4Cs grace APSL flag rites in Blacktown-Australia to mark 121 years of Philippine Independence

 
 
Text and photos by Evelyn A. Opilas
Blacktown-NSW-Australia
June 11, 2019
 


Representatives from the four Cs – Council, Consular Corps, Church and Community – gathered Saturday 8 June for a flag raising ceremony at Bowman Hall to mark 121 years of Philippine Independence, the event a Blacktown City Council-supported activity of the Australia Philippines Services League (APSL) for over 15 years.





They later trooped to the Village Green to hoist the Philippine flag to fly alongside Australian flags for the duration of the event.

 This year’s Philippine Independence Day celebration revolves on the theme ‘Tapang ng Bayan Malasakit sa Mamamayan, ” roughly translated into “the Nation’s strength, concern for citizens.”  

Among those who attended the flag raising rites included Consul General Maria Teresa L. Taguiang, Mayor Stephen Bali MP, Edmund Atalla MP of Mt Druitt, Kevin Connelly MP of Riverstone, Blacktown City Councillors Susai Benjamin, Carol Israel and Linda Geronimo-Santos, Rev Monsignor Cesar Echano, Filipino church and community leaders.

Rev Monsignor Echano began and ended his invocation with the Sign of the Cross, an acknowledgement of the Philippines’ predominantly Catholic faith.

 

APSL president Col Chris Pilao (Ret) said the values of commitment, loyalty and credibility give hope and promise for the Philippines’ hard-earned democracy to survive, reminding his team to be role models in the pursuit of these.



Mayor Bali MP congratulated the Filipino community’s contributions to Blacktown, echoing that the “importance of independence is not just freedom for the nation but what you do with it.”

Consul General Taguiang paid tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives over 300 years of colonisation and encouraged the community “to share our tradition and values with your Australian families.”

Philippine Independence Day falls on 12 June, remembering 12 June 1898 when then president of the Philippine Republic General Emilio Aguinaldo declared freedom from the colonial rule of Spain, for the first time raising the Philippine flag to the tune of anthem Lupang Hinirang in Kawit, Cavite.

Blacktown-based group Banag-Banag (Visayan dialect word for dawn) showed a video on ‘Women Heroes of the Philippines’, featuring four of the bravest women in the Filipinos’ quest for freedom, namely, Gregoria de Jesus, Melchora Aquino, Nazaria Lagos, and Teresa Magbanua, based on research from educator Dr Gil Tabucanon.

Captivating the attendees with their rendition of much-loved songs were performers Wilma Barraga, Jared Lesaca and Emerson Tuazon.

APSL comprises men and women who have served, or are serving, in the Armed Forces and descendants of World War II veterans and retired service men and women, most of whom live in the Blacktown area.

APSL allies itself with the Rooty Hill RSL Sub-branch, enabling the group to participate during the annual ANZAC Day March in Sydney.

According to the 2016 census, about 7% of Blacktown City residents claimed Filipino ancestry, ranking them the third largest ethnic group in the area.

 

Refreshments, courtesy of Blacktown City Council, were served after the flag rites.