20 June 2016 – The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary supported and participated in events organized by the Filipino community in Calgary from June 11 to 12 to celebrate the 118th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.
On the morning of June 11, the Philippine Independence Day Organizing Committee of Calgary (PIOCC) held the Sulong Kalayaan Parade 2016 at the Pacific Place Mall. Philippine Consul General to Calgary Julius D. Torres led the parade around the mall grounds together with Mr. Darshan Singh Kang, Member of Parliament (MP), and Mr. Ric McIver, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Members of various Filipino community organizations also participated in the parade, which was followed by an entertainment and cultural show inside the mall.
Later that day, Consul General Torres proceeded to the town of Wetaskiwin to attend the formal inauguration of the Wetaskiwin Filipino Community Foundation (WFCF) and its concurrent Independence Day celebration.
On Independence Day, June 12, the Consulate General hosted a flag-raising ceremony and Filipino breakfast at the roof deck entertainment area of the Consulate’s building. This was followed by another flag-raising ceremony organized by the PIOCC at the Calgary City Hall.
That evening, the Consulate General, in coordination with the PIOCC, the Fiesta Filipino Council and the Council and Assembly of Filipino Foundations and Associations held a gala dinner at the Hyatt Regency Calgary. The gala dinner also served to formally celebrate the opening of the Consulate General in Calgary. The event was attended by over 500 guests including Canadian government officials, legislators and leaders.
In his remarks during the gala, Consul General Torres acknowledged the efforts of the Filipino community in Alberta in pushing for the opening of a consular office in Calgary.
Consul General Torres, via phone patch, was also able to deliver messages of congratulations and goodwill to concurrent Independence Day celebrations that were being held in the town of Banff, spearheaded by the Filipino Organizations in the Rocky Mountains. END
