29 August 2014 – A weekend of Filipino street-style festivals drew Toronto’s biggest crowd, capping the city’s summer festival.
“A Taste of Manila” successfully took place from August 23 and 24 at Bathurst and Wilson Streets, which has a large concentration of Filipino residents and business establishments. The inaugural event also saw an overflow of peoples from Toronto’s multicultural population.
Two full days of street-style foods: the distinctive aroma of Pinoy-style barbeque, “isaw”, grilled corn, fishballs, squidballs, among others filled the air, inviting passers-by and bus-riders alike to step inside the cordoned areas of the venue and sample these delicacies.
Young children of Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians took turns at “palo sebo”, going up the oiled bamboo pole for a CAD50 prize catch at the top. Younger kids jumped up to pull down a “pabitin” filled with cookies and candies. The “longest boodle fight” participated in by 200 people was also made in an attempt to gain Guinness world record on the same.
A mini-concert featuring local performing artists including Toronto’s compleat performer Josie de Leon, culminated in the performance of Filipino actor Gerald Anderson, wowing the audience who became unmindful of the days’ hot and humid weather.
A rousing parade led by Toronto’s Bikers’ group with a marching band from the Philippine Heritage Band as well as a colorful presentation by the METINEB Cordillera Performing Group officially opened and kick-started the festival. Also in the parade were members of the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation and the Canadian Multicultural Council – Asia Pacific Group Toronto.
The concept of “Taste of Manila” was initiated by former Philippine Consul General and now Philippine Ambassador to Russia Alejandro Mosquera, picked up by his successor Consul General Pedro Chan, and formally finalized this year.
The organizers who saw their hard work bear fruit are the Board of Directors of the Philippine Cultural Community Center headed by its President Rolando Mangante.
The Consulate General team led by Philippine Consul General Junever M. Mahilum-West took the occasion to disseminate information and promote its projects on “Winter Escapade 2, It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” dual citizenship program, and the on-going voters registration for overseas Filipinos.
Thirty (30) Filipino-Canadians reacquired their Philippine citizenship and took their oaths during the event.
Meanwhile, overseas voters registration gathered a total of 97 registrants during the two-day festivities.
Former Philippine Ambassador to Canada, Leslie B. Gatan and Philippine Consul General in Ottawa Eric Gerardo Tamayo were also present. Overwhelmed by what he saw as a highly successful Filipino event, former Ambassador Gatan gave it the monicker, “Little Manila”, which phrase was initially mentioned by Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Adler. Consul General Tamayo, on the other hand, complimented the organizers for a highly successful festival that captured the Philippines’ best in food, music and games.
On hand to lend their presence and support at this huge gathering were Senator and Mrs. Tobias Enverga, Jr., MP Mark Adler, Toronto City Mayor Rob Ford, Councillor James Pasternak, Mayoral candidates Olivia Chow and John Tory, MP candidate Michael Levitt and other political leaders. END