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.