Local leaders hail newly launched news program dedicated to Filipinos in Canada
TFC’s Balitang Canada’s East and West Coasts’ launches. (LEFT) Members of the press and community leaders in Toronto watch the teaser of Balitang Canada; (RIGHT) TFC Canada Team poses with British Columbia Correspondents, from left, Rizza Flores, Marco Amoranto, Rosary Escano, Marieton Pacheco, Rowena Papasin, Elizabeth Reymundo, Israel Cando, Mario Marasigan, Cecile and Hector Docto. (ABS-CBN Canada)
Toronto, Canada, May 9, 2012- In separate press conferences held recently in Toronto and Vancouver, TFC Canada formally launched,Balitang Canada, making it the fourth news program produced by TFC in-region. It follows in the footsteps of TFC’s international news family that includes Balitang America (on which Balitang Canada started as a weekly segment before spinning off as a standalone weekly news program), Balitang Middle East and Balitang Europe.
“Balitang Canada is part of TFC’s continuing service to the fast-growing Filipino community all over Canada,” said TFC Canada Managing Director Marco Amoranto. “It aims to provide them with timely and relevant news and features. This new program will also help Filipinos connect with fellow kababayans in other provinces and with family and friends back in the Philippines. Our news program aligns with TFC’s commitment to serve the Filipinos wherever they may be. Providing news that is meaningful to them is a strong component of that commitment.”
Balitang Canada host Marieton Pacheco joined the community launch and presented the program’s new segments that includeImmigration 101, Pasyalan sa Canada, and Kamustahan, among others.
“No one knows the Filipinos more than Filipinos themselves,” said ABS-CBN Global COO Raffy Lopez. “The global Filipino community will continue to reach for information and outlets that address their unique interests. As they do so, TFC being in the service of the Filipino worldwide, will provide as many overseas Filipinos as possible not only relevant content through news and entertainment, but also access to these on various platforms. The launch of Balitang Canada is a concrete manifestation of this mission.”
COMMUNITY REACTION
Meanwhile, local leaders from the Filipino community in Canada expressed their support for Balitang Canada.
From Eastern Canada, Francis Rementilla of Gawad Kalinga Canada finds a commonality between the news program and his organization. “Balitang Canada aims to unite the Filipino communities in Canada with news and information within Canada and the Philippines. Gawad Kalinga Canada shares the same vision of a united citizenry with love for country and for the poor in an unwavering goal to leave no one behind (walang iwanan).”
Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre President Mama Ching Quejas feels like the distance between Canada and the homeland is narrowed with the help of programs such as Balitang Canada. “Congratulations and thanks to ABS-CBN because with Balitang Canada, Filipino-Canadians will feel closer to each other and enjoy watching news like we’re in the Philippines.”
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and Council of Leaders of PIDC and the Mabuhay Festival and Trade Show, I congratulate ABS-CBN TFC for the successful launch of Balitang Canada. I applaud your venture for reaching out to our rapidly growing population of Canadian-Filipinos. Thank you for setting the pace in creating and delivering quality news to us. Mabuhay ang Balitang Canada,” said Norma Carpio, President, Philippine Independence Day
Council (PIDC).
There was jubilation also from the Filipino community in Western Canada. Pinoy Pride Vancouver Co-Chairs Santi Pelaez and Stella Reyes said: “We at Pinoy Pride Vancouver congratulate TFC and the Balitang Canada team for the successful launch of a 30-minute weekly news program. The show cements TFC’s commitment to bridge the gap and be of service to Filipinos worldwide. We will continue to work closely with your team to strengthen our relationship further and we look forward to the newsworthy and exciting segments from your talented correspondents.”
Media personalities like Irene Yatco, editor-in-chief and publisher of Philippine Journal, is happy with the launch of the first on-air news program dedicated to Filipinos in Canada. “Balitang Canada will be the link of Filipino Canadians to Pinoys all over the world, through TFC. With the dynamic team led by Marieton Pacheco, the show is expected to reach new heights in bringing news in Canada to the rest of the world. Thanks also to ABS-CBN for its vision of making Balitang Canada the voice of Filipino Canadians, that can be heard globally.”
Balitang Canada airs in Canada and the U.S. every Sunday at 5:15pm after TV Patrol on cable, satellite, TFC IPTV and online about 2 hours after it airs on TV.
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Manila-US Times 