PIDCKick Starts “Filipino Heritage Month” At The Park.

The Philippine Independence Day Council( PIDC) lifts off the celebration of “Filipino Heritage Month” in Canada with a great Salu-Salo- Picnic gathering at Earl Bales Park, North York. Formed in 1997, PIDC. is a registered non-profit, and volunteer-run umbrella organization of several Filipino-Canadian cultural, social, professional, and community associations in Ontario. Its main mission is to spearhead the commemoration of the Philippine Independence Day and to endeavor “to foster unity within the Filipino-Canadian community by showcasing Philippine heritage and culture to mainstream society”. 

Solidly headed by Agnes Miranda as its President, PIDC is gearing up several community initiatives and activities for 2022. Amongst which are the Independence Day Picnic at the Park, The “Mabuhay Philippines Festival” event at Nathan Phillips Square, “Miss and Mrs. PIDC Philippines” pageant, MPF Gala Night, 2nd National Songwriting Competition, and fundraisers for the PIDC relief assistance fund.

The “picnic-at-the-park” was held on June 4, 2022, Saturday at Earl Bales Park, North York. Attended by more than 300 picnickers, the event included a wreath-laying at the monument of national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, a sumptuous “salu-salo” potluck lunch, cultural and musical presentations, a men and women volleyball tournament, and  a parade at the park participated by Filipino-Canadian organizations. 

The PIDC event organizing committee was fully guided and supported by the PIDC Board of Directors and Executive Officers and other volunteers. It is composed of Vice-President Ben Corpuz as chairman and Rory Elefano as co-chair. NYPAA’s “big three”, Vilma Tahsin, Roger Tarca, and Bob San Juan gamely organized and supervised the PIDC volleyball tournament with prizes generously donated by the World Financial Group( WFG). The whole day fest was aptly hosted and coordinated by Danny Orbillo, Chyrell Samson-Ronquillo, and Stephanie Artuz.

The dignitaries who graced the whole-day activity were Members of Parliament Salma Zahid, Shaun Chen, Yaara Saks, Jean Yip, MPP Doly Begum, UPF-Canada President Dr. Moonshik Kim, TCDSB Trustee Garry Tanuan, Ajax Councillor Lisa Bower, OMNI TV Journalist- Reporter Theresa Redula, and community leaders Paul Saguil and Veronica Javier. 

Among the participating organizations were: Northumberland Fil-Cans Cultural Assoc., CNAC-O, Fun Philippines team, Kababayan Group, Filipino Construction Professionals-Ontario, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Rizal- Canada Region, Mark Angel Productions-The Aegis PTAC, RNAO, SMDI, World Financial Group, and other social entities. It was certainly a fun day of “kumustahan”, “kainan”, “kantiyawan“, cultural dances, musical performances, group dancing, individual dance skills demonstration, fellowship, and recognition awards.