2 Illinois villages proclaim 2016 ‘U.S.-PH Friendship Year’

CHICAGO—Two mayors in Illinois villages with high concentrations of Filipino American residents issued proclamations declaring 2016 as US-Philippine Friendship Year to commemorate the 70^th year of the U.S. granting of independence to the Philippines on July 4, 1946.

Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen and Morton Grove Mayor Daniel DiMaria issued separate proclamations early in June citing the historical relationship between the U.S. and its former colony, highlighting the American and Filipino alliance in fighting the Japanese invaders during World War II.

Mariano A. Santos, chairperson of the Committee to Commemorate the 70^th Year of the U.S.-Philippine Friendship Year in Chicago, announced a series of activities this year beginning with the Filipino community participation in the July 4^th parades in the two contiguous villages.

“Participating in the July 4^th parades is a timely and effective way for Filipino Americans to make mainstream America aware of the existence of a longstanding friendship between our two countries that impacts the mutual military and commercial interests involved in the on-going South China Sea conflict,” says Santos.

Santos added that open forums and discussions on the history and issues surrounding U.S. and Philippine relations are being planned in the coming months culminating during the celebration of Philippine American History Month in October.

The Philippines celebrated its Independence Day on July 4^th until 1961 when then incumbent Philippine President Diosdado P. Macapagal led the move to change the day of commemoration to June 12, the day when the President of the First Philippine Republic, Gen. Emilio F. Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine Independence after the Filipinos successfully waged a war of liberation against Spain.

On February 4, 1899, the Philippine-American War broke out. When Aguinaldo was captured on March 23, 1901, the American occupation of the Philippines formally started and would last until 1946. Filipinos started in 1992 to mark July 4^th as U.S.-Philippines Friendship Day.

Philippine Consul General Generoso Calonge, in his capacity as honorary chairman of the committee, will lead members of local Filipino community in their participation in the forthcoming July 4^th parades. Members of the Knights of Rizal, Philippine Independence Week Committee, Fil-Am Club of St. Martha Church and Gawad Kalinga volunteers have signed on to march in the parades.

Skokie parade will start at 11:30 a.m. at the Oakton Community College at Lincoln Avenue and Skokie Blvd. with Jelly Carandang, NaFFAA regional chair acting as the coordinator. Morton Grove Trustee Ed Ramos will coordinate the Fil-Am participation in the Morton Grove parade that will start at 2 p.m.

Interested persons or groups, call Jelly at 630-564-7949, Ed Ramos at 224-875-8359 or Anong Santos at 847 528-4991 or email [email protected].

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TAGS: NaFFAA, Philippine-American war, US-Philippines relations