The Filipino Centre Toronto Pursues New and Regular Programs & Services to the Community

 
By Tony San Juan – OCT, Retired
Toronto-Canada
August 21, 2019
 




True to its established vision and mission, the Filipino Centre Toronto-FCT, a prominent and progressive community-based organization in the Greater Toronto Area, is fully determined of engaging and offering well-defined and meaningful programs and projects to the members of the Filipino - Canadian community.

The FCT, founded by dedicated community leaders, professionals and active retirees & volunteers almost 2 decades ago, is committed continuously and conveniently to lead and serve by being a solid player and participant in the social life and activities of its targeted beneficiaries -- kababayans,  seniors & the elderly, students & youths, and new immigrants & other qualified residents in the province.

Proudly, the Centre provides "a common place for Filipino Canadians to meet and participate in social, civic, educational, business, recreational, sports and activities". It conducts and sponsors events "to showcase, enrich and promote our Filipino heritage, history and culture " in this adopted country.

Since it started operating as a not-for- profit and volunteer-run  entity in the early 1999, the Filipino Centre Toronto's well-established regular programs and services are purposefully focused  on the participants and recipients continued good physical health and well-being. The Centre's proven offerings are under 3 major categories, specifically: A. Services- 1) Free medical clinic for non-OHIP enrollees 2) Health information sharing 3) Health & well-being seminars 4) Medical crisis intervention & advocacy strategies 5) Estate planning & writing wills 6) Income tax preparation for seniors & low-income taxpayers 7) Homework club & academic tutoring 8) Recreational line & zumba dancing lessons 9) Beginning artist & painters workshop 10) Employment networking & advising and 11) Arts and crafts; B. Cultural and Social Activities - 1) Pistahan sa Toronto 2) Santa Cruzan 3) Top student-graduates academic excellence awards 4) Professionals & achievers recognition awards 4) Filipino folk dance and music lessons 5) TGIF / Karaoke Night and 6) Presidents' biennial gala event; and C.Sports Competitions - 1) Dr. Guillermo de Villa, Jr. golf tournament and 2) Victoria Invitational basketball tournament. These services, activities and events, mostly free or on minimal registration / participation fees, are scheduled and held on periodic , seasonal and at -need bases.

The current FCT Board of Directors on its recent executive board meeting released new, regular, and completed organizational undertakings in 2019 .

The following events and activities were operationalized in support, complement and /or extension of its current -and-ongoing programs, among the highlights of which were :

1) The "Enabling Accessibility Grant" application was approved by the Federal government in January, 2019. The Matching Grant , presented by MP Shaun Chen on May 10, 2019,  is to create a fully- accessible facility for community centre users, especially the handicapped and the elderly.

 2) A Town Hall meeting with Federal Minister of Small Business & Export Promotion Honourable MP Mary Ng was held on January 23, 2019 for the Filipino small business community to help business start ups, scale ups and access new markets. Among the special guests were Members of Parliament Shaun Chen of Scarborough- North, Salma Zahid of Scarborough-Centre, and Jean Yip of Scarborough-Agincourt.

3) On February 16, 2019, an "Orientation Session for Filipino Immigrants" was conducted by FCT in partnership with Archdiocesan Catholic Mission, Family Apostolate Ministry and the Catholic Community Services of York Region.

4) "Planning Ahead Made Simple-Estate Planning", on February 20 and April 29, 2019.

5) In March, 2019 the Free Photography classes started ;  "Filipinas in Action " , a women issue-focused session in partnership with FSO-Filipinas Speak Out, and Free Income Tax Clinic held in partnership with AFCA- Association of Filipino Canadian Accountants.

6) the biennial FCT Spring Gala honouring "Outstanding Filipino Canadian Seniors" was sponsored on April 13, 2019.

7) The Painting Class for seniors started and is held every Wednesday from 11:00 am. to 3:00 pm. with painting instructor Frank Cruzet.

8) The popular "Victoria Invitational Basketball Tournament",conducted on May 17-19, 2019,  at the PanAm Sports Centre, engaging Filipino youths in active sports.

9) The Filipino- Canadian women "Roundtable on Women Issues" with MP Maryam Monsef, the Minister for Women, Gender Equality and International Development, on May 21,2019. Special guest was Member of Parliament  and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism Gary Anandasangaree.

10) MP Shaun Chen's June 15, 2019 Discussion-Meeting on Filipino -Canadian community issues and concerns.

11)  The joint FCT Pistahan TO and Flavours of the Philippines Filipino Heritage celebration  on June 22 & 23, 2019 at Nathan Phillips Square, City of Toronto.

12) The Dr. Guillermo de Villa, Jr. Memorial Cup, an annual  golf tournament played on July 21, 2019.

13) Canada Summer Jobs Funding for 7 full-time positions were created from July to August, 2019. As a result, Free Summer Tutorials in Reading and Numeracy Skills for elementary and high school student were provided.

Two major upcoming  community- wide events are planned for the next 4 months. These include 1) the competition and search for 2019 Outstanding Filipino Canadian students in Ontario this October. It aims to encourage and recognize elementary, high school and post-secondary students to aspire and achieve academic success; and 2) "Sanib Saya", a Christmas party to be hosted by a group of Filipino-Canadian organizations to bring holiday cheers and "to model unity and love in meeting challenges in community organizations."

The Filipino Centre, Toronto is newly-sited and headquartered at 4395 Sheppard Avenue East, Scarborough, Ontario M1S 1T9. It has a simple party hall and board meeting rooms, available for rents at modest rates. For more information, please call the Filipino Centre, Toronto at Tel: 416-435-0485; Cell: 416-928-9355; Fax:416-435-0486; Email .

As envisioned, the Filipino Centre, Toronto through its well-meaning & good spirited directors, officers, members and volunteers and in partnership and collaboration with its stakeholders and the community shall continue hoping and praying to aspire, inspire and pursue its avowed purpose and mandate in order to achieve success and move forward in the most meaningful and productive ways. And, as the late Rosalinda C. Javiier  always proudly said "This is our Centre, your Centre. Everyone is welcome to visit us ! " ( Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Ret.)