LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim June 12, 2016, as Filipino Independence Day in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, The earliest documented Filipino presence in the continental
United States was on October 18, 1587, when the first "Luzones Indios"
set foot in Morro Bay, California, on board the Manila-built galleon
ship Nuestra Senora de Esperanza; and
WHEREAS, The Filipino American community is the second largest Asian
American group in the United States, with a population of approximately
3,100,000 people; and
WHEREAS, Filipino American servicemen and servicewomen have a long-
standing history in the Armed Forces from the Civil War to the Iraq and
Afghanistan conflicts, including the 25,000 Filipinos who fought under
the United States flag during WWII to protect and defend this country;
and
WHEREAS, Filipino Americans are an integral part of the United States
health care system as nurses, doctors, and other medical professions;
and
WHEREAS, Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to the fine arts,
music, dance, literature, business, journalism, education, science,
technology, government, politics, fashion, and other fields in the
United States that enrich the landscape of the country; and
WHEREAS, Efforts should continue to promote the study of Filipino
American history and culture, as mandated in the mission statement of
the Filipino American National Historical Society, because the roles of
Filipino Americans and other people of color have been overlooked in the
writing, teaching and learning of United States history; and
WHEREAS, It is vital for Filipino American youth to have positive role
models to instill in them the importance of education, complemented with
the richness of their ethnicity and the value of their legacy; and
WHEREAS, The United States of America granted independence to the
Philippines on July 4, 1946 through the Treaty of Manila; July 4th was
chosen as the date by the United States because it corresponds to the
United States' Independence Day, and that day was observed in the
Philippines as Independence Day until 1962; and
WHEREAS, On May 12, 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Presi-
dential Proclamation No. 28, which declared June 12th a special public
holiday throughout the Philippines; and
WHEREAS, This special holiday was affirmed in commemoration of the
people's declaration of their inherent and inalienable right to freedom
and independence; and
WHEREAS, On August 4, 1964, Republic Act No. 4166 renamed the July 4th
holiday as "Philippine Republic Day", proclaimed June 12 as "Philippine
Independence Day", and enjoined all citizens of the Philippines to
observe the latter with befitting rites; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 12, 2016, as Fili-
pino Independence Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.