Toronto, Canada—UPF-Canada, Toronto chapter, was delighted to be a co-sponsor of the first FUN Philippines Toronto Street Festival, a brand-new, all weekend, street fest organized by the Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance, a not-for-profit group. This allowed UPF-Canada Chairman, Dr. Moon Shik Kim, to nominate a Federal Cabinet Minister and three Toronto MPs as Ambassadors for Peace (AFP) on stage, in front of a large audience on Saturday afternoon, July 23. A short introductory video to UPF was shown to all. Dr. Kim took part in the parade with the assembled politicians along the length of the street fest, serenaded by a local Filipino marching band, on Sunday afternoon, July 24.
About 200,000 were expected at the event, which stretched for one kilometer, over the course of the weekend.
UPF’s participation was the culmination of excellent outreach to the very large Filipino community, about 300,000 strong, in the Toronto area, undertaken by Rev. Ryan Abenir, a Filipino, with the help of Dr. Kim. Rev. Abenir recently participated in a two-day festival in Hamilton, where he was able to share with the Filipino Consul-General. As at the recent Fun fest, he manned a UPF information booth throughout the event.
Many thanks to all who came out to help at the UPF booth during the Fun Fest, and UPF Toronto looks forward to an increasingly fruitful relationship with the local Filipino community and to a return of this event next year.