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PH Consulate General in Calgary Raises Philippine Flag in Alberta and Saskatchewan for the 125th Independence Day

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Philippine Independence Day Flag Raising Ceremonies  in Airdrie, Edmonton, and Calgary, Alberta, from 10 to 12 June 2023. (Photo credits:  Rodel Lozano in Airdrie; Mo Billacura in Edmonton)

CALGARY 22 June 2023 – Several cities and towns in the two provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada honored the Philippines by raising the Philippine flag to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the proclamation of the Philippine independence.

The Philippines gained its independence from colonial Spain on 12 June 1898. To celebrate the historic event, Philippine flag raisings were held on the following dates and places:  

  1. 10 June 2023 at the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton, Alberta. The flag-raising event was led by the Philippine Business Council of Alberta and graced by Consul General Zaldy Patron and Member of Parliament (MP) for West Edmonton Kelly McCauley.
  2. 10-16 June 2023 in Regina, Saskatchewan. For one week, from 10 to 16 June, 42 Philippine flags were hoisted along the Albert Street Memorial Bridge upon the initiative of Philippine Honorary Consul Pepito Escanlar. On 10 June, the Pilipino Association of Saskatchewan also spearheaded a Philippine flag raising in front of the Government House in Regina.  Present during the ceremony at the Government House were Their Honors Lt. Governor Russell Mirasty & Mrs. Donna Mirasty, MP Michael Kram (Regina-Wascana), Andrew Scheer (Regina—Qu'Appelle), Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Gene Makowsky and Todd Goudy, and Regina Mayor Sandra Masters.
  3. 10 June 2023, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Filipino-Canadian Association of Saskatchewan led the raising of the Philippine flag at the Saskatoon Civic Square. MP Brad Redekopp, MLA David Buckingham, MLA Vicki Mowat, and Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark were the dignitaries who came.
  4. 10 June 2023, Cochrane, Alberta. The Filipino Canadian Association of Cochrane Alberta celebrated Philippine Independence Day, Philippine Heritage Month, and Seniors Appreciation Week at the Cochrane Historic Site on 10 June 2023. Among those who attended the event were Minister for Infrastructure Peter Guthrie, Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung, and Deputy Consul General Victorio M. Dimagiba, Jr.
  5. 11 June 2023, Airdrie, Alberta. The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary  led the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day in Airdrie together with the Filipino community.  The afternoon-long event featured a Philippine Independence Day Mass and a formal program at the Dr. Jose Rizal Monument in Nose Creek Regional Park, including a flag-raising ceremony.  Present at the event were MP for Airdrie-Banff Blake Richards, MLA-elect for Airdrie-East Angela Pitt, and Airdrie City Councillors Heather Spearman and Tina Petrow.
  6. 12 June 2023, Calgary, Alberta.  A flag-raising event, organized by the Council and Assembly of Filipino Foundations and Associations, was held at the Calgary Municipal Hall. Consul General Patron and all the officers and staff of the PCG joined the event.  Councillor Terry Wong spoke at the event on behalf of the Calgary City Council. The Philippine flag was also raised at the McDougall Centre, the Provincial Government’s office in Calgary.
  7. 12 June 2023, Grande Prairie, Alberta.  Led by the Filipino Association of Grande Prairie and Area, a flag-raising ceremony was held at Grande Prairie City Hall. City Councillors Kevin O’Toole, Wade Pilat, Chris Thiessen, Wendy Bosh and Mike O’Connor came to the event.

“I am grateful to the various Filipino community organizations in Alberta and Saskatchewan that held their own Philippine flag-raising ceremonies in their respective cities and towns to celebrate our Philippine Independence Day and Philippine nationhood” added Consul General Patron.

There are an estimated 217,000 Filipinos in Alberta and another 44,000 in Saskatchewan based on the 2021 Canadian Census. END

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Deputy Consul General Victorio M. Dimagiba, Jr. (center) with the officers of the Filipino Canadian Association of Cochrane Alberta during their Philippine Independence Day and Philippine Heritage Month celebration on 10 June 2023 in Cochrane Historic Site, Cochrane, Alberta.

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Flag Raising ceremony in Grande Prairie, Alberta, led by the Filipino Association of Grande Prairie, 12 June 2023 (Picture from Mr. Neil Tuazon).

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Philippine Independence Day celebrations in Regina, Saskatchewan, 12 June 2023. From top left (clockwise), Philippine flags flying at the Albert Street Memorial Bridge; the Filipino Community in Regina with dignitaries following the Independence Day program at Government House;  Philippine Honorary Consul Pepito Escanlar reading the message of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo; and dignitaries led by Saskatchewan Lt. Governor Russ Mirastry (fourth from right)

For more information, visit https://www.calgarypcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinCalgary/.