Calgary, 6 June 2023 – The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Calgary and the Filipino community in Alberta will hold the celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the Declaration of the Philippine Independence on 11 June 2023, Sunday, at the Dr. José Rizal Monument at Nose Creek Regional Park in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada.

With the theme “Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan” (Freedom, Future, History), it will be the first Philippine Independence Day celebration to be held at the Rizal Monument, which was unveiled to the public on 23 October 2021.

On 19 June 2022, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines designated the Rizal Monument in Airdrie as a Philippine Historical Site for being the first Philippine monument and the first monument of the Philippine national hero in Alberta.

The Rizal Monument in Airdrie was a project initiated and led by the PCG in partnership with the Airdrie City Council, Filipino Airdrie Association, Rizal Monument Project Team, and the 46 major sponsors and 201 brick donors

“It is only fitting that we remember our heroes and hold our 125th Philippine Independence Day at the very first Dr. Jose Rizal Monument and the only Philippine Historical Site in Alberta,” said Consul General Zaldy Patron.

Rizal, the Philippine national hero, became the inspiration of Filipino revolutionary leaders who fought the Spanish colonizers and won the independence for the Philippines on 12 June 1898.

The festivities on 11 June will begin at 1:00 PM with a Philippine Independence Day Tagalog Mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, which is a few steps away from the Rizal Monument.

A formal program will follow at 3:00 PM at the Rizal Monument. It will include the raising of the Philippine flag and wreath laying ceremony.

There will also be a cultural program that will feature more than 20 performers who will perform dances, songs, poem recitals, martial arts demonstrations, and fashion shows.

Various non-profit groups will have booths to give information about their social services and programs for the Filipino community. A Rizal Booth will provide information to the public about the Philippine national hero.

In addition, traditional Filipino games will be exhibited.

The public is encouraged to bring their own food and drinks, and join the community picnic during the celebration.

Several Filipino community organizations and individuals have volunteered and partnered with the PCG to organize these Philippine Independence Day activities.