19 June 2017 – The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary co-sponsored a Celebration Picnic in Wetaskiwin, Alberta to commemorate the 119th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the 150th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation.
The first-of-its-kind event was done in cooperation with the City of Wetaskiwin, the Wetaskiwin Filipino Community Foundation, and the Calgary-based Fiesta Filipino Council. It was an informal, feel-good event for the members of the Filipino communities of Alberta and Saskatchewan to meet one another to strengthen the community spirit among all Filipinos in those two provinces.
Wetaskiwin was chosen as the venue due to its proximity to both Edmonton and Calgary, as well as the readiness of the City of Wetaskiwin and the Filipino community association in that city to host the event. The Fiesta Filipino Council of Calgary, meanwhile, volunteered time and talent in assisting Post to organize the picnic given their experience with the Fiesta Filipino event that they sponsor in Calgary annually.
Consul General Julius D. Torres opened the formal part of the program by welcoming the community members in attendance at the picnic and thanked those who helped make the event a success. He called on Filipinos to be thankful for the hard-won liberty that provided the opportunities for education that allowed them to work and live in Canada. He also commended Canada for its tolerance and acceptance, cherishing Filipino culture as part of the rich mosaic of Canadian society.
Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia, who was the guest of honor at the event, welcomed the Filipino communities of Alberta and Saskatchewan at the picnic and informed them of the Philippine government’s policy thrusts. She also congratulated Canada its 150th Anniversary of Confederation, expressing gratitude for Canada’s long-standing policy of tolerance, acceptance and multiculturalism, and highlighted the contributions of Filipino Canadians to the continuing development of Canada, noting that the designer of the Canada 150 logo, Ariana Cuvin of Toronto, is of Filipino heritage.
Other guests at the picnic were Alberta Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Ms. Sarah Hoffman and Mr. Jason Kenney, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta and former Immigration Minister of Canada.
Ambassador Garcia delivers
her remarks.
The highlight of the event was the presentation to Deputy Minister Hoffman of a petition for Alberta to declare the month of September as Philippine-Canadian Heritage Month, recognizing the history of Filipinos in Alberta and their contributions to the province’s growth and development.
The event also featured several cultural and entertainment presentations from the different Filipino community associations and games for children.