Mabuhay Garden inaugurated by Toronto officials

By Artemio Borba
Toronto-Canada
September 14, 2016



Several groups welcomed Mayor John Tory Sunday September 11 for the opening of a new garden retreat in the area considered Filipino town in Toronto.

"We just beautified another space in the city and it's so important to have these peaceful places where people could come, relax and be away from things that could be chaotic in terms of the life in the big city," Tory said

The garden is located in a parkette southeast side of the Bathurst-Wilson intersection close to a major provincial highway. 

"Certainly having a garden called Mabuhay or Welcome Garden is a recognition of the Filipino Community in the area," Councillor James Pasternak said.

It features rock installations for seating, wooden pergola, and  flower plantings designed by horticulturalist Heidi Weidelich. The plants were selected to resemble the Philippine hibiscus.

The garden is part of Pasternak's initiatives to fix up parts of the neighbourhood in honour of the Filipino community.

He is also the current chair of the city's Community Development and Recreation Committee.

Pasternak said that the area surrounding the parkette can be named to reflect the cultural identity of the neighbourhood.

"If there's enough support, then we have to look at naming it Little Manila. It will be a ceremonial designation. We'll have to see the proposal when it comes in," he said. 

"I think it's an exciting idea."