Press Release

Philippine Consulate General, Toronto Participates at the TASTE OF MANILA 2019

2019-09-09

05 September 2019, Toronto – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto attended Taste of Manila, the largest 2-day Filipino street festival held at Toronto’s Little Manila at Bathurst and Wilson Streets on Saturday, 17 August 2019. The 2-day gigantic festivity, now on its sixth year, once again proved its power to attract hundreds of thousands of weekend revelers from all over Canada and the United States.

On its first day on Saturday, August 17, 2019, the street festival has notched another milestone. Even the uncooperative weather – rain and thunderstorms – failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the organizers and the revelers. The rains came just as organizers were getting ready for the program on the first day of Taste of Manila (ToM). Even as it poured, people waited, and when the rain paused, the street dancing began.

Acting Head of Post Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez said in an interview while the rain was pouring, “This is certainly the luckiest celebration of Taste of Manila, it’s 6th year. For the first time, rain fell … so it will mean more years of Taste of Manila, more years of entertainment, food and fun for all of us.” The rain was indeed a blessing, for even if it poured earlier in the day, people continued to come in a gigantic reunion of sorts.

Taste of Manila, the biggest Filipino food fest in Canada, is a tasteful experience of Filipino culture, food, entertainment and world-renowned hospitality. Authentic Filipino cuisine is the biggest highlight of the festival, offering thousands of attendees a chance to try lumpia, halo halo, lechon, pancit, and other food delights. Aside from that, there is also live music and performances and kid activities.

Acting Head of Post Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez (center) and Member of Parliament (MP) Marco Mendicino (4th fr. left), representing the riding of Eglinton-Lawrence, before they went up the stage to welcome people to the 6th Taste of Manila. Also in photo are the other Consulate personnel who attended the festival – (from left) Oliver Baranda, Cecile Santos, Jane Ranga, Marilyn Galanza, Mark Ray Gil, as well as husbands Daniel Galanza and Engelbert Ranga.

The 2-day event is a feast of delectable Filipino dishes, entertainment, games, Filipino arts and crafts and a vibrant street party that captures the spirit of sunny Philippines.

Photos courtesy of Mr. Romy Marquez

Top Photos: Left: TFC’s jeepney at the festival. Right: Street Dancing while a band was playing the song “Manila”. Bottom Photos: From left: There were different kinds of food cooking at the festival – various bar-b-ques, taho and our famous lechon.

The Taste of Manila was founded in 2014 and has immediately become the largest festival in the Greater Toronto Area. This year’s festivities were organized by the Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance (PLACA), in cooperation with TFC-The Filipino Channel. END

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