Calgary, 21 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Flag Raising ceremony in Grande Prairie, Alberta, led by the Filipino Association of Grande Prairie, 12 June 2023 (Picture from Mr. Neil Tuazon).
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.