FilCan Council Formed in Celebration of June Filipino Heritage Month in Toronto
Toronto-Canada
June 2, 2018
Summer is almost upon us. In the motherland, June is the start of students going back to school and the traditional commemoration of our Araw ng Kalayaan. In Toronto, the Filipino Canadian community and other long-established organizations are all agog preparing or having prepared for the inaugural celebration of "June Filipino Heritage Month" as officially declared by the Toronto City Council on November 7, 2017.
Sponsored by Scarborough Ward Councillor Nethan Shan, Council Motion MM 34.15 was approved in response and consideration to the collective clamor and petition by the Toronto Filipino Canadian community and 77 known leaders spearheaded by the couple Paulina and Ben Corpuz. Thus, commencing June, 2018 and every year thereafter, the month of June becomes a significant event as Filipino Heritage Month in this part of the world.
The civic proclamation was indeed a most welcomed decision and gesture by the City Council of Toronto of providing a means for the official recognition and appreciation of the multi-faceted contributions and achievements of Filipino Canadians in Canada's premier city. In deed, the declaration is a historic milestone that Filipinos and Torontonians are highly elated and ever grateful.
In proud affirmation and response, the "Filipino Heritage Month Council-FHMC" was formed on March 4, 2018 at the North York Civic Centre, Toronto. Indomitably ,the Council with the encouragement and support of the Philippine Consulate General-Toronto, has taken the opportunity for the ever- growing community to pursue and realize an appropriate vehicle and forum of not only in celebrating but also of hoping and helping to promote and propagate meaningfully our rich heritage, culture and history within the multicultural fabric of Canada. The initiative, albeit, is just the beginning and there are still challenges and expectations to be met. But with collective will and commonality in purpose the volunteer- organizers has all the good reasons to be moving forward.
At the organizational meeting , retired Toronto educator Tony A. San Juan, the Founding Chair emphatically encouraged the pioneering members of FHMC to "sow & grow the seeds" and to "build the foundation" of the fledgling Council . He believed, that with everyone's wisdom, determination, dedication and hard work, in respect of "understanding, owning, and honouring our distinct identity, learned values, proven traditions and sound perspectives as a people" would rightly contribute and lead to a greater tomorrow towards hopefully "an engaged, strengthened, productive and unified" community.
The Council is currently pursuing the active lead in collaborating and supporting the City-wide Filipino heritage celebrations. FHMC is now composed of 42 youth & socio-civic leaders, professionals, business people, educators and media practitioners affiliated and / or associated with 20 community- based organizations. It has now plans of fully structuring organizationally ,expanding its membership as well as registering officially with Service Ontario, Canada as a not-for-profit clearing house and community forum focusing on education, research, programs and activities about Filipino-Canadian heritage, history and culture.( / tsj ).