Advisories & News
Press Release
CONSUL GENERAL ESCALONA MEETS WITH NURSES AND MUSLIM-FILIPINO ORGANIZATIONS, DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION TO PROMOTE THE INTERESTS OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY
2025-01-27
Muslim Filipino Association in Canada (MFAC) President Jonathan Macala (right) and Acting Deputy Secretary General Norkhalila Mae Mambuay-Campong (2nd from right) present a miniature kulintang to Consul General Angelica Escalona (2nd from left) with Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague (left)
23 January 2025 – Consul General Angelica C. Escalona, together with Consul Rodney Jonas L. Sumague, met with the officers of two Filipino community organization, the Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association (IFCNA) and the Muslim Filipino Association in Canada (MFAC), and discussed possible opportunities for collaboration, particularly on issues affecting the Filipino community.
IFCNA President Mark Gravoso and Founding Chair Austine Gaqui briefed Consul General Escalona on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) they are signing with the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC). The MOA aims to provide Filipino nurses in Canada who are not yet licensed in the country the opportunity to train in QMMC as one of the options for the Evidence of Practice required by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) to be registered as a nurse in the province. The MOA will ensure that the nurses will get the correct training from a reputable institution and will be recognized by CNO.
MFAC President Mr. Jonathan Macala and Acting Deputy Secretary General Norkhalila Mae Mambuay-Campong laid out their plans for 2025, which aims to highlight not only Muslim Filipino culture but the whole of Mindanao as well. This includes promotion of traditional food, halal products and performing arts from Southern Philippines. MFAC expressed interest in collaborating with the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Toronto, other Filipino community organizations and the academe on these projects.
Consul General Escalona sought the support of IFCNA and MFAC on the Philippine Consulate General’s activities, requesting in particular assistance on information dissemination for Overseas Voting for the 2025 National Elections, which will be done by internet voting for the first time.
Discussions with MFAC on promoting culture and products of Southern Philippines
IFCNA President Mark Gravoso and Founding Chair Austine Gaqui sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) on the training of nurses as Consul Sumague looks on
Mr. Gravoso and Mr. Gaqui (on the right) pose with Consul General Escalona and Consul Sumague while holding the signed MOA