Amended in Senate June 9, 2014

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 78

Introduced by Senator Corbett

February 3, 2014

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 78—Relative to Philippine Independence Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 78, as amended, Corbett. Philippine Independence Day.

This measure would recognize June 12, 2014, as the 116th 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.

WHEREAS, On June 12, 2014, the Filipino American
community will celebrate the 116th Anniversary of Philippine
Independence, and on this occasion it is appropriate to make special
recognition of California’s Filipino American citizens and thank
them for their countless contributions to our nation’s cultural,
economic, and political heritage; and

WHEREAS, The Philippine Declaration of Independence took
place on June 12, 1898, in the town of Cavite begin delete el Viejo (now end delete begin insert El
Viejo, now end insert known as begin delete Kawit) end delete begin insert Kawit, located end insert in the begin insert Philippine end insert
province of begin delete Cavite in the Philippines end delete begin insert Cavite, end insert when Filipino
revolutionary begin delete forces end delete begin insert forces, end insert under the leadership of General Emilio
begin delete Aguinaldo end delete begin insert Aguinaldo, end insert publicly read the Act of Declaration of
Independence proclaiming the sovereignty and independence of
the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain, after begin delete United
States end delete begin insert American end insert and Filipino revolutionary forces defeated Spain
at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War;
and

WHEREAS, The declaration was not recognized by the United
States or Spain. Spain later ceded the Philippines to the United
States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American
War. The United States government did not recognize Philippine
begin delete Independence end delete begin insert independence end insert until the signing of the Treaty of
Manila on July 4, 1946; and

WHEREAS, For nearly two decades, July 4 was observed in
the Philippines as Independence Day until President Diosdado
Macapagal, upon the advice of historians and the urging of
nationalists, signed the Republic Act No. 4166 into law on August
4, 1964, designating the country’s Independence Day as June 12.
June 12 begin delete had end delete begin insert was end insert previously begin delete been end delete observed as Flag Day and on
that day many government buildings begin delete had been end delete begin insert were end insert urged to
display the Philippine flag in their offices; and

WHEREAS, As the years went on, Filipino Americans became
very involved in the community and made numerous contributions
in all aspects of American society and culture, especially in
California; and

WHEREAS, Filipino Americans have also played a major role
in California politics. There have been city mayors and other public
officials begin insert of Filipino descent end insert who have shaped the development of
California over the begin delete years who have been of Filipino descent;
including, end delete begin insert years, including: end insert Tita Alice Bulos, also known as the
begin delete Godmother end delete begin insert end insert begin insert “Grandmother end insert of Filipino American begin delete politics, end delete begin insert politics”; end insert
our very own Chief Justice of California Tani begin delete Cantil-Sakauye, end delete
begin insert Cantil-Sakauye; end insert Mona Pasquil, former acting Lieutenant Governor
of begin delete California, the Mayor end delete begin insert California; former City of Milpitas Mayor
Henry Manayan, the first individual of Filipino ancestry elected
mayor in the United States; City end insert of Milpitas begin insert Mayor end insert Jose begin delete Esteves, end delete
begin insert Esteves; end insert Union City Council Members Jim Navarro and Pat
begin delete Gacoscos, end delete begin insert Gacoscos; end insert Daly City begin delete Vice Mayor Ray end delete begin insert Council Members
Raymond A. end insert Buenaventura begin delete , Daly City Council Member Mike
Guingona, and Alameda Vice Mayor end delete begin insert and Michael P. Guingona;
Assembly Member end insert Rob Bonta; begin insert Acting Head of Post, Deputy Consul
General of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco
Jaime Ramon Ascalon; Alameda City Council Members Stewart
Go Chen and Tony Daysog; Union Sanitary District Board of
Directors Vice President Manny Fernandez; New Haven Unified
School District Board of Education President Jonas Dino and
Board Member Linda Canlas; City of Carson Mayor Pro Tempore
Elito Macapagal Santarina; Berryessa Union School District
Board of Trustees Member Thelma Boac; San José Evergreen
Community College District Board of Trustees Members Wendy
Ho and Rudy Nasol; City of Artesia Council Member Victor
Manalo; Town of Colma Council Member Joanne F. del Rosario;
City of Hercules Mayor Myrna de Vera; City of Cerritos Mayor
Mark E. Pulido; City of West Sacramento Mayor Christopher
Cabaldon; Evergreen Elementary School District Clerk Vince
Songcayawon; San Mateo County Harbor District Board of
Commissioners President Robert Bernardo; City of Vallejo Vice
Mayor Bob Sampayan and City Council Members Jesus “Jess”
Malgapo and Rozzana Verder-Aliga; City of Walnut Mayor Antonio
“Tony” Cartagena; Jefferson Elementary School District Board
of Education Member Joseph Otayde; and City of San Bruno Vice
Mayor Ken Ibarra; end insert and

WHEREAS, Many people of Filipino descent have contributed
to great movements that have helped to shape our country and its
role in the world, including the late Larry Dulay Itliong, labor
organizer and the first vice president of the United Farm Workers
begin delete Union; end delete begin insert Union, end insert and the late Philip Vera Cruz, cofounder of the
United Farm Workers Union; and

WHEREAS, Many Filipino Americans have served with
distinction as outstanding soldiers who fought as members of the
United States Armed Forces for over a century and have sacrificed
their lives in many wars, including World War II; and

WHEREAS, Today there are 3.4 million people of Filipino
American descent, many of whom have played vital roles in the
development of the United begin delete States end delete begin insert States, end insert and have paved the way
for many Filipino Americans to continue to strengthen their roles
in the broader begin delete society, end delete begin insert society end insert and to contribute to American and
California politics, economy, and culture; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature, in honor of the multitude
of contributions that Filipino Americans have made to make this
a better country and state for all people, recognizes June 12, 2014,
as the 116th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and calls
upon the people of the state to observe the month of June with
appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.