Officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy, led by Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia (right), together with their families during the Picnic.

9 June 2019, Ottawa – The Embassy of the Philippines in Canada joined members of the Filipino community in celebration of Philippine Independence Day and Filipino Heritage Month at a picnic held at Vincent Massey Park, Ottawa, on Sunday, 9 June 2019.

More than a thousand Filipinos from Ottawa, Kingston, and Montreal gathered for this annual event. The morning began with a parade around the park of different participating Filipino organizations, followed by welcome remarks from Philippine Independence Committee of the Ottawa Valley (PICOV) Chairperson Nora Arriola. Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia greeted the participants, noting that “today is a good day to be a Filipino” and wished all the picnic guests a successful event. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson also joined the morning program and addressed the audience.

The much-anticipated “Parada ng mga Lechon” (Lechon Parade) was one of the highlights of the morning, with roast pigs (lechon) displayed in various costumes and themes by competing organizations. The Hiligaynon Group’s lechon interpretation of “Ohoy Alibangbang” accompanied by a special dance number garnered the first prize.

The parade was followed by music and dance numbers from local performers, including the Philippine Dance Troupe of Ottawa (PDTO), and chess and volleyball tournaments in the afternoon.

The Independence Day Picnic is one of a series of activities organized by PICOV for the inaugural commemoration of Filipino Heritage Month. END.