Mabuhay Cup Basketball Invitational Tournament is one of the major PIDC events of the Mabuhay Summer Festival. The 2012 Mabuhay Tournament wJuly 20, 21 and 21, 2012 at the Hoop Dome, Downsview Park, 75 Carl Hall Rd, Toronto, Ontario. For more information, contact

Vilma Tahsin T: 416 697-7201,  E: vtahsin@deloitte.ca
Bobby San Juan, Roger Tarca and Bobby Villamor

The Philippine independence Day Council annual “Salu-Salo Sa (get together picnic at) Earl Bales” will be held on June 17^th, 2012 at the Earl Bales park located by the Bathurst, South of Sheppard in North York.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend this traditional community picnic that keeps on getting larger each year.

Contact:

Vice Chair : Filomena Ticzon T: 416 560 8433,  E:fticzon@schulich.yorku.ca
Earl Bales Park, Sheppard & Bathurst, Toronto

The Philippine Independence Day Council (“PIDC”) recently held is biennial elections on Sunday, December 4, 2011 at Toronto City Hall. The Induction Gala will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the Garnet A. Williams Community Center, 501 Clark Avenue West, Thornhill, Ontario, L4J 4E5.

The 2012 Officers are:

President:                                                      Norma Carpio
Executive Vice President:                      Michael Aprieto
Vice President-External:                        Genevieve Pardo-Elamparo
Vice President-Internal                          Aurora Elefano
Vice President-Special Projects:         Lilac Cana
Executive Secretary:                               Amy Ada
Assistance Executive Secretary:        Aimie Maravilla
Treasurer:                                                    Ted Dayno
Assistant Treasurer:                                Filomena Ticzon
Auditor:                                                        Buddy Ibe
Press Relations Officer:                          Ben S. Corpuz
Press Relations Officer:                          Karen Pascual-Binaday
Business Manager:                                   Virgilio (Verth) Bugtong
Business Manager:                                    Leone Manzanares
Community Liaison Officer:                 Clyde Pacis
Community Liaison Officer:                 Helen Lao
Board of Director:                                    Rose Cruz
Board of Director:                                    Michael Masangkay
Board of Director:                                    Vilma Tashin
Board of Director:                                    Chyrell Samson
Board of Director:                                    Pete Mauricio
Immediate Past President:                   Minda Neri

Planned events for 2012 include: Miss Philippines PIDC, Little Miss Philippines PIDC, Salu-salo sa Earl Bales Park, Independence Day Volleyball Cup, the Philippine Independence Day Ball, Mabuhay Cup Invitational Basketball Tournament, and, the Mabuhay Festival and Trade Show.

Mark your calendar. PIDC Mabuhay Festival is coming on July 28, 2012 the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Hall D. Preparation have started for a bigger and better festival. PIDC’s current set of officers, consists of young Filipino-Canadians like Lilac Cana, Mike Aprieto, Michael Masangkay and Chyrell Samson, to name a few, will infuse new and exciting   activities. We are inviting Exhibitors. Call in early to reap the benefits of advertising and promotion.

For inquiries please call Minda at 416 621-4985 or email to vox999@gmail.com.

For sponsors, please call Michael Aprieto at 416 407-6453 or email to yah407mike@yahoo.com.

Interested participants for Miss Philippines PIDC must have the following qualifications:

1. Must be of Filipino descent or at least 50% Filipino ancestry
2. Must be between the ages of 15 and 24 years old on the year of the event
3. Must be with talent
4. Must be single, never married and have no offspring
5. Must be of good moral character
6. Must have a pleasing personality

Interested participants for Little Miss Philippines PIDC must have the following qualifications:

1. Must be of Filipino descent or at least 50% Filipino ancestry
2. Must between the ages of 4 and 11 years old on the year of the event
3. Must be with talent

Obtain an application form to join  contact any of the following Pageant Committee members:

Pageant Chair Aurora Elefano at (416) 733-7818 or (416) 357-4174 or email at aelefano@yahoo.com
Gene Elamparo at (905) 606-1000 extension 50450
Helen Lao at (905) 824-2191 or (416) 473 1968
Jennifer Sy at (905) 940-3766 or (647) 403 8887

The time is now to join the event of a lifetime!!

Main Stage Entertainment

10:00 a.m. Mass

11:15 a.m. National Anthem and Opening Ceremonies

12:00 noon Santacruzan

Santacruzan – a long standing tradition in the Philippines commemorating Queen Helena’s voyage in search of the cross of Jesus. A procession of sagalas will grace the hall accompanied by their entourage with the Reyna Elena, the reigning Miss Philippines PIDC, holding the cross .

1:45 p.m. Culture Philippines of Ontario Dance Company

Culture Philippines of Ontario (“CPO”) has been the host of the Philippine pavilion at Carassauga and Filipino Day at Canada’s Wonderland. They will be joined by world-renowned singer Lilac Caña for their performance.

2:45 p.m. “Romantic Philippines”

“Romantic Philippines” – a presentation showcasing the Philippines not only as a vacation destination but also as a wedding destination through fashion using indigenous materials. Featuring the Ambassador of Philippine Fashion Renee Salud, Hewlett-Packard’s 2007 Best Original Filipino Designer Shanon Pamaong and our very own Toronto Designer, Diwata East.

4:00 p.m. Fiesta Filipino Dance Troupe

Enchanting audiences for more than 45 years with the rich colour of their performances, this world-renowned dance company will dazzle you with performances inspired by Mindanao.

5:00 p.m. TFC (ABS-CBN) Showcase

A three-hour extravaganza featuring Kaye Brosas, Billy Crawford, Vina Morales, Angeline Quinto, Jed Madela, John Lloyd Cruz and Jericho Rosales. The most star-studded event Toronto has ever seen.

TFCKat Finals – the winner of this competition will be announced, segment hosted by Kaye Brosas and Billy Crawford. Finalists are: Teri Agpoon, Inah Canlapan, Nicole Samantha Huff, AJ Libramonte, Genesis Ann Ruiz and Axel Villamil.

8:00 p.m. PIDC Council Spotlight

Meet the people that make “One Kapamilya SA Mabuhay Festival” possible; highlighting the power of community volunteerism.

8:45 p.m. Raffle Draws
Tickets will be sold at the PIDC booth for a raffle draw with a grand prize of a trip to the Philippines. Proceeds of the sale will go to Gawad Kalinga houses, helping the poorest of the poor. The winning tickets holder must be present to win.

9:00 p.m. DJ Mensa & Friends

Move and grove with one of the hottest DJs in the business; DJ Mensa will bridge the gap between 2nd generation and newcomers through music and dance.

FESTIVAL GROUNDS

Vendors: Over 140 vendors will be presenting their goods and services at the festival.

Philippine delicacies:

Mouth watering Filipino dishes and sweets will tempt your taste buds and make you come back for more.

Tourism: The Philippine Department of Tourism will provide information about destinations everyone will want to explore.

ENTERTAINMENT IN THE PLAZAS

Wander through 3 open spaces representing the 3 major Philippine islands: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao – all of which will have presentations of their own indigenous to their region.

• Filipino Martial Arts Cinema – a video presentation from filmmakers Vincent Galvez and Romeo Candido.
• Kamalayan – a video and dialogue presentation about Filipino history hosted by Alex Felipe.
• Haranista – traditional courtship means love-struck men would use to get the girl. This impromptu and interactive performance will be sung by Mike Tagalog and “Ang Bisaya”.
• Rakaoke – a new way of singing karaoke songs, hosted by Anjo Pallasigui.
• Styler Sounds – enjoy classic kundimans and original Pilipino Music (“OPM”) with Lilac Caña, Chyrell Samson and John Alix.
• New OPM
o Radio Insect Records (“RiR”) – an independence record label who’s talent roster includes “Luna”, “Kaya”, and “Uppercase” with support from “Noizy Toyz”.
o Singers and Songwriters – live performances from Arlene Paculan, Bayani Llagas and Madette.

IN THE PRESENTATION ROOMS

11:15 Migrante Ontario hosts information sessions on immigration law and labour law with Atty. Rafael Fabregas and paralegal practitioner and law clerk Cora de la Peña.

2:15 ABS CBN Movie Presentation – “In the Name of Love” starring Angel Locsin and Aga Mulach.

The Philippine Independence Day Council (“PIDC”), fresh from a slew of successful events, is putting together the final touches for the upcoming “One Kapamilya sa Mabuhay Festival and Trade Show 2011”.

The festival, which began back in 2001, has enjoyed renewed popularity with this year’s partnership with ABS-CBN Canada. The event was the first of its kind to be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (“MTCC”) in 2005. This year, it is scheduled on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at MTCC, 222 Bremner Boulevard, South Building, Hall E, Level 800.

Festival goers will be greeted by PIDC’s Welcome Ambassadors who will be handing out passports and brochures as you enter the venue. This will serve as your guide while exploring the grounds. Make sure you get your passport stamped from our sponsors; this will entitle you to win various prizes. Explore the more than 100,000 square feet of space and look at over 140 vendors who specialize in things like Philippine clothing, Gawad Kalinga Livelihood products, Philippine properties, remittance and door-to-door companies, caregiver, community and healthcare services, cosmetics, spa and aesthetic services, real estate agents, financial/investment/insurance products and services, immigration and travel consultants, packaged foods, travel consultants, the Philippine Department of Tourism and many more. Many of the vendors have new products they will introduce at the festival and some have give-aways and raffle draws that people can participate in. Don’t miss the most important vendors that are there – FOOD! Try Philippine culinary delights from FV Foods, Casa Manila and Max’s of Manila.

Enjoy the festival’s customary parade of beauties; the Santacruzan, a mass at 10 am, performances from Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe, Culture Philippines of Ontario and some of the best local entertainers such as Lilac Caña, Chyrell Samson, John Alix and many more. Wander through 3 open spaces representing the 3 major Philippine islands; Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao all of which will have presentations indigenous to their region. There will also be Filipino martial arts cinema presentations, interactive acoustic performances from “haranistas”, presentations about Filipino history, Rakaoke (a new way of singing karaoke songs) and other uniquely Filipino experiences people of all ages can participate in. If you prefer to sit back and relax, your ticket also entitles you to an ABS-CBN movie presentation in one of the designated MTCC rooms.

PIDC is proud to present, as part of the festival, a fashion show entitled “Romantic Philippines” which will showcase the country not only as a vacation destination but also as a honeymoon and/or wedding haven through fashion and audio visual presentations. It will feature works by world-renowned designer Shanon Pamaong, winner of “Canadian Faces of Fashion” award, “Best Original Filipino Designer” award and founder of The Fashion Institute of the Philippines. Also featured in the show are creations by Renee Salud, another world-renowned designer who has been dubbed as the “Ambassador of Philippine Fashion” for his use of materials like piña, abaca, etc. and our very own Toronto designer Diwata East. Proceeds from the sponsorship of this show will benefit Gawad Kalinga. In addition, raffle tickets will be available prior to the show with a grand prize of a trip to the Philippines, sponsored by Korean Airlines. Proceeds from the sale of the raffle tickets will also go to Gawad Kalinga.

The festival, long known to be a platform that showcases up-and-coming artists, will also hold the finals of TFCKat, a competition that allows Filipino-Canadians to present their talents. The winner will receive a cash prize of $3,000, perform live at the festival and “One Kapamilya Go 2011” in the US, have a guest appearance and perform at Adobo Nation and Balitang Canada/America and be a feature story on The Filipino Channel (“TFC”). The six finalists, chosen from 30 very talented individuals are:
1) Teri Agpoon from Ottawa – singer 2) Inah Canlapan – singer 3) Nicole Huff – singer/dancer 4) AJ Libramonte – singer 5) Genesis Anne Ruiz – singer/guitarist
6) Axel Villamil – dancer

The best part of this year’s festival is the top-notch list of superstars ABS-CBN will be bringing to perform. Multi-award winning singer JED MADELA will be in Toronto with other A-list superstars such as KAYE BROSAS-singer, comedian and one of the host’s of this year’s TFCKat, BILLY CRAWFORD-singer, songwriter and co-host of TFCKat, ANGELINE QUINTO–winner of “Star Power”, VINA MORALES-singer, dancer, multi-talented performer, JOHN LLOYD CRUZ-the Philippines’ “Box Office King” and JERICHO ROSALES-award winning actor and former member of “The Hunks” in an extravaganza people will be talking about for a long, long time.

VIP TICKETS AND VENDOR BOOTHS FOR THE EVENT ARE SOLD OUT! General admission tickets are still available for $20.00. Call (416) 975-1473 for ticket information. Don’t be disappointed; get your tickets soon as there may not be any more available at the door.

The Philippine Independence Day Council (“PIDC”) and its team of tireless volunteers have switched their efforts into high gear with several of its events coming up.

First, the Miss Philippines PIDC and Little Miss Philippines PIDC Pageant, scheduled on Saturday, May 21, 2011 will be held at Michael Power/St. Joseph High School, 105 Eringate Drive, Etobicoke.  Little Miss Philippines starts at 1pm and Miss Philippines PIDC will begin at 7 pm.

Little Miss Philippines candidates include Danica Faith Luistro, Maricris Sarto, Ashley Haley Salvador, Krizelle Janeli Madrona-Yanto, Melanie May Lazaro, Kaylyn Chuson, Sofia ‘Sofie’ Gonzales, Kyla Malibiran, Tori dela Cruz, Caitlyn ‘Caitie’ dela Cruz, Roloves ‘Yoyo’ Mangante, Josephine ‘Joebel’ Paul, Nicole Aracama and Myrla “Mimi” Navarro.  Miss Philippines PIDC candidates are: Rachna Dhanjal, Liza Angela Caringal, Jennifer Jaramilla, Amanda Fernando, Macie Atienza, Zierra Valido, Ylynne Rosales Enriquez and Nesel Batle.  Winners for both pageants will become PIDC’s Ambassadors of Goodwill and will be involved in all other PIDC events and several other community events happening throughout the year.

On June 10^th, PIDC celebrates Philippine Independence Day at its annual Gala which will be held at the Le Jardin, Versailles Ballroom located at 8440 Highway 7, Woodbridge.  There will be performances by Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe and the special guest speaker is The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario.  The emcees for the night are Cristina Carpio of CTV News, Southwestern Ontario and Rosary Escano of ABS-CBN.  Attendees can partake in a raffle draw for a free trip to the Philippines!  There are only a few tickets remaining so contact Norma Carpio at 416-975-1473 to inquire about availability for the event.

“Salu Salo sa Earl Bales” the largest Filipino-Canadian community picnic will take place on Saturday, June 18^th at Earl Bales Park located at Bathurst/Sheppard.  This is an all-day event with an anticipated crowd of over 3,000.  Expect to see entertainment throughout the day including a parade of participating associations and organizations that go around the park starting at 1pm.  Individuals who have already purchased a ticket for the Mabuhay Festival will be eligible to win a trip to Orlando, Florida which will be drawn during the picnic.  The PIDC Volleyball Tournament will also be held throughout the day. Unfortunately, no additional teams are being accepted at this time however, sponsors and vendors can still take advantage of this event by contacting Imie Belanger at (647) 281-5528.

The PIDC Mabuhay Cup 2011 Invitational is holding its annual Basketball Tournament on July 8, 9 & 10 at HoopDome, 75 Carl Hall Rd. Downsview Park.  This three-day event is the largest tournament of its kind and gathers a total of 62 teams that compete for the coveted top prize for each division;  Tykes (Born 2001 & younger); Peewee (Born 1999 & younger); Bantam (Born 1997 & younger); Midget (Born 1995 & younger) and Open (No Age Limit ).  Each team muse will also compete for the 2011 Miss Sports Model title.

PIDC Mabuhay Cup, now on its 8th year, continues to foster unity within the Filipino-Canadian Community and highlights fellowship through friendly basketball competition and sportsmanship.  For more information, please contact the organizing committee: Vilma Tahsin, Manny Villamor, Roger Tarca & Bob San Juan by e-mail at mabuhaycup@yahoo.ca or by Tel. 416-697-5197.

The most anticipated event of the year is the ?One Kapamilya sa Mabuhay Festival? happening on Saturday, July 23^rd at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (“MTCC”), 255 Bremmer Road, Toronto.  Tickets are only $20 each for general admission, $30 for VIP and are available on-line through the PIDC website at www.pidctoronto.com or call (416) 975-1473 to order.  Doors open at 9 am and go on all day.  The festival is being held in partnership with ABS-CBN Canada who will be bringing their biggest stars!

BILLY CRAWFORD – singer, songwriter and host of “Pilipinas Got Talent”

KAYE BROSAS – singer, comedian and master impersonator.

ANGELINE QUINTO – winner of “Star Power”and dubbed the next big superstar.

VINA MORALES – singer, dancer, actress and model who last performed in Toronto with Martin Nievera back in 2002.

BEA ALONZO – singer, award winning film and television actress and perennial on-screen partner of John Lloyd Cruz.

JOHN LLOYD CRUZ – model, tv host, award winning actor and the current “Box Office King” in the Philippines.

*Due to scheduling conflicts, Christian Bautista will no longer be able to attend this year’s festival.  In his place, ABS-CBN Canada is proud to include:

JERICHO ROSALES – “Echo” is a singer, actor and recent recipient of the “Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking Acting” award at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California.

In addition to the sizzling superstar line-up from ABS-CBN, they are also holding a talent competition called TFCkat.  This is the only talent competition that highlights the best of Pinoy performances in all of Canada.  Filipino-Canadians of any age may join and perform their individual talents.  The top 5 finalists will appear during the Festival in a segment hosted by Kaye Brosas and Billy Crawford.  The winner will receive $3,000 and the opportunity to perform at the “One Kapamilya Go 2011” in the US.

This year’s festival will also include the Santacurzan, displays from the Philippine Department of Tourism, performances by Culture Philippines of Ontario and Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe, interactive displays and programs indigenous to Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao which will be located in “the Plazas”, martial arts demonstrations, lessons in Philippine history, haranistas, balagtasan, business presentations, short film presentations, movie showings and much, much more.  Don’t forget, it would not be a Filipino festival without mouth watering food from three of the best Filipino restaurants in Toronto; Max’s of Manila, FV Foods and Casa Manila.

Attendance for this year’s event is expected to the largest in the festival’s 11-year history.  Take advantage of this great opportunity by becoming a vendor and getting a booth.  Sign-up before May 30^th and be eligible for the early bird price.  For more details or to sign up for the trade show, contact Evelyn Pagkalinawan at (416) 727-5853 or email at evelynp2011@yahoo.com.

To get detailed information about PIDC and all its events check out its website at www.pidctoronto.com. Like us on Facebook and stay tuned for details on your chance to win free tickets to the Festival.  PIDC’s Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/PIDCTORONTO. You can also follow us on Twitter, user name PIDCTORONTO.

The Philippine Independence Day Council (“PIDC”) and its tireless team of volunteers are busy preparing various community events that have become “must see” annual traditions.

On Saturday, May 21, 2011, the Little Miss Philippines PIDC and Miss Philippines PIDC Pageants are scheduled to be held at the Michael Power/St. Joseph High School, 105 Eringate Drive, Etobicoke.  Little Miss Philippines PIDC starts at 1:00 till 5:00 pm and later in the day, Miss Philippines PIDC will begin at 7:00 till 11:00 pm.  Miss Philippines PIDC, now in its 12^th year, enables talented young Filipinas to become PIDC’s Ambassadors of Goodwill.  Candidates will also be asked to participate in all 2011 PIDC events and other community gatherings such as “Pista sa Nayon”, the Cabbagetown Festival and Parade as well as the Santa Cruzan Parade at the Mabuhay Festival in July. The winners for both pageants will receive a cash prize, trip, sash and crown.  The winner of Little Miss Philippines PIDC will also receive representation for one year by MMG, an international model, talent and celebrity management company and agency in film/tv, modelling and commercials.  Best of all, Miss Philippines PIDC and Little Miss Philippines PIDC will also have an opportunity to participate in the exclusive “meet and greet” event that PIDC will have with celebrity performers from ABS-CBN.  For more information about this event, contact Rorie Elefano at (416) 733-7818 or email at aelefano@yahoo.com.

PIDC will celebrate Philippine Independence Day at its annual Independence Day Ball scheduled on Friday, June 10, 2011 at the Le Jardin, Versailles Room, 8440 Highway 27, Woodbridge.  The event will be hosted by Rosary Escaño from ABS-CBN Canada and Cristina Carpio of CTV News Northern Ontario.  There will also be a special performance by a celebrity guest from ABS-CBN. Tickets are almost SOLD OUT so act fast!  Contact Norma Carpio at (905) 257-1059 or email pedrocarpio@sympatico.ca for more details.

Mark your calendars on June 18, 2011. PIDC will be hosting its yearly “potluck” community picnic called “Salu Salo sa Earl Bales” held at Earl Bales Park located at the corner of Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue.  This event is FREE and open to the public.  Enjoy numerous activities scheduled all day including the Independence Day Volleyball Cup Championship, Dr. Jose Rizal Birthday Celebration, a parade and all-day entertainment for the entire family.  Contact Imie Belanger at (647) 281-5528 or email at imiebelanger@yahoo.ca for more information or if you would like to reserve a covered booth.

From July 8 – 10, 2011 the 7^th annual PIDC Mabuhay Cup Basketball Tournament will be held at the Hoop Dome at Downsview Park, 75 Carl Hall Road, Toronto.  The event is the largest Filipino-Canadian tournament of its kind attracting more than 60 teams of varying ages from across the nation.  In addition to the non-stop court action, the selection of this year’s Miss Sports Model will also be held during the event.  Contact Vilma Tahsin at (416) 697-7201 or vtahsin@deloitte.ca for ticket information.

Of course the biggest “must see” event of the year is the highly anticipated “One Kapamilya sa Mabuhay Festival & Trade Show 2011“.  This is the 11^th year the festival will be held but the first done in partnership with ABS-CBN.  It continues to be the largest celebration of Philippine heritage and culture in Canada and the culmination of all PIDC events throughout the year.  It will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 222 Bremner Boulevard, South Building, Hall E, Level 800 on July 23, 2011.  As usual, festivities start at 9:00 am and continue all day.  Tickets are only $20 each or $30 for a limited number of reserved seats.  Ticket can be purchased on-line from the PIDC website or by calling 416 975-1473 or 1-888-975-1473 (for long distance calls).

As expected ABS-CBN will be bringing some of their biggest, most talented entertainers.  For a fraction of the cost of usual concert tickets, you can enjoy bonafide artists such as:

BILLY CRAWFORD, chart-topping recording artist and award winning host of “Pilipinas Got Talent”.

KAYE BROSAS, actress, comedian and master singer impersonator.

VINA MORALES, veteran stage performer who last thrilled Toronto audiences in concert at the Molson Amphitheatre back in 2002.

CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA, Asia’s romantic balladeer whose albums reached triple platinum in the Philippines and Indonesia.

JOHN LLOYD CRUZ, an award-winning actor, Box-Office King, model and TV Host. He is considered one of the most-acclaimed actors in the country today.

BEA ALONZO, award-winning actress both on TV and on Film and the perennial on-screen partner of John Lloyd Cruz.

ANGELINE QUINTO, the grand champion of Star Power 2011, the talent show where Sarah Geronimo was discovered and won last 2002.

This event is sure to attract thousands of people so be sure to take advantage by letting everyone know about your business.  Inquire about getting a booth at the trade show from Evelyn Pagkalinawan at (416) 727-5853 or email at evelynp2011@yahoo.com. There is an early bird price for vendors who sign up before May 30, 2011.  The major food concessionaires at the Festival are: Casa Manila, FV Foods and Max’s of Manila.

To get detailed information about PIDC and all its events particularly the Mabuhay Festival & Trade Show, check out its website at www.pidctoronto.com or “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PIDCTORONTO you can also follow us on Twitter, user name PIDCTORONTO.