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2021-04-02
PR-2021-10
25 March 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The live streaming of the historic Signing of the Proclamation of the Celebration of the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity on the Philippines at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) was held on 24 March 2021 and was aired via YouTube. Sentro Rizal Toronto of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto was represented by Consul General Orontes V. Castro at the Signing Ceremony.
The first part of the program was a Holy Mass celebrated by Father Carlos Macatangga, SVD, Pastor of Cristo Rei Parish in Mississauga.
The Program proper started with the Welcome Remarks and Greetings from DPCDSB Chair of the Board of Trustees Sharon Hobin, Director for Education Marianne Mazzarato, and Vice Chair Luz del Rosario, a Filipino-Canadian. Consul General Castro likewise delivered a moving speech thanking the DPCDSB officials for the Proclamation that it approved celebrating the Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines, as well as for the launch of Sentro Rizal Toronto’s Padayon Art Competition in all schools at the DPCDSB.
The video message of Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts Chairman Arsenio J. Lizaso was featured in the event. Chair Lizaso is currently also the President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
From left, DPCDSB Associate Director of Education Daniel del Bianco as the emcee; Board of Trustees Chair Sharon Hobin welcomed the students, parents, teachers and officials of the Board, and everyone watching the historic signing of the QJCP Proclamation and Announcement and Awarding of Winners of the Padayon Art Competition.
Immediately after the Messages and Greetings, the Signing of the Proclamation commenced. The signatories of the Proclamation were DPCDSB Chair Hobin and Consul General Castro, and witnessed by DPCDSB Director for Education Mazzorato and Vice Chair del Rosario.
The last and most awaited Announcement and Awarding of Winners of Sentro Rizal Toronto-Philippine Consulate General Toronto’s Padayon Art Competition titled “Paghilom at Pag-asa Mula sa Pandemya” (Healing and Hope from the Pandemic) was the last part of the virtual program. The Padayon Art Competition was launched at the DPCDSB on 19 November 2021, which officially started the Call for Entries for the art competition. The art competition 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 DPCDSB.
Sentro Rizal Toronto received a total of 71 artworks from DPCDSB students, with 47 from the elementary school and 24 from the secondary school.
For the Elementary School Category, the 1st Place Winner is Grade 8 student Julianne Balatayo, 2nd Place Winner – Grade 4 student Ava Estelle Woon-Fat, and 3rd Place Winner – Grade 6 student Valentina Anabelle Herrera-Osorio.
For the Secondary School Category, the 1st Place Winner is Grade 9 student Gem-Mahrey Hormillosa, 2nd Place Winner – Grade 12 student Jenna Muli Jardin, and 3rd Place Winner – Grade 10 student Arhielle Abuan Nieto.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (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 DPCDSB officials – Chair Hobin, Director of Education Mazzorato, and Vice Chair del Rosario; and the three (3) Panel of Judges – Ontario Justice of Appeal Steve A. Coroza (Chairman), Philippine Artists Group of Canada (PAG) President Genaro Lopos (Vice Chairman), and York University Associate Director for International Partnerships and Programs Helen C. Balderama (Member).
Sentro Rizal-Philippine Consulate General Toronto and Mr. Ryan Tuazon, Regional Director of Anderson College, also gave Special Prizes in the amount of C$100.00 each to other elementary and secondary students.
All the winners were also given their Certificates of Participation. Certificates of Appreciation were also given to the DPCDSB officials Chair Hobin, Director of Education Mazzorato and Vice Chair del Rosario, as well as to parents, teacher, and schools that have submitted more artworks for the competition.
The Closing Remarks was delivered by DPCDSB Vice Chair and Trustee Luz del Rosario. She thanked Consul General Castro for reaching out to the DPCDSB to be a partner in the celebration of the 500 years Anniversary of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines and in Sentro Rizal Toronto’s Padayon Art Competition. She also thanked most especially all the students, teachers and parents who participated in the art competition. -END