The third annual flag-raising celebration at City Hall took place with City officials in an effort to highlight and honor the local Dominican Republic community in Philadelphia. The flag-raising ceremony also celebrated the Dominican Republic’s independence from Haiti 173 years ago. According to a recent report and data from the Census Bureau, the Dominican population in Philadelphia is at an all-time high — tripling in the last 10 years. Dominican residents make up the second leading Spanish-speaking population in Philadelphia behind that of Puerto Rico. The local Dominican population is represented citywide, with a concentration in North Philadelphia, Kensington, Juniata and Fairhill sections. Annual celebrations are held in the island nation as well as in the United States, with speeches, Caribbean-inspired feasts, formal flag-raising ceremonies and concerts in various cities such as Philadelphia. Photos of the event are posted on the City Representative Office’d Flickr page.