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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- 76-2020

14 December 2020, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Heritage Band (PHB) took part at the two-hour TV Christmas Special of the recently concluded 2020 Toronto Santa Claus Parade filmed at Canada’s Wonderland Theme Park. The parade was aired across Canada on CTV and CTV2 on Saturday, 5 December 2020 at 7:00 pm (ET/PT).

The special performance by the Philippine Heritage Band was watched by people in the comfort of their own homes, to celebrate the joyous season. PHB was proud to join this year’s parade. It was an opportunity to fulfill its mission of contributing to the enrichment of Canada’s multicultural society and one of the centerpiece of Filipino cultural pride in North America.

The Philippine Heritage Band, founded in October 1980 by Mr. Oscar Fariñas, is based in the City of Vaughan, Ontario. The PHB is a marching band of 100 volunteer members engaged in entertaining communities everywhere. The youth marching band has performed in high profile parades in Canada and the U.S. and in various Filipino-Canadian community events. In 1998, PHB won the prestigious Banaag Award for Outstanding Services Oversees - Philippine Presidential Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas, at ceremonies held at Malacañang Palace. – 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

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PR 75-2020

14 December 2020, Toronto, Ontario - In support of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) from 25 November to 12 December 2020, the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto conducted an online Information Session on Violence Against Women for its personnel and those of the attached agencies on 9 December 2020. The webinar was conducted by Ms. Maricela Lozano and Ms. Marybeth Durante, Manager and Customer Representative, respectively of the Interpreter Services Toronto, an employment purpose enterprise of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic (BSCC).

This is the second year that the Barbra Schlifer gave a seminar on Violence Against Women. Ms. Lozano and Ms. Durante discussed about abuse against women and domestic violence, especially during these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also reported on the correlation between abuse and power and the kinds and signs of abuse. Ms. Lozano mentioned the reasons why some women and girls do not report abuse and will not leave a relationship even if they are being abused. They also provided the contact information of the Canadian agencies where abused women can get help and assistance, including the BSCC.

The BSCC is a Toronto-based, non-profit agency that offers legal representation, professional counselling and multilingual interpretation to women experiencing violence. It was formed in 1987, with the Interpreter Services Toronto forming in 2009. It is a specialized clinic for women of all cultures and backgrounds experiencing violence. They work strictly with confidentiality for all their client’s cases and information is never shared outside of the client and their designated case worker without explicit consent. As a result of their services, their clients experience less isolation, more stability, and expanded personal agency within relationships. Some Filipino-Canadians like Ms. Durante with background on social works in the Philippines are also working with BSCC and similar specialized agencies in Canada.

A Q&A followed the VAW presentation, which was well-received by the officers and staff of the Consulate General and the personnel of the attached Philippine government agencies (POLO, Trade Office Section, SSS, and Pagibig). Consul General Orontes V. Castro presented Misses Lozano and Durante with Certificates of Appreciation to express his appreciation for conducting the online information session. He also emphasized the importance of such seminars for the Consulate General to gain knowledge and acquire skills in dealing with VAW cases to better serve distressed Filipinos under its jurisdiction, especially during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. - END