His Worship Mayor Jim Watson joined the Philippine Embassy and the Filipino community in celebrating the 113th Anniversary of Philippine Independence with the declaration of Philippine Heritage Week in Ottawa from 12 to 19 June 2011.
In the declaration of Philippine Heritage Week, Mayor Watson cited the Filipino community’s commemoration of Philippine Independence Day since 1967 and urged all citizens to participate in the celebration of the Filipino community’s vibrant heritage.
CDA Minerva Jean A. Falcon presents (L) a barong tagalog to His Worship Mayor Jim Watson (C) on behalf of the Filipino Community in Ottawa led by PICOV Chair Sonia del Rosario (R)
On June 9, abarong tagalog was presented to Mayor Watson by CDA Minerva Jean A. Falcon on behalf of the Filipino community as a token of appreciation for the Mayor’s active engagement in community affairs.
Embassy Representatives, PICOV and Filcom Members with Mayor Watson at the Flag Raising Ceremony and Declaration of Philippine Heritage Week, Ottawa City Hall, 12 June 2011
Led by Mayor Watson and Chargé d’ Affaires Minerva Jean A. Falcon, a flag raising ceremony at the Ottawa City Hall on June 12 set off week-long Philippine independence day festivities organized by the Philippine Independence Committee of the Ottawa Valley (PICOV) in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy which hosted weekly coordination meetings since February this year.
(L) Philippine Embassy personnel lead the Parade of Colors at the annual Independence Day picnic. (C) CDA Falcon officially opens the program with messages from President Aquino and SFA del Rosario. Also on stage are PICOVChair Sonia del Rosario and officers of the Ottawa Police Service.(R) BIBAK performs colorful indigenous dances.
A record-setting Independence Day picnic attended by over 1,500 members of the Filipino community immediately followed at the Vincent Massey Park. The annual program opened with a parade of colors led by the Philippine Embassy and PICOV and participated in by various Filipino organizations in Ottawa.
CDA Falcon read the Independence Day messages of President Benigno S. Aquino III and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario. The yearly ParadangLechon, a colourful indigenous dance presentation by BIBAK, a sports tournament and Pinoy Got Talent 2 featuring Filipino-Canadian youths were the day’s highlights.
Guest of Honors CDA Falcon and Councillor Mark Taylor grace the PICOV Independence Day Gala on June 17 with Filipino-Canadians and Embassy personnel in attendance.
PICOV’s festivities culminated in the annual Independence Day Gala on June 17 at the Centurion Hotel with CDA Falcon and Ottawa City Councillor Mark Taylor as Guests of Honour. A dance presentation by members of the Philippine Embassy, patriotic songs and a backdrop of photographs of the Filipino community through the years captured the Gala’s theme “Maalaala Mo Kaya, Bayan Ko”.