Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe of Canada, when it toured eight major cities of the Philippines in 1997, was called the pride and joy of “Fil-Canadians.” This internationally acclaimed Folk Arts Ensemble has received numerous awards and distinctions on tours to International Festivals in Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, Austria, Spain, the Pyrenees, as well as Disneyworld’s Epcot Center. Dedicated to promoting international good will by sharing Philippine culture and traditions through music, story and dance, the Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe was founded in 1966 by a party of Toronto resident Filipinos headed by Dr. José Teodoro and Eleanor Calbes. As cultural ambassadors, this celebrated ensemble has also performed at the Olympic Games staged in both Mexico City and Montreal. The Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe continues to delight audiences with the vitality and rich colour of their performances, and has succeeded in bringing to the consciousness of international audiences the colour and enchantment of Filipino cultural heritage. [Photo, courtesy Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe]

Cynthia Goh was born on a remote island in the Philippines where there was no water or electricity. Selected to attend a special science high school when only 11 years old, by the time she was 18 she had graduated in Chemistry from the University of the Philippines and was heading for California. She earned a doctoral degree from the University of California by the time she was 23 years old. After teaching stints at UCLA, Cornell, and Columbia, she immigrated to Canada, settling at the University of Toronto where today she is Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the University’s Chemistry Department. In addition to her teaching duties, Dr. Goh concentrates her research work, among other matters, on the molecular structure of protein filaments in Alzeimer’s. In 1996, Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos presented her with the Philippine Heritage Award at the Malacanang Palace. [Photo, courtesy Dr. Cynthia Goh]