PAGBABAGO

June is an important holiday and awareness day month in the country.  June 5, World Environment Day, the day to protect Mother Earth, is important to all countries of the world because of the threat of climate change. It is also World Ocean Day, a focus on ocean conservation and awareness.

Several awareness months are celebrated in June – LGBTQ+Pride Month, PTSD Awareness Month, Men’s Health Awareness Month, Gun Violence Awareness Month, and Immigration Heritage Month.
D-Day the 6th of June is remembered in many places as it was the day in 1944 when the allied troops invaded the beaches of Normandy during World War II.   

Fathers’ Day is also in June. The month is named after goddess Juno, patroness of marriage and the well-being of women.  This is why June is a popular month for weddings. My parents were married in June, my sister and I, too on a day in June, and so with many friends and relatives. 

And it is on June 12, when the country celebrates Independence Day.  A few days ago, we commemorated our 126th anniversary with the theme, Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, and Kasaysayan. 

Among the events held last week were the following:

• Manila Clock Tower Museum launched these exhibitions: Concert at the Park, Likha 3, Sayaw Tango sa Kalayaan, and Parada ng Kalayaan 2024 
• From June 10 to 12, celebrations were held at the Rizal Park. These included the Pilipinas Obstacle Sport Federation competition for various ages and groups.  Government agencies like TESDA, the Departments of Trade and Industry and Agriculture held the Kusina (Kitchen) Warrior, a nation-wide competition among student cooks for the best adobo and pancit. 
• Performances by National Artist for Dance, Alice Reyes; Musikalayaan,  and showing of historical films
• A total of 41 government agencies and NGOs offered medical services, fresh produce and other government services
• On June 12, the Parada ng Kalayaan featured floats from various provinces.

We also honored our overseas Filipinos in many ways, one of which is through four awards given to outstanding overseas Filipinos in various fields of service – the Pamana ng Pilipino, Lingkod sa Kapwa Filipino Award, Kaanib ng Bayan, and the Banaag Award.   

Celebrations were held in various parts of the country as well as abroad. Not only by our Philippine embassies but also from countries that recognize the varied contributions made by our countrymen. In fact, in Antigonish, a town in Nova Scotia Canada celebrated our Independence Day by raising our flag to honor our Filipino immigrants for having contributed their skills and vibrant culture to the community.  I have fond memories of this town where two of my step-daughters and their families now live. It is home to the St. Francis Xavier University known for its high academic standards and the “Antigonish Movement in Cooperatives” where leaders in the cooperative field in many countries have trained.  ([email protected])