Ika-120 taong anibersaryo ng Araw ng Kalayaan sa Melbourne

Ang mga Pilipino ay nagtipon sa Federation Square sa Melbourne upang gunitain ang ika-120 anibersaryo ng Araw ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas

Dumalo sa  seremonya ng pagtaas ng bandila ang mga Pilipino sa Melbourne bilang paggunita sa ika-120 taong anibersaryo ng Araw ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas na ginanap sa Federation Square sa Melbourne. Ang tema ng selebrasyon sa taong ito ay tinawag na Kalayaan 2018: Pagbabagong Pinaglaban, Alay sa Kinabukasan.

Councillor Walter Villagonzalo about to deliver Consul Felix Pintado's message Source: RMasinag/SBS Filipino

Inihatid ni Councillor Walter Villagonzalo ang mensahe ni Consul Felix Pintado sa mga Pilipino sa Victoria.

“To this day, here in Melbourne and throughout the state of Victoria, wherever there are Filipinos, we continue to walk the path of our heroes against any difficulty, we have always come together as a community to help each other and to aid “ang ating kababayan” back home. United by our selfless love of Filipino heritage and strong sense of duty to our fellow Filipinos.”

“I call on all of you to engage deeper in community building and in enriching each other, remain steadfast on the path of morality and justice and always protect the weak and marginalized in our communities.”

Ang flag-raising event ay dinaluhan ng mga Pilipino mula sa iba't ibang grupo ng komunidad kabilang ang Katipuneros in Australia, Filipino Community Council of Victoria Inc., Ilonggo Association of Victoria, Movement for Filipino Solidarity, Couples for Christ, and Philippine Australian Foundation Inc.

Ipinahayag ng mga dumalo ang kanilang pagpapahalaga sa pagdiriwang ng Araw ng kalayaan.

Filipinos from various community groups joining the flag-raising ceremony Source: RMasinag/SBS Filipino

"Kailangan natin ipagdiwang ang ating Independence Day. Bigyan naman natin ng importansya...pahalagahan natin ang ating mga kaunahang heroes sa Pilipinas...So maski nandito kami sa Melbourne, Australia, we celebrate in our own way. We try to come here every year sa Federation Square para din kapalagahan ang ating Independence Day. Mabuhay at Happy Independence Day to all Filipinos." - Patsy Gutierrez

"I took an oath of allegiance to celebrate the Philippine Independence Day and we commemorate this special day so that we enjoy gaining our freedom, that we have peace and harmony in...Australia...that we have adapted and integrated our cultural heritage to the Australian society."

- Marithes Dumapias, President of the Filipino Community Council of Victoria Inc.

"The Filipino community [has to celebrate] our freedom to be a Filipino. Ikinagagalak ko na at least nag-tipon tipon kami dito especially [during] our Independence Day. We are happy to celebrate and to be united." - Nida Schofield, Assistant Treasurer of the Filipino Community Council of Victoria Inc.

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