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TORONTO CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD (TCDSB) APPROVES THE PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING THE QUINCENTENNIAL JUBILEE OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE PHILIPPINES IN ALL SCHOOLS AT THE TCDSB

PR 52-2020

18 September 2020 Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and members of the Filipino-Canadian community, led by Consul General Orontes Castro, attended as delegates, the Regular Board Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) held on 17 September 2020 at 7:15 pm (EST). The board meeting was done virtually due to restrictions in place amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Agenda 17.d of the Board Meeting was the “Consideration of Motion from Trustee Tanuan regarding Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Proclamation of the Quincentennial Jubilee Celebration of Christianity in the Philippines”.  Mr. Garry Tanuan is a Filipino Canadian elected Trustee at the TCDSB.   Post has been in close coordination with Trustee Tanuan regarding the Proclamation, which was actively supported by the Filipino-Canadian Community in Toronto.

The TCDSB has approximately 92,000 total students in the system, with 1 in 3 of the total students being Filipino-Canadians or of Filipino descent.  TCDSB administers 201 elementary and secondary schools in the City of Toronto.

MOVED BY: Garry Tanuan, Toronto Catholic District School Board

WHEREAS: The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) proclaimed and celebrates June 12 as Filipino Heritage Day and June as Filipino Heritage Month in the TCDSB annually, with elementary and secondary schools encouraged to mark the auspicious Filipino Heritage Day with their own in-school celebrations through various educational, cultural, and religious activities throughout the Board;

WHEREAS: The year 2021 marks a milestone in the history, cultural, and religious identity of the Filipino diaspora in Canada with the celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, as well as the 123rd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence in 1898, the proclamation of the month of June as Filipino Heritage Month by the Toronto City Council on November 8, 2017, and the proclamation of the month of June as Filipino Heritage Month across Canada by the Parliament of Canada, on October 30, 2018;

WHEREAS: The Philippines’ rich cultural heritage and vibrant devoted passion for our Catholic faith greatly enhances the TCDSB’s mission and vision which would encourage and engage our Catholic schools, especially those with plans to offer in-school events during the June Filipino Heritage Month and throughout the year;

WHEREAS: The Consul General of the Philippines in Toronto, Consul General Orontes V. Castro has requested on August 17, 2020 that the 500th Anniversary (Quincentennial Jubilee) of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, be celebrated at the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) which was received and approved by the Board on August 20, 2020; and

WHEREAS: This will be a unique Once-in-a-Lifetime opportunity to highlight the importance of the commemoration and celebration of the Quincentenary Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines during TCDSB’s celebration of Filipino Heritage Day on June 12, 2021, and Filipino Heritage Month in June 2021; where milestone events and activities will be made to encourage the active participation of young Filipino-Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The TCDSB hereby proclaims to centrally and locally celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, alongside and highlighting its celebration of June 12 as Filipino Heritage Day and June as Filipino Heritage Month at the TCDSB in 2021, with all our elementary and secondary schools encouraged to mark the auspicious Quincentenary Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines (QJCP) and Filipino Heritage Day/Month with their own in-school celebrations through various educational, cultural, and religious activities throughout the Board;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The TCDSB, hereby proclaims the year-long celebration of the Quincentenary Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines (QJCP) in close collaboration with the Philippine Consul General’s office in Toronto, Archdiocese of Toronto, Toronto Organizing Committee - 500th Year of Christianity in the Philippines and Catholic community stakeholders for school year 2020-2021 commencing from the PH500 Quincentenary Jubilee Art Exhibit launch in October 2020 at the Catholic Education Centre, thence followed by a couple of historic landmark events in March/April 2021, key associated activities accentuating the celebration of the Filipino Heritage Day on June 12 and Filipino Heritage Month in June 2021; and culminating in a Catholic Community Jubilee Mass by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins to highlight the Closing Celebration in August 2021; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: TCDSB immediately establish a Quincentenary Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines (QJCP) Task Force to appropriately manage and coordinate the key events and activities marking the 500th Anniversary of Catholicity celebrations and to further nurture, embrace, and commemorate our shared Catholic Faith and devotion amongst the faithful in our diverse ethnic Catholic communities across the GTA. The TCDSB QJC Task Force will be composed of a Trustee, Director/designated senior Staff Superintendent, Lead Community Relations Coordinator, Student leaders, Filipino-Canadian Advisory Committee & Parents/Teachers/Faculty/Staff Association representatives, Philippine Consul General, Toronto Archdiocese, Parish & GTA School Board Trustees/Representatives, and other prominent leaders of various Catholic communities.

Garry Tanuan, Trustee Ward 8

After much deliberation of the Board and some minor revisions in the Proclamation, the Board adopted the Motion approving the Proclamation of the TCDSB Quincentennial Jubilee Celebration of Christianity in the Philippines. This is the first act by a foreign government or its agency recognizing the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines.
It is likewise significant to note that the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the final draft of the Proclamation extending by one (1) month the Quincentennial Jubilee celebration within the TCDSB in the City of Toronto, from August to September 2021.

Post’s initiative for the passage of a Proclamation celebrating the Quincentenary Jubilee of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in the Toronto, coupled with the strong support from the Filipino community and the Filipino-Canadian elected leaders, were essential in the approval of the Motion submitted by Trustee Tanuan at the TCDSB. Consul General Castro joined the Filipino community delegation received by the Board to speak at the meeting, in support of the passing of the motion. The delegates individually expressed their appreciation for the valuable opportunity to speak before the Board of Trustees, as well as their commitment of support for the Proclamation. Consul General Castro also presented during the meeting his officers to the Board of Trustees: Deputy Consul General Edna May Grecia-Lazaro, Consul Edwin Gil Q. Mendoza, Consul Mary Grace V. Villamayor, and Cultural Officer Cecilia D. Santos.
The proclamation was approved despite the pressure to the TCDSB two (2) days after the opening of classes on 15 September 2020.

The Consulate General and Trustee Luz del Rosario from the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) are closely working towards the passage of a similar motion in schools under the DPCDSB in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The religious component of the celebrations in Toronto of the Quincentennial Jubilee of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines is headed by Reverend Father Sherwin Holandez, Pastor of the Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) Parish. Father Holandez was appointed as head of the Toronto Organizing Committee-Quincentenary Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines by His Eminence, Thomas Christopher Cardinal Collins of the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Post’s Sentro Rizal Toronto will be organizing an Art Competition that is open to all elementary and high school students, with the TCDSB main office as the proposed venue for the launching and declaration of winners. 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 calling 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.

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21 September 2020, Toronto, Ontario – On 14 September 2020, during its flag-raising ceremony, the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto participated in the commemoration of the 17th Cerebral Palsy Awareness and Protection Week. Consul General Orontes V. Castro led the celebration by giving a brief message on the relevance of the celebration and informing about this year’s theme, “Ugnayan, Malasakit at Paglingap sa mga Taong may Cerebral Palsy sa Panahon ng COVID-19 Pandemic”.

The Cerebral Palsy Awareness and Protection Week is celebrated from 16 to 22 September 2020.

During the flag-raising ceremony, the DFA Objective Policy was likewise read right after the Panunumpa sa Watawat ng Pilipinas.

Below are some photos taken during the activity.

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14 September 2020, Toronto, Ontario – The Officers and Staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto participated in the webinar organized by the Association of Filipino Canadian Accountants (AFCA)  entitled, “Project Management: Insights and Attitude” on 10 September 2020.

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto attended the 7th online training being conducted by AFCA, once again taking advantage of the complimentary webinars to equip its personnel with knowledge and skills that are beneficial for self-development, as well as for improvement of public service, especially in assisting distressed Filipinos in its jurisdiction.

 The AFCA webinar attended by the Consulate General dealt with topics as the definition, roles, and responsibilities of the project manager, what makes an effective project manager, tips and techniques for a project’s success, and what causes a project’s failure.

The resource speaker, Ms. Sheila Chu, is a Certified Project Manager, Certified Business Relationship Manager, and a Project Management Office (PMO) Delivery Manager.  She is an accomplished Information Technology Project Manager at the LafargeHolcim in Mississauga, Ontario, with emphasis on full integration of new acquisitions into her company’s infrastructure and application systems. LafargeHolcim is the global leader in building materials and solutions and active in four business segments as cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, and solutions & products.  In addition to her full-time job, she volunteers at the Project Management Institute (PMI) as an engagement specialist where she is responsible for the recruitment, retention, and recognition of volunteers at PMI’s Lakeshore Chapter. She graduated in BS Civil Engineering from the De La Salle University in Manila before migrating in Canada.

 Screenshots of the Zoom webinar

Consul General Orontes V. Castro thanked AFCA for organizing the very informative webinar.  He mentioned that AFCA is a reliable and consistent partner of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, with special mention to Ms. Nimfa Villaroman-Santos, AFCA’s energetic and productive president.  He also thanked Ms. Chu for the valuable information imparted to those who attended the webinar, especially the Philippine Consulate General personnel. - END

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PR 50-2020

10 September 2020, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto participated in the Taste of Manila (TOM) Virtual Presentation dubbed “Super Saya”, in celebration of its 7th year Anniversary.

Taste of Manila, since its maiden festivity in 2014, is one of the biggest Filipino street festivals in North America, happening in August every year. This year’s event was organized by the Philippine Community Events & Services Ontario (P.E.S.O. Community). The 3-hour pre-recorded event streamed on 29 August 2020 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm via the Facebook page of TOM.

Super Saya opened with the singing of the Canadian and Philippine national anthems. A brief presentation on Philippine Revolution, Filipino national heroes, as well as today’s modern-day heroes – our Overseas Filipino Workers and frontline workers. Mr. Rolando Mangante, Founder and CEO of TOM/P.E.S.O. Community, opened the online presentation, welcoming everybody to the virtual celebration of TOM. Mr. Pepito Torralba, Vice President for Finance and Board of Director of P.E.S.O. Community, likewise gave his message to the online viewers of the event saying, “we will not let COVID-19 stop us from celebrating Taste of Manila”.

The successful staging of TOM over the years was included in the virtual presentation, including the challenging year of 2018 when the popular Pinoy festival almost did not push through. This year, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers persevered to continue the tradition.

Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Francisco Noel F. Fernandez of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa congratulated the organizers and participants for the remarkable fete of celebrating TOM despite the challenges. He said, “Filipino ingenuity, initiative, creativity and strong sense of community endure…the event is a source of joy for everyone in their homes and a reminder of what the Philippines can achieve by working together. Our unity as a country and as a community here in Canada is particularly important as we address the pandemic. We have to look out for each other.” He also lauded all Filipinos working in the frontlines, saying “their hard work ensures that the other members of society continue to receive essential services while observing physical distancing protocols.” He also reminded everyone to stay safe and to adhere to the health regulations and distancing restrictions of Canada.

Consul General Orontes V. Castro’s message for the organizers and viewers of the virtual festival was also featured in the program. He said that this year’s celebration is a “testament to the Filipinos’ virtues of resiliency and utang na loob (gratefulness)”. He added that the Filipinos’ cheerful nature help us to overcome challenges and difficulties of life, as evidenced in the way Filipinos have risen and recovered from various natural calamities. He mentioned that the festival, being a tribute to frontline, essential, and overseas Filipino workers, shows our gratefulness and appreciation for their sacrifices, compassion, extra-ordinary care for the sick, and selfless service to the community. He commended the perseverance of P.E.S.O. Community and TOM founder, Mr. Rolly Mangante, in organizing the online festival, and wished for them to continue promoting Filipino heritage, arts, food and music. He reminded everyone to adhere to the Canadian government’s regulations on social distancing and safety and hygiene protocols.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Demphna Du-Naga lauded TOM as a partner of the One Town One Product (OTOP) Philippines, a priority program of the government enabling localities and communities to determine, develop, support, and promote products or services that are rooted in its local culture, community resource, creativity, connection, and competitive advantage. It supports micro and small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) to manufacture, offer, and market distinctive products or services using indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents. She added that TOM helps support local MSMEs and OTOPreneurs build and expand their network. She ended by urging everyone to support Philippine MSMEs and OTOPreneurs.

The messages from Canadian government officials were also shown at the virtual presentation. Messages from Ontario Premiere Doug Ford, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marco Mendicino, Member of Parliament Salma Zahid, Member of Parliament Roman Baber, Toronto City Mayor John Tory, and Toronto Councillor James Pasternak. They all acknowledged the many contributions of Filipino-Canadians in the economy and cultural diversity of Canada.

Toronto Mayor John Tory said in his message, “the Filipino community is a key part of the rich cultural diversity we are so lucky to enjoy here in Toronto and I encourage all residents, not just Filipino community members, but all residents, to continue to support local Filipino businesses and restaurants.” He also shared that he regret not being able to fulfill what he committed to do in this year’s Taste of Manila Festival since it is not happening in person, which is to “eat a balot…, but we will carry it forward to 2021 and look forward to being back up at Bathurst and Wilson and having a balot there. And I do look forward to gathering with the Toronto’s Filipino community when it is safe to do so. I know that in the meantime, you will continue to be the loving, and caring and unifying community that you are.”

There was non-stop entertainment at Taste of Manila’s Super Saya, from home-grown artists to artists from the Philippines, all showcasing the great talents of the Filipinos. - END