Every year on the 12th of June, Filipinos all over the world hold festivities in celebration of their country’s declaration of independence from her colonizers. In Ottawa, the valley’s resident Filipino-Canadians celebrate this occasion for a whole week which the city mayor officially declares Philippine Heritage Week.

This year, as in the years past, PICOV, the organizing body has planned for school visits, Filipino dance exhibitions, film showings, flag-raising ceremonies, mammoth community picnic in the park and the traditional Independence Ball. However, this year there are two dinner dance/ball during the independence celebration week. The other one actually is more of an exception this year – an anomaly, if I can call it that way. The organizers, while ‘selling’ it as a fundraiser for Ottawa University’s Heart Institute, hints of it as a celebration of the Filipino spirit, emblazoning the Philippine Embassy’s full support of the event. It even includes among its raffle prizes a dinner for ten people with the Phillippines’ Ambassador to Canada Jose Brillantes, who is also the donor of the said $700.00 dinner package.

Since 1996 there has only been one gala held by Filipino-Canadians in Ottawa during the annual Philippine Heritage Week. Therefore, it has been a surprise to many, and even a source of confusion, to learn that there are two such events during this year’s week-long festivities both of which are supported by the Philippine Embassy.

Looking back over a decade ago, two gala dance events were also held during the annual week-long celebration. It caused confusion within the community and even created animosity among the organizers.  In the hope of preventing a repeat of that embarrassing but highly preventable ordeal that the Filipino-Canadians in the valley had to endure, some responsible and forward-thinking community leaders formed a top-heavy committee whose sole mandate was the preparation, coordination and management of the various activities during this annual event. From that time on, PICOV (Philippine Independence Committee of Ottawa Valley) has coordinated, arranged and managed all the Ottawa valley’s functions and activities during this annual weeklong celebration with members of all the active organizations as committee members. That arrangement has gone without a snag until this year. For the first time after that historic formation of PICOV, two separate dance/dinner events are being held within the celebration week. PICOV’s ball is on the 13th of June while the other dance (and fundraiser) is on June 6th.

It is ironic to think that this happened despite the considerable closeness of the local community’s leaders who have so far worked harmoniously on worthy community projects. Words are circulating that the embassy played a hand in the formation of the other dance. 

If the allegations are true, the diplomatic mission in Ottawa has caused the community harm. Is it a result of poor judgement or pure contempt of the local community’s autonomy? For the community’s sake, we hope that the holding of the other gala has not been an attempt to ignore the duly -designated Filipino-Canadian organizations serving the Ottawa Valley. NOTE: The Philippine Embassy has flatly denied the allegation explaining  that it was just a show of support to a worthy cause. But it was never explained  why the Philippine Embassy is singled out as the main supporter of the June 6th event.

Some quarters may consider this a non-issue but in reality it has the potential to cause divergence within this erstwhile closely-knit community. It is hoped that this incident is not swept under the rug and ignored as if it has not happened. It should be brought to the open, discussed and sorted to find ways to prevent it from recurring. The country’s independence 111 years ago was achieved mainly because of unity. Let us resolve to unite this community and undertake projects that will provide its members with peace, happiness and trust. Let’s do away with politics. 

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