6 GTA Fil-Cans receive Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Pins

6 GTA Fil-Cans receive Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Pins

Filipino-Canadian Honourees posed with MP Marco Mendicino. Front: Ella Miranda (on behalf of Agnes Miranda), Tony San Juan and Norma Carpio. Back, from left: Tess Torralba, Melinda Manlapaz, Maria Guiao and MP Marco Mendicino. (PHOTO: Mon Torralba)

By Tony A. San Juan, OCT.

On the occasion marking the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne, several Canadians including six Filipino-Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area( GTA), Ontario, were awarded the Platinum Jubilee Pin of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. The Queen, before her death on September 8, 2022, is Canada’s longest-reigning Sovereign and the first to celebrate a platinum jubilee. She was Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms.

Among the Filipino Canadian leaders and advocates who received the Platinum Jubilee Pins is Norma Carpio of Mabuhay Philippines-PIDC, Maria Guiao of Filipino Canadian Community House, Melinda Manlapaz of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Agnes Miranda of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Tony A. San Juan of the Filipino Heritage Council of Canada, and Teresa Torralba of the Filipinos Making Waves Newspaper. The recipients were cited and commended “for contributions and dedication to the community of Eglinton-Lawrence, extraordinary leadership, altruism, and strong dedication to helping others in the community.”

The Honourable Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Eglinton- Lawrence Marco Mendicino, who aptly presided over the ceremonies, presented the Platinum Jubilee Pins and the MP’s Recognition Certificates to each of the honourees on November 20, 2022, at the Columbus Centre, Lawrence Avenue West, North York, Toronto, Ontario. He was ably assisted by his constituency staff.

In his address, Honorable M. Mendicino proudly expressed his congratulations and appreciation to the honourees and their families for “contributing so much” to helping the members of the community and for their extraordinary service in building a progressive community through their exemplary professional responsibilities, business activities, and volunteer work. MP M. Mendicino cited these “qualities of service as values and beliefs” for which Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II lovingly “desired and advocated for” in Her lifetime.

The awardees were accompanied by their respective spouses, partners, relatives, and friends who were equally happy and delighted during the 2- hour early afternoon recognition rites. Afterwhich hors d’oeuvres and light refreshments were served to the honourees, guests, and attendees.