The city of Surrey was bubbling with pride and joy recognizing June 2019 as the first Filipino Heritage Month. SPIDS – Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society celebrated Philippine Independence Day with pride and passion on their 11th year of non-stop community work, raising awareness, getting involved, undying advocacies and volunteerism. SPIDS multi-awardee realtor/community leader/founder/president Narima Dela Cruz has been recently awarded by the Filipino Champions of Canada “Filipino Champion of the Year” 2019.
Councillor Allison Patton, Narima Dela Cruz,
Mayor Doug McCallum and Linda Annis
Surrey City Council. Photo by George Bencze
Narima Dela Cruz with Consul General Andrelita Austria. Photo by George Bencze
The event was a celebration of Filipino arts, culture, tradition through dance, music, entertainment and most of all, the Santacruzan, (from the Spanish santa cruz, “holy cross”) that is the ritual pageant held on the last day of the Flores de Mayo. It honours the finding of the True Cross by Helena of Constantinople (known as Reyna Elena) and Constantine the Great.
SPIDS Santacruzan grand queen Zenia Marshall (actress, singer, songwriter) as Reyna Elena. Photo by Diones Lago.
The SPIDS traditional Santacruzan was headed by the grand queen Zenia Marshall (actress, singer, songwriter) as Reyna Elena. It was another colourful parade participated by the community’s young beautiful girls clad in their pretty gowns, dresses and glittery crowns, their handsome and cute escorts. Adding to the excitement, members of the RCMP had partaken as arch holders.
A number of dignitaries were present at the Filipino event, such as B.C. Minister of Jobs, Trade & Technology Bruce Ralston, MLA Harry Bains (Surrey-Newton), Philippine Consul General Andrelita Austria, to name a few. At the opening ceremony, beloved Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum pointed out that the city of Surrey is thriving due to the continued leadership of SPIDS in promoting Filipino arts and culture. He also raved and solely recognized the effort, commitment of Narima Dela Cruz and SPIDS volunteers regarding their hard work on gathering the highest number of signed petitions all over Canada in support of Motion 155 declaring the month of June as Filipino Heritage Month.
SPIDS Filipino Heritage Month celebration. Photo by George Bencze
Dela Cruz stated in her Facebook post yesterday, “Our 11th year doing the Philippine Independence Day Celebration and each year is a different experience from another. 💥 Thank you all for making this year another success and so far, the most meaningful – this being the 1st year we officially celebrate June as Filipino Heritage Month all over Canada. I will never get tired reiterating how important this is for all of us, Filipino-Canadians – sharing it to Filipinos all over the world, and how SPIDS (Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society) takes pride in being an integral part – in work and in history – of this nationwide proclamation.”
SPIDS Narima Dela Cruz. Photo by Diones Lago.
Narima will be heading today to Canada’s capital city Ottawa carrying that pride, representing all Filipino Canadians in British Columbia on the day of Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal 158th birth anniversary.
