The Philippine Independence Day Council Toronto invites everyone to the famously fabulous “Salu-salo Sa Earl Bales Park” Community Picnic on Saturday, June 19, 2010, 10am to 8pm. Earl Bales Park is located at Bathurst and Sheppard Ave in North York.

The Picnic forms part of the Big Three of major summer events in TO: The Independence Day Gala, The Picnic and the mother of all summer events, the Marvelously Cool Mabuhay Festival which to some of us, is wicked! As in WOW! The Picnic is the spark that switches FilCans FUN mode into high gear leading to the Festival.

Salu-salo sa Earl Bales is the biggest community gathering in Canada and part of the 112th Anniversary of Philippine Independence Day events around the world. The Picnic this year coincides with the 149th birth anniversary of the Philippines National Hero, Dr Jose Rizal. The Earl Bales Park location is a special place for all Filipinos in Canada because herein lies a statue (bust) of our National Hero. As a matter of fact, this year’s Picnic theme is “Araw ng Mga Bayani”(Heroes Day) to honour our national heroes especially our modern day heroes who showed and continuosly demonstrates to us passionate love for our Philippines: From Efren Penaflorida, The Juana Tejadas and Jocelyn Dulnuans among our Caregivers and those who unselfishly aided our Ondoy typhoon victims.

There will be fun for the whole family. As a matter of fact, The Picnic to our young FilCans is where it`s at: Seen and be seen: Pinay chicks and Pinoy hunks do their prospecting dance! Check it out dudes! And a good venue to do just that is the exhilirating PIDC Cup Volleyball Tournament at the Picnic. Ahhhh! summer does bring us all out of the ho-hum that was of the cold winter. Picnic is summer, summer is Picnic.

Food is abundant. Why do you think it is a Filipino gathering? Its a feast folks. From Appari to Bicol to Sulo, every regional favourite food is present. Visit your neighbouring group and sample(patikim) their original regional mouth-watering recipes: Laing, kilawen, (anybody bringing?) Zubuchon, ginataan, Inihaws. Bring Tums just in case.

Seriously, everything here is of abundance: Food, talents, fun, catching up on old times. There is also an abundance of Filipino style story-telling, “bidahan” rules at the lunch table all the while chomping on the ubiquitous Lechon or Zubochon to Cebuans. Forget the bad LDL . This day we party.

Onstage will be electrifying, non-stop show of our very own home-grown talents. There’s a show for every member of the family: kids, teens, moms and dads, lolos and lolas. And children’s games to keep them busy and enjoy.

So folks, get your picnic mats, hats, SPF 30’s, Oakley and Bulgari shades, short(shorts?) ready for the wickedly Kool Salu-Salo sa Earl Bales Picnic! Don’t miss this one.

We are looking for exhibitors - click here for more info.

Indpendence Volleyball Cup info.