18 June 2015 - The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto participated in day-long festivities held on June 12, marking the celebration of the 117th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence. The celebration commenced with the yearly flag-raising ceremony at the Toronto City Hall. The cold and rainy morning weather did not dampen the spirit of the Filipino Canadians who participated in the 37-year old flag-raising tradition.

The Independence Day celebration continued with a Filipino breakfast with the Filipino community leaders at the Consulate General’s office premises. The breakfast program was highlighted by the reading of the messages of the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Vice President and the President of the Philippines by the Consulate officers.

Also featured during the program were Philippine folk dances performed by the Folklorico Filipino (Canada) Dance Company.  The newly-formed Koro ng Konsulado Panlahat rendered a surprise number with the singing of “Isang Dugo, Isang Lahi, Isang Musika.”

At the traditional salu-salo, Filipino breakfast of sinangag, longganisa, daing na bangus, itlog na maalat and arroz caldo, along with freshly-made bibingka and puto bumbong were served.

After breakfast at the Consulate, Philippine Consul General Prospero joined the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) flag-raising ceremony held at the front lawn of the Legislative Building in Queen’s Park, Toronto. Deputy Premier Deb Matthews, who is also the President of the Treasury Board Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy, graced the event in behalf of Premier Kathleen Wynne of the Ontario Provincial Government.  The Deputy Premier conveyed her warm greetings to the Filipino community as they commemorated the anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence. Her message highlighted the Ontario community’s appreciation for the Filipinos who have chosen Canada as their new home and brought with them their good work ethic, solid family ties, creativity and resilience, as well as the contribution of skilled and talented Filipinos in strengthening the business, creative and health sectors, among many other aspects of Canadians’ provincial life. 

During the occasion, the Consul General was invited to sign the guest book of the Office of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario at the Parliament Building in Queen’s Park. She was presented with the Certificate of Congratulations on the occasion of the Philippine Independence Day from Honorable Speaker Dave Levac.

The day-long festivities ended with an Independence Day Dinner Ball organized by the Kalayaan Filipino Cultural Organization at the Pearson Convention Centre in Brampton, Ontario. The Dinner Ball was attended by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and retired Mayor Hazel McCallion, who is known to be the longest serving Mayor in the province of Ontario.

The Independence Day events gave opportunities for the Filipino-Canadian community to honor, preserve and celebrate our patrimonial heritage, to harness our cultural heritage for the good of the society to which we belong, and to celebrate our traditions and culture and the achievements of the Filipino people in Canada’s culturally-rich and ethnically-diverse society. END