13 June 2023, Ottawa – The flag-raising ceremony is the second activity organized by the Philippine Independence Committee of the Ottawa Valley, in cooperation with the Embassy of Philippines in Canada, to celebrate the 125th anniversary Philippine Independence in Ottawa.
Officers and personnel of the Philippine Embassy, led by Philippine Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Maria Andrelita S. Austria, together with Ottawa Mayor, His Worship Mark Sutcliffe, joined the Filipino-Canadian community, led by PICOV Chairperson, Ms. Nora Arriola, in raising the Philippine national flag at Ottawa City Hall on Monday morning, 12 June 2023.
The Ukulele Group led the singing of the Philippine and Canadian National Anthems while Ambassador Austria raised the Philippine flag and was flanked by Mayor Sutcliffe.
A traditional community breakfast at the Embassy’s Mindanao Hall followed the official program of the day. Members of the Filipino-Canadian community who attended the flag-raising were invited to the breakfast. The Independence Day video message of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. was presented while Ambassador Austria read the message of Foreign Affairs’ Secretary Enrique Manalo. The guests enjoyed all-time Filipino favorites including, among others, beef tapa, fried bangus, sinangag, and itlog na maalat, while the tourism video of BisitaBeMyGuest was being played. END