The Philippine Consulate General

Philippine Consulate General

7th Floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 3B5
Tel.: (416) 922.7181
Fax.: (416) 922.2638
Email: consularmatters@philcongen-toronto.com

Direction from the Consulate General to:

the nearest Bus Station:
Eglinton Ave. East at Redpath Ave.
(Bus no. 34A, 34C, 34S, 51, 54A)
Click for direction.
the nearest Train Station:
Eglinton Subway Station (Train No. 1)
Click for direction.
the nearest Post office:
250 A Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P 1K0
Click for direction

Trade Office

Suite 903, 80 Richmond Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2A4
Tel.: (416) 855.1775
Fax.: (647) 729.5028
Email: toronto@dti.gov.ph

Web : https://www.dti.gov.ph/overseas/toronto/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DTI-Toronto-127477961223211/

Migrant Workers Office (MWO)

2nd Floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 3B5
Tel.: (416) 975.8252
Hotline.: (647) 992-7656

Email- official: mwo_toronto@dmw.gov.ph

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MWOToronto

Social Security System (SSS)

2nd Floor, 160 Eglinton Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 3B5
Tel.: (416) 485.2999; (416)485.2888
Telefax.: (416) 485.2881
Email: toronto@sss.gov.ph

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ssstoronto/

Pag-IBIG Fund

Email: vo_northamerica@pagibigfund.gov.ph

CONSULATE GENERAL FACILITATES DIALOGUE ON HOUSING OPTIONS FOR NEWCOMERS AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS THROUGH A FORUM IN COLLABORATION WITH UPAAT

HOUSING FORUM Consul General Angelica C. Escalona giving her welcome remarks during the forum

03 February 2024 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto partnered with the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in Toronto (UPAAT) on a forum on housing options for newcomers and international students.

Consul General Angelica Escalona noted that housing has become a serious concern for Filipino international students and newcomers as they juggle adjusting to life in Canada, their studies, work and looking after the needs of their families. She added that, the Consulate General is closely working with Canadian officials, non-profit groups, the Filipino community and Filipino student groups to help address the concerns of international students.

In a recorded video message for the forum, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized that housing is a top priority of her administration, which has plans for building 65,000 affordable rent-controlled homes and is improving protections for renters. “In recent years, many Toronto homes are becoming more and more expensive. The city is working hard to keep people housed,” Mayor Chow remarked.

Other speakers during the forum include Toronto City Councillor Alejandra Bravo, who is the Chair of the Economic Development Committee and participated online via Zoom. She highlighted the importance of the involvement of the community in conveying to the city government their concerns and recommended solutions. HOUSING FORUM Participants and speakers during the forum

Resource speakers Ms. Stella Zuidervliet and Mr. Ivan Guarin of the non-profit Agincourt Community Services Association (ACSA) presented an overview of the challenges encountered by newcomers and available support programs for housing.

Mr. Steven Li of the Community Legal Clinic of York Region discussed the rights and responsibilities of tenants under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).

Mr. Yuri Ching, a realtor, explained the process of buying a home in Canada and available support programs that may help newcomers.

The forum participants agreed on the need for continued dialogue among stakeholders to address the housing concerns of newcomers and international students.

Around 50 participants attended the forum, which is the second in a series of workshops organized by the Consulate General and UPAAT to help address concerns of the Filipino community. END

DTI UNDERSECRETARY CAROLINA SANCHEZ DISCUSSES ECONOMIC PROMOTION THRUSTS WITH PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL TORONTO, SUPPORT FOR SMEs AND FOOD SECURITY WITH MEDA

DTI UNDERSECRETARY MEDA (Left photo) Consul General Angelica C. Escalona with DTI Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Carolina P. Sanchez; (Right photo, L-R) Philippine Trade Commissioner Benedict Uy, MEDA Senior Vice President Lindsay Wallace, Consul General Angelica Escalona, Undersecretary Carol Sanchez, DTI Director Maria Guiza Lim and Consul Mary Grace Villamayor take a commemorative photo

01 February 2024 – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Carol P. Sanchez, together with DTI Director Maria Guiza Lim and Philippine Trade and Investment Center-New York Trade Commissioner Benedict Uy, met officials of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto led by Consul General Angelica C. Escalona to discuss the Philippine economic promotion thrusts in Canada.

North America continues to be market for Philippine IT-BPO services as well as electronics and semiconductors. The Philippines sees the aerospace industry, creative industries and AI technology as potentially beneficial areas of cooperation with Canada. The Philippines is also looking to attract investments from Canada, particularly for infrastructure.

Undersecretary Sanchez and the DTI and Philippine Consulate officials later met with Ms. Lindsay Wallace, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Impact of the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), a non-government organization working with small-scale cacao farmers in Mindanao to develop sustainable agri-food systems.

For more information on MEDA’s project in Mindanao, please visit https://www.meda.org/country/philippines/. END

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL TORONTO JOINS KABABAYANS AT TORONTO RAPTORS FILIPINO HERITAGE NIGHT

Raptor Filipino Heritage Night The Philippine Heritage Band performing at the Toronto Raptors Filipino Heritage Night at the Scotiabank Arena

26 January 2024 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto led by Consul General Angelica C. Escalona joined kababayans at the first Filipino Heritage Night hosted by the Toronto Raptors. Held at the Scotiabank Arena, the home of the Raptors, the event was an opportunity to shine a light on the Filipino community. There are now more than one million Filipinos who live, work and study in Canada.

The Filipino Heritage Night saw the Toronto Raptors playing against the Los Angeles Clippers to a capacity crowd. Authentic Filipino dishes were offered at the food concessions in the concourse. Among the Filipino musical artists featured were Edmark Dalmacio who sang the national anthems of the two teams, the Philippine Heritage Band, and Juno award winning artist Preston Pablo who performed at half-time.

Consul General Escalona said, “It is wonderful to see many kababayans here tonight. Filipinos love basketball, and we love the Raptors”. The Consul General noted that the Philippines initiated a World Basketball Day resolution at the United Nations General Assembly. Adopted in August 2023, the resolution proclaimed December 21 as World Basketball Day in recognition of basketball’s global popularity and its ability to promote peace, empowerment and health. END

Raptor Filipino Heritage Night Filipino Heritage Night banner at the Scotiabank Arena monitor Toronto Raptors versus LA Clippers in action Preston Pablo performing at half-time Consul General Angelica Escalona with Cultural Officer Maricel Samonte, Finance Officer Cristopher Baguya and Protocol Officer John Fajardo

This February, the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto joins the nation in celebrating National Arts Month 2024. The National Arts Month aims to harness the creative energies of artists towards nation-building, integrate arts into the lives of diverse populations and communities and engage critical discourse, awareness, and appreciation of various arts and art disciplines through different emerging platforms. The Sentro Rizal Toronto will host a special exhibit on 12 to 29 February 2024 to showcase the talent and creativity of the Philippine Artists Group (PAG). Formed in 1988, the PAG is composed of Filipino migrant visual artists who consider themselves communicators and custodians of the richness of Philippine visual arts. The exhibit will be open to the public. Details will be announced shortly. “Halina’t Maki-Sining, Bayang Malikhain!”

NATIONAL ARTS MONTH