Montreal articles

MONTREAL-  The Philippine Centennial Montreal Ad Hoc Committee, a group representing individuals and associations within the Filipino Community of Montreal is calling the support of all Montrealers and the different levels of government to its action plans of celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of Philippine Independence in 1998. One of its cultural projects is to unveil a bust or marker in Montreal in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines to mark the Philippine Centennial and also to promote international awareness and significance of the birth of the Filipino nation- Asia’s first Republic and constitutional democracy. As well, the  Philippine Montreal Centennial Committee, has received, not too long ago, a message from President Fidel Ramos expressing his praise to members of the Committee for taking the initiative to invite him to visit Montreal for the unveiling of a bust statue of Dr. Jose Rizal in Montreal whose martyrdom inspired the Philippine Revolution of 1898 that gave birth to the Filipino nation.  

Under its action plans developed by members of the Montreal Centennial Committee, headed by Filipino Star publisher Bert Abiera and Star editor Tony P. Fernandez, the following activities will take place in the city of Montreal.

• a cultural stage presentation depicting through drama, songs and dances the cultural heritage customs and traditions of the Philippines and  pay tribute to its heroes which will be highlighted by presentation of Montreal's Miss Philippine Centennial.
• to erect a statue or bust of Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines in Montreal to mark the Philippine Centennial in 1998 and to invite President Fidel Ramos to Montreal for its unveiling during his planned state visit to Canada this year.
• to build a float to commemorate the Philippines’ first 100 years of freedom  to join the festivities of Canada Day in July next year.
•  Book launching of the book entitled: “ Memories:The Filipinos in Quebec”.
•  a literary -musical program and poetry readings and other activities in the artistic field  by Filipinos here that popularize their thoughts on nationalism and service to the Filipino people

     MONTREAL - Members of Montreal's Filipino community are ecstatic. Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos will be in Montreal on  Nov. 29, 1997 as part of his official visit to Canada. Ramos will  attend the 5th annual APEC Economic Leaders meeting in Vancouver, Canada on Nov. 24-25 to pave the way for business deals between Canada and the Philippines and to take part in a ceremony in Montreal in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal marking the 100th anniversary of Filipino Independence. The planned visit to Montreal is a historic first for a Philippine head of state.     The Ramos visit to Montreal was announced Aug. 30 by Philippine Ambassador to Canada Raul I. Goco after receiving a plaque as "The Most Outstanding Batangueño in Canada" given to him by the the Filipino Batangueño Association of Montreal headed by Limneo Macapuno. Ramos has also received invitations to visit Winnipeg and Toronto and will meet Canada's Governor General- the Rt. Honorable Romeo Leblanc at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.     Prime Minister Jean Chretien extended the invitation to President Fidel Ramos to visit Canada following Team Canada's trade mission to the Asia-Pacific Region. The Philippine President graciously accepted Canada's invitation.     During a televised press conference to Prime Minister Jean Christen and Premier Lucien Bouchard and other provincial premiers last January 1996 in Malacañang Palace, Bert Abiera, publisher of The Filipino Star, a Montreal Filipino community newspaper, made a pitch to honor the national hero of the Philippines Dr. Jose Rizal in Montreal, and asked President Ramos if he will include Montreal in his itinerary. As well, Abiera told the assembled group of reporters that an Ad Hoc Committee has been formed here to request Montreal Mayor Pierre Bourque for a permit to erect a statue of Rizal or to rename a city park or street in honor of the Filipino national hero to mark the Philippine Centennial.      President Ramos' reply to Abiera was positive, saying he "will consider the proposal" after consulting with his aides, and of course with Prime Minister Chretien.     Since returning here, Bert Abiera said: "What the Ad Hoc Committee wants is to let President Ramos know that Filipino Montrealers are inviting him to also visit Montreal."   The Ad Hoc Committee has since held various meetings with Filipino leaders and Philippine embassy officials in Ottawa and with Philippine Honorary Consul Erlinda Quintos-Brewster and officials of the city of Montreal to draw up plans to welcome Ramos and his large entourage of about 500 Filipino business leaders who will come here to exchange fruitful contacts and exchanges for future business deals beneficial to both countries.