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PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL AND FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN TORONTO COMMEMORATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF PHILIPPINES-CANADA DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH A THANKSGIVING MASS 

Personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto led by Consul General Angelica C. Escalona with His Grace, Most Reverend Francis Leo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto, and Filipino and Filipino-Canadian priests and deacons assigned in various Catholic churches in Toronto (photo courtesy of St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilanica)

04 June 2024, Toronto - A thanksgiving mass was held at the St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica in Toronto to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Philippines-Canada diplomatic relations. The principal celebrant for the mass was the Most Reverend Francis Leo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto. The mass was made more memorable with six Filipino and Filipino-Canadian priests and deacons concelebrating and assisting, namely Father Jeremias Inoc, Father Matthew McCarthy, Father Lorenzo Salandanan, Father Manuel Duterte, Deacon Norbert Aquino and Deacon Joel Bangalan.

The mass was attended by personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto led by Consul General Angelica C. Escalona and more than 200 members of the Filipino community.

In his homily, Archbishop Leo highlighted the positive values of the Filipino community, particularly kindness, goodness of heart, faith and importance of family, which have enriched Canadian society. “How blessed we are to have such a multicultural community, where the Filipino community is in great numbers and have been a blessing,” said the Archbishop.

Noting the 75h anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Canada, the Archbishop also emphasized the importance of relationships between countries, communities and families to benefit moral, emotional, spiritual and religious growth.

In her message, Consul General Escalona highlighted the important role of the Catholic Church in the migration story of Filipinos in Canada, noting that the Church has served as an anchor for Filipinos from the time they arrive in Canada and even after they have settled in the country.

The mass was in time for the celebration of Filipino Heritage Month in Canada. The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto will be conducting a number of activities, some in collaboration with the Filipino community, in the coming months to mark the 75th Anniversary of Philippines-Canada diplomatic relations. END

Members of the Philippine Consulate General and the Filipino community during the mass (photo courtesy of St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica)

The Filipino community with Consul General Escalona and the Most Reverend Archbishop Francis Leo (photo courtesy of St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica)

The Most Reverend Archbishop Francis Leo leading the celebration of the mass (photo courtesy of St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica)

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POTATO CORNER OPENS FIRST BRANCH IN ONTARIO

Left to right: Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague, Ed Virola and Elaine Virola (local franchise partners), Mrs. Estrella Rodriguez, Consul General Angelica Escalona and Mr. Nelson Rodriguez during the ribbon cutting ceremony

01 June 2024 – Potato Corner, the popular Philippine food franchise known for its flavored French fries, opened its first branch in Ontario at the Food District, Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga. Consul General Angelica C. Escalona of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and Mr. Nelson Rodriguez, President and CEO of Potato Corner Canada, led the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The branch is temporarily located in a pop-up store at the Food District for the first three months of operation and will move to a permanent location after that.

The opening of the Ontario branch set a new record for the highest opening sales in Canada, earning almost CAD13,000. The previous record was CAD10,000.00 during the opening at West Edmonton Mall in Alberta in 2019. “We have a strong feeling that this will be popular not just among Filipinos but with the locals,” said Consul General Escalona.

The opening was in time for the Filipino heritage month in Canada and the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Canada. “We have been waiting for this for a long time. We grew up eating this in the Philippines, very nostalgic,” said one of the clients.

Potato corner now has 11 branches across Canada. Mr. Rodriguez said they have plans to further expand in Ontario. END

Consul General Escalona, Mr. ad Mrs Rodriguez and Mr. and Mrs. Virola with the staff of Potato Corner Ontario 

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 ADVISORY ON THE SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE OF THE ONLINE VISA APPOINTMENT SYSTEM (OVAS)

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PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN TORONTO HOLDS SPECIAL CONSULAR OUTREACH IN KITCHENER, ONTARIO

Clients avail of the different services provided during the outreach.

25 May 2024 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto conducted the first of its five special one-day consular outreach for the year 2024 in Kitchener, Ontario. The Consulate’s outreach team provided consular services to 134 applicants who availed of services for ePassport, notarization of documents, civil registry submission, dual citizenship application and overseas voting registration.

The Social Security Services (SSS)-Toronto also provided services to its members during the special outreach.

The Filipino-Canadian Association of Kitchener-Waterloo supported the outreach.

The Philippine Consulate General conducts special consular outreach in areas outside Toronto with a high concentration of Filipinos to reach out and provide services to the most number of Filipinos. “Salamat at meron ganitong outreach activities. Malaking tulong sa amin na malayo sa Toronto,” said one of the clients.

The special consular outreach will be conducted in Mississauga, Durham, Orangeville and Barrie in the next few months. The public is advised to monitor the Philippine Consulate General’s website and Facebook page for the specific schedule in each area. END

Dual Citizenship applicants and other clients singing the Philippine national anthem as part of the oath taking ceremony for the reacquisition of Filipino citizenship