About Us

Borne with the desirable need for a worthy vehicle for teachers and educators to actively organize, socialize and realize a positive and participatory role within the Filipino Canadian and mainstream environments, the Philippine Teachers Association of Canada -PTAC (Kapisanan ng Mga Gurong Filipino sa Canada) came into fruition on April 29, 2006 at the Gateway Centre for New Canadians in the City of Mississauga, Ontario.  PTAC was organized by Leonie Manzanares as Founder and her Co-founder, Araceli Rose Cruz, who are both former Philippine teachers. The two ladies were joined in and assisted by Ontario Certified Teachers Rose A. Apilado, Brigida L. Cohen & Tony A. San Juan and other Ontario practicing teachers & former Philippine educators.  The Association envisions participating and proffering rightfully its share of committing its expertise, experience and resource akin to the field of education and training within the Canadian learning landscape.   The Association's Constitution and Bylaws, drafted by Tony A. San Juan, was approved and ratified by the Association's general membership on November 1, 2008.  Its first set of leadership team, presided by Leonie Manzanares, was elected in May, 2006 and inducted to office on December 16, 2006 at the Rendezvous Cuisine, Mississauga and served in holdover transition until September 12, 2009. The second governance team for 2009-2011, led by Tony A. San Juan (OCT), took over with the induction of officers at Ella's Banquet Hall, Scarborough on December 9, 2009. Re-elected for another 2-year term (2011-2013), T. San Juan and his Executive Board, were inducted on November 19, 2011 at St. John's Parish Church. Boni Curutan (OCT) was elected as the third President and succeeded San Juan in November, 2013 and was inducted to office on December 7, 2013 at Ella's Banquet Hall. On November 14, 2015. Rose Apilado (OCT) became the organization's 4th President and her Board took their oaths in December, 2015 at St. John the Apostle Church, Toronto. 

In November 2017, Cielito Drapeza was elected President for the 2017-2019 term and was re-elected to serve for another 2 years from 2019 to 2021. PTAC membership continues to record growth with more than 130. Philippine-educated teachers receiving academic accreditation and professional certification by the Ontario College of Teachers. During the 5- year period, PTAC reported an increase of 15 member-teachers being hired and assigned by 4 publicly- supported school boards in the GTA.

                                                                                                                                         (Revised: February 14, 2021,T. San Juan)