Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Filipinos Making Waves Canada

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
We live in an exciting era of diversity and change. We celebrate our distinct cultures with pride and purpose. Wherever we may live, work or develop our roots, we provide a window into our culture and open doors to the heart and soul of our communities.
FOCUS PHILIPPINES & FRIENDS CULTURAL ARTS AND MUSIC
We are Toronto-based entrepreneurs, artists, media pro-
fessionals and communitymembers pledged to spur broader
multicultural awareness and appreciation of out Philippine
heritage and Filipino Canadian cultural life.  This shared vision
of diversity is seed to our organization’s success and promise of a
long life of service to the community.  We can only be successful
in this core mission with the generous support and active partner-
ship of public institutions and private organizations across cultures,
geography and social purpose. Our cultural productions,starting
with Making Waves Festival will engage our artists and cultural torch-
bearers, community merchants and public leaders in the exposition of a dazzling array of Filipino material culture as world-class Canadian public events.
 
YONGE-DUNDAS SQUARE
For the first time ever, Yonge-Dundas Square (YDS), located at one of
Canada’s busiest intersections, will be the host venue of the 3rd Filipinos
Making WavesFestival. The Square is adjacent to the Toronto Eaton Centre,
Canada’s busiest shopping centre and top tourist destination with over 52
million visitors annually.  It is only minutes from several major attractions
including the CN Tower,Rogers Centre, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal
Ontario Museum, the Elgin Theatre, the Canon Theatre, the Air Canada
Centre, the Princess of WalesTheatre, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, the
Hummingbird Centre, the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.  The Square is connected to
the PATH, the world’s largest underground shopping complex with 27 km (16 miles) of shopping arcades.
   The Yonge-Dundas Square influence area contains the highest concentration of hotels within the GTA with a total of more
than 10,000 rooms.  Two major Universities are within the influence area – Ryerson and the University of Toronto with a
combined full-time attendance of 56,000 students and also contain over 21,000 residents.  Each day over 860,000 people
enter the influence area to work. Retailers employ over 14,000 people in over 3,800 retail outlets within the influence area. 
There are over 500 restaurants within walking distance.   The Square has a direct entrance to Dundas Subway Station, is
located on the Dundas Street car line and all-night Yonge Street bus line. The Square is also situated atop a 250 spot
parking garage.  
Based at Toronto Transit (TTC) 2005 statistics, the daily Square’s Dundas Subway Platform Usage Count is 59,280.  
Daily Inter-section traffic is over 62,100 pedestrians and 55,500 vehicles (source: City of Toronto, 2002).
Event Specific Attendance, 2006 is 660,235 and the Total Annual Venue Circulation is 28,506,500 visitors (source: Clear Channel Outdoor,2003).
 
FILIPINOS MAKING WAVES FESTIVAL
Filipinos Making Waves Festival takes a bow as a three—day cultural extra-
vaganza onAugust 14-16, 2009 at the heart of Toronto, the YDS
(Yonge-Dundas Square).  As part of its Heritage Day Celebrations, YDS is
pleased to present the festival to its mainstream audience in cooperation
with Focus Philippines. It will showcase outdoor performances and ethnic
booths. TheFilipino Making Waves Festival is produced by Focus
Philippines Festivals of Arts and Music in partnerships with YDS, Downtown
Yonge BIA, Philippine Department of Tourism, Philippine government agencies, other artistic partners, corporate supporters
and Philippine sponsors. The weekend puts the spotlight on beautiful Philippines, featuring its vibrant and colourful culture.
The fun-filled entertainment schedule promises to be a memorable treat for all Yonge-Dundas Square visitors. Imagine this
first-ever Filipino festival in great colour and pageantry at Yonge-Dundas Square:  colourful indigenous Ati-Atihan dancers,
a folk and rondalla string ensemble and kulintang music (Muslim per-
cussion) will surely captivate your attention.  Filipino world-class
singers, instrumentalists, cultural dancers , plus TV and film ,cele-
brities will converge at the main stage. Hear and see up close
 remarkable Filipino talents who are making waves in Canada and
around the world! Major exporters from the Philippines will give
Toronto a wide selection of Filipino arts, crafts and food products.
And delicious Filipino culinary treats await you at the Philippine tent.
Experience the distinct Filipino hospitality as they share fantastic
art and entertainment for your total enjoyment.  They will sizzle and
dazzle at Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto’s best place to immerse
in the living cultures of the world.