Toronto Celebrates Canada's 143rd Year

PHILIPPINE VILLAGE VOICE - Redefining Community News
Currents & Breaking News
Volume 4, Issue No. 22
/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /


. . . . . A community service of Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .

The News UpFront: (TOP STORY) as of Thursday, July 1, 2010
~ Canada Day today (July 1, 2010) in Toronto would be most memorable for 30 immigrants from 18 countries, including three from the Philippines, who were sworn in as new citizens of Canada. The twin event was attended by the Queen's representative in the province of Ontario, Lieutenant Governor David Onley. For Philippine-born Susan Bala, taking the oath on this day was "a dream come true".

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A huge crown turned out for the Canada Day festivity at Queen's Park in Toronto.



New Citizens, Including 3 Filipinos, Sworn In
On Canada's 143rd Year Celebration in Toronto


By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

TORONTO -- A nurse, an accountant and a family man -- all Filipinos -- are among the 30 immigrants from 18 countries sworn-in as new Canadian citizens in simple ceremonies timed with the 143rd celebration of Canada Day on Thursday (July 1, 2010) here in Toronto.

Amidst the Ontario provincial legislature in the background this father and son join the festive Canada Day observance in Queen's Park.

Citizens, immigrants, guests and tourists flocked to Queen's Park, seat of the provincial government, where five days ago thousands had gathered for a mass protest against the G20 summit that turned violent and resulted in the largest mass arrests in the history of Canada's largest city.

Today, hundreds turned out in the huge park, including Lieutenant Governor David Onley, the Queen's representative in Ontario. After the singing of O Canada, the national anthem, a 21-gun salute followed.

"I didn't expect this swearing-in on this special day, being Canada Day," says Susan Bala, the 45-year-old accountant who came to Canada in 2005, from Quezon City.

"This is a dream come true," she explains, recalling the difficulty of immigrating and finding a job in Canada. "I'm quite lucky that I didn't have to undergo the process caregiver applicants usually go through before they could be admitted to Canada.

Other Filipinos in this batch included Melinda Sambile, formerly of Ilocos Norte and Francisco Lurengis of Tabuk, Kalinga.
 For news videos, click the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRYY6xhuOW8 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buJvzJm-E5A

(This Currents & Breaking News may be posted online, broadcast or reprinted, on condition that the author and the publication be properly credited. By Romeo P. Marquez, Editor, Philippine Village Voice, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Volume 4, Issue no. 22, July 1, 2010).

Ontario's Lieutenant Governor David Onley (in electric scooter) obliged for a picture-taking with these new Canadian citizens, including Philippine-born (from right) Francisco Lurengis, 54 of Tabuk, Kalinga; Susan Bala, 45, of Quezon City; and Melinda Sambile of Ilocos Norte (fifth from left).

Melinda Sambile (above) of Ilocos Norte and Francisco Lurengis (below) of Tabuk, Kalinga.