Title
Recognizing and celebrating the 2026 Philippine Independence Week Celebration in Philadelphia, taking place from June 6th to June 20th.
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WHEREAS, This year marks the 128th anniversary of the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, which established the first constitutional democracy on the Asian continent; and
WHEREAS, The year 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines, a partnership rooted in Philippine independence on July 4, 1946 and sustained over eight decades through shared democratic values, economic ties, and the contributions of Filipino Americans to communities across the United States;
WHEREAS, The declaration came on the heels of a successful revolution against oppressive Spanish rule, culminating with the defeat of the Spanish by the United States in the battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898; and
WHEREAS, The ratification of the Treaty of Paris in December of that year transferred control of the Philippines from Spain to the United States; and
WHEREAS, In 1946, After having fought together in defense of democratic principles during World War II, the United States granted full independence to the Republic of the Philippines, and the two nations have remained friends and allies ever since; and
WHEREAS, Today, Filipino Americans account for the third-largest population of Asian Americans within the United States, behind only Chinese and Indian Americans; and
WHEREAS, Over four million Filipino Americans, including more than 30,000 in the greater Philadelphia region, maintain their rich heritage by celebrating their culture and traditions, enhancing the quality of their own lives and enriching the lives of all Americans; and
WHEREAS, Filipino Americans in the greater Philadelphia area augment the City's strong cultural diversity and contribute to the local economy in a wide range of professional fields, including ...
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