PHILIPPINE EMBASSY, OTTAWA ATTRIBUTES SUCCESS OF  WEEK-LONG
INDEPENDENCE DAY ACTIVITIES TO FILIPINO COMMUNITY’S PARTICIPATION 

27 June 2006 – The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Filipino community in Canada has greatly contributed to the success of the week-long celebration of the 108^th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence through their participation in all the activities organized by the Embassy from 12 to 18 June 2006 in Ottawa. 

Consul General Joseph Gerard B. Angeles said that the Independence Day  activities were opportunities to promote Philippine culture, tourism and business. 

On 11 June 2006, a Merienda Salo-Salo sa Residence sa Araw ng Kalayaan organized by the Philippine Embassy and the Filipino community which kicked off the celebration of Philippine Independence week. About 500 guests from the Filipino communities of Ottawa, Kingston, Montreal, Quebec City, Markham, Toronto and St. John's, Newfoundland, converged at the gardens of the residence for a merienda get-together.   La Union Governor Victor F. Ortega, the guest of honor, conveyed the glad greetings of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the Filipino-Canadian community in Canada, and spoke on the initiatives for charter change as well as the importance for Filipinos abroad to become more involved in the Philippine political process. 

The afternoon festivities commenced with singing of the national anthem, followed by the reading of the messages of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo by Ambassador Brillantes and Minister and Consul General Joseph Gerard B. Angeles, respectively. 

Ambassador Brillantes also administered the oath of allegiance to 21 Filipino-Canadians who have reacquired Philippine citizenship under the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003. 

On 12 June, a flag-raising ceremony was held at the City Hall of Ottawa led by the Himig Pilipino Choral Ensemble. The ceremony was followed by a breakfast reception and a short program at the Councilor's Lounge of the City Hall.  

Ambassador Brillantes hosted a Vin d'Honneur at the Sheraton Hotel, which was attended by members of the diplomatic community and Canadian government officials. The Ambassador, together with the officers and staff of the Embassy, were on hand to welcome some 150 guests from Ottawa's diplomatic corps, the federal government and the Filipino community, who were treated to a program of songs by the Himig Pilipino Choral Ensemble, as well as a fruit and vegetable sculpture demonstration by Filipino chef Armando Baisas of Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa. 

On 13 June 2006, the Canada-Philippines Business Council (CPBC) conducted its annual Business Luncheon, chaired by its President Ms. Alicia Natividad,  at the National Press Club. Ambassador Brillantes was one of the guest speakers, along with Mr. Rob Simmons of Export Development Canada and Ms. Ellen Ruth Zeisler, commercial counsellor at the Canadian Embassy in Manila. The speakers discussed doing business in the Philippines amidst  the 'political noise.' 

Tinig Pinoy, a community radio program in Ottawa, also devoted its entire airtime on the same day to the celebration of the 108^th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence by playing original Pilipino music and reading snippets of Philippine history. 

On 16 June 2006, the Philippine Independence Committee of Ottawa Valley (PICOV), in coordination with the Philippine Embassy, hosted a gala night at the Centurion Conference and Banquet Center that was attended by about 150 members of the community in their finest Filipiniana and formal attires. After delivering his Independence Day remarks, Ambassador Brillantes read the Independence Day message of President Arroyo. The occasion also marked the graduation of some 20 students of the Philippine Center Canada's Computer Training Course, with Ambassador Brillantes handing them their certificates of completion.  

On 18 June 2006, the much-awaited Annual Independence Day Picnic was held at Vincent Massey Park.   Activities during the Picnic included the Independence Day Parade, Santacruzan, a mass celebrated by Fr. Pedro V. Arana, Parada ng Lechon and a Best Dressed Lechon contest, as well as a volleyball tournament of Filipino organizations.  His Worship Bob Chiarelli, Mayor of the City of Ottawa, came to the picnic and joined the Embassy table before going around the picnic area to meet members of the community. 

As it does yearly, the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Heritage Foundation of Canada jointly held a wreath-laying and floral offering ceremony at the bust of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, at the City Hall of Gatineau, Quebec. The program began with the singing of the Pambansang Awit, followed by the laying of wreaths and flowers at Rizal's bust. Everyone took turns reading passages from two of Dr. Rizal's works, Sa Aking Mga Kabata and Ang Awit ni Maria Clara.  Acting chairperson of the Philippine Heritage Foundation Sonia del Rosario hosted lunch at a local restaurant after the ceremony.