2019 TOP 55 FILCAN NEWS in the GREATER TORONTO AREA, CANADA
Toronto-Canada
January 4, 2020
The year 2019 had just passed. Welcome, 2020! Once anew, a review of the top 55 major news in 2019 I considered to have had a significant impact, arguably perhaps, to Filipino Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario is in order. This is the 5th edition of my end-of-year reviews of events that happened in our Pinoy Canadian community landscape. Anyways, the list reflects memorable big and small stories, periodic commemorations, and seasonal activities. Here are the past events, the newsmakers, and the players presented chronologically by month.
JANUARY
19- The Knights of Columbus Maharlika Council 7488 celebrated its 39th anniversary at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Scarborough, Toronto.
28- Canada's IRCC launched the new and improved "Sponsorship of Parents and Grandparents" to come to Canada as part of a family reunification program.
FEBRUARY
10- Filipino-Canadian Dental Hygienists' Society formed in Ontario; the founder is Noreen Ocampo, a Registered Dental Hygienist.
16- The Philippine Consulate- Toronto and the Filipino Centre Toronto jointly hosted an 'Orientation Session on Services and Resources for Immigrants".
22- Filipino Catholic Parents Association in Catholic Education-FCPACE held its "5th Founding Anniversary and Awards" event in Scarborough.
MARCH
15- Launching of "Filipino Heritage Month" with a Meet and Greet Reception at Scarborough Civic Town Centre by the Filipino National Heritage Canada.
17- Bicol Canada Community Association's Palarong Bicol BasketbalL 2019 played at Lawrence Heights Community Centre, North York.
24 - PIDC held a charity gala dinner with guest Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018; donated C$6,000 to ABS-CBN Foundation's "Bantay Bata" Program.
30- Joaquin "Jojo" Teoxon Taduran, Jr, a veteran FilCan journalist, Knights of Rizal & PPCO officer and CNAC-O Co-founder passed away at 77 years old.
APRIL
1- The Doug Ford government announced that Ontarians under 25 will get taxpayer-funded medical prescription only when not covered by a private drug plan.
13- Overseas Voting for Filipinos in the 2019 Philippines midterm elections held on April 13 to May 13, 2019; Talakayan Radyo Filipino show marked its 16th year.
MAY
6- PIDC "Mrs Philippines / Ms Philippines - 2019" anniversary pageant & fundraiser at Rembrandt Hall; PIDC donated $3000 to GK-Gawad Kalinga Canada.
13- The Filipino Centre Toronto held its "First Outstanding Seniors Awards-2019" during its 9th Biennial Spring Gala in Scarborough. The 10 FilCan awardees were Carol Banez, Norma Carpio, Ted Dayno, Agnes Miranda, Rafael Nebres, George Poblete, Max Viola, and Rolando Dela Cruz, Erlinda Insigne & Joel Recla.
28- Philippine Consul General Rosalita Sayoc Prospero passed away. The well-loved Filipino diplomat, who served for 4 years in Toronto, was 56 years old.
JUNE
1- The "Filipino Heritage Month Inaugural Festival" was celebrated at Albert Campbell Square, Scarborough Civic Centre and organized by the Filipino National Heritage Canada, with folk singer Florante as a special guest; TCDSB "Proudly Pinoy- Filipino Heritage Day" event at JCMSS, Toronto; PIDC Salo-Salo Picnic & Filipino Heritage Month Day kick-off event at Earl Bales Park, Toronto.
2- Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe Search for Miss Manila-2019 at Korean Cultural Centre; Durham "Filipino Heritage Festival" at Pickering High Schol, North Ajax.
3 & 4 - "Rizal Lectures" by Dr Ambeth Ocampo, Filipino professor & historian, presented at York University and University of Toronto.
6 & 7- Kalayaan Filipino Cultural Organization-KFCO and Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre-KCCC held their annual "Philippine Festival" in Mississauga.
12- Federation of Filipino Canadians of Ontario sponsored the "Philippine Independence Day Flag-Raising & Program", Queen's Park, Toronto; PIDC "Flag-Raising Day", Toronto City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square; FCPACE -TCDSB "Philippine Independence Day and Filipino Heritage Month Inaugural Day" celebration graced by Toronto Catholic Archbishop Thomas Cardinal Collins at the Catholic Education Centre, TCDSB, North York.
13- The Toronto Raptors, Canada's only professional basketball team, won the NBA championship, its first title in the 24 -year history of the basketball franchise; Federation of Filipino Canadians of Brampton "Flag-raising Ceremonies", City of Brampton, Ontario.
14 to16- GTA Toronto Hoops hosted the "Filipino Heritage Month Palarong Basketbol"-2019 at Downsview HoopDome, North York.
15- Kalayaan Filipino Cultural Organization-KFCO "Independence Day Annual Picnic" Mississauga Valley Park; Federation of Filipino Canadians of Brampton- FFCB "Filipino Fiesta" Kennedy Square, Brampton.
18- The Federal government's "Home Child Care Provider" and "Home Support Worker" temporary worker pathway programs took effect and replaced the "Caring for Children" & for "People with High Medical Needs". The two new 5-year pilot programs will benefit more caregiver on employer-changing and family emigration.
19- The full-size bronze statue of Philippine hero Jose Rizal, measuring 6 feet, 3 inches, was unveiled in Markham, Ontario. It was sculpted by artist Mogi Mogado, and generously supported by retired Markham councillor Alex Chiu & his wife Alicia, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti and the Markham FilCan community.,
22- FCT "Pistahan TO / Flavours of the Philippines" at Nathan Phillips Square; PCCF "Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show Sa Toronto "at Metro Convention Centre.
23- Don Valley West Residents, led by Susan Llanera, conducted "First Filipino Heritage Month Event and Parade", Thorncliffe Park area, East York, Toronto.
27 - Philippine Artists Group( PAG), founded in 1988, celebrated its 31st anniversary.
29 - Filipino Achievers Canada, Inc.-FACI, "14 Outstanding Filipino Canadians from Brampton"; Courie Laraya - Coutts is president.
JULY
6 - Philippine Independence Day Council held "Pageant Coronation Night" of Little Miss PIDC and Miss PIDC - 2019.
6 &7- "Kalayaan Philippine Festival Mississauga 2019", at Mississauga Celebration Square, with TFC Kapamilya singer-artist Erik Santos.
7- Philippine Colleges & Universities Alumni Association-PCUAA "Summer Sports Fest", Mississauga Park.
13- A Filipino Canadian-produced drama movie "Temptations of a Hero: Kailan Tama Ang Mali", premiered at Toronto Centre for the Arts, North York.
20 & 21- Second annual "Vaughan Fiesta Extravaganza-2019 " at Dufferin Clarke Community Park, Thornhill, City of Vaughan, Ontario.
21 - Rev. Sherwin Hollandez installed as Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church & Director of Archdiocesan Filipino Catholic Mission-AFCM, Toronto.
AUGUST
8- The PC government postponed the controversial cancellation of out-of-country emergency medical coverage under OHIP, from October 1 to January 1, 2020.
17 &18- The 5th "Taste of Manila Street Festival" edition, organized by ABS-CBN TFC Kapamilya and the Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance(PLACA).
18- Pioneering Atin Ito publisher and prominent community leader Eduardo "Eddie" Ibanez Lee passed away quietly at age 84 years old.
23 to 25- The PIDC Mabuhay Philippines Festival-2019 held its Gala, Parade of Regions, Santa Cruzan and Fashion & Entertainment Shows in Toronto.
SEPTEMBER
13 to 15 - The Knights of Rizal- Canada Region conducted its 6th Quadrennial Canada Regional Assembly hosted by KOR-Eastern Canada in Montreal, Quebec.
14- "First Durham Filipino Outdoor Festival" held in Oshawa Memorial Park, Durham, Ontario.
17- Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro assumed the top diplomatic post in Toronto.
21- Devotees to Bicolandia's Our Lady of Penafrancia celebrated their "Feast and Fluvial Procession" in Lake Ontario and a mass at OLA Church, North York.
OCTOBER
2- Filipino Centre Toronto elected its new Members of the Board; inducted on November 29th by City Councillor Cynthia Lai; MaryAnn San Juan is President & CEO.
6 - ASEAN Intellectual Development Project, led by Trent U. student Chris Mills and UMAC- Toronto donated over 6000 books to Philippine schools and libraries.
21- Federal Election held; The Liberal Party of Canada led by reelected Prime Minister J. Trudeau and his "Choose Forward" team, forms a minority government.
27- The Filipino Centre Toronto's RCJ Outstanding Students Committee honoured "Top 5 FilCan Ontario University, High School & Elementary Graduates-2019".
NOVEMBER
1- Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians marked its 30th anniversary at the Crystal Fountain banquet hall in Markham, Ontario.
8 - Grand opening of "Our Radio Toronto", the home of Taste of Manila, at 3770 Bathurst Street, North York.
9- CFC ANCOP Canada Hamilton & St. Catherines Region raised $ 25,000 for a village in Romblon, Philippines.
10 - Filipino Canadian Association of Vaughan-FCAV celebrated the 10th anniversary of twinning with Baguio City, Philippines.
17- The Filipino-Canadian Writers and Journalists Network, the Canadian Ethnic Media Council and the Pluma Collective of Filipino Writers sponsored the first " Andres Bonifacio Festival" at Toronto City Hall.
DECEMBER
11- Government prosecutors dropped all the charges against Filipino Canadian entrepreneur Liwayway Miranda owner of A&L Hammer Workforce Management.
12- First Filipino Canadian-produced comedy movie, "BROmance: The Movie" premiered at Yorkdale Mall Cineplex, North York.
14- MCBN Media-Pinoy TV, World Financial Group(WFG) and Filipino Canadian Community House(FCCH) held separate pre-Christmas events. The Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians put together a beautiful Christmas play with 2 sold-out shows.
30- KOR-Canada Region commemorated Dr Jose Rizal's Martyrdom led by Regional Commander Joe Damasco at Earl Bales Park Community Centre, North York.
Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon Sa Inyong Lahat!!!