TOP 37 NEWS IN THE ONTARIO FILIPINO CANADIAN COMMUNITY IN 2020
By Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired
Toronto-Canada
December 26, 2020
The winter holiday season has arrived and 2020 is coming to an end. Where did the year go? With the new year here now, it’s a good time to make the "List of Top News of 2020". This has been an extraordinary year for many of us with the global coronavirus disease pandemic affecting so many aspects of our lives.
It is the year that was......news and stories characterized mostly by celebrations and events, including fundraisers for natural disaster victims in the Philippines, on virtual and online streamings due to the pandemic. Here is the top news of 2020, which I considered to have a big impact on the Filipino Canadian communities in Ontario.
January 12: Taal Volcano erupted; various community fundraisers: "Sagip Taal", "Bangon Batangas" by KOR, PIDC, FCT, Bayan Muna Malaya Movement, Migrante Ontario, Anak Bayan, and other community-based associations.
January 26: Balita newspaper publisher and editor Tess Cusipag and the Elite Crusaders, a community group of supporters of fraud victims, conducted a public "Forum on Fraud and Scam", at FV Foods, Scarborough, Toronto.
January 31: The Coronavirus-COVID-19 outbreak was reported and the World Health Organization declared the disease as a pandemic, which is a "public health emergency of international concern".
February 4: Filipino-Canadian healing priest Fernando Suarez passed away; born in Taal, Batangas in 1967, was a Chemical Engineering graduate, emigrated to Winnipeg, Canada in 1995, ordained in 2002 at age 35, and cleared in 2019 by the Vatican in a sexual abuse complaint.
February 15: Philippine Consul General's exploratory meeting with Fil-Can community leaders on the " Quincentennial Commemoration of Christianity in the Philippines, Chief Lapulapu's victory in the Battle of Mactan and the 122nd Philippine Independence Day celebrations.
March 10: The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the virus that has infected more than 124,000 people and killed 4,500 a Pandemic.
March 14: "Talakayan Radyo Filipino", the longest-running news and public affairs radio show in the GTA, ceased broadcasting after more than 17 years on the air.
March 18: Canada announced the closure of the Canada-USA border to non-essential travel due to the coronavirus pandemic; closed until January 20, 2021.
March 25: Canada announced that anyone returning to Canada from abroad was legally required to self-quarantine for 14 days; also a number of economic benefits for people affected by COVID-19; thousands of Canadians stranded overseas were repatriated via special flight arrangements by the Canadian government.
April 3: Filipino Canadian Honourable Steve A. Coroza was appointed a Justice of the Court of Justice for Ontario, the highest court of justice in the province; the first and only Filipino-Canadian appointed to the bench; previously served as a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice in 2013 and the Court of Justice in 2009.
April 6: Bicolano Jess Cabrias, Fil-Can community leader, founder, and producer of "Talakayan Radyo Filipino" weekly radio show in Ontario passed away aged 75.
April 13 : The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto released an Advisory from POLO-Toronto about the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) AKAP one-time Financial Assistance of USD200 or its equivalent in Canadian Dollars for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 12: Philippine Independence Day Flag-Raising Event at Nathan Philipps Square, City Hall, Toronto; Filipino Heritage Council of Canada-FHCC commemorative virtual event of Philippine Independence Day; TCDSB Philippine Independence Day Online Celebration, Catholic Education Centre, North York, Toronto.
July 18: The "3rd Vaughan Virtual Fiesta Extravaganza" by the MCBN-Pinoy Radio network and the Filipino Canadian Association of Vaughan( FCAV).
August 15 : The "7th Taste of Manila" Virtual Festival Event was presented by the Philippine Community Events Services Organization (PCESO).
August 22-23: The PIDC "2020 Mabuhay Philippines Pamana Virtual Festival 2020", a special tribute to Filipino frontline workers around the world".
September 17: The TCDSB approved the Proclamation of QJCP Commemoration in the Toronto Catholic school system. The Neighbourhood Organization(TNO), a multicultural immigration & settlement centre in Toronto, was selected as the "2020 Settlement Agency Award" by the RBC and the Canadian Immigrant Magazine.
October 9: Fil-Can Dr. Eileen De Villa, City of Toronto Medical Officer of Health held a webinar on "Briefing on Developments about COVID-19", sponsored by the Philippine Consulate in Toronto.
October 16 : Official Proclamation and Launch Event of the TCDSB Declaration of "2021 Quincentennial Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines" Commemoration in Toronto Catholic schools at CEC, Toronto.
October 26-Nov 9: The Philippines was hit by 4 devastating typhoons "Siony" (Atsani ), "Quinta" (Molave), "Rolly"(Goni), "Ulysses"(Vamco). Fil-Can Julius Tiangson, Conservative Party candidate, runs but lost the election for Member of Parliament for York Centre , Toronto.
October 30: Canada sets out the 2021‒2023 Immigration Levels Plan; increases immigration targets and aims to continue welcoming immigrants at a rate of about 1% of the population of Canada, including 401,000 permanent residents in 2021, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023.
November 7: Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre held " Mer-Yero Christmas Concert" for Typhoon victims; KC "Walkathon", and KC "Food Rescue Program".
November 8: Alex Trebek, legendary Canadian- American TV game show host of the 36-year long-running Jeopardy! has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 80.
November 13: The Toronto District School Board declared June 12, 2021, as "Filipino Heritage Day to be celebrated as a "Day Of Significance" in all public schools in the City of Toronto.
November 18: The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) recognized the commemoration of the "Quincentenary Jubilee of Christianity in the Philippines" in Brampton, Caledon, Malton, and Mississauga Catholic schools.
November 21 & 23: "Bangon Bicol" virtual fundraiser raised C$ 10,000 for Typhoon Rolly victims, sponsored by ICI-TV Montreal, FCAV, and MCBN Group; BCCA's "Bangon Bicolandia" fundraised and donated Php 200,000 thru the "Kaya Natin Ito Movement" of Philippine Veep Leni Robredo; Knights of Rizal -Canada Region raised Php100,000 for donation thru the Knights of Rizal Supreme Headquarters in Manila.
November 28: World Financial Group Senior Executive Vice-chair & Co-founder Agnes P. Miranda's "35 years of Amazing Journey" virtual celebration, a fundraiser for Gawad Kalinga, and "Bangon Pilipinas" for typhoon victims.
November 29: "Bonifest Festival 2020" online event in honour of national hero Andres Bonifacio, by Fil-Can Writers & Journalists Network and Malaya Movement-Canada.
November 30 : New Philippine Ambassador to Canada, Filipino lawyer Roberto D. Robles presented his "Letter of Credence" to the Governor-General of Canada.
December 1: First Filipino-Canadian woman lawyer in Ontario and community advocate Cornelia Soberano died, aged 68, in Reno, Nevada, USA.
December 5-6: PIDC Mabuhay Philippines Festival -Part 2 " Filipino Christmas Traditions-Paskohan 2020" online fundraising concert for Gawad Kalinga and disaster victims in the Philippines.
December 11: Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto & Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines "Fil-Can Songfest for All" online concert fundraiser.
December 14: Anita Quindangen, a Pinay-Canadian Personal Support Worker, is the first recipient of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario. Fil-Cans Lucky Aguila, an RPN, and PSW Cecile Lasco received vaccinations also. Britain A new variant of the coronavirus was identified and has emerged in Britain.
December 15-23: "Simbang Gabi and Novena" live streaming by PH 500 Year of Christianity Celebration Organizing Committee of the Archdiocese of Toronto.
December 16: Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada launched a platform for online citizenship tests for applicants aged 18 to 54 years old.
December 19: Philippine Canadian Cultural Foundation's "Paskong Pinoy", a virtual Christmas concert in celebration of the R.P. Quincentennial Celebrations.
December 26: Ontario moved into province-wide lockdown at 12:01 AM on Boxing Day until January 9, 2021, to control the 2nd surge of the coronavirus pandemic.
Isang Masaganang at Maluwalhating Bagong Taon Sa Inyong Lahat!
( Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired)