5 June 2019, Calgary – The personnel and family members of the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Calgary joined the Filipino community in Calgary on 1 June 2019 in the kickoff celebration of the Filipino Heritage Month in Canada.

 

The Filipino Heritage Month is celebrated all over Canada every June of the year following the adoption of Motion 155 by the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada on 30 October 2018. Prior to this, the Province of Alberta issued its own Proclamation on 1 June 2018 declaring the month of June as the Philippine Heritage Month to recognize the significant contribution of the Filipino-Canadians to the social, economic, cultural and historical richness of the province of Alberta.

The event in Downtown Calgary was held in the Eau Claire Market and featured the formation of Philippine human flag, playing of traditional Filipino games such as patintero, luksong baka and tumbang preso, and cultural presentation of the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP).

 

The Philippine Festival Council of Alberta (PFCA) was the lead organizer of the event.

 

Deputy Consul General Zaldy Patron joined Alberta Minister of Transportation and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ric McIver and MLA Irfan Sabir in gracing the event.

 

 In his remarks at the event, DCG Patron highlighted the contributions of the early Filipinos who came to Canada and carved a good name for themselves through their hard work and virtues. He also called on the Filipino-Canadians to build a stronger and united community.

There are about 175,000 Filipinos in the province of Alberta out of the more than 930,000 Filipinos all over Canada.