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PR-2021-19

Toronto, 1 June 2021 –Consul General Orontes V. Castro led the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto in its celebration of Filipino Heritage Month with blood donation at the Canadian Blood Services (CBS) in Toronto. POLO Toronto OWWA Welfare Officer Lourdes Reyes and Mr. Oliver Baranda, Driver at PCG, also donated blood to the CBS.

The Philippine Consulate General collaborated with Canadian Blood Services’ Ms. Lilet Raffiñan in this meaningful project to celebrate Filipino Heritage Month and the 123rd Philippine Independence Day, as well as in solidarity with the Quincentennial Commemorations of the Philippines.

The blood donation was one way of living the theme of the Quincentennial Commemorations of the Philippines (QCP), “Victory and Humanity”. As in our forebears who helped the starving crew of the first circumnavigators that traversed the Pacific Ocean, the officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General and Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Toronto put into action their care and compassion for other people and save lives in the process.

The Philippine Consulate General’s blood donation project for the whole month of June comes at an opportune time as the Province of Ontario just recently also approved Bill 217, otherwise known as the “Filipino Heritage Month Act” of the Province of Ontario, in addition to the earlier Filipino Heritage Month Motions passed by the City of Toronto in November 2017 and by the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada in October 2018 – END

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PR-2021-13

4 April 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The Announcement and Awarding of the Winners of Sentro Rizal Toronto’s Padayon Art Competition, titled Paghilom at Pag-asa Mula sa Pandemya” (Healing and Hope from the Pandemic), from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) was live streamed on 31 March 2021 through YouTube and was made available through links from the websites and Facebook page of the Consulate General and the TCDSB.

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto was represented by Consul General Orontes V. Castro at the Awarding ceremonies held at the Catholic Education Centre of the TCDSB. The program was moderated by Filipino Canadian Ms. Jodelyn Huang, Community Relations Officer of the TCDSB.

The video message of His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal-Bishop Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Vatican, Rome was featured during the earlier part of the Program, followed by the pre-recorded Holy Mass held at the St. Michael’s Cathedral. Filipino Canadian priests, Father Jeremias Inoc was the Celebrant of the mass while Father Matthew McCarthy was the Concelebrant and Homilist. Father McCarthy delivered a moving and inspiring Homily on the celebration of the 500th Anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines.

The Awarding Ceremonies was formally opened by the Welcome Remarks from Hon. Joseph Martino, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Brendan Browne, Director of Education, and Trustee Garry Tanuan (Ward 8), followed by Consul General Castro who thanked the TCDSB Officials and Trustees for their support of Sentro Rizal Toronto’s Padayon Art Competition. He also thanked the Filipino Canadian and mainstream elementary and secondary students who participated in the competition, as well as their parents and teachers who encouraged and assisted them in their submission. In appreciation of TCDSB’s collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General on the Padayon Art Competition and for the Proclamation approving the celebration of the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines in all schools under the TCDSB, Consul General Castro handed over Certificates of Appreciation to Dr. Browne and Trustee Tanuan. A Certificate of Appreciation was also given to TCDSB Chairman Joseph Martino who was not able to personally attend the ceremony. Consul General Castro likewise announced the Awarding of Certificates of Appreciation to the following members of the Panel of Judges to the art competition: Court of Appeal of Ontario Justice Steve A. Coroza (Chair), Mr. Genaro A. Lopos (Vice Chair), and Ms. Helen C. Balderama (Member).

The Padayon Art Competition was launched at the TCDSB on 23 October 2020, which officially started the Call for Entries for the art competition. Sentro Rizal Toronto received a total of 111 artworks from TCDSB students, with 87 from the elementary school and 24 from the secondary school. There were 71 total schools which participated in the art competition, 55 elementary schools and 16 secondary schools. A video presentation of all the artwork entries was also shown during the virtual event.

The NCCA sponsored the cash prizes for the six (6) 1st to 3rd place winners in both elementary and secondary school categories. All 1st prize winners were awarded C$500.00 each, 2nd prize winners C$300.00 each, and 3rd prize winners C$200.00 each. All the winners were also given a Winner Certificate signed by NCCA Chairman Lizaso; Consul General Castro; the TCDSB officials – Chair Martino, Director of Education Dr. Browne, and Trustee Tanuan; and the three (3) Board of Judges namely Ontario Justice of Appeal Steve A. Coroza (Chairman), Philippine Artists Group of Canada (PAG) President Genaro A. Lopos (Vice Chairman), and York University Associate Director for International Partnerships and Programs Helen C. Balderama (Member).

The much-awaited Announcement of the Winners was done by the Board of Judges, Chairman Coroza announcing all the 1st Prize winners on both the elementary school and secondary school categories, Vice Chair Lopos for all the 2nd Prize winners, and Member Balderama for all the 3rd Prize winners.

The following are the winners from the TCDSB:

Elementary School Category:

1st Prize Winner : Ronin Sebastian Honrado, Grade 2, St. Eugene Catholic School

2nd Prize Winner : Juan Miguel Arco Gallermo, Grace 2, St. Agatha Catholic School

3rd Place Winner : Sophia Vitorino, Grade 6, James Culnan Catholic School

Secondary School Category:

1st Place Winner : Isabel Magbitang, Grade 10, Francis Libermann Catholic High School

2nd Place Winner : Paula Lourdes Aquino Alcantara, Grade 12, James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School

3rd Place Winner : Ariel Mae Aquino Alcantara, Grade 11, James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School

Sentro Rizal-Philippine Consulate General Toronto gave Special Consul General Awards in the amount of C$100.00 each to elementary and secondary students from the TCDSB. The Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association (IFCNA), represented by its President Maria Rosario Quinto, also gave Special C$100.00 cash prizes. All the winners likewise received their Certificates of Participation.

The Closing Remarks was delivered by TCDSB Superintendent Derek Chen. He acknowledged the hard work of the Philippine Consulate General, the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines (QJCP) Task Force, and all the TCDSB officials and staff for the successful Padayon Art Competition Awarding of Winners and its live streaming. He also thanked most especially all the students, teachers and parents who participated in the art competition. -END

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PR-2021-17

Toronto, 26 May 2021 – A one-on-one virtual meeting was held today between Consul General Orontes Castro and Member of Provincial Parliament Doly Begum. The purpose of the meeting is for Consul General Castro to express his and the Filipino community’s appreciation officially and personally for MPP Begum’s sponsorship of Bill 217, otherwise known as the “Filipino Heritage Month Act” of the Province of Ontario.

The Bill was first introduced by MPP Begum on 20 October 2020. She fought for its passage from the First Reading, onto the Second Reading and Third Reading on 13 May 2021 when it was carried out, until it received Royal Assent and came into effect on 20 May 2021.

The Filipino Heritage Month Act of the Province of Ontario, as in the earlier Filipino Heritage Month Motions passed by the City of Toronto in November 2017 and by the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada in October 2018, “recognizes the positive impact that the Filipino Canadian community has made and continues to make in Ontario and throughout the rest of Canada and the world, as well as the countless economic contributions the Filipino community has made to Ontario for generations.”

MPP Begum is among the young generation of Canadians elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario during the 2018 provincial election and was recently appointed to a new critic role for Citizenship, Foreign Credentials, and Immigration Services, which comes as the NDP warns of a dire shortage of healthcare professionals during the pandemic. It is a new portfolio that looks into foreign credentials held by many new Canadians seeking employment for which they are qualified, instead of taking on underemployed work. As a Bangladeshi Canadian immigrant, MPP Begum values that Ontario provides equal and equitable opportunities for those who are newcomers and immigrants. She expressed continued support to the Filipino community. - END

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PR-2021-13

4 April 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The Announcement and Awarding of the Winners of Sentro Rizal Toronto’s Padayon Art Competition, titled Paghilom at Pag-asa Mula sa Pandemya” (Healing and Hope from the Pandemic), from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) was live streamed on 31 March 2021 through YouTube and was made available through links from the websites and Facebook page of the Consulate General and the TCDSB.

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto was represented by Consul General Orontes V. Castro at the Awarding ceremonies held at the Catholic Education Centre of the TCDSB. The program was moderated by Filipino Canadian Ms. Jodelyn Huang, Community Relations Officer of the TCDSB.

The video message of His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal-Bishop Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Vatican, Rome was featured during the earlier part of the Program, followed by the pre-recorded Holy Mass held at the St. Michael’s Cathedral. Filipino Canadian priests, Father Jeremias Inoc was the Celebrant of the mass while Father Matthew McCarthy was the Concelebrant and Homilist. Father McCarthy delivered a moving and inspiring Homily on the celebration of the 500th Anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines.

The Awarding Ceremonies was formally opened by the Welcome Remarks from Hon. Joseph Martino, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Brendan Browne, Director of Education, and Trustee Garry Tanuan (Ward 8), followed by Consul General Castro who thanked the TCDSB Officials and Trustees for their support of Sentro Rizal Toronto’s Padayon Art Competition. He also thanked the Filipino Canadian and mainstream elementary and secondary students who participated in the competition, as well as their parents and teachers who encouraged and assisted them in their submission. In appreciation of TCDSB’s collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General on the Padayon Art Competition and for the Proclamation approving the celebration of the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines in all schools under the TCDSB, Consul General Castro handed over Certificates of Appreciation to Dr. Browne and Trustee Tanuan. A Certificate of Appreciation was also given to TCDSB Chairman Joseph Martino who was not able to personally attend the ceremony. Consul General Castro likewise announced the Awarding of Certificates of Appreciation to the following members of the Panel of Judges to the art competition: Court of Appeal of Ontario Justice Steve A. Coroza (Chair), Mr. Genaro A. Lopos (Vice Chair), and Ms. Helen C. Balderama (Member).

The Padayon Art Competition was launched at the TCDSB on 23 October 2020, which officially started the Call for Entries for the art competition. Sentro Rizal Toronto received a total of 111 artworks from TCDSB students, with 87 from the elementary school and 24 from the secondary school. There were 71 total schools which participated in the art competition, 55 elementary schools and 16 secondary schools. A video presentation of all the artwork entries was also shown during the virtual event.

The NCCA sponsored the cash prizes for the six (6) 1st to 3rd place winners in both elementary and secondary school categories. All 1st prize winners were awarded C$500.00 each, 2nd prize winners C$300.00 each, and 3rd prize winners C$200.00 each. All the winners were also given a Winner Certificate signed by NCCA Chairman Lizaso; Consul General Castro; the TCDSB officials – Chair Martino, Director of Education Dr. Browne, and Trustee Tanuan; and the three (3) Board of Judges namely Ontario Justice of Appeal Steve A. Coroza (Chairman), Philippine Artists Group of Canada (PAG) President Genaro A. Lopos (Vice Chairman), and York University Associate Director for International Partnerships and Programs Helen C. Balderama (Member).

The much-awaited Announcement of the Winners was done by the Board of Judges, Chairman Coroza announcing all the 1st Prize winners on both the elementary school and secondary school categories, Vice Chair Lopos for all the 2nd Prize winners, and Member Balderama for all the 3rd Prize winners.

The following are the winners from the TCDSB:

Elementary School Category:

1st Prize Winner : Ronin Sebastian Honrado, Grade 2, St. Eugene Catholic School

2nd Prize Winner : Juan Miguel Arco Gallermo, Grace 2, St. Agatha Catholic School

3rd Place Winner : Sophia Vitorino, Grade 6, James Culnan Catholic School

Secondary School Category:

1st Place Winner : Isabel Magbitang, Grade 10, Francis Libermann Catholic High School

2nd Place Winner : Paula Lourdes Aquino Alcantara, Grade 12, James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School

3rd Place Winner : Ariel Mae Aquino Alcantara, Grade 11, James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School

Sentro Rizal-Philippine Consulate General Toronto gave Special Consul General Awards in the amount of C$100.00 each to elementary and secondary students from the TCDSB. The Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association (IFCNA), represented by its President Maria Rosario Quinto, also gave Special C$100.00 cash prizes. All the winners likewise received their Certificates of Participation.

The Closing Remarks was delivered by TCDSB Superintendent Derek Chen. He acknowledged the hard work of the Philippine Consulate General, the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines (QJCP) Task Force, and all the TCDSB officials and staff for the successful Padayon Art Competition Awarding of Winners and its live streaming. He also thanked most especially all the students, teachers and parents who participated in the art competition. -END