On June 12, Philippines will be celebrating its Independence Day. However, for environmentalists, there is no reason to celebrate as we received new shipment of 48 more container vans filled with garbage from Canada. This new shipment was discovered in May 2015. ( http://www.rappler.com/nation/93980-container-vans-garbage-canada-manila). We now have a total of 98 container vans of imported garbage from the land of the Maple Leaf. A country that prides itself with clean cities, has contributed to more trash in the Philippines. Ban Toxics (BT) , one of the petitioners to return the garbage back to Canada has conducted an indignation rally in front of Rizal Monument, a famous landmark in Manila. BT condemned Canada’s continued use of the Philippines as a dumping ground for their wastes, by hoisting a giant banner to the 150-foot Independence Flagpole at Rizal Park two days before the celebration of Independence Day.   The banner states “Huwad an Kalayaan Kung Tayo ay Basurahan! Canada, Take Back Your Waste!” (We are not free if we are another country’s dumpsite). BT is echoing the country’s indignation towards the continuous inaction of the Canadian government to take back their  illegal wastes. (https://twitter.com/JohnsonDZMM/status/608441122898219008/photo/1) “Freedom is about enjoying our human rights as Filipinos. Critical to this is our fundamental right to life,” explained Atty. Richard Gutierrez, BT executive director. “How can we Filipinos truly claim our right to life, when our environment and health are threatened by wastes from other countries? When foreign governments such as Canada are turning back the clock and creating waste colonies out of developing countries? We have staged this action to pose the question to our government and to all of us, what kind of freedom are we truly celebrating this Independence Day?” To date, the Philippines will commemorate the 2nd year anniversary of the first batch of garbage shipped to the country on June 23. The estimated cost of the government losses due to demurrage and storage of the contraband now stands at 140 Million Pesos or 4 Million Canadian Dollars.