Pistahan sa Toronto

Pistahan sa Toronto

FCT Bulletin
By Aida E. D’Oraizo

TORONTO–Nathan Phillips Square will spark up with images and sounds of Pistahan sa Toronto come Saturday, June 12th. Sponsored by the Filipino Centre Toronto, the Pistahan will be a festive celebration to mark the 106th anniversary of the Philippines’ independence.

As the Philippine Flag (to be hoisted earlier on that day by Mrs. Pilar Miguel) flutters high above from the flagpole at City Hall, makeshift kiosks will be built around the Square. Concessionaires like the Aristokrat, F.V. Foods, Brown Sugar, M & F Foods and Banahaw Restaurant have already signed up to sell Philippine foods and delicacies.

Filipino associations, dance troupes and other groups will be invited to participate, both in the colourful parade and variety show.

As in the past years, there will be a parada ng lechon, a popular attraction and a freebie. Last year, people patiently queued up in an orderly fashion while waiting for a sampling of the crackling lechon. All fifteen of the robust calorific lechon were donations. This year, the queue is expected to be even longer.

On stage, there will be entertainment galore such as talented groups performing Filipino folk dances, a fashion show, modern dance exhibitions, solo performances by recording artists and, of course, the finals for the popular Filipino Singing Idol competition. Twenty-four talented finalists will be competing in the show while their families, friends and fans, will certainly be cheering wildly for them. At the end, the winners of each of the three categories will be declared the Filipino Singing Idols.

The festivity that will start at noontime will last until 11 p.m. More details of the event will be given in the next issue.

Last round for the Filipino Singing Idol

The last round for the Filipino Singing Idol Contest will be held on April 30 at 7:30 p.m.at the FCT’s
Rizal Hall on Parliament Street.

The 19 contestants who signed up are: Category 1 (7-16)–Amanda Assensoh-Bediako, Marie Joe Lacson, Anna Kristine David, Jasmine Ragual, Micki Reyes, Julius Rafael Valdez and Alyssa Grace Salamat. Category 2 (17-39)–Emmanuel Abraham, Jr., Harvey Alcaraz, Teddy Marasigan, Bobbikins Reyes, Imelda Torres, Marlon Cunanan and Jason Dimaculangan. Category 3 (40+)–Leonisa Aliko, Jess Carlos, Bobby de la Cruz, Trifee Miago and Vicente Sanosa.

Finals will be at the Pistahan on June 12 at Nathan Phillips Square

Reminder:

The seminar on breast cancer will be held on May 2, 2004 at the Rizal Hall from 2 to 4 p.m.

Singing artists thrill fans

Recently, the Filipino Centre has been the scene of the personal appearances of a popular Filipino sing ing group and a popular singing idol.

Before their fully booked concert at the International Centre last April 17, the Apo Hiking Society trio Danny Javier, Jim Paredes and Boboy Garovillo showed up at the Rizal Hall to greet their fans, pose for pictures and sign autographs.

The following week, songbird Regine Velasquez and songwriter Ogie Alcasid also dropped in to be welcomed by a horde of fans all a-twitter for a photo shoot with the pair. Running late for their next engagement, they had to skip the snacks set up for them.

A busy weekend at the FCT

There were so many things going on at Centre the whole day last Saturday, the 24th of April.
In the Ottawa Room, a CPR class was being shown some life-saving techniques by a Platinum Care instructress. Over at the Rizal Hall, Odie Arena was teaching some cotillion steps to a young group for Rosanne Faye Kagaoan’s forthcoming debut.

By the designated library, Mary Ann San Juan and three other tutors, Gilda Giron, Marjorie and Myra Cabral, were huddled with five of their young students over books and homework. Help for students having problems with reading and comprehension is given here every Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, the Filipino Parents Association group had to wait in the FCT office for their turn to use the Ottawa Room for a meeting.

And after the cotillion practice, the Rizal Hall had to be set up for the second part of the Workshop for Newcomers to Canada as Mary Ann San Juan, who chaired it, hastily changed her casual wear to something more businesslike.

Interesting speakers at the workshop were Jody Huang, Community Relations Officer at the Toronto Catholic District School Board, who spoke about the Ontario Education System; Vice-Consul Indira Banares, who spoke about the overseas Filipinos’ obligation to the Philippine Government, and immigration lawyer Eugenia Capillaro, whose topic was on Canadian immigration and citizenship.
Many newcomers present were caregivers. One of them said that she was fortunate to have been able to attend this seminar as what she learned this day was beneficial to her status in Canada.

(PRESS RELEASE)