As the sun shines brightly and the wind rustles in a gently sway, Mayor Sam Katz and Dr. Roland and Irene Guzman, raise the Filipino Flag, a warm gesture of the City of Winnipeg’s participation in the MaCCFA’s Kalayaan 2014 Celebration.
“By raising the Filipino Flag, I would like to commemorate the 116th years of Philippine Independence and recognize the importance of the Filipino community in Winnipeg,” says Mayor Sam Katz. “Over 50 years ago, four nurses arrived from the Philippines to work at the Misericordia Hospital. Today, the Filipino community in Winnipeg is one of the largest in Canada, at over 60,000 people strong.”
The celebration also welcomes the presence of one of the family pioneers who, as husband and wife tandem, has left indelible marks of their volunteerism in the community. And those who are present were honored to have Dr. Roland and Irene Guzman, as special guests. The Guzman family arrived in Winnipeg in the late 50’s and practiced as medical professionals and had become one of the pioneers in the Filipino community. Added to this, Dr. Roland Guzman has served as Honorary Consul General for almost 25 years.
“On behalf of my family, especially my wife, Irene, I would like to extend my sincere greetings to all the Filipinos here in Manitoba, and to all our Canadian friends in celebrating the Philippine Independence, in conjunction with the 116th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Philippine Independence Day,” Dr. Roland Guzman said. And he added: “If there is anything to learn from our revolutionary past, it is that we must fight together as a caring, sharing and daring citizenry for the purpose of becoming capable and competitive in the present century.”
Invocation is given by Letty Antonio, OFSAM president, also the emcee; welcome greetings by Rod E. Cantiveros, president of Manitoba Council of Canadian Filipino Associations Inc. (MaCCFA), Julie Javier, VP president of MaCCFa and member of the City of Winnipeg’s Equity Committee and Founder/ ED of Asian ConNEXTion Group, introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Roland Guzman; and Florencio “Tony” Antonio, treasurer of MaCCFA and former member of the Mayor’s Senior Advisory Committee and former member of Board of Trustee, School Division, renders the closing remarks. Rowelee Cantalejo, Nayong Pilipino Ambassador, leads the singing of the National Anthem.
Various leaders and members from the different associations and organizations,namely, OFSAM, FILCASA, Quezon Province Association of the Manitoba (QPAM), University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association, Batangas Associaiton of Manitoba, Bulacan Associaiton of Manitoba, Filipino Senior Group, Manitoba Street Festival, Philippine Writers’ Guild, Manitoba Filipino Business Council of Manitoba, and some representatives from other Filipino organizations. MaCCFA’s candidates for Mrs. Philippines-Manitoba 2014 grace the event. The following councillors and city officials who witness the ceremony include Dan Vandal, Ross Eadie, Harvey Smith, Paula Havixbeck, Mike Pagtakhan, Jenny Gerbasi and other city officials.
A reception tendered by Mayor Sam Katz follows the flag raising ceremony and the unveiling the huge Filipino Flag.
