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 TULOY ANG PASKO AND THE NUTCRACKER SUITE ACT 2 ONLINE The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, will stream online the CCP’s Artists Dance Workshop Twin-Bill Production “Tuloy ang Pasko” and “The Nutcracker Ballet Act 2” on 21-23 January 2021 on the DFA website.

The production featuring The Artists of the CCP Dance Workshop will be available for 24 hours starting 12:00 midnight on 23 January on the DFA website through this link: DFA Special Online Screening.

This re-run is especially for those who missed this nostalgic production last December that was streamed online by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and shown at the SM Mall of Asia Grounds as a drive in movie due to the pandemic protocols. The production revolves around the theme of Christmas 2020 still pushing through inspite of the pandemic.

Both productions are timeless classics directed for film by Carlos Siguion-Reyna. The Christmas classic songs were arranged by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab while the set design was by Eric Cruz. The artistic direction and costumes were overseen by National Artist for Dance Ms. Alice Reyes.

Following stringent health and safety protocols, The Nutcracker Ballet Act 2 and Tuloy Ang Pasko were filmed at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo without a live audience.

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 PR-2020-02 19 January 2021, Toronto, Ontario – On 18 January 2020, pursuant to Proclamation No. 711 of 1996, the Officers and Staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto conducted a brief activity celebrating the 25th Philippine National Autism Consciousness Week, which runs from 18 to 24 January 2021, after its regular flag-raising ceremony. Consul General Orontes V. Castro led the simple celebration.

A staff of the Consulate read the “1 Pangako” pledge and explained the significance of this year’s celebration with the theme, “Pilipinong May Autismo: Kakaiba, Kasali, Konektado”, to the audience comprising of the Consulate’s clientele and lean staff complement, due to the current lockdown in the whole Province of Ontario.

The banner of the 2021 Philippine National Autism Consciousness Week was flashed in the televisions displayed in the consular area for easy access of the Consulate’s clientele. It was also uploaded and posted in the Consulate’s official website and Facebook Page.

The annual celebration aims to promote awareness of autism as a human condition, inspire the creation of autism-inclusive policies and procedures, and empower families who live with autism, especially during these difficult times of the pandemic. – END

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 PR-2021-01 19 January 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General would like to inform that Filipino Canadian Luz del Rosario, Trustee of Mississauga Wards 6 and 11, was elected as Vice Chair of the 11-member Board of Trustees of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB), for a one-year term, during its annual Organizational Meeting on 1 December 2020. Ms. Del Rosario is the first Filipino elected as Vice Chair of the DPCDSB, which is one of the largest school boards in 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). She is currently working hard to push for the signing of the Proclamation wih the participation of the Consulate General. Trustee del Rosario also actively supported the launch of the Consulate General’s Padayon Art Competition titled “Paghilom at Pag-asa Mula sa Pandemya” (Healing and Hope from the Pandemic), at the DPCDSB. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is a co-sponsor of the Art Competition. To date, there are already forty-two (42) artwork entries received, twenty-six (26) of which are from the Dufferin-Peel Region. The deadline for submission of entries to the art competition is on 15 February 2021. As a Catholic School Board Trustee, Ms. Del Rosario hopes to bring her expertise and extensive experience on Human Resource Management to the school board, and to help in the formation of the future generation of Canadians who will serve the community in a Christian way of life.

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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