Advisories & News
Press Release
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL, PTIC BRING FILIPINO FESTIVE FLAVORS AT THE LAUNCH OF THE DTI-MSME HUB IN TORONTO
2024-12-05
27 November 2024 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto in partnership with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Toronto launched the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Hub or DTI-MSME Hub in Toronto on 27 November 2024.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville C. Tate lauded the DTI-MSME Hub as the first such hub in Canada and only the third in the world to date. Citing the potential to do more in the economic space to build on this milestone year in Philippines-Canada relations and capitalize on the 1-million strong Filipinos in Canada, he underscored the Consulate’s intent of making the Hub a regular platform for introducing Philippine products and services, forging new partnerships, and generating collaborative ideas.
Trade Commissioner Mario C. Tani echoed this in his remarks, underscoring the Hub as a flagship initiative of DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque designed to provide Philippine MSMEs a platform to showcase their finest, export-ready offerings and facilitate business-to-business transactions. With the Hub situated within the Philippine Consulate General, which welcomes many kababayans daily for various transactions, he noted the possibility for every visitor to become an ambassador for Philippine products, helping to amplify their reach into the Canadian mainstream market.
Coinciding with the holiday season, the launch featured Project Beans coffee and Ferino’s bibingka and puto bumbong—popular Filipino native delicacies (rice cakes) usually enjoyed at the end of each of the 9-day Novena Masses at dawn in anticipation of Christmas Day. Alvin Causing, CEO and Founder of Project Beans, flew to Toronto to personally share the history of coffee in the Philippines and how his company is continuing to innovate to elevate Philippine coffee on the global stage while supporting the local farmers and communities behind them. Ashley Tamayo of APO, the distributor of Ferino’s in Toronto, presented a video on the inspiring story of Ferino’s Bibingka and how, since its establishment in 1938, it has become a household name.
The event was attended by over 100 guests from the Filipino-Canadian and Canadian business community, who were treated to free flowing Project Beans Barako and Arabica coffee prepared by Alvin Causing and his wife, as well as Ferino’s bibingka and puto bumbong. Toronto- and Mississauga-based partner establishments also shared how they are making the products available as part of their special menu and product offerings. They whetted the appetite of guests following a sampling of The Purple Bakeshop’s ube cake, Mineral’s espresso martini (using Project Beans Arabica coffee), and Casa Manila’s longganisa tacos.
The Philippines is one of the few countries that produces all four types of coffee beans: arabica, robusta, liberica (barako) and excelsa. Project Beans carries all four types and also produces harmony blends, as well as innovative products such as Coffee in a Brew Bag, Coco Coffee (barako coffee+natural coco sugar+creamy coco cream), among others. Residents in the Greater Toronto Area can purchase and enjoy Project Beans coffee through the aforementioned establishments. For bulk orders and potential partner retailers, contact the Consulate for introductions to the Project Beans team. Ferino’s bibingka and puto bumbong are available from Btrust Supermarket North York and from APO Products Ltd / UNO Foods Inc. for bulk orders.
Above: Ferino’s puto bumbong and bibingka
Below: Members of the Filipino-Canadian and broader community during the DTI-MSME Hub launch at the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto
Left to right: The Purple Bakeshop Head of Growth Mark Solis, Mineral Toronto Owner Bruce Ly, Casa Manila CEO, Creative Director and Executive Chef Mila Nabor Cuachon, Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville Tate, Consul Katrina Isabelle Borja-Martin, Trade Commissioner Mario Tani, Project Beans CEO and Founder Alvin Causing, and Ashley Tamayo of APO