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18 June 2024, Ottawa – The Philippine Embassy in Canada hosted Palarong Pinoy, as part of the program of the Independence Day Picnic organized by the Philippine Independence Committee of the Ottawa Valley (PICOV) held on Sunday, 16 June 2024, at Clarke Fields Park. Both adults and kids participated in the Philippines’ traditional games such as patintero, sipa, and tumbang preso.
The picnic started with the traditional parade of colors by different Filipino organizations, followed by welcome remarks from PICOV Chairperson Nora Arriola. Philippine Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Maria Andrelita S. Austria, thanked the audience for coming together and reconnecting with our roots and celebrating our common heritage, culture, and history. Ambassador Austria emphasized that the event was also a special celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Canada. Ambassador Austria encouraged them to run for political office or any decision-making body or support candidates who will promote the interests of Filipinos in Canada, such as on the issue of foreign credentials recognition, temporary foreign workers, and establishment of Philippine cultural centers.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Member of Parliament for Nepean Chandra Arya, and Conservative candidate for Nepean Barbara Bal, also joined the morning program and addressed the audience.
The Embassy also seized the opportunity to encourage Filipinos at the event to visit the Embassy tent for registration/updating of records as overseas voters and vote during the 2025 national elections in the Philippines.
The program continued with music and dance numbers from local performers, including the Philippine Dance Troupe of Ottawa (PDTO), as well as chess and volleyball tournaments in the afternoon.
Around 700 members of the Filipino-Canadian community in Ottawa joined this year’s picnic in celebration of the 126th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and Filipino Heritage Month. Several Filipino-Canadian businesses and services in food, health, dental, realty, insurance, and merchandise, as well as religious organizations joined the event. END.