Advisories & News
Press Release
The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto Join the Filipino Canadian Community House (FCCH) in their Celebration of Filipino Heritage Month
2021-07-03
PR-2021-28
Toronto, 2 July 2021 – H.E. Ambassador Rodolfo A. Robles and Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined the Virtual Celebration themed “Oras ng Kaligayahan (Time of Joy)” organized by the Filipino Canadian Community House (FCCH) on 19 June 2021 via Zoom. Ms. Maria Guia, President of FCCH organized the event despite the health restrictions still in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
at the Filipino Heritage Month Virtual Celebration, “Oras ng Kaligayahan (Time of Joy)”.
Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles mentioned in his Message that our celebrations this year are different from commemorations from years past because the COVID-19 pandemic has destructed our lives and inflicted much pain. He lauded the FCCH for their determination and for finding alternative ways to celebrate Filipino Heritage Month. He also mentioned that our ancestors offered their lives for the freedom we now enjoy and that we have a responsibility to continue protecting this freedom for future generations of Filipinos and to use this freedom to unite and heal our communities.
Consul General Orontes V. Castro on the other hand highlighted that for 17 years now, FCCH has assisted the diverse community of Toronto through social and employment services, youth development activities, life skills and adaptation workshops, as well as wellness programs. He likewise mentioned the double victories of the Filipino Community with the Province of Ontario’s approval and enactment of the Filipino Heritage Month (FHM) Act of 2021, as well as the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s recent approval of the celebration of June every year as FHM in all DPCDSB-run schools in Ontario, just in time for the celebration of FHM in June. He said that the approval is an inspiration for the Filipino Canadian community, especially the Filipino healthcare workers and frontliners.
The messages and greetings from Canadian government officials were likewise featured during the virtual event, including the Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The FCCH, founded in 2004 and celebrated its 17th year anniversary this year, is a charitable, non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian organization, whose mission is to support the marginalized members of the community through its innovative programs and support services. It is composed of volunteers who endeavor to unite and develop initiatives that respond to the needs and help fulfill the aspirations of the diverse multicultural community of Canada. FCCH envisions a community where everyone is able to achieve a better quality of life through the different services and resources offered and available in the community. Among the services FCCH offers are free initial legal consultations, referrals to Community Legal Clinics and Legal Aid Offices.
Another project of FCCH is helping our less fortunate kababayans in the Philippines like the latest “ayuda” they sent to the victims of Typhoon Ulysses, the powerful and deadly Category 4-equivalent typhoon that struck the Philippines in late 2020.
Filipino Canadian artists provided entertainment during the online celebration. – END