Advisories & News
Press Release
Flag Raising at Little Manila in Bathurst Wilson Parkette, York and Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board Main Office in Mississauga
2021-06-19
PR-2021-24
17 June 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General would like to inform that Consul General Orontes V. Castro was joined on 13 June 2021 in the flag raising at “Little Manila” in Bathurst Wilson Parkette, York by Hon. Marco Mendicino, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship; Hon. Salma Zahid, Member of Parliament of Canada’s House of Commons representing the federal riding of Scarborough Center; newly-elected Hon. Ya’ara Saks, Member of Parliament, York Center; Hon. James Pasternak, Councillor of the City of Toronto, Rolly Mangante and other officers and members of the organizers of the annual “Taste of Manila” in the City of Toronto; and other Filipino community leaders. Consul General Castro was joined by Mr. Managante during the wreatlaying at the bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal before the start of the Program.
In his remarks, Consul General Castro read the Independence Day Message of H.E. President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Minister Mendicino and the other distinguished guests, meanwhile, took turns in recognizing the positive contributions of the Filipinos in the development of Canada in their speeches, as well as the invaluable services of Filipino health care workers and other frontliners during the pandemic. Consul General Castro likewise distributed during the event the Consul General’s “Quincentennial Award” to Minister Mendicino, MP Zahid, Councillor Pasternak, Mr. Ramon Datol of TOMZ Radio Toronto, and Mr. Mangante of “Taste of Manila.” The awards were given to Filipino Canadian and Canadian individuals, Filipino community organizations, media, government agencies, and settlement organizations in recognition of their invaluable effort, support, and activities to foster unity among the Filipino community and continued support to the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto.
Relatedly, Consul General Orontes V. Castro led the officers and staff of the Consulate General with Filipino Canadian DPCDSB Vice Chair Luz del Rosario in the flag raising on 11 June 2011 to commemorate the 123rd Proclamation of Philippine Independence at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) Main Office.
Ms. Del Rosario is the first Filipino elected as Vice Chair of the DPCDSB, which is one of the largest school boards in the Province of Ontario, with approximately 77,000 students in 151 schools located throughout Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, and Orangeville, in Ontario. Ms. Del Rosario has served in various leadership capacities during her ten (10) years on the Board of Trustees.
On request by the Consulate General, Ms. Del Rosario successfully spearheaded the approval of the Proclamation celebrating the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines in all Schools at the DPCDSB on 29 September 2020, the 2nd recognition from a Canadian government agency of the Quincentennial Celebration in the Philippines, the first being from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). On 25 May 2021 and upon request by the Consulate General, another Proclamation was unanimously approved by the DPCDSB Board of Trustees on the annual celebration of “Filipino Heritage Month” in all DPCDSB-run schools. The signing of the Proclamation is scheduled sometime this year at least after the easing of restrictions due to the pandemic.
On the night of 14 June 2021, the Mississauga Civic Centre clock tower was lighted blue, red and white for the 123rd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.END
