PH Consulate General in Calgary Leads Community Celebration of Paskong Pilipino 2019

PH Consulate General in Calgary Leads Community Celebration of Paskong Pilipino 2019

Paskong Pilipino Calgary 1

Philippine Consul General to Calgary Zaldy B. Patron with some of the Filipino community leaders in Calgary during the Paskong Pilipino 2019 celebration in Calgary on 15 December 2019. (Calgary PCG photo)

CALGARY 17 December 2019 –– The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary, in cooperation with five Filipino community organizations and a not-for-profit organization, led the Christmas celebration of the Filipino community in Calgary on 15 December 2019 at the Marlborough Park Community Center.

The event was organized by the Philippine Cultural Centre Foundation (PCCF), Tamaraw Seniors Club of Calgary (TSCC), Golden Generation Seniors Club (GGSC), Young Once Seniors Association of Calgary (YOSAC), New Canadian Seniors Association of Calgary (New CASA) and Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA). CIWA runs a Filipino Community Development Program.

Around 230 Filipinos who came to the three-hour celebration were treated to Filipino food as well as Christmas carols, solo renditions, and dances. One of the highlights of the event was the announcement of winners of the parol (Christmas lantern) making contest who made use of indigenous and recycled materials.

Philippine Consul General to Calgary Zaldy B. Patron, in his remarks, conveyed the Philippine Consulate General’s Christmas greetings to the community and thanked the partner organizations, performers and volunteers that collaborated with the Consulate General in organizing the event. He said that the event served as a “coming together” of the Filipino community to celebrate the Christmas season.

He shared with the community the major accomplishments of the PCG in 2019 in terms of delivering consular services and in implementing cultural and economic diplomacy projects.

Consul General Patron briefed the community about the Commission of Filipinos Overseas’ 2020 Presidential Awards for Outstanding Individuals and Organizations Overseas and urged the community to submit their nominations for the four award categories - Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (Linkapil) Award, Banaag Award Kaanib ng Bayan Award, and Pamana ng Pilipino Award.

Likewise, he called on the eligible Filipinos to register as overseas voters at the Consulate General office so they could vote during the 2022 Philippine Elections and help determine the next leaders of the country. The registration period for overseas voters will start on 16 December 2019 and end on 30 September 2021.

Consul General Patron also informed the community about the 2021 Quincentennial celebrations in the Philippines to commemorate the arrival of explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippines, the victory of the first Filipino hero Lapu-Lapu over foreign invaders in the Battle of Mactan, and other historic events from 1519 to 1522.

Two Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Mr. Peter Singh and Mr. Devider Toor, joined the Filipino community in their Christmas celebration.

President of PCCF Fred Molina, who delivered the opening remarks, called on the Filipino community “to work hard towards Filipino Ooeness, togetherness” and to have “one strong voice.” On the other hand, President of GGSC Ben Isidro, in his closing remarks, described the Paskong Pilipino in Calgary as “one big Filipino family reunion in Winterland”. END

New Canadian Seniors Association of Calgary (New CASA). (Calgary PCG photo)

Philippine Consul General to Calgary Zaldy B. Patron (extreme right) and Ms. Aurora Dacanay of PCCF together with the winners of the parol making contest. (Calgary PCG photo)

Philippine Consul General to Calgary Zaldy B. Patron (center) with Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Mr. Peter Singh (right) and Mr. Devider Toor (left). (Calgary PCG photo)