REDWOOD CITY, California: Temperatures may be sinking by the day toward sub-freezing point in Toronto, the largest city in Canada, but spirits of thousands of Filipino residents soared sky

high as ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC) and its local partner, Tahanan Magazine, brought the most joyful Filipino tradition this month to the Metro Toronto Convention Center.

Heating things up for the fans were top TFC celebrities Gerald Anderson, Sam Milby and Toni Gonzaga who dazzled in the Pamaskong Handog (Christmas offering) portion with their individual and group performances. All three delivered both high energy and emotional numbers, a highlight of which was when they sang the 2012 ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID theme song, Lumiliwanag ang Mundo sa Kuwento ng Pasko (The Story of Christmas Brightens the World) with handheld parol (Filipino lanterns).

The three celebrities also led the launch of TFC.tv, the exciting online digital hub of Filipinos worldwide and the newest way to view TFC videos on live streaming and on-demand. The audience of about 6,000 sang and danced to the TFC.tv jingle, barkada (clique), an original song of the Filipino band, Chocolate Beef.

On top of all these and besides the familiar rondalla music played live by community leaders, Filipino food offerings and the much-missed Filipino tiangge (bazaar), the event’s program unveiled segment after segment of cherished Pinoy-flavored Christmas traditions.

Kicking it off were the Panunuluyan at Misa de Gallo (reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s search for a place to give birth and Holy Mass) followed by the Christmas tree lighting ceremony led by Philippine Ambassador to Canada Leslie Gatan, first Filipino Senator in Canada Tobias Enverga Jr., Consul General Junever Mahilum West, Tahanan President Ronnie de la Gana, TFC Canada Managing Director Marco Amoranto and executive representatives of sponsor companies.

For “Himig ng Pasko” (sound of Christmas) which showcased a choral competition among choral groups representing various parishes, Christian and civic organizations, the winner was Regina Coeli Choral from Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church of Bathurst, Toronto.

For the Parol Competition, the winners were Claire Flores and the residents of 801-1154 Wilson Avenue.

There was a raffling of prizes from TFC, myRemit and other sponsors like Philippine Airlines (PAL) which included six round trip tickets to the Philippines. PAL recently launched its non-stop flights between Manila and Toronto which is a response to the clamor of Filipinos in the region. Almost half of Toronto’s estimated 250,000 Filipino residents visit the Philippines every year.

“Toronto Paskuhan Village left all stakeholders—the audience, sponsors, contestants, performers, supporters, our partner Tahanan Magazine and we at TFC Canada—ecstatic over the joy and enthusiasm it brought to the Filipino community in Toronto,” said TFC Canada Managing Director Marco Amoranto. “With much excitement, we look forward to the 2013 holding of this event which we hope will be an annual Christmas tradition for Filipinos here in Canada.”