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24 October 2019- Consul General Orontes Castro and other PCG Toronto officials attended the Welcome Meeting for the Philippine business delegation of the 7th Trade Mission to Canada at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre in Toronto on 22 October 2019. The event was organized by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (CanCham) and the delegation was composed of Philippine companies engaged in agri-business, food and related industries. After their meetings in Toronto, the delegation will proceed to Ottawa for various meetings, including those with Canadian authorities.

Consul General Castro, in his welcome remarks, described the two-way trade relations between the Philippines and the province of Ontario. He said that the increasing number of Filipino immigrants, students and workers to Canada, especially in Ontario, could lead to increased merchandise trade between the two countries. He also turned over the document “Doing Business in the Philippines” prepared by SGV to Mr. Dean Post of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

Mr. Post presented an overview and opportunities of the Ontario agri-food sector, stating that the province’s strategic location in North America allows it to become a very good distribution center for markets not only in Canada but those in Mexico and the USA. Senior Trade Commissioner Ma. Roseni Alvero delineated the services offered by the Trade Office Section as well as its export and investment promotion program. She also provided information on the bilateral trade between the Philippines and Canada and recent foreign direct investments of Canada in the Philippines. Mr. Steve Pagao of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto (PCCT) described the programs of the Chamber including its initiatives to be the hub of Filipino and Filipino-Canadian businesses in Toronto and Ontario. Members of the Philippine delegation presented the different products and services that their respective companies offer to the public.

On 23 October, Consul General Castro and Consul Edwin Gil Mendoza joined the delegates in their call on Toronto City Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson and Councillor James Pasternak. The event was arranged by PCCT. Later that day, Consul General Castro attended the business networking event for the Philippine delegation and the delegates from Ghana organized by PCCT. The gathering was also attended by Filipino-Canadian businessmen and their associates. -END

22 October 2019

Consul General Orontes Castro delivers his remarks at the Welcome Meeting for the delegates of the 7th Trade Mission to Canada at the Ontario Investment and Trade Center, Toronto on 22 Oct 2019 (PCG Toronto photo).

Consul General Castro hands over the guide on “Doing Business in the Philippines” to Mr. Dean Post of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. It was witnessed by Consul Edwin Gil Mendoza (2nd from R), Senior Trade Commissioner Ma. Roseni Alvero (1st from L) and Ms. Heidi del Pilar, Manager, Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (1st from R). (PCG Toronto photo)

Consul General Orontes Castro with other officials of PCG Toronto, Mr. Steve Pagao, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto (PCCT) (1st from L-Seated) and members of the Philippine delegation to the 7th Trade Mission to Canada. (PCG Toronto photo)

23 October 2019

Consul General Castro with Toronto City Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson (Center-Seated), Councillor James Pasternak (Right-Seated), Mr. Pagao, Mr. Julian Baricuatro, Managing Director, Bitsource Interactive (2nd from L- 2nd Row) and members of the Philippine delegation of the 7th Trade Mission to Canada. (Kristein Dioko’s photo)

Consul General Castro delivers his Special Remarks to the participants of the Business Networking Event hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto on 23 October 2019 in Scarborough, Ontario. The event was attended by the Filipino-Canadian business community in Toronto and their associates, Filipino delegates of the 7th Trade Mission to Canada, and members of the business delegation from Ghana. (PCG Toronto photo)

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18 Sept 2019 - The Philippine Consulate General-Toronto conducted another consular outreach program in Winnipeg City, Manitoba on 14-16 Sep 2019. It was the sixth program conducted by PCG Toronto in Winnipeg for the year. The 7-member consular team was led by Consul Edwin Gil Mendoza.

A total of 469 consular services were rendered during the 3-day time frame, including the processing of 223 passport applications and 170 notarial services. The consular team also processed 44 dual citizenship applications, including those of dependent children. – END

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23 September 2019- The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto extended consular services to the Filipino communities in the Municipality of Leamington on 21 September 2019 and Windsor City, Ontario on 22 September 2019. A total of 204 consular services were provided during the outreach programs, including the processing of 121 epassport applications, 49 notarials, and 9 dual citizenship applications.

The consular team, headed by Consul Edwin Gil Mendoza, was joined by representatives from POLO, OWWA, SSS and Pag-Ibig who were based in Toronto. The officers and members of the Windsor Filipino Community Centre led by its President, Mr. Milo Santos, provided valuable assistance in the Windsor leg of the outreach program.

Leamington is a municipality in Essex, Ontario and is considered the “Tomato Capital of Canada”. Several Filipino workers are employed in Leamington’s agriculture sector. Windsor City is located in southwestern Ontario and is known as the “Automotive Capital of Canada”. Windsor is situated on the left bank of the Detroit River, directly across Detroit, Michigan, USA. -END

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17 September 2019 - Consul General Orontes V. Castro assumed his post at the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto on 16 September 2019. He was welcomed at the airport by the officers and staff of the Consulate General.

Prior to his appointment as Consul General to Toronto, Consul General Castro was the Deputy Consul General at the Philippine Consulate in Chicago from 2007 to 2013. He served as Vice Consul then Consul at the Philippine Consulate General in New York from 2000 to 2003. His first foreign assignment was as Third Secretary and Vice Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon from 1996 to 2000.

Consul General Castro is a certified public accountant in the Philippines. He finished his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (major in Accounting) (Cum Laude) from the University of the East, Manila. He also completed some units in taxation and business law from the Indiana University. On 8 June 2019, he finished his Master in Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Santo Tomas – Graduate School, Manila with honors (Cum Laude).

Consul General Castro is a recipient of two (2) Presidential Awards/Decorations from the President of the Philippines – (1) the Presidential Medal of Merit and (2) the Mabini Award (Rank of Commander) for acts of merit and for his distinguished service in promoting the interests and in enhancing the prestige of the Republic of the Philippines.

At the Home Office, he served as Assistant Secretary of the Office of Fiscal Management Services and as Assistant Secretary and Chief of Protocol of the Office of Protocol. END.