ONTARIO FIL-CAN ORGANIZATIONS PLAN FILIPINO HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATIONS
By Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired
Toronto-Canada
May 12, 2021
Summer is usually the season of the year considered a good time for family fun, vacation trips, and holidays. To many Filipinos in Canada, June is especially the month of commemorations of Philippine historical and cultural significance. Across Canada during the month, topmost to Filipino Canadians are 1) June 12, the "Philippine Independence Day", 2) June 19, the 160th birth anniversary of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, 3) June 24, Ste.- Jean-Baptiste ( Patron San Juan Bautista) Day and 4) the entire month of June "Filipino Heritage Month" as declared by Canada's House of Commons on October 30, 2018.
Historically, as well, there are other official proclamations in several Canadian provinces and municipalities such as in Ajax, Calgary, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Markham, Montreal (Cote-des-Neiges--Notre -Dame-de-Grace), Toronto, and Vaughan. The City of Toronto, in November 2017, is the first Canadian municipality to declare "June Filipino Heritage Month" in perpetuity. The Toronto Catholic District School Board(TCDSB) is the first school district in Canada to proclaim every "June 12 Filipino Heritage Day and June Filipino Heritage Month" on May 17, 2018, while Alberta is the first Canadian province to mark so on June 1, 2019.
In Ontario, a number of not-for-profit Filipino Canadian associations have planned and scheduled events, albeit tentatively, over the summer. The pandemic crisis-related health and safety protocols and restrictions are of utmost considerations in the planning, presenting, and delivering of the programs virtually or in person. Links to digital virtual presentations will be announced accordingly by the respective sponsoring organizations.
Starting on June 12 and 13, 2021, hopefully, the Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) shall have its "Bayanihan Festival" at the Scarborough Civic Centre, Toronto. On June 19, 2021, the Knights of Rizal- Canada Region, in commemorating the 160th birthday of the national hero, will do simple wreath-laying rites at the 3 Rizal monuments in Toronto, Markham, and Winnipeg.
On the same day, June 19th, the Filipino-Canadian Community House(FCCH) will hold its "Oras Ng Ligaya, Panahon Na Para Magsaya, Happiness-Kaligayahan", Zoom Virtual Event Celebration, while the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation(PCCF) has scheduled the "Pinoy Fiesta and Toronto Trade Show Sa Toronto" Virtual Concert on June 26, 2021. On June 27, 2021, the Filipino Heritage Council of Canada (FHHC) slates its "Canadian Multiculturalism Day and Filipino Heritage Month Virtual Celebration" including an Essay Video competition on the theme: "Way to Go, Pinoy! Interacting with Filipinos or Filipino Culture".
Two organizations have decided to conduct their events a bit later like the MCBN Group & Filipino Canadian Association of Vaughan (FCAV) jointly decided to hold the "Vaughan Fiesta Extravaganza-2021 Virtual Saya!: Celebrating Filipino Heritage" on July 17, 2021, and the Philippine Independence Day Council-PIDC's annual "Mabuhay Philippines Festival-Part 3, Cultural Heritage Virtual Presentation" schedule on September 25, 2021.
Event-attendees, viewers, and watchers, according to proponents and sponsors, will enjoy a wide variety of Filipino heritage focused cultural and musical performances by local Filipino-Canadian groups, artists, entertainers, and special guests, in addition to traditional dance performances, fashion shows, interactive games & contests, arts & trade shows, culinary cuisine demonstrations, and other interesting numbers.
Likewise, the festival events will include promoting and celebrating aspects of diversity and inclusion in Canada. It is generally hoped that organizing and delivering such programs on a continuing basis will contribute more to understanding, preserving, and propagating the historic roots and values of the Filipinos in Canada and throughout the world. (Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired)