PIDC HOLDS MEMORABLE MABUHAY PHILIPPINES FESTIVAL GALA 2021
Photos: Joey Baking-LM Confidentia
Markham-ON-Canada
December 4, 2021
RECIPIENTS OF THE UNIVERSAL PEACE FEDERATION -CANADA AWARD-2021.
Faithful to its true tradition and proven practice of promoting culturally-oriented programs, the Philippine Independence Council( PIDC), once again held its ever-popular "Mabuhay Philippines Festival Gala Event" on November 27, 2021, at the Xinlix Auditorium in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Focused on its theme: "Pagmamahal"( Love), the MPF Festival was a 2- day event that included the nationwide songwriting & singing competition and concert on November 28, 2021, at the Xinlix Studio.
UNIVERSAL PEACE FEDERATION-UPF "COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDEES" -2021.
The distinguished guests who graced and gave their respective greetings were Philippine Consul General of Toronto Hon. Orontes V. Castro, Minister for Public Safety Hon. Marco Mendicino, Members of Parliament Han Dong, Ya'ara Saks, and Rechie Valdez, Universal Peace Federation-Canada Chair, Dr. Moonshik Kim and CMC-AO President Raj Thavaratnasingham. Some of the special guests were Kriti Bhatt, Joe Chen, Theresa Redula, WFG business associates, the Carpio siblings, and other Filipino-Canadian community leaders and personalities.
Left photo: CANADIAN MINISTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, HONOURABLE MARCO MENDICINO; Right photo: PIDC PRESIDENT RAMON C. ESTARIS
During the ceremonies, UPF President Moonshik Kim presented "Community Service Awards" to the following: PIDC Officers, Andrew Carpio, Ben Corpuz, Paulina Corpuz, Ramon Estaris, Suzy Llanera, Melinda Manlapaz, Jean Pardo, Tom Tan, Nene Ticzon, & Al Tupe; business executives Cristina Carpio, Rosary Escano, Agnes P. Miranda, Danny Orbillo, & Clyde Pacis; health front liners Sonia Balinas, Rory Elefano, & Helen Lao; media publisher Tess Torralba; beauty queens Conida Marie Halley & Rose Bea Santiago; musical artists Nicolas Manlapaz, Chyrell Samson-Ronquillo, & Dylan Sinclair; and community leaders Conrad Corpuz, Rose Cruz, & Tony A. San Juan.
OPENING ACT BY EMIL ZARRIS, CHYRELL SAMSON, NICOLAS MANLAPAZ, KAYLEIGH CEREZO, MARIA PANALIGAN
Left photo: PIDC-MPF FOUNDER & CHAIR NORMA CARPIO AND VICE-CHAIR AGNES P. MIRANDA.; Right photo: PIDC-MPF GALA CO-CHAIRS MELINDA MANLAPAZ AND TOM TAN GIVING THEIR WELCOME ADDRESS.
Among the event's speakers were the MPF partners and sponsors such as Andrew Carpio of Imperial World, Rosary S. Escano of TFC, Dr. Moonshik Kim of UPF, Agnes P. Miranda of WFG, Paul Saguil of TD Canada Trust, and Pidoy Pacis of Gawad Kalinga-Canada. The PIDC beauty title-holders present were Mrs./Ms. Philippines 2019 Leonor Abad, Mrs/Ms. Philippines of the Orient Genoveva Asuncion, Mrs./ Ms. Philippine Alumni Josephine Artuz, and Ms. Philippines First Runner-up 2019 Adrianne Tupas.
Left photo: PIDC-MPF GALA HOST BEA ROSE SANTIAGO, MISS INTERNATIONAL 2013.; Right photo: PIDC PAGEANT REIGNING BEAUTY TITLE-HOLDERS
Event co-chairs Melinda Manlapaz and Tom Tan jointly welcomed and thanked all the guests. Hosted by Bea Rose Santiago, Miss International 2013, the memorable program included the stage performances of Fil-Can singers Emilio Zarris, Chyrell Samson-Ronquillo, Kayleigh Cerezo, Nicolas Manlapaz, Maria Panaligan, Precious Hernandez, Peyton Garcia, Samantha Gavin, Shane Aludud, and Sam Pereira.To the delight of the guests, a 30- minute visual presentation of the unique and rich Filipino cultural & historic heritage, fashion modes, tourist attractions, and sightseeing places in the country, including footages of PIDC's past celebrations, pistahan, parada, Santa Cruzan, and fashion shows. Mel Galeon of FV Foods catered the sit-down dinner, wine, hors d'oeurves and desserts.
Left photo: PHILIPPINE CONGEN ORONTES V. CASTRO WITH LEONOR ABAD.; Right photo: RAMON ESTARIS AND NORMA CARPIO WITH MPs YA'ARA SAKS, RECHIE VALDEZ, & HAN DONG.
"Mabuhay Philippines Festival-MPF", a popular yearly event held in the Greater Toronto Area( GTA), Ontario, is the flagship project of the 32-year old Philippine Independence Day Council( PIDC). MPF is founded and chaired by Ms. Norma Carpio with Ms. Agnes P. Miranda as vice-chairman. PIDC, headed by President Ramon Estaris, is a non-profit, volunteer-run umbrella organization established to foster unity and harmony and help promote Filipino heritage and culture in Canada.
In grateful acknowledgment, Mr. Ramon Estaris, Ms. Norma Carpio, and Ms. Agnes Miranda jointly thanked all the event partners & sponsors, such as TD Canada, WFG, Imperial World, Canadian Heritage/Patrimoine Canadien, The Filipino Channel-TFC, and the Universal Peace Federation-Canada as well as the players and participants like the chairpersons and members of the organizing & working committees, the programming & production teams, the officers of the "PIDC Family", the WFG staff, the Xinlix studio personnel and all the enthusiastic attendees who made the event a wonderful success. ( Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired)