Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Filipino-American groups across the nation kicked off the celebration of Philippine Independence this past weekend.

Thousands of Filipinos in New York and hundreds in Sacramento commemorated the 112th Philippine Independence day on Sunday and more Fil-Am’s across the nation will likewise continue the celebration this week.

"The day’s observance inspires patriotism and reminds us the struggles of our heroes so as to free us from colonization," said an official from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Philippine Independence Day is celebrated every year in the month of June. On June 12, 1898, Filipino revolutionary forces led by General Emilio Aguinaldo (who later became the Philippines’ first Republican President) proclaimed sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain.

However, the declaration was not recognized by the United States or Spain. During that time, the Spanish government ceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris.

It wasn’t until the Treaty of Manila on July 4, 1946, before the US recognized Philippine independence. President Diosdado Macapagal signed Republic Act no. 4166 into law on August 4, 1964, designating June 12 (which had been previously observed as Flag Day) as the country’s Independence Day.

The Philippine Independence Day Committee (PIDC) hosts one of the largest Philippine Independence Day celebrations outside of the Philippines every year in New York.

Fil-Am groups from the Northeast gathered in New York once again for its annual parade – this year an estimated 20,000 Filipinos celebrated in grand style marching along Madison Avenue with Philippine pop stars Sarah Geronimo and Christian Bautista, last Sunday June 6.

On the same day but across the coast, Fil-Am groups in Sacramento gather to its annual Independence Day celebration called the Sacramento Filipino Festival with live music, food and cultural activities at the Jose Rizal Community Center.