for their determination and for finding alternative ways to celebrate Philippine Independence Day. He also highlighted the full support of His Worship Mayor Frank Scarpitti and the other Markham City Officials for the Filipino Community in Markham. Consul General Castro likewise mentioned the double victories of the Filipino Community with the Province of Ontario’s approval and enactment of the Filipino Heritage Month (FHM) Act of 2021, as well as the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s recent approval of the celebration of June every year as FHM in all DPCDSB-run schools in Ontario, just in time for the celebration of FHM in June. The approval is an inspiration for the Filipino Canadian community, especially the Filipino healthcare workers and frontliners.

Markham Mayor Scarpitti also gave his congratulatory video greetings to the Filipino Canadian community. He said that Markham is proud to be the home of a vibrant Filipino Canadian community. As in the past years, he joins the Filipino-Canadian community in celebrating the monumental Day of Philippine Independence. He also specially mentioned former Markham Councillor Alex Chiu who just recently passed away. He said that Alex was the “Tito” (uncle) of the Filipino community in Markham and that he and his extraordinary contributions to public service will always be remembered.

The MFFC Youth Performing Arts and the MFFC Seniors’ Group provided entertainment and performed folk dances and songs. - END