GOVPH

• Print

PR-62-2020

5 October 2020 Toronto, Ontario – On 30 September 2020, Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro inducted the newly-installed Officers and Directors of the Bicol Canadian Community Association (BCCA) for the term 2020-2021 at the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto. The induction and oathtaking ceremony was planned for early this year but was postponed due to the current restrictions brought about by the pandemic.

The Program of the Oathtaking Ceremony was opened by Master of Ceremonies Ms. Jennifer Amaranto, BCCA’s Secretary, followed by the singing of the Canadian and Philippine national anthems, and then the Invocation led by one of the directors, Ms. Gidget dela Torre. BCCA Treasurer Mr. Jose Gutierrez welcomed everyone to the event while incumbent and re-elected President Mr. Earl Francis Dacara introduced the Guest Speaker and Inducting Officer Consul General Orontes V. Castro.

Consul General Castro lauded the organization as one of the oldest Filipino organizations. He narrated his wonderful memories with the Bicol Associations in countries where he was previously posted – in Chicago and New York. He also commended the initiatives of the BCCA in helping not only the Bicolanos in Toronto, but also in the Philippines, specifically in the recent magnitude 6.5 earthquake that hit Cataingan, Masbate on 18 August 2020. He also mentioned the devotion of the Bicolanos to “INA” Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia (Our Lady of Peñafrancia). Consul General Castro attended the culminating Holy Mass celebrating the Feast Day of Our Lady of Peñafrancia which was held on 19 September 2020 at the Our Lady of the Assumption Church.

BCCA Adviser Mr. Rafael Nebres gave his Inspirational Message to all the newly-elected Officers and Directors of the organization. Mr. Nebres was the former President of the organization for so many years before he retired and passed the baton to Mr. Dacara in 2018. Mr. Nebres said that he is very much confident that with the leadership of Mr. Dacara, BCCA will be successful in bringing to Canada, one at a time, all the six (6) provinces in Bicol – Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sir, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.

After the Induction Ceremony, incumbent president Mr. Dacara gave his message thanking the Consul General for accepting their invitation to be their Guest Speaker and Induction Officer and allowing them to hold the oathtaking at the Consulate General, but mindful of and following the guidelines and restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Dacara likewise mentioned the upcoming projects of BCCA which they will link with the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations of the Philippines, as well as the Quincentenary Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021. The projects, among others, are the “HISTOBICOL” program, as well as the 2021 Peñafrancia Festival which will be celebrated through a fluvial or boat processions around Bluffers Park Lane in Scarborough, Ontario and a Holy Mass at the Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Toronto.

• Print

PR 60-2020

01 October 2020 – As part of the Consulate General’s efforts to reach out and continue to connect with the Filipino-Canadian community at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, Consul General Orontes Castro, Consul Edwin Gil Mendoza and Labor Officer Attorney Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo were guests on the Our Radio Toronto Open Forum on 24 September 2020. The radio show was hosted by Filipino-Canadians Ramon Datol and Corazon Ilao.

Consul General Castro discussed the ongoing Overseas Voting (OV) registration of Filipino nationals for the 2022 Philippine National Elections at the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto. He explained the requirements for the registration process for Filipino citizens including those who are dual citizens. Mr. Datol and Ms. Ilao stated that could help in disseminating information about the outreach OV registration once the schedules are finalized. The OV registration continues to be held at PCG Toronto during office hours from 10:00 AM -4:00 PM daily and registrants are required to bring proof of Philippine citizenship (e.g. valid Philippine passports) and dual citizenship documents for those who are dual citizens. Due to the current health regulations in Ontario in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, registrants are requested to secure an appointment before going to the Consulate.

He also pointed out that consular services continue to be extended to the Consulate’s clients despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

POLO Labor Officer Zozobrado-Nagayo briefly talked about Philippine regulations related to Canada’s Home Child-Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilot programs and other labor issues affecting caregivers and other OFWs in Canada. - END

• Print

PR 61-2020

17 September 2020, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto participated in the Durham Filipino Fest Virtual Celebration on 12 September 2020, from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, streamed via its Facebook page.

The Durham Filipino Fest is a civic organization in the Durham Region that aims to bring Filipinos together as one vibrant community. It is also geared towards the preservation of the Filipino culture to younger generations born in Canada of Filipino-Canadian parents. Every September the community celebrates a Filipino Fiesta identical to the fiestas celebrated in the Philippines.

This year, the Durham Filipino Fest celebrated the Filipino Fiesta virtually due to the ongoing pandemic. Through the online fiesta, they hoped to inspire, encourage and uplift the spirit of the Filipinos in the Durham community, during this time of the pandemic.

As the usual practice, the virtual celebration formally opened with a Prayer and the singing of a Filipino patriotic song by Ms. Josie de Leon while photos of the frontline workers, were flashed, and then the singing of the Philippine and Canadian national anthems.

Consul General Orontes V. Castro’s message for the organizers, performers, sponsors, and viewers of the virtual festival was also featured in the program. He congratulated Ms. Faye Graves, the incumbent President of the Durham Filipino Fest, as well as the Filipinos in Durham and reiterated his support for the community’s continued efforts to bring Filipinos together and to promote and preserve Philippine culture with the younger generations of Filipino-Canadians. He said, “despite the COVID-19 pandemic, you have the commitment and generosity to celebrate our culture with our growing Filipino Community in Durham, and Canada as a whole”.

The messages from Canadian government officials were also shown at the virtual presentation. Messages from Mr. John Henry (Chairman of Durham Region), Mr. Dan Carter (City of Oshawa Mayor), Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Rod Phillips (MPP for Ajax and Province of Ontario Finance Minister), Ms. Lindsey Park (MPP for Durham), Ms. Lorna Coe (MPP for Whitby), Mr. Marco Mendicino (Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship), and Mr. Erin O’Toole (Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada). They all congratulated the officers of the Durham Filipino Festival for persevering to stage this year’s virtual Filipino festival and expressed that they are looking forward to being able to gather in-person again at the Durham FilFest in 2021. They also acknowledged the many contributions of Filipino-Canadians in the economy and cultural diversity of Canada.

As in the past years, there was non-stop entertainment at the Durham FilFest, from home-grown artists to artists from the Philippines, all showcasing the great talents of the Filipinos.

• Print

PR 58-2020

DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD (DPCDSB) APPROVES THE PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING THE QUINCENTENNIAL JUBILEE OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE PHILIPPINES IN ALL SCHOOLS AT THE DPCDSB

30 September 2020 Toronto, Ontario – Another recognition by an agency of the Canadian government of the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines was secured by Toronto PCG with the strong support of the Filipino-Canadian Community on the approval of a Proclamation to celebrate the landmark event in all schools in the Dufferin-Peel region, during the Regular Board Meeting of the Trustees of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board held on 29 September 2020.

Report Number H.5 of the Agenda of the Board Meeting was submitted by the Faith and Program Committee of the DPCDSB to the Board of Trustees, which is the Motion on the issuance of the Proclamation recognizing the 500th Anniversary of the Arrival of Christianity to the Philippines and celebrating the event in DPCDSB schools during the 2020-2021 school year. The Motion also recommended the appointment of Mississauga Wards 6 and 11 Trustee Luz del Rosario as the DPCDSB Representative on the Toronto Organizing Committee-Quincentenary Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines (TOC-QJCP).

The Motion was brought to the Board by Trustee Luz del Rosario. Trustee Del Rosario is a Filipino Canadian elected Trustee at the DPCDSB. Post has been in close coordination with Trustee del Rosario regarding the Proclamation.

The <b>Proclamation</b> recognizes the pivotal role of the Philippine Consulate General in raising and maintaining awareness of Philippine Heritage and culture among the young Filipino Canadians by encouraging their active participations in the Quincentennary events and activities.

The DPCDSB is one of the largest and most diverse school districts in Ontario with approximately 80,000 students attending 151 schools (125 elementary and 26 secondary) located throughout Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, and Orangeville. In addition, over 40,000 students enroll in the board’s Adult and Continuing Education programs each year.

The Board adopted the Motions recommended by the Faith and Program Committee approving the issuance of the Proclamation recognizing the 500th Anniversary of the Arrival of Christianity to the Philippines and celebrating the same in the DPCDSB schools during the 2020-2021 school year. It likewise approved the appointment of Trustee Luz del Rosario of Mississauga Wards 6 and 11 as DPCDSB Representative at the Toronto Organizing Committee-Quincentenary Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines (TOC-QJCP). This is by far the second act by a foreign government or its agency recognizing the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines. The first Proclamation was by the Toronto Catholic District School Board which was approved on 17 September 2020.

It is significant to note that the Board of Trustees approved the celebration of the Quincentennial Jubilee within the DPCDSB for the whole school year of 2020-2021, at a pressing time when the region was experiencing resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Post’s initiative for the passage of a Proclamation celebrating the Quincentenary Jubilee of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in the Dufferin-Peel region, coupled with the strong support from Trustee del Rosario were essential in the approval of the Motion submitted by the latter to the Faith and Program Committee of the DPCDSB.

The Consulate General is actively working with other Canadian government offices and institutions within its jurisdiction towards the passage of a proclamation celebrating the Quincentennial Commemorations of the Philippines in various regions under Post’s jurisdiction.

As earlier reported and to promote inclusivity, diversity and harmony, Post’s Sentro Rizal Toronto will be organizing an Art Competition that is open to all elementary and high school students in Toronto and the Dufferin-Peel regions. Entries to be received from the art competition will be exhibited in 2021 in one of the events moving up to the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines in 2021.

The Philippine Consulate General of Toronto is reiterating its call on the Filipino community to strongly support the various activities celebrating the 500 years (Quincentennial) Commemorations in the Philippines to be held until next year. The religious part of the celebration is one of the components of all the commemorations being observed in 2021.