Fil-Can Community Groups Celebrate Asian Food and Cultural Festival

Two prominent Filipino-Canadian community organizations in the Greater Toronto Area have celebrated the “Asian Food and Cultural Festival” in a display of cooperation and collaboration. On November 23, 2024, the Philippine Independence Day Council( PIDC) and the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation( PCCF), both notable non-profit and volunteer-run entities, purposefully joined the special event with great enthusiasm and solid admiration.

The 2024 Asian Multicultural event was held at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto at 5183 Sheppard Avenue East, Scarborough. Presented by the Canadian Multicultural Council Asians in Ontario( CMCA-O), the celebration was well attended by the officers, members, families, and friends of the 18-member Asian organizations in the province. The event co-chairs were Mar Mar Cho and Mali Phiphat, assisted by the CCC Production Team.

CMCA-O is a “Toronto-based non-profit, non-political organization of Asian Canadian Associations representing various Asian countries, ethnic regions, and cultures”. Among the Asian nations represented in the 18-member association are: Burma, China, Indonesia, Japan, Khmer Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tamil, Taiwan, Tibet, and Vietnam.

PIDC President Tom Tan, Vice Presidents Agnes P. Miranda & Ben Corpuz, Executive Secretary Suzy Llanera, Public Relations Officers Leonor Abad & Danny Orbillo, and Auditor Melinda Manlapaz led the PIDC contingent. Amongst the PIDC beauties present were Mrs. Philippines-PIDC 2014 Kathleen Ortiguero, and PIDC Alumni Ma. Sherry Tan, Margie Gevevo, MaryJean Puno, and Imelda Concepcion. On the one hand, the PCCF delegation was headed by its President, Rosemer Enverga and members of the PCCF Executive Directorate.

The 5-hour successful program was jointly emceed by PIDC’s Rodney Ronquillo and Chyrell Samson. CMCA-O President Dr. Tulsi Dharel gave the welcome remarks while the Member of Parliament for Scarborough North Shaun Chen delivered his brief message. After Chyrell Samson sang the Canadian national anthem, the Asian ethnic culinary delights dinner ensued. True to their professional stature, R. Ronquillo, C. Samson, Lilac Cana, and Danny Orbillo fully entertained the guests and the multi-ethnic audience with beautiful and lively songs.

Several culture-focused performances were presented by dancers, singers, and talents from the Asian organizations such as the Nepalese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Filipino-PCCF, Vietnamese, fFilipino-PIDC, Burmese, Indonesian, and Laotian as well as an ethnic-oriented fashion show. It was a Saturday evening when Asian Canadians significantly showcased their kindred cultures and cuisines, and collective aspiration of solidarity, peace, and harmony in the Canadian landscape.