Sunday marked the 127th Filipino Independence Day. The Montreal community celebrated in Mackenzie King Park in the CDN-NDG borough on what turned out to be one of the nicest days of spring.

The day began with a parade through the borough, and a procession through the park. The main field was festooned with kiosks selling Filipino crafts, clothing, and food, with dancers and singers providing entertainment throughout the day.

Dario Boco, President of the Council of Canada Filipino Associations of Quebec (CCFAQ) opened festivities, recalling how the federal parliament passed a motion declaring June Filipino Heritage Month in 2018. Independence Day, he said, marks “the biggest battle fought by the Filipino people, the battle for sovereignty and self-determination.”

The Philippines declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898 becoming the first democratic republic in Asia.

“Here in Canada,” Boco said, “we also give special recognition to all Filipino Canadians who have shared their skills and talents with their adopted homeland.”

Darlington district councillor Stephanie Valenzuela addressed the crowd in both Tagalog and in English. “It’s such an honour, such a privilege to be with you all as your local representative, and also as a member of our Filipino community,” she said. “Growing up here in Cote des Neiges-NDG, Independence Day weekend was always something I looked forward to. It was always something that brought me closer to my roots as a Filipina growing up in Montreal, in Quebec, and Canada. And I’m so happy to see that twenty years later the CCFAQ is continuing this longstanding tradition of keeping the generations close to their heritage, to the pride of being Filipino.”

Mackenzie King Park is in the Snowdown district, which Valenzuela called the heart of the Filipino community in Montreal. Sonny Moroz represents the district. He tells The Suburban that he’s been a staunch supporter of the Filipino community since he started in council, and that the annual Independence Day celebration highlights “what makes Filipino culture in Montreal special.”

Ensemble Montreal leader and Montreal mayoral candidate Soraya Martinez Ferrada was called up on stage, as well. “We are proud to be who we are, where we come from,” she said. “We’re proud to be Montrealers, and that’s what makes this city so great.”

St. Laurent city councillor Aref Salem, former interim leader of Ensemble Montreal, spoke briefly, highlighting the executive and volunteers of the CCFAQ for building bridges with other communities. “The world lives in Cotes des Neiges,” he added.

CDN-NDG Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa thanked the community for sharing its culture. “We have the most important Filipino community here in Montreal. It’s here in Cotes des Neiges, and I’m really proud to be your representative. I also want to thank you for your strength,” she added. “We know it was a difficult year for the Filipino community all over Canada, and I want to commend your strength, your sense of community to be able to pass through those difficult times.” It was just weeks ago that the community gathered in the same park to remember the eleven victims of the attack at a Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver.

Liberal MP for Mount Royal Anthony Housefather was the Grand Marshall of the parade. He paid homage to the CDN-NDG borough, the first in Montreal to mark Filipino Heritage Month, where “the diversity and plurality of Montreal is always respected.”