Advisories & News
Press Release
Signing of Proclamation and Launch of the Celebration of the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines at the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB)
2020-11-01
PR 65-2020
27 October 2020, Toronto, Ontario – Sentro Rizal Toronto of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, represented by Consul General Orontes V. Castro, participated at the historic Signing of the Proclamation and Launch of the Celebration of the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity on the Philippines at the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) held at the Boardroom of the Catholic Education Centre of the TCDSB on 23 October 2020 from 5:30 pm to 6:45 pm.
In view of strict restrictions on indoor gatherings due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the City of Toronto, the number of people invited to the event was limited to ten (10) people. However, arrangements were made by the TCDSB for people, especially the Filipino Canadian community in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), to be able to witness the historic Signing of the Proclamation and Launch. The whole event, from the Holy Mass to the programme proper, was live streamed through YouTube and was made available through links from the websites and Facebook page of the TCDSB and the Consulate General.
The event was officially opened by Ms. Jodelyn Huang, Community Relations Officer of the TCDSB and emcee for the night, followed by Mr. Keith Baybayon, a Filipino Canadian Student Trustee of the TCDSB who recited the Land Acknowledgement. The Welcome Remarks were delivered by Mr. Joseph Martino and Dr. Brendan Browne, TCDSB Chair of the Board of Trustees and Director of Education, respectively. Both officials expressed their pride and honor for the opportunity to celebrate the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines in all schools of the TCDSB until September 2021.
Reverend Father Sherwin M. Holandez officiated the Holy Mass to start the evening’s celebration. Rev. Fr. Holandez is the Pastor of the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Toronto, the seat of the Filipino mission in the diocese, and the Chair of the Toronto Organizing Committee of PH500 Toronto Celebration of the Archdiocese of Toronto.
Immediately after the Mass, the Program proper followed, with Ms. Huang giving an introduction of the Signing of the Proclamation and Launch of the 500 years Anniversary of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, which will be celebrated in all Catholic schools in the City of Toronto whole year round, until September 2021. The singing of the Canadian and Philippine National Anthems followed.
singing of the Canadian and Philippine National Anthems
Mr. Garry Tanuan, TCDSB Trustee for Ward 8 who presented to the Board the Motion leading to the Proclamation of the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines (QJCP) also gave his remarks on the celebration and introduced the Guest Speaker, Consul General Orontes V. Castro. Consul General Castro gave a moving speech of gratitude and appreciation for the TCDSB’s approval of the Motion and recognizing the QJCP and the Filipino Canadian community’s contribution to the diversity and economy of Toronto, Ontario, and Canada as a whole.
A pre-recorded video message from His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, was also shown during the event. His Eminence likewise commended the religiosity of the Filipinos and Filipino Canadians in Toronto, how they gave selflessly to the Church and to Canada, especially during these times of the pandemic.
The official declaration of the signed Proclamation was announced by Ms. Huang as soon as the TCDSB representatives, i.e. Board Chair Joseph Martino, Dr. Brendan Browne, Trustee Garry Tanuan, and Philippine Consulate General representative, Consul General Orontes V. Castro, signed and displayed the Proclamation, alongside the banners of the two (2) Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines and the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines.
Bottom Photo: Superintendent Derek Chen (leftmost) handed the documents for signing.
The event also witnessed the ribbon-cutting of the posters of the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines and the Sentro Rizal Toronto-Philippine Consulate General Toronto Art Competition titled “Paghilom at Pag-asa Mula sa Pandemya” (Healing and Hope from the Pandemic). The launched officially started the Call for Entries for the art competition, which is a Sentro Rizal Toronto project, with the support of the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and in collaboration with the TCDSB. Plans are underway for the entries to be received in the art competition to be exhibited next year in schools, libraries, and in Filipino Canadian community centres and in various Filipino Canadian community organizations’ events leading to the Quincentennial Commemorations of the Philippines.
Sentro Rizal Toronto likewise donated books on the two (2) novels of Dr. Jose P. Rizal namely, the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, the ribbon-cutting and presentation of which by Consul General Castro to Board Chair Martino and Dr. Browne was witnessed by Trustees Tanuan, Nancy Crawford and Frank D’Amico.
The Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity of the Philippines icon was unveiled during the event by Chair of PH500 Toronto Celebration Rev. Fr. Holandez and Trustee Tanuan, along with Board Chair Martino and Trustees Crawford and D’Amico.
To cap the activities, Rev. Fr. Holandez presented a beautiful and inspiring video title “Gifted to Give: Toronto–2021, Celebrating the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines”. Rev. Fr. Holandez gave a brief introduction on how he initiated the Toronto Organizing Committee, with the blessing of His Eminence Cardinal Collins, to organize and coordinate activities in the Archdiocese of Toronto which will celebrate the 500th year Anniversary of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines. He also explained the meaning of the different icons in the “Gifted to Give” logo from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). He also mentioned that the Catholic church in the Philippines is preparing for the significant year of 2021 and gave a presentation on the various milestones during the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.
The Closing Remarks was delivered by TCDSB Superintendent Derek Chen. He acknowledged the support of various sectors that contributed to the success of the historic event. He also led the attendees to a Closing Prayer.
