PH Consulate General in Toronto Honors Filipino-Canadians Behind First Full-Size Statue of Dr. Jose Rizal in Canada

Philippine Consul General to Toronto Orontes V. Castro (rightmost), presents a Certificate of Appreciation to sculptor Mr. Ignacio “Mogi” Mogado (center) with Sir Jimmy Marasigan (leftmost), KGOR, Knights of Rizal Canada Region on 26 June 2020 (Toronto PCG photo)

TORONTO 13 July 2020 – Philippine Consul General to Toronto Orontes V. Castro, together with the Consulate General officials, paid tribute to two prominent Filipino-Canadians who made significant contributions in promoting Filipino culture and identity and providing assistance to Filipino nationals in Markham City.

Consul General Castro presented certificates of appreciation to Ignacio “Mogi” Mogado, sculptor, and to former Markham City Councillor Alex Chiu at a ceremony held in former City Councillor Chiu’s residence in Markham City on 26 June 2020. 

Mr. Mogado created the six-feet-tall bronze statue of Dr. Rizal, now standing at the Luneta Gardens, Boxgrove Community Park in Markham City.

As Councillor of Markham City for 33 years and leader of various organizations, former City Councillor Chiu organized and directed numerous programs and activities that made Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians proud of their heritage. He led the naming of Rizal Avenue, Manila Avenue and Luzon Avenue in Markham City, in honor of the national hero of the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rizal, the Capital City of the Philippines, Manila, and the largest and most populous island in the Philippines, Luzon, respectively. He was responsible for raising funds to install the life-size statue of Dr. Rizal at the Luneta Gardens, Markham City.  He also assisted in establishing a “Rainbow Center” in the city to address the concerns of Filipino household service workers as early as 1987.

Former City Councillor Chiu and Mr. Mogado are both Knights Commander of Rizal of the Knights of Rizal (KOR) Markham Chapter.

The event was also attended by Deputy Consul General Edna May Lazaro, Consul Edwin Gil Mendoza, Cultural Officer Cecile Santos, former City Councillor Chiu’s wife, Alicia, and daughter, Cherry-Marie, Regional Commander of the KOR Canada Region Sir Jose “Joe” Damasco, KGOR, Adviser of KOR Canada Region Sir Jimmy Marasigan, KGOR and President of the Markham Federation of Filipino-Canadians Yolanda Ladines. END

Philippine Consul General Orontes V. Castro (second from left) presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Alex Chiu (leftmost), former Councillor of Markham City, Ontario with Deputy Consul General Edna May Lazaro (second from right) and Yolanda Ladines, President of the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians (MFFC) (rightmost). (Toronto PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.torontopcg.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philcongen-toronto.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinToronto/.