PIDC SLATES MABUHAY PHILIPPINES FESTIVAL & PARADE and PHILIPPINE TAPESTRY  FASHION SHOW

By Tony A. San Juan, OCT.
Toronto-Canada
August 15, 2017



Big, Bold and  Beautiful !  Inspiring and aspiring words aptly describing the upcoming Filipino Canadian community's premier cultural events in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada. True to its mission and mandate, the Philippine Independence Day Council - PIDC , a non profit ,volunteer - run umbrella organization in the province  is holding  2 popular summer activities. 

On August 24, 2017,Thursday  at 7:00 pm. the PIDC Philippine Tapestry Grand Fashion Show will  be held  at the  Arcadian Court, 401 Bay Street, 8th Floor, Toronto.  Then, on August 26 & 27, 2017 (Saturday & Sunday) it will conduct  its much-awaited cultural event,  the  PIDC Mabuhay  Philippines Festival and  Parade  at the Nathan Phillips Square, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto,Ontario. 

Both events are in celebration of the Philippines 119th Independence Day and in commemoration of Canada's 150th confederation day, as well.  With the theme "Kasaysayan" , PIDC promises something that the public, participants, supporters and sponsors will expect a remarkable presentation of what is best in Filipino Canadian culture , values, faith and  talents ,  interwoven in traditional and modern interpretations.

PIDC Philippine Tapestry  Fashion Gala
Philippine Tapestry , a major signature part of the 2017 PIDC Mabuhay Philippines Festival & Parade, is a  unique cultural and heritage production. It will revolve within the neo-ethnic fashion of world- renowned designer Renee Salud and Filipino weavers. The show will highlight all the major weaves of the Philippines to promote indigenous materials and the age-old artistry of Filipino weaving and at the same time, presents the exceptional beauty and unique culture of the Philippines.  It is being presented  by PIDC in cooperation  with the Philippines Tourism Promotion Board and the Philippines Department of Tourism . The major event supporters and sponsors are Celebrate Ontario 150, TD Canada Trust, Philippine Department of Tourism, Philippine Airlines, TFC , Telus, World Financial Group, Epoch Times, Ayala Land, National Bank, Ontario Liberal Caucus, Imperial Travel &Tours , Scotiabank,and PNB .

Eight  top fashion models and beauty queens from the Philippines who expected to walk the runways at the show. 3 Philippine-based cultural  troupes, such as Sindaw Performing Arts Guild, SinagTala Dance Company & Grupo Triballe will be featured too. WFG co-founder & vice chairman Agnes P. Miranda is the executive producer of the fashion show.

To grace the two major events are official representatives of the Philippine Government , namely the Philippine Secretary of Tourism Wanda Tulfo Teo , the Philippine Chief Operating Officer of Tourism Promotion Board, Philippine ambassador of fashion Renee Salud,  Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia and PIDC President Norma Carpio. 

VIP Tickets are $120 and includes the show and meal. Fashion show SRO-only tickets are available for $40. For tickets  & further information , please contact : Karen Pascual- Binaday   or Tom Tan  at : .

PIDC Mabuhay Philippines Festival, Parade and Fashion Show
The 2- day annual festival  is free and open to the public and will feature all-day entertainment beginning at 12:00 noon. Performers for Saturday include: the JDL School of Performing Arts, the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians, Kindred Culture, The Muso Project, The Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe and more.  Saturday night will also have a fashion show with designs by fashionista extraordinaires Renee Salud and Shannon Pamaong. 

On Sunday, August 27th, the annual community parade will walk through the streets of downtown Toronto with the participation of various community organizations and civic associations .  It will also showcase participants wearing various native and ceremonial attires highlighting the geographic & cultural regions of the Philippines. Filipino film & TV actress Arci Munoz is expected to participate after the parade. On-stage performances include: The Dreamboats, After Hours, EZ Rock, Combat Science, Culture Philippines of Ontario and more.  For information on booths, sponsorship or to register your business and organizations' participation, email": .( Tony San Juan).