Advisories & News
Press Release
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN TORONTO HIGHLIGHTS FILIPINO FOOD AND FASHION TO CELEBRATE WOMEN’S MONTH
2025-04-04
The panelists sharing their migration and entrepreneurship journeys (L-R): Jocelyn Reyes-Midghall, Abby Albino, Sunshine Asuncion-See, Charmaine Suarez
25 March 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto capped its month-long celebration of National Women’s Month with an afternoon fête dubbed, “WOMEN’S HOUR: Food & Fashion for Filipino-Canadians on a Mission.”
The three-hour event featured a panel discussion with three young Filipina professionals making an impact in their respective fields and the Filipino community, namely Abby Albino (Head of Brand and Business Strategy of Canada Basketball, Co-Founder of Makeway, and Co-Founder of RISE Tribe), Sunshine Asuncion-See (Founder of Kain Tayo Food Village), and Charmaine Ramirez, (Co-Founder, Pwrforward), a fashion show directed by Claris Minas Manglicmot (Founder and Creative Director of Couture Culture and Arts) showcasing the creations of Filipino designers Tristan F. Licud, Sherwin Darrel Magtulis, and Simon Ariel Vasquez, and a networking reception highlighting Filipino comfort food, such as taho, empanada, chicharon, ube cake and ube mousse, and a charcuterie table spread with Filipino elements, generously provided by Filipina-owned member-vendors of Kain Tayo Food Village.
The event was organized to recognize outstanding young Filipino-Canadian women who have made an impact through their businesses and advocacies, and allow other members of the community to be inspired and moved to action by their stories.
In her remarks, Consul General Angelica C. Escalona called on the Filipino-Canadian women present in the room to play a greater role in shaping the future of the Filipino diaspora and of both Canada and the Philippines.
Consul General Angelica Escalona delivering her opening remarks. (Right photo) Consul General Angelica Escalona (center) with the panelists
The panelists underscored the importance of resourcefulness and diskarte and finding one’s voice to overcoming challenges from gender-based or racial discrimination and economic hardship. They also urged the Filipino community to flip crab mentality on its head and instead pull each other up towards mutual success.
Consul General Angelica Escalona (center) with some of the models
The fashion show was a celebration of Filipino talent in fashion design. It highlighted more modern and wearable Filipiniana pieces that appeal to Filipinos and foreigners alike and culminated in the announcement of the partnership that the Consulate facilitated between visiting designer Simon Ariel Vasquez and Filipina-owned Brampton-based Filipiniana retailer, Manila Center, for the sale of SAV’s pieces in Canada.
The food feature was the Consulate’s way of helping promote the Filipina-owned food businesses in the Greater Toronto Area, many of which were established during the pandemic.
The event was attended by some 80 guests, as well as about 30 volunteer models and backstage crew for the fashion show.
Couture Culture and Arts’s Claris Minas Manglicmot (above, center) with her models and (below) introducing the fashion show
Consul General Angelica Escalona (center) joins fashion designer Simon Ariel Vasquez and Filipiniana retailer Eileen Azarcon for a photo following the announcement of the SAV x Manila Center partnership
