Toronto preps up for Taste of Manila II, August 22 to 23

Toronto preps up for Taste of Manila II, August 22 to 23

PHOTO: ARIEL RAMOS

From August 22 to 23, at least a kilometer of the Bathurst-Wilson northward stretch will host the Taste of Manila, the biggest free and open street summer festival of a growing and resilient Filipino-Canadian community in Toronto.

Following a spectacular first edition last year, the Taste of Manila reasserts itself as among the city of Toronto’s biggest street festivals, notably the Taste of Toronto in Fort York, the Greek’s Taste of the Danforth and several others.

This year’s Taste of Manila will unfold in time with the City of Toronto’s official declaration of the Bathurst-Wilson area as Little Manila.

Philippine Community Cultural Center (Philcomcentre) chair Rolly Mangante expects the 2015 Taste of Manila to be bigger and more fun.

Mangante says the city government has graciously allotted Philcomcentre, the group that oversees the Taste of Manila, more street spaces along with a special lane for emergency purposes.

The Bathurst-Wilson area will become a giant hub of Filipino-Canadian social, cultural and culinary excellence, a wide area where Torontonians and their neighbors may savor Filipino food, buy Filipino products, play Filipino games, watch entertainment shows headlined by Filipinos and enjoy other street festival surprises.

Mangante estimates some 50,000 Taste of Manila street festival goers, some of them coming from other parts of Canada and the USA.

He says Philcomcentre aims to highlight the diverse yet equally unique culture of the Filipino people who come from more than 7,100 islands comprising the Philippines.

Besides preparing for the yearly Taste of Manila, Philcomcentre engages itself in multidisciplinary activities focused on fostering culture awareness among the youth, including heritage and history of their country of origin.

It holds trainings and seminars on responsible citizenship and on integration within the Canadian milieu.

Beyond the shores of Canada, the Philcomcentre has sent help to Filipino communities beset by natural calamities in the Philippines.

The Philcomcentre, says Mangante, is an organization that has a long-term vision of achieving community unity and togetherness.

Thus, the Taste of Manila has evolved into a vehicle for camaraderie and family togetherness, while at the same time providing a wholesome activity, for the Filipino-Canadians, the mainstream and other groups that make up Toronto’s mosaic.

The Taste of Manila provides a glimpse of the Philippines, its people, its rich history and its important role in the community of nations, adds Joseph Franco, Philcomcentre spokesperson.

(PRESS RELEASE)