PH Consulate General and Professional Orgs Spearhead First Filipino-Canadian Professionals’ Convention in Ontario  

Clockwise : Officers of the Filipino-Canadian Professionals Organizations with Consul General Orontes V. Castro (center) pose for a group picture during the Convention; Consul General Orontes V. Castro,Vaughan Mayor-elect Steven Del Duca, Vaughan Councillor Gino Rosati, PRC Chairperson Charito A. Zamora, MPP David Smith and CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III delivering their  remarks. (Photos from Toronto PCG)

TORONTO, 21 November 2022 - The First Filipino-Canadian Professionals’ Convention in Ontario was held on 27 October 2022 at the auditorium of the Improve Canada Mall, in Ontario.

The Convention was organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Ontario, in partnership with the Association of Filipino Canadian Accountants (AFCA); Association of Filipino Canadian Engineers (AFCE); Filipino Construction Professionals of Ontario (FilConPro); Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association (IFCNA); Philippine Teachers Association of Canada (PTAC); United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Ontario Canada Chapter; Society of Physiotherapists with Foreign Credentials (SPFC); The Filipino Canadian Dental Hygienists’ Society (FCDHS); Peace Officers Living in Canada Integrated Association (POLICIA); and Filipino Canadian Realtors Association (FILCREA).

With the theme “Integrating Filipino Professionals in Canada”, the Convention  intends to facilitate information dissemination and sharing of best practices on getting a license and to fully practice their respective professions in Canada.

Consul General Orontes V. Castro, Hon. Gino Rosati, Local and Regional Councillor, City of Vaughan; and Hon. Steven Del Duca, Mayor-elect, City of Vaughan gave welcome remarks during the opening program.

Among the Special Guests was Hon. David Smith, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development. In his remarks, Hon. Smith highlighted the efforts of Ontario Province to have a clear path for accreditation for internationally-trained professionals, which included removal of the Canadian work experience requirement and reducing language testing requirements. He said that the Province will continue to work closely with the Philippines on the concerns of Filipino workers.

Hon. Charito A. Zamora, Chairperson, Professional Regulation Commission, gave a recorded message where she noted  that the Convention is in line with the thrust of the PRC to have the credentials of Filipino professionals be accredited in the global market. As such, she looks forward to the discussions and outcome of the Convention. Also present was Hon. J. Prospero de Vera III, Chairman, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) who noted that Canada has become a destination of choice for many Filipinos. As such, CHED, in line also with the instructions of President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr., is undertaking reforms on higher education to assist Filipinos working and living all over the world in the recognition of their educational credentials and qualifications.

The second part of the program was the breakout sessions of the different professional organizations to discuss issues and concerns on the accreditation of academic credentials and experience earned in the Philippines; and recommended forward actions. After the breakout sessions, the different groups reconvened for the plenary session during which the Presidents of the professional groups gave their reports.

The highlight of the Convention was the signing of a Resolution by the Presidents of the organization to continue coordination, especially in the implementation of the recommendations; and to hold the Convention on an annual basis to serve as a platform for discussion and policy formulation on the issues and concerns of Filipino professionals in Ontario.

Around 200 Filipino professionals, members of the Consular Corps of Toronto and students attended the event.

For more information, visit https://www.philcongen-toronto.com/  and   https://web.facebook.com/PHinToronto END

Top left:   Consul General Orontes V. Castro signing the Convention Resolution as witness;  Top right : (From L to R): Mr. Daniel Yoon of Centennial College, Vaughan Councillor Gino Rosati, Consul General Orontes V. Castro, MPP David Smith, Vaughan Mayor-elect Steven Del Duca, Consul General Dyah Lestari Asmarani of Indonesia and Honorary Consul Mr. Leong Bee Lee of Malaysia; Participants during the convention and the breakout sessions. (Photos from  Toronto PCG)