Advisories & News
Press Release
PCG Toronto Attends Events Commemorating the 160th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in the Greater Toronto Area
2021-06-22
PR-2021-25
19 June 2021, Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto attended and participated at three (3) commemorative events of the 160th Birth Anniversary of Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) of Ontario, Canada on 19 June 2021. Consul General Orontes V. Castro attended these events in the cities of Markham and Toronto.
A wreath-laying ceremony was held in the morning at the Luneta Gardens, in front of Rizal Avenue in Markham where the life-size monument of Dr. Rizal stands. The event was organized by the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians (MFCC) led by its long-time President and Co-Chair/Founder, Ms. Yolanda G. Ladines. This year’s celebration, like last year, was kept to a minimum due to the Province of Ontario’s continuing regulations on social distancing brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Only a few officers and members of MFCC attended the event. Other regular attendees who were present were Knights of Rizal of the Canada Region, Kababaihang Rizalista, and fellow KCR Sir Ignacio “Mogi” Mogado, a Markham artist who created the bronze statue of Dr. Rizal. Knight Commander of Rizal (KCR) and former Councillor of the City of Markham Sir Alex Chiu, who spearheaded the project of putting-up the monument, passed away in May this year.
The second Rizal Day wreath-laying event was held in the afternoon at the Dr. Rizal bust at Earl Bales Park in North York, Toronto, organized by the Order of the Knights of Rizal Canada Region. Consul General Orontes V. Castro and KOR Canada Regional Commander Sir Jose Damasco led the laying of the wreaths before Dr. Rizal’s bust, Kababaihang Rizalista, together with representatives from the Rizal Youth Organization (Canada Region). Hon. Roman Baber, Member of Provincial Parliament of Ontario, likewise attended the event and extolled the significant contributions of Filipinos on the development of Canada.
The third event on the commemoration of the birth anniversary of Dr. Rizal was a Zoom meet organized by the KOR Canada Region in the evening of 20 June 2021. This online meeting replaces the usual KOR’s program following the wreath-laying ceremony due to the continuing stricter restrictions in indoor gatherings in the Province of Ontario. The video message of Consul General Castro was presented during the virtual meeting. The virtual meeting and the wreath-laying at Earl Bales Park both ended with the singing of Bayan Ko. – END.
