Kalayaan: Filipinos prepare to celebrate Independence Day

British Columbia

How to spend your Philippine Independence week

By Ted Alcuitas

From Victoria to Surrey, North Vancouver , New Westminster and Vancouver, Filipinos are all primed to join celebrations for the 119th anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 12.

Leading the celebrations is a flag-raising event at the Filipino Plaza on Vanness Avenue in Vancouver,  west of Skytrain’s Nanaimo Station at 10:00 AM. The event is organized by  the United Filipino-Canadian Associations in BC.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Surrey, Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society (SPIDS) is  holding its 9th Annual Philippine Independence Day Celebration on June 10th, Saturday, 10am-4pm at the Bridgeview Park Community Ctre at 11475-126 A Street Surrey.

The Centre has plenty of free parking spaces and is easily accessible by public transportation via Bus #C67 from Guildford Bay Ctre and Surrey Central Station. It is also a short walking distance (just across King George Blvd via pedestrian overpass) from Scott Road Skytrain Station.

The event will showcase live band performances of the Jim’s Underground Band.

A number of local celebrities including some surprise guests will also provide  additional music and entertainment. The highlight of the celebration will once again be its main feature – the beautiful and colorful Santacruzan (Parade of Queens).

This year’s Reyna Emperatriz (Queen Empress) and Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) are young Filipino-Canadian beauty queens Anne Longakit and Erika Ballestra Teguibon, respectively.  Anne was crowned Miss Teenage Surrey in 2016 while Erika is currently the Miss Northwest Pacific 2017.

There will be a number of other SPIDS Santacruzan ‘queens and princesses’ joining the parade, which will be held at mid- day. The program will be overseen by local entertainment host and performer, PapaBear and his lovely co-hosts, young singers Blessy Rivera & Glisha Dela Cruz and beauty queen, Shawna Warhurst.  Booth display/exhibit, games, raffle draw, and food concessionaires will be available to public.  ADMISSION IS FREE.

For more information and for sponsorship please contact SPIDS at surreyfilcan@gmail.com or via Facebook at www.facebook.com/SPIDSGroup/

Here is a link to a complete listing of celebrations throughout the province prepared by the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver.

Filday-Events

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