The annual Philippine Days Festival in North Vancouver which marks the Southeast Asian nation’s Independence Day celebrations in British Columbia has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead, the organizers of the festival are hosting a series of online events throughout the month of June.

Each year the event includes live entertainment and close to 70 food, merchandise and community services vendors who gather at North Vancouver’s Waterfront Park

Philippine Days is one of the Lower Mainland’s longest-running annual events and attracts about 20,000 people over two days.

A series of online events throughout the month of June has been planned by the organisers.

Every day at noon, from June 1st until the 30th, Philippine Days plans to host a 30-minute show featuring Filipino music and entertainment. The performances can be watched on YouTube and other social media platforms. To learn more about the virtual events in 2020 go to philippinedays.com website.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines in Manila, meanwhile, is urging Filipinos everywhere to celebrate Independence Day 2020 safely by honouring frontline workers.

“Our Independence Day celebration, despite its simplicity, is no less significant. On 12 June, we will express our gratitude to the people who lead the fight the COVID-19 pandemic — our frontliners. Through their sacrifices of time, energy, expertise, and even their own lives, they strive to keep our nation safe.”

“And on Independence Day itself, we invite everyone to take pictures while holding a flag and a sign that says, “Thank you, frontliners!”

“Through these simple acts, we can celebrate our freedom even while staying at home. As we have said before, this pandemic will not stop us Filipinos from celebrating our freedom,” a statement from the commission said.

In the Philippines, for the second straight year, the Liberty Shrine in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City will be one of the lead sites in the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has picked the Liberty Shrine to represent the Visayas region in the 122nd anniversary of the proclamation of the Independence Day next Friday, June 12, 2020, local media said.

Due to the prevailing threat of the coronavirus disease, this year’s Independence Day celebration will be another tradition that will have to carry on without the usual fanfare.

The main Independence Day program this year will be at the Rizal National Monument in Manila, while the Mindanao’s main celebration program will be in Rizal Park in Davao City.

Aside from the three sites, National Independence Day programs are also set in the following historical sites:

Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, the site of the proclamation of Philippine independence in 1898;

Bonifacio National Monument in Caloocan City, in honor of the Cry of Pugad Lawin which started the Philippine Revolution in 1896;

Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine in San Juan City in a memorial to the initial attacks of the Katipunan in 1896;

Barasoain Church Historical Landmark in the City of Malolos in Bulacan where the First Philippine Republic was born in 1899; and the

Pamintuan Mansion, Angeles City which hosted the first anniversary celebration of Philippine Independence in 1899.

Last year, Mactan’s Liberty Shrine lead the 121st celebration of the Philippine Independence Day with Education Secretary Leonor Briones as the guest of honor.

Lapu-Lapu City has been in the historical limelight in the recent years as the Victory in the Battle at Mactan, the first known resistance to a foreign invader is one of the highlights of the Philippine’s part in the 500th year (quincentennial) celebration of the first circumnavigation of the world in 2021.

The celebrations will also be marked with protests by organizations calling for the junking of the Anti-Terror Bill.

The controversial proposed measure is now up for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.The Senate approved the proposed law in February.

Vice President Leni Robredo, and other human rights advocates and civil society groups have questioned the timing of the proposed law’s passage and raised alarm over provisions of the Anti-Terror Bill, saying they are vague and may ultimately lead to twisted interpretations, therefore targeting even legitimate dissent.

But administration officials and supporters of the bill assured that the bill has stipulations that safeguard against abuse, with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana even saying its provisions ensure the protection of human rights.