Don Valley West Filipino Heritage Month 2019 Celebration in Toronto

 

By Suzy Llanera
Toronto-Canada
June 27, 2019
 
 


 
As you all know, the "Filipino Heritage Month" is widely celebrated for the month of June by so many Filipino-Canadian Associations and Organizations within the Greater Toronto Area and across Canada.





Historically, on October 30, 2018, through the initiative of MP Salma Zahid, the House of Commons, unanimously passed Motion155 , proclaiming that the "Filipino Heritage Month" be celebrated in the month of June.



 In general, the amazing victory of this reading, the Official Federal Declaration is in appreciation and recognition of the many contributions and achievements of Filipino-Canadians in Canada. The unanimous passage of this motion, was in response to the clamor for the House of Commons to meet the wishes and expectations of Filipino-Canadians, specially those with Filipino roots and background in celebrating and honouring their own heritage, history and culture.  

Moreover, the Constituency office of Hon. Rob Oliphant, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West , sponsored an event for the residents in Don Valley West, fittingly for the Filipino-Canadians living in the neighbourhood of Thorncliffe Park, Toronto, Ontario.

 

 On June 23rd, the first ever Filipino Heritage Month was celebrated and held at R.V. Burgess Park, located in the heart of Thorncliffe Park Drive in Toronto. The park was transformed into a mini-festival, combined with food vendors, booths (a display of Filipino arts and paintings, and clothing apparels), a mini-parade, a mini-fashion show, musical and cultural performances. The Sunday event was indeed an enjoyable and fun day with the cooperation of a great weather, huge crowd, good food and pleasant company. It was an exciting event filled with a two hour non-stop entertainment from a pool of talented performers, from the age of innocence to the wits of our elders who effortlessly entertained the audience with their charm and whimsical energy. Rob Oliphant joined in to sing with Zena Zagala, Lady Elvis personality, easily became a hit and the highlight of the program.

 

Other notable musical performers  were Miss Martha Joy, featured guest Artist, who mesmerized the crowd with the rendition of "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga's "Shallow" from the movie A Star is Born. Danny Orbillo serenaded the Beauty Pageant Ladies with his Tagalog songs signature, an amazing performances by Melanie Lazaro's "Ikaw" and Katrina Llarena's "I Believe", Nicolas Manlapaz sang Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up", and his sister Bianca Manlapaz beautifully rendered the song "What a Wonderful World" by Louise Armstrong.

 

 

 

Even more so, cultural and musical numbers from other performing groups, such as, the Baby Boomers, Angie's Angels, Negrense Line dancers, Benjie & Fely Alfaro's "Habanera" were quite a crowd-pleaser. Ably co-hosted by husband & wife, Joseph and Lorelei Redoblado made a smooth flow of the program to the delight of well satisfied audience.



 





At the end of the day, our food vendor, Barrio Fiesta gave their customers a taste of a happy tummy feeling, and some expectators explored the various Filipino booths, such as, Kikay's clothing line, Erc Tigz, Monina's apparels, Fermin's oil paintings and Pine Ridge Memorial Gardens by Arbor Memorial, and finally, almost everyone stopped by MP Rob Oliphant's booth to take home a give-away bag.



 

Thank you to everyone who in one way or another have contributed immensely to the success of this wonderful event. An utmost gratitude goes to MP Rob Oliphant and his staff, the City of Toronto, Parks & Recreation, Jenner Jean Marie Recreation Centre, a Mini-Parade which occured within the heart of the park, joined by enthusiastic parade participants namely, Deputy Consul General Bernadette T. Fernandez, of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto; “Ram Guardians Alakdan Canada, led by Taki Onate”; Rose Cruz, Estella Bischoff & Zena Zagala of “Kababaihang Rizalistas”; “The San Juan Clan: Shirley Rosales, Sylvia Leaver, Senen San Juan, Jun & Virgie San Juan, Andrea San Juan, Eva San Andres, Angie Ambagan-San Juan, Elizabeth Cruz, Grace Juschitz, Joy and Tony San Juan”; “Camarines Norte Association Canada-Ontario, headed by Suzy Llanera, Ino Sanchez, Nely Lopriego, Baby & Ramon Fermin”; Rose Apilado of “PTAC”; Aida Villaruz & Fely Alfaro of “Daughters of Isabella”; Chair Tony San Juan of “Filipino Heritage Council of Canada”; “Thorncliffe Overlea Baby Boomers Club, led by Christina Luhta, Lydia Rosales, Mila Aldanese, Magda Mangila & Salud Villo”; Angie Balingit, Veronica Barde, Angela Hollohan, Nene Razalas, Cris Peralta, Lita Lorenzo, Norma Salmingo, Camila & Almas of “Starlight Filipino Seniors Centre of Thorncliffe”; led by Epifanio Panyong Reprado, Annie & Lito Puno of “Filipino Canadians Friendship Organization”; the “Runway Canada Models with Marlynn Lucas”; “KoR”; Norma Carpio, Karen Pascual-Binaday, Jun Villaruz, Ophelia Santiago & Roy Start of “Philippine Independence Day Council”; Leonisa Aliko and her group of “Negrense Association”; Vilma Tahsin of “North York Pinoy Athletic Association”; Roger Tarca of “GTA Hoops”; “FCPACE”; “BCCA”; “Ang Magkakapitbahay”; “Mrs./Ms. Philippines PIDC 2019 Title Holders & PIDC Alumni” and “Loida Lazaro and Melanie Lazaro, Miss Philippines PIDC 2018”.

 

 

Acknowledgements: Barrio Fiesta, Chester Fried, Taki Onate, Kikay’s Apparel, Eric Tigley (Author), Pine Ridge Memorial Gardens, Zenaida & Ramon Fermin, Monina Lim-Serrano, the Philippine Consulate General of Toronto, Karen Pascual-Binaday, Norma Carpio, Minda Neri, Bea Santiago - Ms. International 2013, Ophelia Santiago, Aida & Jun Villaruz, Marlynn Lucas, Tony & Ludy Pasilabban, Rolly Buan & Olivia Cabrera, Vilma Tahsin, Roger Tarca, Linda Verzosa, Alberto Rodil, Rose Apilado, Rachelle Cruz, Tess Taylor, Esel Panlaqui, Epifanio Reprado, Pinky Panlingayen, Lito Puno, the Llanera Family, the San Juan clan and TNO.



In gratitude to the following performers: Co-hosts Lorelei and Joseph Redoblado, Melanie Lazaro, Christina Luhta, Mila Aldanese, Lydia Rosales, Precy Kojo, Magda Mangila, Salud Villo, Norma Salmingo, Angela Hollohan, Angie Balingit, Camila & Almas, Raymunda Uniforme, Fely & Benjie Alfaro, Zena Zagala, Leonisa Aliko & the Negrense Line Dancers, Katrina Llarena of JDL Performing Arts, Cristina Hinloo, Nicolas Manlapaz, Bianca Manlapaz, Danny Orbillo, Miss Martha Joy, the Runway Canada Models, Tyler & Kirsten Binaday, Maya Neri, Mrs. Philippines PIDC 2019 Winners & PIDC Pageant Alumni, Leonor Abad Poizner, Josephine Artuz, Sally Maano Taningco, Genoveva Asuncion-Jubilo, Jan Benoza, Amethyst Salas, Anabelle Migalbin, Madelyn Duyo, Marlynn Lucas & Ariel Abrazaldo.  (suzysjllanera2019)