The Philippine Independence Day also known as Araw ng Kalayaan is celebrated every 12th of June, but the Filipino Community in Suriname decided to celebrate it two days earlier (June 10) because the date falls on a Sunday when most of the Filipino workers are free.

Invitations were sent to all Filipino expats and the organizers even went on a live radio interview to invite the locals and other nationalities as well.

JUNE 10, 2018

Most of the Filipinos in every part of Suriname gathered at Sana Budaya to observe the first ever Philippine Independence Day in the country. Some even traveled 3 to 4 hours just to attend the event. The Filipino food and products were the highlights of the occasion. Most were sold before 3 in the afternoon, so there weren’t a lot left for people who came a little later.

The celebration started with the singing of the Philippine anthem and opening prayer. A group of Javanese girls performed their traditional dance and some of my kababayans (countrymen) showcased their talent in singing. The program included: a zumba dance organized by B-Fit Sportschool with local and Filipino participants, a few games and an on-the-spot singing contest.

It was a small but fun get-together. The best part of my day was eating Filipino delicacies that I hadn’t eaten for years especially the isaw. 😋 Yummers!

Though there weren’t a lot of activities prepared, I guess it was still a success thanks to all the Filipinos who were present. It was really nice to see how the Filipino Community in Suriname grew in numbers each year. Cheers to more celebrations together! 🍻