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PR-81-2020

30 December 2020, Toronto, Ontario - The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto attended and participated at three (3) commemorative events of the 124th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) of Ontario, Canada on 30 December 2020. Consul General Orontes V. Castro and Consul Edwin Gil Q. Mendoza attended these events in the cities of Markham and Toronto.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held in the morning at the Luneta Gardens, in front of Rizal Avenue in Markham where the life-size monument of Dr. Rizal stands. The event was organized by the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians (MFCC) led by its long-time President, Ms. Yolanda Ladines. This year’s celebration, unlike in previous years, was kept to a minimum due to the Province of Ontario’s lockdown brought about by the COVID-19. Only a few officers and members of MFCC attended the event. Knight Commander of Rizal (KCR) and former Councillor of the City of Markham Sir Alex Chiu, who spearheaded the project of putting-up the monument, was not present during the ceremony. Other regular attendees who were present were Sir Jose Damasco, Knights of Rizal Canada Regional Commander, and fellow KCR Sir Ignacio “Mogi” Mogado, a Markham artist who created the bronze statue of Dr. Rizal.

The second Rizal Day wreath-laying event was held in the afternoon at the Dr. Rizal bust at Earl Bales Park in North York, Toronto, organized by the Order of the Knights of Rizal Canada Region. Consul General Orontes V. Castro and KOR Canada Regional Commander Sir Jose Damasco led the laying of the wreaths before Dr. Rizal’s bust, together with representatives from the Rizal Youth Organization (Canada Region).

The third event capping the day’s commemoration of the martyrdom of Dr. Rizal was a Zoom meet organized by the KOR Canada Region in the evening. This online meeting replaces the usual KOR’s program following the wreath-laying ceremony due to the stricter restrictions in indoor gatherings. The video message of Consul General Castro was presented during the virtual meeting. Sir Feberico Hangdaan gave a report on the Christmas Cheer one-man orchestra, a fund-raising event of KOR, which was able to raise $780.00. The virtual meeting ended with the singing of Bayan Ko and Walk with Faith in Your Heart. – END

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PR 79-2020

22 December 2020, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto participated at the 2020 OFW Family Day Celebration organized by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Toronto. The virtual celebration held on 13 December 2020 was titled “An OFW’s True North: Gabay Ko ang Aking Pamilya sa Aking Paglalakbay”.

POLO Toronto’s Labor Attaché Atty. Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo opened the celebration with her Inspirational Message for our kababayan OFWs who very much need support during these challenging times of the pandemic. Philippine Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Rodolfo Robles and Consul General Orontes V. Castro also shared their uplifting Christmas messages for the OFWs and their families.

Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre H. Bello, Ms. Visperas of the International Labor Relations Bureau of DOLE, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Atty. Hans Leo J. Cacdac likewise gave their Christmas messages to our OFWs.

All the Philippine government officials thanked POLO Toronto for organizing the online event despite the pandemic. As Ambassador Robles said, “It is a good way for the Filipino community to come together and participate in traditional Christmas activities while socially distancing.” Consul General Castro on the other hand said, “Nawa’y maipaabot po natin sa bawa’t isa ang mensahe ng pag-ibig, pagkakaisa, at pagkakaroon ng pag-asa, para sa kinabukasan sa taong ito at sa mga susunod pang mga taon.” During the 1 ½ hour virtual celebration hosted by POLO Toronto’s Ms. Catherine Dimalanta and Ron Morales from Prince Edward Island (PEI), the Filipino traditions of the parol and carolling were presented. There was a parol-making contest among OFWs in POLO Toronto’s jurisdiction, as well as a carolling competition. The OFWs and their families also shared their talents and provided entertainment during the celebration.

The highlight of the event is a segment of the success stories of Model OFWs namely, Ms. Maria Antoinette Pangan, Ms. Rojelle Icamina, and Mr. Michael & Mrs. Shirly delos Santos. One thing in common with these model OFWs was how they persevered and strived to overcome the challenges encountered when they migrated to Canada to work, in order to provide a better future for their respective families. They likewise shared how they paid it forward to the community when they succeeded – how they helped, assisted, and supported newly-arrived OFWs in Canada. Their stories serve as inspiration to their families and to others.

The virtual celebrated ended with the POLO Toronto officers and staff wishing everyone a joyful Christmas. Through the online celebration, POLO Toronto hopes to celebrate our OFWs and the reason for the season, the True North, which is our faith and our families. - END

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PR-80-2020

23 December 2020, Toronto, Ontario - The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and its Attached Government Offices, such as the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Toronto (POLO Toronto) and the Office of the Pag-ibig Representative, attended the virtual meeting with the Filipino Community in the Province of Manitoba and other representatives of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) on 10 December 2020. The virtual meeting was hosted by the Filipino Friends of Immigrants in Manitoba (FFIM), represented by Mr. Rey Sangalang (Director) and Ms. Joanne Viviezca.

The Philippine Government officials from Toronto who attended the online meeting were Consul General Orontes V. Castro, Consul Edwin Gil Q. Mendoza, Labor Attaché Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo, and Pag-ibig Representative Ms. Elizabeth Borres. They discussed about the Consulate General’s different consular and labor services, and various investment opportunities offered by Pag-ibig. Consul General Castro also informed the community about the Quincentennial Celebrations and Commemorations of the Philippines.

The Filipino Community representatives present during the virtual meet were Mr. Rommel Clamor, President of the South Eastman Filipino Association in Steinbach (SEMFA Steinbach), Ms. Aileen Ambeguia, a healthcare aide from Neepawa, Manitoba. A Q & A followed the discussion of Consul General Castro and the other Philippine Government officials. The virtual meeting with the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and its Attached Government Agencies is FFIM’s year-end event capping all their community activities for 2020. Despite the pandemic, the organization continued to assist newcomers in Manitoba to integrate to the Canadian society, as well as reconnect to their homeland, the Philippines.

According to Mr. Sangalang, the Filipino community is active in the Province of Manitoba. The Knights of Rizal were instrumental in a street named after Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, which was inaugurated in 2020, as well as a statue erected in the province.

The meeting was live streamed on FFIM’s Facebook page (6,800 members), as well as the FB pages of the Filipino Forum and Marketplace (47,000 members), SEMFA Steinbach, among others. – END.

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PR-77-2020

16 December 2020, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto brought cheer to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s (LAO) Speaker’s Office through its contribution of the famous Parol or Filipino Christmas lantern. The Parol adorns the holiday tree displayed outside of the Speaker’s Office in the Legislative Building at Queen’s Park in the City of Toronto.

The Philippine Consulate General, along with the other Consulates General in Toronto, were invited by the Honorable Ted Arnott, Speaker of the LAO, to participate in the Speaker’s tradition of displaying in his office’s holiday tree, ornaments or figurines of different countries represented in the Province of Ontario. The Philippine Consulate General accepted the Speaker’s invitation and participated through a donation of a colourful capiz parol. A brief description of the Philippine Christmas Star or Lantern was sent together with the parol. The Philippines takes precedence because the parol, placed proudly on top of the holiday tree, brightens the corridors of the Legislative Assembly.

Today, Speaker Arnott sent a letter to Consul General Castro thanking the Philippine Consulate General for its kind contribution, saying “the donation you provided highlights the rich cultural diversity of our province and provides us with a unique perspective of your country’s history and traditions during this festive time of year”. He added, “I know that Members of Provincial Parliament and staff greatly enjoyed viewing the items adorning the tree while learning more about your country.” A photograph of Speaker Arnott beside the holiday tree was also received from the Speaker’s Office. - END