(Clockwise) Binhi ng Lahi performers in their Cordillera suite, Maria Clara suite, Rural suite, and Muslim suite.

2 September  2020, Calgary – Philippine Consul General to Calgary Zaldy Patron congratulated Calgary-based cultural group Binhi ng Lahi Philippine Folk Dance Troupe for successfully staging its first-ever Online Dance Recital on 29 August 2020.

Composed of first-, second- and third-generation Filipino-Canadians, Binhi ng Lahi was formed in November 2017 in Calgary by Mr. Noel Lloren and Mr. Allan Lomboy, both products of the renowned Philippine-based Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group. Binhi ng Lahi aims to share with the Calgarians the Filipino culture and heritage through dance performances.

Dressed up in beautiful and colorful costumes and displaying their graceful dance skills, Binhi ng Lahi performers showcased 17 Philippine folk dances in four suites during their two-hour online dance recital.

Binhi ng Lahi’s Cordillera suite featured the folk dances Ragragsakan and Ngilin, both from Lubuagan, Kalinga Province; Idudu from Abra Province; and Uya-Oy from Mayaoyao, Ifugao Province.

Turning into Maria Clara suite, the group demonstrated the folk dances Lanceros de Negros from Silay, Negros Occidental; Estudiantina and Polkabal both from Atimonan, Quezon; Jota Quirino from Quirino Province; and Habanera Botolena from Botolan, Zambales.

For the Muslim suite, the group presented the folk dances Kinakulangan from Marawi, Lanao del Sur; Janggay and Sua Ku Sua, both from Sulu; Asik from Lanao del Sur; and Singkil from Lake Lanao, Lanao del Sur.

Lastly, the group performed the Rural suite folk dances Maglalatik from Binan, Laguna, Binasuan from Pangasinan, and Pandanggo sa Ilaw from Lubang Islang, Mindoro.

Binhi ng Lahi prepared for over a year for this full-length repertoire of Filipino folk dances.

In his video message during the event, Consul General Patron paid tribute to the men and women who worked hard to make the Binhi ng Lahi and its dance recital a reality. He thanked them for their passion and love for Philippine culture. END.

Consul General Zaldy Patron (right) and Mayor Peter Brown (left) exchanged gifts after their meeting.

30 September  2020, Calgary – Philippine Consul General to Calgary Zaldy Patron paid a courtesy call on Mayor Peter Brown of the City of Airdrie, Alberta, on 28 September 2020. 

During their meeting, Consul General Patron noted the growing Filipino population in Airdrie.  He cited the 2016 Canada Census showing that the city had a Filipino population of 1,560 (2.5%) out of a total population of 61,581. Consul General Patron then shared his observation that some Filipinos have worked and transferred to Airdrie since then due to the city’s growing economy and the availability of more affordable housing projects.

Mayor Brown, who has been Airdrie’s mayor since 2010, expressed the city’s welcoming attitude for the Filipinos, whom he described as family-oriented and hardworking.

Consul General Patron and Mayor Brown discussed potential cultural projects in Airdrie in partnership with the Filipino community in Airdrie.

(L-R) Ms. Leona Esau, Mr. Clay Aragón, Mr. Ben Ang, Mayor Peter Brown, Consul General Zaldy Patron, Mr. Dalmacio Martin, Jr., and Mr. Mark Quintin.

Joining the meeting were Mr. Dalmacio Martin, Jr., President of the Filipino Association of Airdrie; Mr. Mark Quintin, Filipino-Canadian businessman and realtor with residence and office in Airdrie; Mr. Benjamin Ang, Filipino-Canadian Founder and Owner of Solid Industries & Machine Shop Ltd., a company based in Calgary; Mr. Clay Aragón, Manager, Recreation for Culture and Social Planning of Airdrie; and Ms. Leona Esau, the city’s Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison.  END.

SSS-Calgary Representative Rhea Balicas-Biggs and Pag-Ibig Fund-Toronto Representative Elizabeth Borres gave presentations about their agencies’ services.

18 December 2020, Calgary – The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Calgary hosted a webinar on 16 December 2020 to brief the members of the Social Security System (SSS) and Pag-Ibig Fund who are now living in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, about the services of these two Philippine government agencies that have presence in Canada.

SSS-Calgary Representative Rhea Balicas-Biggs and Pag-Ibig Fund-Toronto Representative Elizabeth Borres, the webinar’s main resource persons, explained their respective agencies’ membership, programs and services. The two Representatives assured the SSS and Pag-Ibig Fund members who are now living in Canada or have become naturalized Canadians that their contributions in SSS and Pag-Ibig Fund remain intact.  They clarified that SSS and Pag-Ibig Fund members in Canada could choose to continue their contributions and apply for benefits. Members were also encouraged to use the online services of the SSS and Pag-Ibig Fund.

In his welcome remarks, Consul General Zaldy Patron said that the PCG decided to host the webinar knowing that many of the estimated 210,000 Filipino-Canadians in Alberta and Saskatchewan had contributed or are still contributing to the SSS and Pag-Ibig Fund.  “We would like them to become more informed on how they could still enjoy the two agencies’ services while they are in Canada” he added.

Consul General Patron further explained that the webinar was the fourth and the last one this year under the PCG’s Online Forum Education Series.

The PCG first hosted a virtual forum on 19 June featuring Dr. Glenda Bonifacio, the first Filipino-Canadian full professor in the University of Lethbridge, who talked about her book “Pinay on the Prairies” and her other writings about the Filipinos in Canada.

This was followed by a webinar on “Understanding Mental Health Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic” on 31 July where Dr. Daisy Ann Jabido-Artuz, Filipino-Canadian Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Alberta Health Services, served as the resource person.

The PCG held its third webinar on 7 August for the Filipino foreign temporary workers about the services of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. END.