July 13, 2018 , 04:10pm

Consulate celebrates 120th anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence

Consul General Rosalita
S. Prospero delivered
the message from the
President of the Philippines

By Michelle Chermaine Ramos
The Philippine Reporter

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto hosted its annual Philippine Independence Day celebration at 160 Eglinton Ave. East the morning of June 12, 2018. The program started with the singing of the Philippine national anthem by the Opera Chorus of the Philippines Quartet as the crowd joined in.
Consul General Rosalita Prospero, Deputy Consul General Bernadette Fernandez, Senior Trade Commissioner Maria Roseni Alvero and Labor Officer Celeste Marie T. Ramos delivered Independence day greetings from President Duterte, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and other cabinet secretaries.

Now that the City of Toronto has officially declared June as Philippine Heritage Month, the community is bubbling with excitement and pride with the influx of new events celebrating Filipino culture. Dance Professor and choreographer Patrick Alcedo spoke about Indak, his latest Philippine dance and music concert held on June 22, 2018 at the Fleck Dance Theatre in downtown Toronto.

The Opera Chorus of the Philippines Quartet sang nostalgic folk and love songs from the homeland. At the end of the program, guests were treated to a traditional Filipino breakfast from Remely’s served in the boardroom where two prominent paintings by the Philippine Artists Group of Canada were displayed. One was a portrait of national hero Jose Rizal by Romi MananQuil and on the opposite wall was a large painting by the Philippine Artists Group of Canada in collaboration with UNICEF artist Manuel Baldemor in 2015.