Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles led officials from the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa in raising the Philippine national flag at Ottawa City Hall on Monday morning, 14 June. Joining Ambassador Robles were federal Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino and Global Affairs Canada Director General Peter Lundy.
Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles delivers his remarks after the raising of the Philippine flag at Ottawa City Hall (top photo). Federal Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino (3rd from left) and Global Affairs Canada Director General Peter Lundy (2nd from right) join Ambassador Robles and embassy officials.
In his remarks, Ambassador Robles paid tribute to the sacrifices of Filipinos on the frontline of Canada’s health and service sectors. He welcomed the celebration of Filipino Heritage Month across Canada for the third time since Motion 155 authored by Scarborough Centre Member of Parliament Salma Zahid was unanimously adopted by the federal House of Commons last October, 2018. He then expressed the hope that the flying of the Philippine flag in the capital city of Canada will remind the almost one million Filipinos across the country of the struggle and sacrifices borne by their Filipino forebears in winning independence for the Philippines from colonial rule.
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The Philippine national flag flies over Ottawa City Hall to commemorate the 123rd anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence and the 3rd celebration of Filipino Heritage Month across Canada. (Photo Credit: Ottawa PE)
Minister Mendicino paid tribute to the contribution of the Filipino diaspora to Canada’s multicultural fabric while Director General Lundy welcomed the excellent state of the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and Canada. The event was made possible after the City of Ottawa eased its health restrictions over the weekend by allowing outdoor gatherings of not more than 10 persons. The Chief of Protocol of the City of Ottawa, Mr. Arnold McLean, facilitated the conduct of the flag raising event. |