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.
P2 1WHEREAS, On June 12, 2015, the Filipino American
2community will celebrate the 117th Anniversary of Philippine
3begin delete Independence,end deletebegin insert Independenceend insert and on this occasion it is appropriate
4to make special recognition of California’s Filipino American
5citizens and thank them for their countless contributions to our
6nation’s cultural, economic, and political heritage; and
7WHEREAS, The Philippine Declaration of Independence took
8place on June 12, 1898, in the town of Cavite El Viejo, now known
9as Kawit, located in the Philippine province of Cavite, when
10Filipino revolutionary forces, under the leadership of General
11Emilio Aguinaldo, publicly read the Act of Declaration of
12Independence proclaiming the sovereignty and independence of
13the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain, after
14American and Filipino revolutionary forces defeated Spain at the
15Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War; and
16WHEREAS, The declaration was not recognized by the United
17States or Spain. Spain later ceded the Philippines to the United
18States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American
19War. The United States government did not recognize Philippine
20independence until the signing of the Treaty of Manila on July 4,
211946; and
22WHEREAS, For nearly two decades, July 4 was observed in
23the Philippines as Independence Day until President Diosdado
24Macapagal, upon the advice of historians and the urging of
25nationalists, signed the Republic Act No. 4166 into law on August
264, 1964, designating the country’s Independence Day as June 12.
27June 12 was previously observed as Flag Day and on that day many
28government buildings were urged to display the Philippine flag in
29their offices; and
30WHEREAS, As the years went on, Filipino Americans became
31very involved in the community and made numerous contributions
32in all aspects of American society and culture, especially in
33California; and
34WHEREAS, Many people of Filipino descent have contributed
35to great movements that have helped to shape our country and its
36role in the world, including the late Larry Dulay Itliong, labor
P3 1organizer and the first vice president of the United Farm Workers
2Union, the late Philip Vera Cruz, cofounder of the United Farm
3Workers Union, and the late Carlos Bulosan, one of the first
4Filipino-American novelists to gain fame for his work; and
5WHEREAS, Many Filipino Americans have served with
6distinction as outstanding soldiers who fought as members of the
7United States Armed Forces for over a century and have sacrificed
8their lives in many wars, including World War II; and
9WHEREAS, Today there are more than 3.5 million people of
10Filipino American descent, many of whom have played vital roles
11in the development of the United States and have paved the way
12for Filipino Americans to continue to strengthen their roles in the
13broader society and to contribute to American and California
14politics, economy, and culture; now, therefore, be it
15Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
16thereof concurring, That the Legislature, in honor of the multitude
17of contributions that Filipino Americans have made to make this
18a better country and state for all people, recognizes June 12, 2015,
19as the 117th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and calls
20upon the people of the state to observe the month of June with
21appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities; and be it further
22Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
23of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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