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On June 20, 2025, Whitby residents, community leaders, members of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Toronto (UPAAT) and local business owners gathered at Whitby Celebration Square to raise the Philippine flag. The event saw more than 80 people in attendance.
“As immigrants, we still feel divided between the land of our birth and our new home but when we are given the chance to fly our flag and celebrate our heritage, we are able to honour our immigration journey and share our story. A flag raising ceremony such as this acts as a bridge between our past and present,” said Nova Rellosa-De Leon, long-time Whitby resident and event organizer.
Whitby Councilors, MP Lorne Coe, Consul Katrina Borja-Martin with Whitby residents
The Town of Whitby had declared June as Filipino Heritage Month for the second year in a row. According to Consul Katrina Borja-Martin, “Filipino Heritage Month is a poignant reminder that nation-building is a continuous process, and we would all need to do our share to ensure fair representation and equitable access to opportunities for progress.” Both MPP Lorne Coe, and Julia Luong, MP Ryan Turnbull’s representative, acknowledged the valuable contributions of Filipinos through entrepreneurship, healthcare and in other various fields.
Likha Filipino Cultural Hub founders Gretchen Mangahas and Nova Rellosa-De Leon; One Filipino Martial Arts owners Joe & Beljoy Apostol; Robby Reventar, Chat De Leon
The annual flag raising event hopes to provide an opportunity for intercultural exchange and strengthen connections within the community. As Gretchen Mangahas of Likha Filipino Cultural Hub put it, “We hope that this celebration does not just end with a show of patriotism, but with new partnerships, giving birth to beautiful creations.”
Filipino-Canadian Councillor Lisa Bower of Ajax Ward 3
Other special guests who attended the event were Councillors Niki Lundquist, Matt Cardwell and Maleeha Shahid and Federation of Filipino-Canadians in Ontario president Monina Lim-Serrano and Filipino Ajax Councillor Lisa Bower.
In the spirit of bayanihan, local businesses showed their support for the event through donations of refreshments and gift cards that were raffled off during the program. The event was jointly organized by UPAAT and the newly-formed Likha Filipino Cultural Hub. — Nova Rellosa-De Leon
likhaculturahub@gmail.com, 416-568-7352
