PIDC CELEBRATES 20th ANNIVERSARY of MABUHAY PHILIPPINES FESTIVAL in TORONTO on AUGUST 23-26, 2018

By Tony A. San Juan, OCT.
Toronto-Canada
July 16, 2018
 


The perennially & highly  successful and much anticipated "festival of festivals" in the Filipino Canadian community is now upon us. Yes, folks. The ever popular and much- awaited annual  PIDC Summer Festival Events for 2018 in the Greater Toronto Area , solidly organized and sponsored  by the prestigious Philippine Independence Day Council - PIDC, is being held and presented free to the general public from August 23 to 26, 2018



The multi day celebration includes a gamut of interconnected cultural and sporting  events which initially commenced in June with its "Miss Philippines and Little Miss Philippines PIDC -2018"  beauty pageants . Moreover, an array of major events are scheduled, namely: the MCup basketball tourney at HoopDome;  Battle 416 and the now "undisputed signature event" : Mabuhay Philippines Festival to be highlighted by a Fashion Show, Grand Parade of Regions, Santa  Cruzan and the TFC Kapamilya Show, all to be conducted  at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto City Hall, and as well,  the Platinum Anniversary Gala Night on August 23rd, Thursday, 6:00 pm. at Sheraton Hotel, Dominion Ballroom, Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario. 

The festival theme for 2018 is "Kinabukasan" or The Future: Passing the Torch. The Festival aims to "pay homage to the people who have made the event possible over the past two decades" while highlighting the future performers and leaders of the Filipino Canadian community. Ergo, PIDC hopes to demonstrate "multi-disciplinary art forms that Filipinos have and continue to excel in "as well as, to honour the pioneers of the community and their numerous contributions they have made to Canada, our adopted country".

PIDC is a prominent not-for-profit, community-based & volunteer- run organization whose main goal is "to foster unity within the FilCan community by showcasing the best of Philippine  culture, arts, heritage and charity."  The quintessential organization is celebrating this year the 20th  anniversary of its great summer cultural program, the Mabuhay Philippines Festival. PIDC is headed by its current  president, Karen Pascual- Binaday.



The immediate past president, Norma Carpio, who founded the initiative in 1998, is the chairman emerita of Mabuhay Philippines Festival . World Financial Group-WFG executive vice chair Agnes P. Miranda is the Festival co-chair. The executive trio are assisted by  Ben Corpuz, parade chair; Aurora Ticzon-Elefano, SantaCruzan chair; Tom Tan & Melinda Manlapaz, anniversary gala chair & co-chair;  Clyde Pacis, MCup chair; Mark Guiam, MCup tourney director and Mon Torralba, festival program coordinator. Providing wholehearted support are the entire members of the executive council , board of directors & council of leaders including sponsors, performers, parents, talent scouts and volunteers. 

The PIDC Festival organizers have released the  Schedule of Events and Activities, with the following details:

* MCup Invitational Basketball Tournament - July 19 to July 22 ( Thursday to Sunday).

The PIDC sports league, MCup, formerly the Mabuhay Cup will be held at the HoopDome, 75 Carl Hall Road, Downsview, North York. Considered "one of the largest FilCan sporting events of its kind", MCup, now on its 15th year, placed the players  under 3 categories according to age :1) Men's Series has 7 divisions, namely Midget( those born in 2001/2002); Juvenile( born in 1999/2000); Open( 2 divisions); Competitive level & Elite level ( no age limit); and a Master's division( ages 35 & up); 2) Women's Series will have both Junior Girls( U14 & Under) and Open Senior Girls( no age limit); and 3) Youth Series ( children born between 2003 and 2010).

The opening ceremonies are scheduled on July 21st, Saturday , 11:00 am. at the HoopDome with special guests Toronto Mayor John Tory, Members of Parliament Marco Mendicino for Eglinton-Lawrence and Michael Levitt  for York Centre . Toronto Councillor Neethan Shan and the reigning PIDC 2018 beauty winners and runners-up.

*Festival Anniversary Gala - August 23 ( Thursday).

The 20th Mabuhay Philippines Festival  anniversary gala will be celebrated at Sheraton Hotel Toronto, Dominion Ballroom, 123 Queen Street West, Toronto on August 23, 2018, Thursday at 6:00 pm. The evening event will feature an awards segment and a Broadway- style of musical entertainment, according to Festival co-chair Agnes Miranda . Invited to grace the occasion are political dignitaries including  leaders and personalities from the GTA business and multicultural  communities.

In marking the platinum celebration, PIDC will issue a commemorative souvenir program, highlighting the many contributions and achievements of the people behind its success. The souvenir magazine will present a brief history of the umbrella organization through a collection of photos and events over the years. Special advertising opportunities will be provided in promoting the businesses and projects of PIDC generous supporters, donors and admirers.

*Battle 416 Challenge - August 24-26( Friday to Saturday)

To be conducted at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto City Hall, this activity is being chaired also by Clyde Pacis. It is a special competition involving amateur players required to demonstrate their basketball skills and talents through a series of individual and team challenges, observing established playing rules and procedures. Prizes are to be awarded to winning participants.

*Mabuhay Philippines Festival Main Events, August 25 - 26 ( Friday and Saturday).

To be held for 2 days at the Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto City Hall, the Mabuhay Philippines Festival- 2018 will feature the following major events :

1) PIDC Grand Fashion Show , on August 25th, Saturday, will feature designs by world renowned fashion designers and couturiers Renee Salud, Kenneth Barliss and Shanong Pamaong . The Show will have a Broadway style musical entertainment. The fashion models will include Filipino Canadian beauties  such as : Melanie Lazaro & Gabrielle Louise Ambers, and a bevy of other beauty titlists & volunteer models.

2) TFC "Kapamilya Show", on August 25th, Saturday will have as its special performer, an ABS-CBN popular artist & singer and other FilCan talents and known group & individual entertainers. The special show will be held at the Centre Stage of the Nathan Phillips Square, City Hall, Toronto.

3) The Grand Parade of Regions and Santa Cruzan, on Sunday, August 26th will be a combined civic parade and faith-focused procession to be participated in by various community associations &  their muses and, as well current & past PIDC beauty winners. Expected to join in are leaders and members of  multicultural groups and other province-based organizations in the GTA.

PIDC is currently looking for Volunteer Models to participate in the Mabuhay Philippines Festival grand fashion show. The "Casting Call" is scheduled on July 15, 22 & August 5, 12 & 19 from 2:00 - 6:00 pm. at the Gotta Dance Studio, 3581 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario. Applicants must be: up to 28 years old, Sizes 0-2, height: 5'5" & above ( without heels).

For further information about  PIDC events including souvenir magazine advertisements, vendor applications, fashion show volunteer models, and festival volunteer service, kindly  visit the    PIDC Website: www.pidctoronto.com; Email: [email protected] ; [email protected]; [email protected]. Come one, Come all! (Tony A. San Juan)