Press Release

Flag-raising Ceremonies and Other Festivities Mark Philippine Independence Day 2019 in the Greater Toronto Area

2019-06-18

17 June 2019, Toronto, Canada—The week surrounding June 12 was a busy week for the Filipino-Canadian community in the Greater Toronto Area as they celebrated the 121st anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence with a series of activities. This year’s commemoration of Philippine Independence coincides with four(4) other milestones: the first Canada-wide celebration of the month of June as Filipino heritage month pursuant to House Bill 105 introduced in the House of Commons in October last year; the declaration of June 12 and the month of June as Filipino Heritage Day and Filipino Heritage month in the City of Toronto and in in all schools under the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-Canada diplomatic relations.

Unveiling of the Rizal Monument in Markham

09 June 2019-(Left photo): The life-size bronze statue of Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal was unveiled in Markham, Ontario on June 09, 2019. (Right photo): Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti (3rd from left), former Markham Councillor Alex Chiu (4th from left) and Deputy Consul General Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez (2nd from right) are joined by children of Filipino descent in posing for a souvenir photo to mark the occasion. Photo Credit: Mr. Bin Kon Loo of Filipiniana News

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti (5th from left), former Markham Councillor Alex Chiu (Center), Deputy Consul General Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez (4th from right) and the sculptor of the bronze statue Mr. Mogi Mogado are joined by other dignitaries to mark the occasion. Photo Credit: Mr. Bin Kon Loo of Filipiniana News

On 09 June 2019, the Philippine Consulate General, led by Deputy Consul General Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, participated in the flag-raising rites and unveiling of the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal at the Luneta Gardens. Luneta Gardens was built on a portion of Box Grove Community Park in Markham, Ontario.

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti and other local elected officials joined the Filipino community during the Philippine flag-raising rites. A brain-child of former Markham Ward 8 Councillor Alex Chiu, the life-size bronze statue of Dr. Jose Rizal was sculpted by a local Filipino-Canadian Mr. Mogi Mogado and stands across the road where Rizal Avenue in Markham begins.

Flag-raising ceremonies

The Philippine flag was proudly hoisted at Toronto City Hall and Provincial Parliament of Ontario on June 12, 2019 and from June 9 to 13 in the following key cities in the Greater Toronto Area and nearby areas: Vaughan, Brampton, Markham, Barrie and Hamilton.

12 June 2019, Toronto-(Clockwise from the left): (1) Mayor John Tory joins the Filipino community in celebrating the 121st anniversary of the declaration of Philippine independence; (2) Mayor Tory poses for a souvenir photo with Consul Edna May Grecia-Lazaro (middle); Welfare Officer Ms. Ma. Lourdes V. Reyes (rightmost), Pag-IBIG Fund Representative Ms. Elizabeth Borres (leftmost) and Social Security System Representative Mr. Roberto Roldan; and (3) Councillor Jim Karygiannis (2nd from right) of Ward 22 Scarborough-Agincourt and Councillor Josh Matlow (rightmost) for Ward 12-St. Paul pose for a photo with PCG officers. Photo Credit: Mr. Bin Kon Loo of Filipiniana News

Local officials, notably the Mayor of Toronto John Tory, MPP Doly Begum for Scarborough Southwest, Councillor Jim Karygiannis of Ward 22 Scarborough-Agincourt, Councillor Josh Matlow for Ward 12-St. Paul, and former Councillor Neethan Shan, were present to celebrate with the Filipino-Canadian community. In their remarks, they acknowledged the important contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community to the economic development of Canada and their role in further enriching Canada’s cultural mosaic. The messages of the officials carried a common theme; they cited the shared values of freedom, democracy and the importance of family that binds the Philippines and Canada.

Deputy Consul General Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez (4th from right), Labor Attache Rachel Nagayo(5th from left), Cultural Officer Ms. Cecilia Santos (3rd from left) and some members of the Filipino community await the start of the flag-raising ceremony at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

(From left to right): Deputy Consul General Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, Ms. Monina Lim-Serrano, President of the Federation of Filipino-Canadians in Ontario, MPP Raymond Cho, MPP Doly Begum, MPP Chris Glover, MPP Kathleen Wynn, Ms. Michelle Serrano of the Federation of Filipino-Canadians in Ontario and MPP Robin Martin.

Deputy Consul General Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez led the flag raising ceremony at the grounds of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Queen’s Park. Organized by the Federation of Filipino-Canadians in Ontario, the event was attended by some Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP): Kathleen Wynn (Don Valley West), Raymond Cho (Scarborough-Rouge River and Ontario Minister for Seniors and Accessibility); Robin Martin (Eglinton-Lawrence); Doly Begum (Scarborough Southwest) and Chris Glover (Spadina-Fort York).

Other Activities Marking Philippine Independence Day and Filipino Heritage Month

The Consulate General attended the reception launching the photo exhibit ``Larawan``, meaning portrait. The event was organized by Philippine Advancement Through Arts and Culture (PATAC) as part of the Filipino Heritage Month celebration. The exhibit will feature portraits of Filipino-Canadians whose work and story has inspired the Filipino community and highlight their positive contributions to Toronto, Canada. The portraits were taken by Christian Ryan, PATAC`s feature artist for 2019 and will be displayed in various locations across Toronto.

Her Excellency Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia (4th from right), Deputy Consul General Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez (3rd from right) and Cultural Officer Ms. Cecilia Santos (2nd from right) pose for a photo with Brampton City Mayor Patrick Brown (middle) and Brampton City Councillor Rowena Santos (beside Mayor Brown) and some members of the Filipino-Canadian community.

Brampton City Mayor Patrick Brown and Brampton City Councillor Rowena Santos unveil the marker for the construction of a park in Brampton named after Dr. Jose Rizal.

Led by Her Excellency Petronila P. Garcia, Philippine Ambassador to Canada, the Consulate General also participated in the Halo-Halo event organized by the Office of the City Mayor of Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and members of the City Council on 13 June 2019.

During the event, Mayor Patrick Brown announced the approval of the resolution sponsored by Brampton City Councillor Rowena Santos naming one of the parks in Brampton after Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal. END

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