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Press Release
Winners of Sentro Rizal Toronto’s Padayon Art Competition from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Announced and Awarded on 31 March 2021
2021-04-15
PR-2021-13
4 April 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The Announcement and Awarding of the Winners of Sentro Rizal Toronto’s Padayon Art Competition, titled Paghilom at Pag-asa Mula sa Pandemya” (Healing and Hope from the Pandemic), from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) was live streamed on 31 March 2021 through YouTube and was made available through links from the websites and Facebook page of the Consulate General and the TCDSB.
The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto was represented by Consul General Orontes V. Castro at the Awarding ceremonies held at the Catholic Education Centre of the TCDSB. The program was moderated by Filipino Canadian Ms. Jodelyn Huang, Community Relations Officer of the TCDSB.
The video message of His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal-Bishop Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Vatican, Rome was featured during the earlier part of the Program, followed by the pre-recorded Holy Mass held at the St. Michael’s Cathedral. Filipino Canadian priests, Father Jeremias Inoc was the Celebrant of the mass while Father Matthew McCarthy was the Concelebrant and Homilist. Father McCarthy delivered a moving and inspiring Homily on the celebration of the 500th Anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines.
The live streaming of the Awarding of the Winners from the Toronto Catholic District School Board held on 31 March 2021 was facilitated by Ms. Jodelyn Huang and Trustee Garry Tanuan.
The Awarding Ceremonies was formally opened by the Welcome Remarks from Hon. Joseph Martino, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Brendan Browne, Director of Education, and Trustee Garry Tanuan (Ward 8), followed by Consul General Castro who thanked the TCDSB Officials and Trustees for their support of Sentro Rizal Toronto’s Padayon Art Competition. He also thanked the Filipino Canadian and mainstream elementary and secondary students who participated in the competition, as well as their parents and teachers who encouraged and assisted them in their submission. In appreciation of TCDSB’s collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General on the Padayon Art Competition and for the Proclamation approving the celebration of the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines in all schools under the TCDSB, Consul General Castro handed over Certificates of Appreciation to Dr. Browne and Trustee Tanuan. A Certificate of Appreciation was also given to TCDSB Chairman Joseph Martino who was not able to personally attend the ceremony. Consul General Castro likewise announced the Awarding of Certificates of Appreciation to the following members of the Panel of Judges to the art competition: Court of Appeal of Ontario Justice Steve A. Coroza (Chair), Mr. Genaro A. Lopos (Vice Chair), and Ms. Helen C. Balderama (Member).
The Padayon Art Competition was launched at the TCDSB on 23 October 2020, which officially started the Call for Entries for the art competition. Sentro Rizal Toronto received a total of 111 artworks from TCDSB students, with 87 from the elementary school and 24 from the secondary school. There were 71 total schools which participated in the art competition, 55 elementary schools and 16 secondary schools. A video presentation of all the artwork entries was also shown during the virtual event.
The NCCA sponsored the cash prizes for the six (6) 1st to 3rd place winners in both elementary and secondary school categories. All 1st prize winners were awarded C$500.00 each, 2nd prize winners C$300.00 each, and 3rd prize winners C$200.00 each. All the winners were also given a Winner Certificate signed by NCCA Chairman Lizaso; Consul General Castro; the TCDSB officials – Chair Martino, Director of Education Dr. Browne, and Trustee Tanuan; and the three (3) Board of Judges namely Ontario Justice of Appeal Steve A. Coroza (Chairman), Philippine Artists Group of Canada (PAG) President Genaro A. Lopos (Vice Chairman), and York University Associate Director for International Partnerships and Programs Helen C. Balderama (Member).
The much-awaited Announcement of the Winners was done by the Board of Judges, Chairman Coroza announcing all the 1st Prize winners on both the elementary school and secondary school categories, Vice Chair Lopos for all the 2nd Prize winners, and Member Balderama for all the 3rd Prize winners.
The following are the winners from the TCDSB:
Elementary School Category:
1st Prize Winner : Ronin Sebastian Honrado, Grade 2, St. Eugene Catholic School
2nd Prize Winner : Juan Miguel Arco Gallermo, Grace 2, St. Agatha Catholic School
3rd Place Winner : Sophia Vitorino, Grade 6, James Culnan Catholic School
Secondary School Category:
1st Place Winner : Isabel Magbitang, Grade 10, Francis Libermann Catholic High School
2nd Place Winner : Paula Lourdes Aquino Alcantara, Grade 12, James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School
3rd Place Winner : Ariel Mae Aquino Alcantara, Grade 11, James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School
Sentro Rizal-Philippine Consulate General Toronto gave Special Consul General Awards in the amount of C$100.00 each to elementary and secondary students from the TCDSB. The Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association (IFCNA), represented by its President Maria Rosario Quinto, also gave Special C$100.00 cash prizes. All the winners likewise received their Certificates of Participation.
The Closing Remarks was delivered by TCDSB Superintendent Derek Chen. He acknowledged the hard work of the Philippine Consulate General, the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines (QJCP) Task Force, and all the TCDSB officials and staff for the successful Padayon Art Competition Awarding of Winners and its live streaming. He also thanked most especially all the students, teachers and parents who participated in the art competition. -END
