ACR 81, as amended, Chiu. Philippine Independence Day.
This measure would recognize June 12, 2015, as the 117th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and would call upon the people of the state to observe the month of June with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, On June 12, 2015, the Filipino American
2community will celebrate the 117th Anniversary of Philippine
3Independence, and on this occasion it is appropriate to make special
P1 1recognition of California’s Filipino American citizens and thank
2them for their countless contributions to our nation’s cultural,
3economic, and political heritage; and
4WHEREAS, The Philippine Declaration of Independence took
5place on June 12, 1898, in the town of Cavite El Viejo, now known
6as Kawit, located in the Philippine province of Cavite, when
7Filipino revolutionary forces, under the leadership of General
8Emilio Aguinaldo, publicly read the Act of Declaration of
9Independence proclaiming the sovereignty and independence of
10the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain, after
11American and Filipino revolutionary forces defeated Spain at the
12Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War; and
13WHEREAS, The declaration was not recognized by the United
14States or Spain. Spain later ceded the Philippines to the United
15States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American
16War. The United States government did not recognize Philippine
17independence until the signing of the Treaty of Manila on July 4,
181946; and
19WHEREAS, For nearly two decades, July 4 was observed in
20the Philippines as Independence Day until President Diosdado
21Macapagal, upon the advice of historians and the urging of
22nationalists, signed the Republic Act No. 4166 into law on August
234, 1964, designating the country’s Independence Day as June 12.
24June 12 was previously observed as Flag Day and on that day many
25government buildings were urged to display the Philippine flag in
26their offices; and
27WHEREAS, As the years went on, Filipino Americans became
28very involved in the community and made numerous contributions
29in all aspects of American society and culture, especially in
30California; and
31WHEREAS, Many people of Filipino descent have contributed
32to great movements that have helped to shape our country and its
33role in the world, including the late Larry Dulay Itliong, labor
34organizer and the first vice president of the United Farm Workers
35Union, the late Philip Vera Cruz, cofounder of the United Farm
36Workers Union, and the late Carlos Bulosan, one of the first
37Filipino-American novelists to gain fame for his work; and
38WHEREAS, Many Filipino Americans have served with
39distinction as outstanding soldiers who fought as members of the
P3 1United States Armed Forces for over a century and have sacrificed
2their lives in many wars, including World War II; and
3WHEREAS, Today there are more than 3.5 million people of
4Filipino American descent, many of whom have played vital roles
5in the development of the United States and have paved the way
6for Filipino Americans to continue to strengthen their roles in the
7broader society and to contribute to American and California
8politics, economy, and culture; now, therefore, be it
9Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
10thereof concurring, That the Legislature, in honor of the multitude
11of contributions that Filipino Americans have made to make this
12a better country and state for all people, recognizes June 12, 2015,
13as the 117th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and calls
14upon the people of the state to observe the month of June with
15appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities; and be it further
16Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
17of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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