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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL - CALGARY
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PCG Calgary Celebrates Sinulog with Filipino Communities in Alberta

Home Press Release
The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Calgary participated in the vibrant Sinulog Festivals in Alberta, joining the Filipino community in celebrating faith, culture, and heritage.
Consul General Emma Sarne celebrated with the Visayas-Mindanao Association of Alberta (VisMin AA) the 33rd Sinulog Festival in Edmonton, Alberta on 18 January 2025, while Vice Consul Vida Verzosa represented the Consulate in the Sinulog Festival of the Senyor Sto Nino Foundation of Olds, Alberta on 12 January 2025.


Consul General Emma Sarne (center, in yellow) joins the procession behind the Karo of the Senyor Santo Nino at the 33rd Sinulog Festival of the VisMin Association in Edmonton, Alberta. VisMin Association President Jessa Aco - Kuchman (in green) leads the devotees in honouring the Santo Nino.


The annual festival in Edmonton is the biggest celebration of the Sinulog in the province of Alberta, and has been continuously observed for the past 33 years. It featured a community mass, a colorful procession of the image of the Santo Nino, traditional dance performances from the various FilComs in Edmonton and nearby cities, and the Sinulog Queen pageant. Fire safety regulations in indoor venues unfortunately limit the number of devotees who flock the event in the thousands. VisMin AA President Jessa Aco Kuchman mentioned that the Santo Nino devotees in Edmonton alone number more than 1,500, and include a number of second-generation Filipinos like herself. “The devotion to the Santo Nino is alive and well in Alberta, with devotees attending in the thousands despite the sub-zero temperatures” she added.


Devotees came in the thousands, chanting “Pit Senyor!” at the 33rd Sinulog Festival in Edmonton, Alberta

In her address, Consul General Emma Sarne emphasized the significance of the Sinulog as a symbol of unity, faith, cultural pride among Filipinos in Alberta, and showcases the strength of the Filipino heritage that is celebrated far from the homeland. She also mentioned that the traditional dance step of the Sinulog - the two-steps-forward-one-step-back - “embodies the connection to our Filipino roots and our vision for the future, teaching us how to embrace progress while staying mindful of our history.”



Consul General Emma Sarne delivering her remarks to the VisMin Association and the Filipino Community during the Sinulog Festival in Edmonton, Alberta on 18 January 2025

Edmonton City Mayor Amarjeet Sohi graced the occasion and offered his well wishes to the Filipino Community for the well-organized annual event. According to the 2021 census, Edmonton's visible minority population sits at 42.8 per cent of the city’s 1,418,118 population, with South Asian, Chinese, Black, and Filipino people making up the largest communities within this group. Filipinos number 80,760.00 or 5.6% of the city’s population.