July 4th: U.S.-Philippine Friendship Day

By: Joe Mauricio

 

To our American readers, not too many Americans know but, July 4th, besides a celebration of American Independence and celebration of freedom, is also U.S.-Philippine Friendship Day.

July 4 is a day in the Philippines designated to commemorate the official recognition of the Philippine Independence by the United States of America.

For a brief history….The Philippines was a territory of U.S. from 1898-1946. During the Second Qorld War, it remained a U.S. territory with a government in-exile headed by President Manuel Quezon in the United States. The campaign to take the country began in 1944. when General Douglas MacArthur landed in Leyte, along with Sergio Osmena, who had assumed the presidency after Quezon’s death.

The country gained independence on July 4, 1946. President Diosdado Macapagal moved the observance to June 12th, (the date on which the Malolos Republic had declared independence from Spain in 1898) when he was elected President in the 1960’s. The Philippine Republic Day was created in its place, and coincides with the American Independence Day on July 4th.

There are almost three million Filipinos that live in America, most of whom are in the states of Hawaii and California who are conscious and celebrate the July 4th Friendship Day all over the U.S. these days. But, for us here in Chicago this year, we celebrated the U.S.-PH Friendship Day at Lone Tree Banquets in Niles, for the Filipino American Council of Chicago’s (FACC) fundraising cause for the maintenance of the Rizal Center building. |

It’s time for us Chicanoys (Chicagoan Filipinos) to rally behind the only existing Philippine center in Chicago, the “born-again” Rizal Center. Some photos taken by VT, also appeared on Facebook.

Group of Chicago community leaders rally peacefully in front of the Chinese Consulate General July12th (headed by Cynthia Flores, VIA Woman of the Year 2012 of the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame) before the successful passage of the UN Tribunal’s decision favoring the PH over conflict on West PH Sea. Ms. Flores is shown 2nd from right holding a placard at the peaceful rally.

 

WEST PHILIPPINE SEA, Officially Philippines’ Own

Chinese dredging vessels are seen in the waters around Scarborough Islands for years. China has caused irreparable harm to the ecosystem of these islands, and blocked the Philippines’ sovereign rights for years.

As of deadline, news has been released that the UN Arbitral Tribunal decided, “There was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the “nine-dash line,” referring to the demarcation line on a map of the seas, and thus declaring Philippines’ exclusive sovereignty of the West Philippine Sea (in the South China Sea).

China has ignored the ruling, saying its islands come with exclusive economic zone where Chinese people have had activities for 2,000 years, warning that it would not recognize any adverse ruling from the Hague’s Arbitration Court, further saying that it does not have jurisdiction to decide this maritime dispute.

This is a moral and legal victory for the Philippines, but caution must be observed. Don’t intimidate China with harsh words and gestures as that might provoke our big and powerful neighbor to the north, and we don’t want to be sorry later on.

Best solution is, talk with China and U.S. to make the whole area of the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) as a DEMILITARIZED ZONE.

Peaceful co-existence is a lot better than war…and ask them not to harass the Filipino fishermen who are trying to make a living.##