Filipinos in Toronto, Canada, celebrated the 114^th Philippine Independence Day with a successful 2-day Pistahan held at Nathan Phillips Square by the Filipino Centre Toronto, June 9 and 10.

The anticipated rain on the first day never came.  Much to everyone’s relief, the sun came out.  On the second day, however, the temperature rose to 32˚C.  Hundreds of Pistahan revelers braved the blistering afternoon sun while watching the afternoon shows.  Some of them took shelter under umbrellas.  Others scurried over to shaded areas and the cool frontage of the Toronto City Hall. While others happily sipped the most sold Filipino drink that day, the buko pandan, according to Mel Galeon of FV Foods.

Toronto’s new Consul General Junever Mahilum-West delivered the opening speech. She hailed FCT for its programs on Philippine culture and the arts as she rallied Filipinos in Toronto to fully support such programs. The San Lorenzo Ruiz Choir’s beautifully blended voices filled the festive air as more and more people arrived to join in the celebration. 

Proud to be Filipino, many pinoys showed up wearing the colours of the Philippine flag. There were brisk sales of similar t-shirts in the souvenir booths.

There was non-stop entertainment galore on stage.  Even the Lechon Parade walked across the stage, the volunteers each carrying a lechon on their shoulders to be dropped off at the lechon booth. Everyone had the chance to sample a portion of the lechon.

With the lively dynamic duo of Arnel Caballes and Alma Ramos as emcees, the audience had a delightful time. They were entertained by different dance groups. There was interesting demonstration of the Martial Arts, while the bands and rondallas drew dancing from the crowd.

There was a lot of singing. The audience never seemed to tire of it. For starters, there was The Karaoke Contest: Winners were Angelique, Samantha, Emeterio, Ben, Denise and Jamie.

There were renditions from talented singers: Adessa Andrada, Teresa Panaligan, Alyssa Datu, Jheo Navarro, Vianne Gaerlan, Edmund Arevalo, Alma Ramos, Marco Raqueño, Vincent Villanueva, Faith Gumahad, Camille Mendoza, Grace Pinlac, Cecile Wood, Angela Apigo, Ruth Morales, Bea Cerbas, Etheline and Fernando Komosing.

The exciting and popular Filipino Singing Idol Grand Finals ended with the following finalists receiving their prizes as announced by FSI Chair Ed Birondo:  Children Category – Elle Delizo, champion; Jheo Navarro, 1^st runner-up; Joseph Pasia, 2^nd runner-up; Teens Category – Jessica Pasia, champion; Nicole Garbanzos, 1^st runner-up; Marlene Tran, 2^nd runner-up; Adults Category – Virgilio Vicente, champion; William Tran, 1^st runner-up; Ina Palis, 2^nd runner-up.

Who wants to win $1,000 or a free plane fare to the Philippines?  Forex’s Kwarta O Kahon game contest, co-hosted by Philip Beloso and Jane Moallem, had dozens of interested participants wearing Forex’s t-shirts running up the stage. The question that quickly crossed out almost all the participants, except one, was: “Who was the brains of the Katipunan?”  Only Leonardo Tan of Scarborough knew the answer – Emilio Jacinto!  But he stopped the game when he accepted the offer of $300.

The finale on Day 1 was Tony Furto’s much talked-about Fashion Show.  His good-looking Body Shot models did justice to the outfits from sportswear to formal and ultimately to the impressive – the Filipino Terno and the Barong Tagalog. 

The Santacruzan was one of the most anticipated features of the Pistahan, in coordination with the organizers of Miss Manila Pageant, the Fiesta Filipina Dance Company, the Philippine Independence Day Council, Ms. Paraluman and the Body Shot Agency, as well as a fashion showcase under the expertise of Tony Furto, designer-couturiere-hairstylist, et al.


Eight young girls in long white dresses, each carrying the AVE MARIA letters and a basket of flowers, led the way.  They were Kianna Chipongian, Lyla Tilo, Kayani Tilo, Alysa Hernaez, Athene Saldua, Jasmine Aquintey, Alexandra Aquintey and Shielda Godoy

They were followed in the procession by 15 beautiful reynas, dressed in gorgeous Philippine ternos - each reyna representing an attribute of the Blessed Mother.  At the rear was the image of the Blessed Mother Mary atop a flowered carroza which was accompanied by the Hermanos and Hermanas Mayor, the family of Julie Almaria and other worshippers.

This year’s Reyna Elena is the reigning Miss Manila, Aura Joy. Reyna Banderada at the head of the group was Joanne Ascueta, PIDC’s Miss Philippines.  Reyna Emperatriz was Julie May Duce, FCT’s 2011 Paraluman. Reyna de las Profetas was Kesiah Papasin, who was the 4^th runner-up in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant. 

Most of the other reynas are currently models or runners-up and/or candidates in some beauty contests.  They were Samantha Oraa, Meghan Garvida, Melissa Barbour, Kathleen Cabillam, Jessica Barbour, Mary Jane Maniacup, Jade Pingol, Danielle Ocampo, Vanessa Saracia, Cerena Masu and Charlene Soliguen.

The entourage slowly wended it way around Nathan Phillips Square - the reynas with their escorts under flowered arches.  At the stage, the FCT president, Linda Javier, narrated the sequence in the procession while the Dios Te Salve hymn was being played over the loudspeakers.  Each reyna was identified as she walked up the stage.  

As a final tribute to the Blessed Mother Mary, the Flores de Mayo girls in white showered flower petals over her until their baskets were empty. It was a fitting ending to a spectacular event – marking the finale of a successful Pistahan.

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine