November 5th, 2023 | Posted by fcav in News Updates - (Comments Off on 26th Anniversary of Twinning between the City of Vaughan and Baguio)
Celebrating the 26th Anniversary of Twinning
The Filipino-Canadian Association of Vaughan (FCAV) celebrated the 26th Anniversary of Twinning between the City of Vaughan (Canada) and Baguio City (Philippines) on Saturday October 28, 2023. The event took place at Patricia Kemp Community Centre, 7894 Dufferin St, Vaughan, ON. Canada,
FCAV members and friends were joined by special guests: Members of Council – Deputy Mayor Linda Jackson, Regional Councilor (RC) Mario Racco, and Councillor Gila Martow; MPP Laura Smith for Thornhill, and Kerwin Tate, Deputy Consul General (DCG), Toronto.
In her greetings, Deputy Mayor Jackson talked about the significance of the Twinning signed by her mother, late Mayor Lorna Jackson and former Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan in October 1997. RC Mario Racco, and Councillor Gila Martow also delivered impressive messages. MPP Laura Smith and DCG Kerwin Tate offered beautiful speeches that highlighted the memorable relationship between Baguio and Vaughan.
A message from Baguio City Mayor Magalong was read by Johnson Aben, FCAV BOD. In his message, Mayor Magalong talked about cultural exchanges, educational opportunities, and economic cooperation that exist between the two cities. He expressed gratitude to the citizens of Vaughan for their unwavering friendship. He hopes that the twinning partnership between Baguio City and Vaughan will continue to thrive and flourish for many more years to come.
The entertainment included Indigenous Cultural Dance, Fitness Martial Arts, Folk Dance, and dance for all. It was an enjoyable and memorable 26th Anniversary of Twinning celebration.
Thanks to the amazing Emcees: Kristianne Pascual, Gizele Mirasol, Philip Beloso, and all other Emcees, technical directors and staff, participants, vendors, sponsors, etc. who made VFE 2023 a great success!
June 27th, 2023 | Posted by fcav in News Updates - (Comments Off on Celebrating 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence)
The 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence was celebrated in the City of Vaughan on Sunday, June 11, 2023 with Consul Rodney Sumague, Philippine Consulate Toronto; Mayor Steven Del Duca and Members of Council ((Regional Councillors: Linda Jackson, Mario Ferri, Gino Rosati, Mario Racco ); Councillors: Adriano Volpentesta, Rosanna De Francesca, Chris Ainsworth, Gila Martow)); MPs: Melissa Lantsman, Thornhill; Francesco Sorbara, Vaughan-Woodbridge; Anna Roberts, King-Vaughan; Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education and MPP King-Vaughan; Laura Smith MPP, Thornhill; Community Associations and their presidents/leaders: PHB, MCBN / Pinoy Radio, Solid Rock Indigenous, BIBAAK, Arnis Group, Mabuhay Lions Club, Scarborough Federation of Filipino Canadians, Filipino Canadian Assn of Vaughan, Balita, and the Filipino community at large. The celebration was Emceed by Kristianne Pascual and Von Canton of MCBN / Pinoy Radio.
The City of Vaughan shares a unique bond with a city in the Philippines.
North of Manila, there is a city in the mountainous region of Cordillera called Baguio that shares a kindred spirit with Vaughan’s population.
The city of Baguio’s ties with Vaughan are what is called a twin-city or friendship agreement between two cities of roughly the same population.
Baguio was picked to twin Vaughan due to its population, industry, transportation and communication.
The friendship agreement or “twin-city” main objective was to promote social, cultural and educational exchanges as well as economic opportunities.
A highly urbanized city, the city of Baguio has six universities and is an attraction for locals and international travellers alike.
Speaking with local Vaughan resident and president of the Filipino-Canadian Association of Vaughan Erlinda Insigne, the Vaughan Citizen explored this relationship.
“It means a lot to us because it actually brings Filipinos closer to each other, knowing that the city of Vaughan is a sister city with the Philippines,” said Insigne. “Many Filipinos come here to Canada, if they know or they hear that the city of Vaughan is a sister city of one of the cities in the Philippines. Nevermind Baguio. They come here to live.”
At the end of May, city councillors from Vaughan are expected to pay a visit to the locale.
In 2022, the City of Vaughan and Baguio celebrated 25 years of being twin cities.
“The friendship is the first of its kind between the government of the Philippines and Canada in the province of Ontario,” said Insigne.
According to the 2021 census data for the City of Vaughan, Filipino people account for nearly two per cent of the visible minorities in the City of Vaughan.
“I have had a close relationship with the Filipino community in Vaughan for over a decade when we worked together to help achieve a long-term lease for the Patricia Kemp Community Centre, which hosts the FCAV (Filipino Canadian Association of Vaughan) on Dufferin St. just north of Centre St,” said local city councillor Gila Martow, who will be attending the trip to Baguio the last week of May.
“The City of Vaughan is keen to build on the positive relationship our cities have shared over the past 25 years,” added Martow.
November 9th, 2022 | Posted by fcav in News Updates | Twin City - (Comments Off on Come to the 25th Anniversary of the Friendship Agreement between the City of Vaughan & Baguio City)
The Filipino-Canadian Association of Vaughan (FCAV) will be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Twinning between the City of Vaughan (Canada) and Baguio City (Philippines). The event will take place at Hazelton Manor, 99 Peeler Road, Vaughan, ON., Canada on Sat., Nov. 19,2022, starting at 6:00 p.m. There will be a program, food, music, & entertainment. It will be an enjoyable and memorable evening.
The Friendship Agreement then called “twinning initiative” started on November 26, 1994 at the Association’s Christmas party. Mrs. Maria Alvero, then Trade Commissioner, was the guest speaker and she spoke about trade and investments opportunities and expressed the Philippines’ interest in strengthening cultural and economic ties between the Philippines and Canada. Her Worship, Mayor Lorna Jackson, was also at the party and she responded that the City of Vaughan is also interested in strengthening ties with cities in other countries, particularly those whose people have chosen Vaughan in which to live. Erlinda, president, Filipino Canadian Association of Vaughan (FCAV) pursued the twinning initiative and asked FCAV members to research for an ideal city following the criteria set forth by the Economic Development of Vaughan. The criteria included population, industry, transportation and communication. The city that best fitted the criteria was Baguio City, hence it was selected in May 1995.
Baguio City Councillor Virgilio Bautista visited the City of Vaughan and held an exploratory talk with Mayor Jackson and Vaughan Council in June 1996.
In November 1996, Baguio City Council passed Resolution #410 establishing a Sisterhood Relationship between Baguio City and the City of Vaughan.
Erlinda Insigne traveled to Baguio City and paid a courtesy call to Mayor Domogan and the Baguio City Council in December 1996. At that time, Mayor Domogan invited Vaughan Mayor Jackson to visit Baguio City.
On February 24, 1997, the FCAV, Erlinda Insigne, along with Consul General Santos of the Philippine Consulate and other Vaughan Filipino Associations, appeared before Vaughan Council and after questions and answers, a motion was unanimously approved to establish a
Friendship Agreement between Baguio City, Philippines and the City of Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. Consequently, Consul General Santos issued a press release.
On April 25, 1997, Vaughan Mayor Jackson and party traveled to Baguio City to sign the Friendship Agreement with Baguio Mayor Domogan. The signing was held at The Mansion House, summer home the Philippine president.
On October 30, 1997, Baguio City Mayor Domogan and party traveled to the City of Vaughan to sign the Friendship Agreement with Vaughan Mayor Jackson.
The “Friendship Agreement” otherwise called “Twinning” between the City of Vaughan, Canada and Baguio City, Philippines was the 1st Friendship Agreement between the governments of the Philippines and Canada in the province of Ontario. Its objective was to promote social, cultural and educational exchanges and economic opportunity between the two cities. The FilipinoCanadian Association of Vaughan (FCAV) is very proud to have been the catalyst for this historical achievement.
Since then and for the last 25 years, there have been official visits; educational student exchanges; participation in centennial celebration of Baguio City; yearly celebration of Philippine Independence in Vaughan known as Filipino Day; construction of the Twin City Monument Sign
in Baguio City; Sister City sign in Vaughan; Vaughan Fiesta Extravaganza to celebrate Filipino heritage; granting of a 20-year lease of Patricia Kemp Community Centre to FCAV; display of Baguio City products in Vaughan and the Philippine Canadian Friendship Parkette to mention a mention a few. Hopefully an MOU will be signed between University of Baguio and University of Niagara Ontario during Silver Anniversary of Twinning.
This year, in coordination with the Philippine Consulate in Toronto and City of Vaughan, FCAV will be celebrating the 25 years of Twinning. This is a significant and remarkable event to reflect the achievements of Twinning for the last 25 years. Consul General Orontes Castro of the
Philippine Consulate in Toronto pointed out that only few Twinning in Canada lasted 25 years.
June 18th, 2020 | Posted by fcav in News Updates - (Comments Off on Beautifying the Philippine Friendship Parkette)
This was the picture of the Friendship Parkette last year (2020).
We have received a grant to beautify the Philippine Friendship Parkette from the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). The aim of our project is to support our seniors by promoting socialization, mental health and physical health through gardening the area which includes planting flowers, shrubs, vegetables near the Friendship Parkette Sign. This grant also includes line dancing and Zumba exercises which gets seniors moving in a fun way.
Due to COVID-19, we had to post-pone the start of the project to June 15 2020. We had a maximum of five volunteers, at a given time, due to the restrictions and guidelines recommended by health officials.We also had safety measures in place such as mandatory masks, gloves, and a physical distance of at least two metres between each individual.
We have purchased and received donations in the form of shrubs, flowers, a handful of vegetables and other plants to beautify the friendship parkette and its’ surroundings. We have also created a small vegetable garden that will help get out seniors active and engaged.
We would like to thank Frank Miele, and Jackie Cristini who spearheaded the beautification of the Philippine Friendship Parkette. Likewise we would like to thank FCAV volunteers like Tony I, Gary G, Joel M, Sonny M, Atilla M, Gloria D, Pastor Nars Tuyading and his crew from the Maple Baptist Church. In addition we would like to thank Giselle Mirasol, who donated $100 for the project.
November 2nd, 2019 | Posted by fcav in News Updates - (Comments Off on 22nd Anniversary of Twinning)
The 22nd Anniversary of Twinning between the City of Vaughan and Baguio City was celebrated on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at Patricia Kemp Community Centre, 7894 Dufferin St., Vaughan, Ontario, Canada.
In October 30, 1997, “Twinning” otherwise called “Friendship Agreement” between the City of Vaughan, Canada and Baguio City, Philippines was signed. This inception marked the 1<sup>st</sup> Friendship Agreement between the governments of the Philippines and Canada in the province of Ontario. Its objective was to promote social, cultural and educational exchanges and economic opportunity between the two cities. The Filipino- Canadian Association of Vaughan or FCAV is very proud to have been the catalyst for this historical achievement.
Since then, there have been official visits; educational student exchanges; participation in centennial celebration of Baguio City; yearly celebration of Philippine Independence in Vaughan known as Filipino Day; construction of the Twin City Monument Sign in Baguio City; Vaughan Fiesta Extravaganza to celebrate Filipino heritage and the granting of a 20-year lease of Patricia Kemp Community Centre to the Filipino-Canadian Association of Vaughan by the City in October 2012.
FCAV is grateful to Mayor Bevilacqua and Members of Council, Hon. Peter Kent, MP for Thornhill, Hon. Michael Tibollo, MPP for Vaughan-Woodbridge; Deb Schulte, MP for King-Vaughan; Francesco Sorbara, MP for Vaughan-Woodbridge, Gila Martow, MPP for Thornhill for their support.
As well, FCAV is thankful for the support of the Philippine Consulate headed by the Hon. Orontes Castro who attended the event.
Likewise, FCAV is indebted to its officers, members and advisers, especially Professor Frank Miele, whose hard work and dedication throughout the years made the momentous occasion possible.
The program was emceed by Von Canton, CEO of Media Group /Pinoy Radio. Entertainment included a cultural dance by the Solid Rock Indigenous; Filipino martial arts by instructor Gary, PUNITE; line dancing by FCAV seniors and Zumba headed by instructor, Aurora Laurel. The DJ was Ryan Orlanda, host of Pinoy Radio.
The 22nd Anniversary of Twinning was indeed a remarkable event.
Philippines Consulate General Hon. Orontes Castro and Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
FCAV Officers with Linda Jackson and Dignitaries
MP for Thornhill, Hon. Michael Tibollo, Councilor Gino Rosati and Dignitaries
MC Von Canton of Pinoy Radio
PHB President, MP Michael Tibollo, FCAV President, Hon. Orontes Castro, Deputy Mayor Ferri, Tony Insigne
Zumba instructor Aurora Halili (2nd from left) and Seniors Line Dancers
Zumba Dancers
Guro Gary Garduce (center) with Punite Martial Arts Students
