[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4273-H4279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMEMORATING 100 YEARS OF RELATIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE OF UNITED STATES
AND PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 404) commemorating 100 years of relations between
the people of the United States and the people of the Philippines.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 404
Whereas 1998 marks 100 years of special ties between the
people of the United States and the people of the Philippines
and is also the centennial celebration of Philippine
independence from Spain which initiated relations with the
United States;
Whereas the people of the Philippines have on many
occasions demonstrated their strong commitment to democratic
principles and practices, the free exchange of views on
matters of public concern, and the development of a strong
civil society;
Whereas the Philippines has embraced economic reform and
free market principles and, despite current challenging
circumstances, its economy has registered significant
economic growth in recent years benefiting the lives of the
people of the Philippines;
Whereas the large Philippine-American community has
immeasurably enriched the fabric of American society and
culture;
Whereas Filipino soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with
American troops on the battlefields of World War II, Korea,
and Vietnam;
Whereas the Philippines is an increasingly important
trading partner of the United States as well as the recipient
of significant direct American investment;
Whereas the United States relies on the Philippines as a
partner and treaty ally in fostering regional stability,
enhancing prosperity, and promoting peace and democracy; and
Whereas the 100th anniversary of relations between the
people of the United States and the people of the Philippines
offers an opportunity for the United States and the
Philippines to renew their commitment to international
cooperation on issues of mutual interest and concern: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates the Philippines on the commemoration of
its independence from Spain;
(2) looks forward to a broadening and deepening of
friendship and cooperation with the Philippines in the years
ahead for the mutual benefit of the people of the United
States and the people of the Philippines;
(3) supports the efforts of the Philippines to further
strengthen democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and the
expansion of free market economics both at home and abroad;
and
(4) recognizes the close relationship between the nations
and the people of the United States and the people of the
Philippines and pledges its support to work closely with the
Philippines in addressing new challenges as we begin our
second century of friendship and cooperation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
General Leave
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have introduced this resolution
commemorating 100 years of relations between the people of the United
States and the people of the Philippines. I am pleased to bring it to
the floor today for consideration, and I am pleased to be joined by our
distinguished chairman of our Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of
the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from Nebraska
(Mr. Bereuter).
Mr. Speaker, it is right and fitting that the House of
Representatives make note of the special relationship that our Nation
and the Philippines have shared for nearly a century. The beginning of
our country's relationship with the Philippines in 1898 also marks the
beginning of our great interest in the Pacific and the development of
strong, robust historical and cultural ties between the Philippines and
the United States.
[[Page H4274]]
Mr. Speaker, though the United States and Philippines are literally
an ocean apart, the large Philippine-American community, numbering over
2 million, has immeasurably enriched the social and cultural fabric of
our Nation and serves as a sturdy bridge of friendship between our two
countries.
Until the end of the Cold War, the United States maintained major
military facilities in the Philippines which played a significant role
in the maintenance of regional peace and stability. Today, the
Philippines remains an important partner and ally in guarding the peace
and maintaining stability in southeast Asia.
Our Nation is pleased with the flourishing of democracy in the
Philippines. It is hoped that the Philippines will serve as an example
to others in that region and will encourage progress and the furthering
of democratic principles and practices, respect for human rights, and
enhancement of the rule of law.
I am pleased to have had the opportunity to introduce this
legislation and I urge my colleagues to support the measure.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. I would like to
commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) for introducing House
Resolution 404 and moving it without delay through the legislative
process. I am an original cosponsor of the resolution along with a
number of our colleagues here.
Mr. Speaker, this is a constructive measure that recognizes the close
partnership that we have enjoyed with the Philippines over the past 100
years, and voices support for a continuation of that partnership as we
enter the second century of our bilateral relationship. I urge adoption
of this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) the distinguished chairman of our Subcommittee
on Asia and the Pacific.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.Res. 404 and
congratulate the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman),
the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, for
introducing it today. I am pleased to be one of the bill's original
cosponsors.
In the past 100 years, the Philippines at various times has served,
and now serves, as a democratic counterpart, ally, trading partner, and
friend to the United States. The Philippines is a republic basically
patterned after our own democratic system and it continues to reshape
and perfect its government in order to better uphold the ideals of
democracy.
Since July 4, 1946, named Filipino-American Friendship Day in the
Philippines, the U.S.-Philippines relationship has been largely
characterized by cooperation. H.Res. 404 notes these cooperative
efforts by citing our united forces in World War II and our efforts to
promote peace and stability in the Asian-Pacific region. Though U.S.
forces have not had a physical presence in the Philippines since 1991,
the U.S. and the Philippines remain united by the 1951 Mutual Defense
Treaty. This bond may be further strengthened by a newly negotiated
Visiting Forces Agreement which is scheduled to go before the
Philippines Senate for ratification later this year.
Despite the ongoing financial crisis in Asia, the Philippines has
also become an increasingly valuable trading partner for the United
States. The Philippines has demonstrated commitment to undertake
economic reform, and this Member expects the new President-elect,
Joseph Estrada, to continue to nurture this economic growth.
H.Res. 404 is timely legislation as its introduction coincides with
the festive preparations now underway in the Philippines in
anticipation of its centennial celebration of independence from Spain.
It is altogether appropriate for this body to congratulate the
Philippines on the centennial of its independence and applaud his
accomplishments of the past 100 years. The Philippines has clearly
become a positive role model for its Asian neighbors.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman)
on sponsoring this legislation and I urge all Members to support and
approve H.Res. 404.
Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Filner).
{time} 1700
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the
time.
I rise in strong support of this resolution, H. Res. 404, which
congratulates the Philippines on the 100th anniversary of its
independence from Spain in 1898, supports their efforts to strengthen
democracy and human rights, and thanks the Philippines for fighting on
the side of the United States in World War II, the Korean War and
Vietnam.
I have personally met with both the President-elect and the Vice
President-elect recently, and I know that they will continue the strong
relationship between our two countries.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to suggest to my good friends who are
speaking on this and who have sponsored this resolution today that
there are two additional concrete steps that this body could take to
adequately express the high regard we have for the Philippines on this
100th anniversary of their independence.
The first concrete act we could do is pass the bill, H.R. 836, an act
introduced by the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on
International Relations, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), and
myself. It is a bipartisan bill called the Filipino Veterans Equity
Act. It has nearly 200 cosponsors at this time.
What the Filipino Veterans Equity Act says is that it is time to
restore justice and honor and dignity to the veterans of World War II
who fought side by side with us. These were soldiers of the Philippines
who were drafted to serve in our Armed Forces by Executive order of
President Roosevelt. They defended the American flag in the famous
battles of Bataan and Corregidor. Thousands of them died during the
Bataan death march, and many who survived were imprisoned under very
inhumane conditions. The Filipino soldiers who fought under the
American flag foiled plans for a quick takeover of the region and
allowed the United States the time that we needed to prepare our forces
for victory in the Pacific. But unbelievably after the war was over in
1946, the Congress of the time voted to take away the benefits and
recognition that these Filipino veterans were promised. In the infamous
Rescissions Acts of 1946, we said, thank you for all your work and
help, but no thanks.
It is now 52 years later. Families who live in both the United States
and the Philippines have been waiting for the justice, recognition and
benefits that they deserve. H. Res. 404 thanks them for their service,
but we need H.R. 836, sponsored by the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Gilman), to complete the job.
A second concrete step that we can take is to pass H. Res. 312, which
was introduced by the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood). This
resolution outlines the compromise to return one of the famous Bells of
Balangiga to the people of the Philippines. The two bells were brought
to the United States early in the 20th century by American troops who
were engaged in hostilities that had erupted between American and
Filipino soldiers. These bells are currently on display at Warren Air
Force Base in Wyoming.
The Republic of the Philippines has repeatedly requested the return
of the bells. H. Res. 312 would return one bell and retain one bell in
Wyoming. Two replica bells would be made so that each country would
have one replica and one original bell.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Philippine
Declaration of Independence, as a measure of friendship, another way to
recognize this, in addition to the resolution we have on the floor now,
let us share these priceless bells which are national symbols to the
Filipinos.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr.
Filner) for his support of our Philippines veterans bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Rohrabacher), a member of our House Committee on International
Relations.
[[Page H4275]]
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor today to rise in support
of this resolution remembering the Philippines 100 years as a nation.
It was 100 years ago when, during what is known as the Spanish-
American War, the Philippines were liberated from their Spanish
oppressors. Unfortunately sometimes we like to romanticize our own
history and forget what happened a few years immediately after that
liberation. Instead of doing what would have been consistent with our
own philosophy as a country that believed in the Declaration of
Independence, the United States decided instead of freeing the
Philippines from foreign oppression, we decided to take control of the
Philippines for ourselves, and, in fact, at the turn of the century
there was a bloody war that went on in the Philippines that pitted the
United States against many of the Filipino people who wanted freedom
and independence, justifiably wanted their freedom and independence. In
fact, tens of thousands of Filipinos were killed at that time by the
superior firepower of American military forces. That is a stain on
American history.
However, let us say that there were the best of intentions. The
people who were involved in that and the decisionmakers felt that this
would be a way to lead the Philippines to true democracy. And 50 years
later, yes, in 1946, the Philippines were freed. I think it speaks very
well of the Filipino people that they have forgotten that blight of
what happened at the turn of the century and over the years became
perhaps one of America's greatest friends in the Pacific, but also in
the world.
The Filipino people are good friends and part of the American family
and, since 1946, have always had a close relationship to us and during
the Cold War stood with us. Unfortunately during the Cold War the
Philippines reverted back during the time, and, again, which did not
speak well of the United States, we recognized the demise of democracy
under the rule of Mr. Marcos. President Marcos they called him, but one
is not a President unless one is elected, so I will have to call him
dictator Marcos. During that time corruption thrived, and again the
United States did not live up to our own ideals, but yet the people of
the Philippines know that we are a country of ideals, and, when we
could, we stood with those people, Mr. Aquino, of course, who was
assassinated by the Marcos gang, and we stood with the people of the
Philippines to help reestablish democracy there.
I think, as a former member of the Reagan administration, that is one
of the moments that I am the most proud of, where Ronald Reagan helped
ease this dictatorship out of power in the Philippines and eased into
place a more democratically oriented group of people. And then today,
under President Ramos they have had a magnificently democratic country.
We have had freedom of speech, freedom of the press and a growing
economy. Under the past regime, they were so corrupt, they could not
even grow. Today the Philippines stands as a jewel in the Pacific in
the sense that its people are committed to freedom and democracy as we
know it here in the United States. They are our good friends.
Unfortunately, here again at times we end up taking the Philippines
for granted. We end up trying to give business advantages for our own
businessmen to invest in countries like Vietnam that have had no
democratic reform whatsoever, or in China, or in other dictatorial
countries, even like Indonesia up until this current situation. Why
should we ignore those people who are struggling to improve their
lives, who are our best friends in the Philippines, and instead direct
our people with grants and loans and subsidies for their investments
from the IMF and from the Export-Import Bank; why should we direct them
towards dictatorships when we should actually be helping our friends in
the Philippines?
I am very proud to stand here today to say, I am a friend of the
Philippines, and the people of the Philippines are good friends of
democracy and freedom and good friends of the people of the United
States.
Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I certainly would like to associate
myself with the compliments and statements made earlier by my good
friend from California and certainly his support for the Philippines.
I rise in support of House Resolution 404, which commemorates 100
years of relations between the good people of the Philippines and the
United States. I commend the chairman and ranking member of the House
Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Gilman) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton), for introducing
and supporting adoption of this important measure. I am proud to join
these gentlemen and our colleagues on the committee as an original
cosponsor of the legislation and also my good friend, the chairman of
the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, the gentleman from Nebraska
(Mr. Bereuter).
Mr. Speaker, today we honor an old and enduring friendship that has
linked the United States and the Philippines for almost a century. Our
relationship dates back to 1898 when Commodore George Dewey sank the
Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, ending three centuries of Spanish colonial
rule and laying the foundation for Philippine independence from Spain.
For in the next 100 years, Americans and Filipinos have shared a
special bond forged in war and strengthened in peace.
Mr. Speaker, the Philippines should be commended for being one of the
most vibrant democracies in Asia. Since the people power revolt in 1986
that ousted Ferdinand Marcos, three Presidents have been placed in
office by free and fair elections in the Philippines. Last month, Vice
President Joseph Estrada was the runaway winner of the May 11
Presidential election against nine other candidates. On June 30, Mr.
Estrada, an opposition leader, shall take office from President Fidel
Ramos, again marking a smooth transition of power as befits a true
democracy.
Under President Ramos' leadership, the Philippines has implemented
economic reforms while embracing free market principles. The trade
liberalization policy has led to an economic renaissance for the
Philippines, going from zero growth in 1991 to an increase over 6
percent GNP in recent years. The United States has been and continues
to be the largest trading partner and foreign investor in the
Philippines. One-third of Philippines' exports come to America. Two-way
annual trade between our two countries has exceeded over $12 billion.
Mr. Speaker, the people of the Philippines and the people of the
United States have always had close relations. Today almost 2 million
Americans are of Filipino descent, while close to 130,000 U.S. citizens
presently reside in the Philippines.
People of the Philippines have always been a trusted ally of the
United States in times of conflict. During World War II more than
100,000 Filipinos volunteered for the Philippine Commonwealth Army,
fighting under American commanders alongside U.S. Armed Forces.
Filipino soldiers also sacrificed their blood alongside U.S. troops in
the Korean and Vietnam wars. This friendship and alliance continues
today with our mutual defense treaty, which commits our nations to each
other's defense in case of external attack, while preserving stability
in the region.
Mr. Speaker, because of the deep and enduring ties that have
traditionally bound the people of the Philippines and the U.S.
together, I would strongly urge our colleagues to adopt this resolution
before us. All Americans should honor our good friendship with the
Philippines on this important commemoration of their independence,
support their continued political and economic progress, and work to
maintain the special and close relationship between our sister
democracies.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Hawaii (Mrs. Mink).
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding
time to me.
I rise today in very strong support of House Resolution 404, which
celebrates
[[Page H4276]]
and commemorates the 100 years of relationship between the Philippines
and the United States. I take particular pride in rising today to
support this resolution as the Chair of the Asian Pacific Caucus for
the House of Representatives. We are joined together as Members of this
Congress with strong Asian Pacific constituencies, and we have
approximately 20 members in our caucus and about 65 Members of the
House that have 5 percent or more Asian Pacific individuals in their
constituencies.
The Philippines have had an unusual relationship with the United
States. One hundred years ago they freed themselves from Spanish rule
and began an association with the United States which was not always
friendly or pleasant. I am sure there were many torturous years prior
to their development of a strong relationship, but the Philippines has
always been a friend and an ally, and never more important was that
relationship and dependence upon each other than during World War II,
when the United States called upon nearly 100,000 Filipinos to join
side by side with the United States to win the war in the Philippines
and to conquer the enemy forces in the Philippines.
At that time the Filipinos that joined in to help the American forces
in the Philippines were promised that they would be accorded
recognition and veterans status. Regrettably, the Congress took away
that promise in the Rescissions Act of 1946. And so today one of the
gnawing difficulties we have in our constituencies in facing the
veterans from the Philippines who now live in the United States is this
question of when the United States is going to fulfill its honor and
its promise.
{time} 1715
I would hope that along with the celebration of our relationship of
100 years that we recognize that we have still some unfulfilled
promises that we have made to the Philippine people.
The Filipinos in the United States who are living here as residents
or as citizens constitute a very large portion of our population.
Persons in the United States of Filipino ancestry number over 2 million
currently under the estimates that we have received from the Census
Office. In my own constituency, there are about 170,000 persons of
Filipino ancestry. We celebrate their presence. I cannot think of any
other segment in our society that are harder working, more creative,
more energetic and more loyal to the United States than those who count
as their ancestry the Philippines. And so I agree with the gentleman
from California that we should be at this time thinking of ways that we
could strengthen this relationship through trade and other kinds of
formulations to build their economy and to indicate to the people of
the Philippines that it is more than just a token relationship; that
they are friends, stable, reliable, and of great economic importance.
It is important for this country to extend a helping hand in every way
that we can. Hawaii is special because we have elected as our Governor
a person of Philippine ancestry of whom we are very proud, the
Honorable Benjamin Cayetano.
Mr. Speaker. I rise today to pay tribute to an old and enduring
friendship that has linked the United States and the Republic of the
Philippines. Friday, June 12, 1998 marks the 100th anniversary of the
U.S.-Philippines relationship. I am pleased to join my colleagues in
strong support of H. Res. 404 which recognizes the special link that
Americans and Filipinos have shared.
As we celebrate this important relationship let us not forget the
supremely noble Filipino World War II veterans.
The U.S.-Philippines relationship was indisputable when over one
hundred thousand Filipinos, of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, fought
side by side with the United States during World War II. Under
President Roosevelt's Executive Order of July 26, 1941, the Philippine
military was called on to join forces with the United States. Without
hesitation they fought with bravery, tenacity and honor along side
American forces in the battle in the Pacific Theater. Philippine
soldiers who served in regular components of the United States Armed
Forces were considered members of the United States forces.
Filipino fighters heroic service prevented the enemy from conquering
the Pacific and allowed the United States troops, under the command of
General Douglas MacArthur to return to the Philippines. The
contributions and valor of these Filipino veterans were instrumental in
the United States preparations for the final assault on Japan.
Notwithstanding promises made to these Philippine soldiers in 1946,
Congress enacted The Rescission Act which stripped members of the
Philippine Commonwealth army of being duly recognized as veterans of
the United States Armed Forces.
It was not until 1990 that Congress passed the Immigration Act of
1990 permitting Philippine veterans of World War II to apply for
naturalization in recognition of their wartime service.
Today, CBO estimates that at least 28,000 veterans of the
Commonwealth Army and Philippine Scouts are U.S. citizens. According to
information from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS),
about 15,000 who live in the United States became citizens between 1991
and 1995 under the authority of the Immigration Act of 1990.
H. Res. 836, The Filipino Veterans Equity Act introduced in February
reinstates the benefits of the Filipino World War II veterans unjustly
denied by our Act of Congress in 1946. I am pleased to be a co-sponsor
of House Resolution.
This year the Congress has the opportunity to address this injustice.
The House Committee on Veteran's Affairs will hold a hearing on H. Res.
836. The United States has an obligation and the Congress the
responsibility to live up to the original promise made to these
soldiers. This year, the 100th Anniversary of our relationship, is a
perfect time to correct this wrong.
After answering the call without question and serving valiantly in
the defense of the United States, Filipino World War II veterans
deserve, their long-overdue benefits.
This year, in many communities in the United States and the
Philippines, extensive celebration of the Philippine independence and
the enduring friendship between our two countries will occur. I believe
it is time to honor our friendship by providing full veterans' benefits
to these Filipino World War II veterans, who fought and died side by
side with us for freedom and democracy.
Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Guam
(Mr. Underwood).
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Guam
(Mr. Underwood).
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). The gentleman from Guam (Mr.
Underwood) is recognized for 4 minutes.
(Mr. UNDERWOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Gilman), the chairman of the committee, for this measure, and I
rise in strong support of H. Res. 404.
One hundred years ago, President McKinley, mulling over territories
which included Guam as well as the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific
region, spoke of the revelation indicating that there was nothing left
to do but to take the Philippines and to Christianize them. Obviously,
he had forgotten that this had already occurred, and that the process
of acquiring the Philippines has become in the beginning of this
century one of the great controversies which consumed this country and
which actually resulted in a guerilla warfare in which some 4,000
Americans died, 200,000 Filipinos died and over $200 million were
spent.
On June 12, 1898, which is on Friday, our time, General Emilio
Aguinaldo first unfurled the Filipino flag amidst the strains of the
inspiring Philippine National Anthem, declaring that the Philippines
had become independent from Spain. In doing so, they became the first
indigenous group in the Asia-Pacific region to break the bonds of
European colonialism.
Despite that, they soon found themselves ignored in the process of
the Treaty of Paris, considered as war booty and eventually ended up
under U.S. sovereignty, thus confounding some of the efforts of many
anti-imperialists at the time, including Mark Twain, who remarked, ``I
am opposed to having the eagle put its talons upon any other land.''
Despite these inauspicious beginnings and conflicted beginnings,
Filipinos have remained the strongest and closest ally of the United
States throughout this entire century. Filipinos fought, fighting under
the American flag in World War I, keeping alive their own resistance
effort and participating in their own liberation from the Japanese
during World War II under both the U.S. flag and the Philippine
Commonwealth banner, and under their own flag the Sun and Stars during
the Korean and Vietnam wars.
[[Page H4277]]
They have been with us shoulder to shoulder like no other nation on
earth.
As we mark the 100th anniversary of Philippine-American ties, I urge
my colleagues to reflect upon our relationship with the Filipino people
and their republic. As we commemorate and celebrate this important
milestone, I would like to remind our colleagues that this would be an
opportune time for us to act and resolve long-standing issues that have
occurred during the past 100 years, including the Filipino Veterans
Equity Act which has been so eloquently spoken to by both the
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) and the gentleman from California
(Mr. Filner) as well as the return of the Bells of Balangiga. These
bells were taken in the course of the guerilla insurrection, a
compromise measure has been suggested at the expense of the Philippine
government, and we should bring closure to this issue.
This coming Friday, the Sun and Stars will once again be unfurled on
the same balcony General Aguinaldo first proclaimed Philippine
independence some 100 years before. I think for the Filipino community
on Guam, and I am proud to say that my congressional district is the
closest to the Philippines, for Filipino communities all over the
United States and all over the world and for all people who love
democracy and independence, June 12, 1998, is a day to celebrate.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to also bring attention and enter an
article on the Philippine Centennial in the debate at this time.
The text of the article is as follows:
Mr. Speaker, this coming June 12, the Republic of the Philippines,
Filipinos, and freedom loving people from all over the world will
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine
independence. On this occasion, I would like to share with my
colleagues the thoughts of Dr. Eddie Del Rosario, a Filipino-American
who has been a long-time resident of Guam. In his article, Dr. del
Rosario includes a poem written by Apolinario Mabini, a turn of the
century Filipino nationalist who spent two years as a political exile
on Guam.
Thoughts on the Philippine Centennial
(By Eddie del Rosario, MD, MPH)
By any measure, a hundred years is a highly significant
milestone in any chronicle of a group of people, especially
if it marks a great victory after an epic struggle for
freedom. The Filipino people, on June 12, 1898, proclaimed
their independence from the heavy yoke of colonialism and
slavery imposed on them for 377 years, 2 months, 14 days and
some odd hours by monarchic Spain. Unfortunately, it was
largely ignored by most nations, especially by the defeated
foe (Spain) and the ambivalent ally, the United States of
America.
On that day, the Filipinos earned the distinct honor of
being the first indigenous people in Asia and Oceania to
wrest their freedom and independence by force of arms from
their European colonial masters. It must have sent shock
waves among the imperialist nations of Europe and more than a
tingle of delight and renewed hope among the disenfranchised
peoples of Asia and the native islanders of Oceania. I
venture to guess that the exiled Filipinos called
``deportados'' and their progenies as well as the indigenous
people on Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan who were likewise
subjects of Spain at that time, must have murmured
approvingly and must have wondered about their own
deliverance.
By all intents and purposes though, it was not a democratic
form of government that the leaders of the victorious
Filipino revolutionaries proclaimed that day. General Emilio
Aguinaldo, 27 years young, was a de facto military dictator.
It didn't matter much to the 7 million Filipinos at that
time. What mattered most was that they were free from the
shackles of the much-hated Spanish despots gathered in
military uniforms, priestly cassocks and ostentatious period
costumes of the ``Ilustrados''.
When the Philippine flag was finally displayed and raised
for the first time from the balcony of that modest and now
historic house in Kawit, Cavite, amid the soul-stirring
strains of the new Philippine national anthem, the Filipino
people broke in cheers and tears. Free at last! Or should it
have been ``Free Again!'' since the pre-Conquest Filipinos
were one of the freest societies in recorded Oriental
history. Just like the pre-Conquest Chamorros in their flying
proas, the itinerant and industrious Filipinos of yore
cavorted freely among their 7,000 islands in their sleek and
fast paraws and vintas. Their age of innocence was soon ended
by the light-skinned conquerors from the other side of the
world carrying swords and crosses and speaking in a strange
tongue.
On that June day, the descendants of enslaved and conquered
Filipinos who finally overthrew their masters in a rare,
united effort, looked up with awe and reverence at their
brown-skinned leaders who looked so young, so powerful, so
determined and so trustworthy. The average age of the leaders
of the Philippine-Spanish War was about 29 years. In the
heady atmosphere of such jubilation marking the birth of a
new, independent nation, no one even thought that 14 months
later, these same citizen-soldiers would be fighting another
foreign invader called ``Americans''. No one, except for a
quiet, paraplegic intellectual sitting on his wheelchair by
the name of Apolinario Mabini. He somehow knew that the
Americans who were supposed to be friends and trusted allies
harbored their own design, just like the other European
powers, for these beautiful islands. On the last month of
that fateful year of 1898, oblivious of the fact that an
empowered group of self-determined Asian people overthrew and
declared their independence from their powerful conqueror,
the Americans pre-empted the Filipinos, the Chamorros, the
Cubanos, and the Puerto-Ricanos in one fell swoop. In an
arrogant display of naked imperialism and the power of
international economics, culminating in the Treaty of
Paris, millions of indigenous people found themselves
vassals of another foreign power once more. How would
colonial Americans have left felt if, right after July 4,
1776, the British sold their patrimony to the French for
20 million pounds sterling without their knowledge?
Doubtless, there could have been second American
Revolution. And that's precisely what happened in the
Philippines 7 months and 22 days after the June 12, 1898
declaration of Phil. Independence and exactly 14 days
after the First Phil. Constitution was promulgated, a
product of the best Filipino minds in Congress Assembled
in a stone church in the town of Malolos, province of
Bulacan. All that time, Admiral Dewey knew that every act
of self-determination that the Filipino freedom fighters
did before and after the Treaty of Paris, consummated
between Spain and U.S.A. on December 1898, were exercises
in futility. It didn't matter that these brash islanders
followed the ``same script and recipe'' that the Americans
used in their earlier quest for independence and creation
of a constitutional democracy. U.S. Pres. McKinley was
determined to save his ``little brown brothers'' from
paganism, inspite of the fact that most Filipinos had
already embraced the Catholic Faith for hundreds of years.
On Feb. 4, 1899, the first skirmish marking the start of
the Philippine-American War occurred on a narrow bridge in
San Juan, Rizal adjacent to Manila, the home town of Joseph
``Erap'' Estrada, the newest and the 13th president of the
Republic of the Philippines. Once again, true to the words of
their national anthem, i.e., ``Land dear and holy, Cradle of
noble heroes, Ne'er shall invaders trample thy sacred
shores,'' the Filipinos fought gallantly against all odds to
repel the American invaders just as they did earlier with the
Chinese, the Dutch, the British and the Spaniards. Much
later, the Japanese also faced the wrath of the Filipino
freedom fighters. Slow to anger, patient as Job, quick to
forgive but unrelenting once he begins to fight--such was an
apt portrayal of the Filipino by his enemy.
The Philippine-American War turned out to be ``the most
shameful episode in American history, worse than Vietnam and
the Indian massacres'', quoting noted Filipino columnist and
writer, Hilarion Henares, Jr. Based on American official
records, Henares noted that where the usual ratio between
dead and wounded as 1 is to 5 in the Boer War, American Civil
War, Spanish-American War and the World Wars, in the
Philippine campaign, it was the exact reverse: for every one
Filipino wounded in battle, five were killed. In some
instances, ``in Northern Luzon, 1,014 llocanos were killed
and only 95 wounded, a ratio of 10 killed for everyone
wounded.'' ``Gen. Bell proclaimed: `All able men will be
killed!'' ``Gen. Smith ordered the Massacre of Samar * * *
and further ordered that all persons--men, women, and
children down to 10 years of age--were to be executed.'' The
Americans paid a high price in this bloodly and protracted
war. Henares wrote that the Americans had six times more
casualties fighting the Filipinos than they had fighting the
Spaniards; it took them 42 months to defeat the Filipinos
versus 6 months to defeat the Spainards; almost a year longer
than it took them to beat the Japanese in World War II. At
the height of the carnage, Pres. McKinley denounced the zona
system which was instituted to kill all members of a
neighborhood for crimes committed by a few. He said, ``It was
extermination. The only peace it could beget was that of the
grave.''
Apolinario Mabini, the ``Brains of the Phil. Revolution''
and the ``Sublime Paralytic'' who never even wielded a
machete nor fired a gun, much like Dr. Jose Rizal whose
writings and martyrdom in December 1996 sparked the
Philippine Revolution, was considered, ironically, by Gen.
Arthur MacArthur (the father of the ``American Caesar'', Gen.
Douglas MacArthur) as the most dangerous Filipino alive.
Nationalist to the core and extremely brilliant, his
blistering disclosures and writings critical of the new
American rulers made life miserable and derailed the
pacification campaign of the Yankee warloads. Guamanian
nationalists would have loved to engage Mabini in great
conversations about the ``American Conquistadors'' and their
misguided philosophy of ``Manifest Destiny''. On Jan. 15,
1901, Gen. MacArthur threw his hands up and exiled Mabini to
Guam to silence him. He followed the footsteps of the Spanish
despots who, for 300 years, exiled thousands of men and women
to the Marianas because of crimes
[[Page H4278]]
committed, real or imagined, against the State and the
Church. Among them was Melchora Aquino (Tandang Sora), the
``Mother of the Katipunan.'' Mabini's voice was effectively
silenced but no one can break his unconquerable spirit.
During his two years of exile in ``Fort Asan,'' he started to
master the English language to better parry the thrusts of
his new adversaries. Such was the steely resolve of this
frail but courageous patriot. His voice may be silenced but
not his mighty pen and his sharp mind.
Apolinaro Mabini, together with 52 other political exiles
and ``Irreconcilables'' who refused to pledge allegiance to
the American flag, made good use of their time to ingratiate
themselves with the native populace whom they felt close
kinship with. A veritable Who's Who among the Phil.
intelligentsia and revolutionaries, they included such
luminaries as Generals Pio del Pilar, Mariano Llanera,
Artemio Ricarte, and Maximino Hizon; prominent lawyers such
as Leon Flores (father of the late Archbishop Felixberto
Flores of the Archdiocese of Agana), Pancracio Palting
(father of the late Guam Senator Paul Palting), Pablo Ocampo
and Julian Gerona; seasoned patriots such as Maximo Lorenzo
Tolentino was stayed and lived in Santa Rita, and many
others.
For the longest time until his death on May 13, 1964 at the
ripe age of 88, Maximo Tolentino was the only living, direct
link on Guam between the tempestous past and the idyllic
present. He was a living witness of the Philippine
Revolution. He consorted with the great and the near-great of
that epoch. Tolentino married a Chamorrita, Tomasa Crisostomo
Lizama from Julale, Agana and sired a son (who died at the
tender age of three) and two daughters, Mrs. Maria T. Ignacio
and Mrs. Carmen T. Cruz, both of Santa Rita. As of this
writing, the reconciled patriot Tolentino's descendants
include ten grandchildren, one of whom is Emilesia T.
Anderson who provided valuable information to this writer,
and thirty great-grandchildren.
According to Monsignor Oscar L. Calvo, a local clergy and
historian, the ``Irreconcilables'' were suave and debonair
(``caballeros'' as they were described on Guam). Hardly a
weekend passed where there wasn't party to which they were
invited. They invariably charmed their way into the hearts of
their hosts. They were also allowed to hold parties of their
own to reciprocate for the local hospitality. Monsignor
Palomo and the U.S. Navy officials often engaged Mabini in
long conversations as they promenade in their horse and
carriage. Local people and government officials sought their
legal assistance and advice which were freely given. There
was no record of any attempt by these ``dangerous exiles'' to
forment civil disobedience nor rebellion among the native
inhabitants. Tony Palomo, a local writer and historian, wrote
in the May 7, 1961 issue of the Territorial Sun that
according to Maximo Tolentino, Gen. Artemio Ricarte who chose
to go to Japan instead after the ``Irreconcilables'' were
sent back to the Phlippines, wrote to him to induce him to
get the Filipnos in Guam to start an uprising against the
Americans. Tolentino wrote back asking Ricarte not to write
to him anymore about these things, citing that the Filipnos
have adopted Guam as their new home and that they are happy
and contented with their families.
After most of the exiles finally decided to swear
allegiance to the American flag, they were allowed to sail
back to their motherland on Sept. 21, 1902. On the eve of
their departure, Marine Sgt. James Holland Underwood gave
them a big farewell party. A day after they left, a powerful
earthquake shook Guam and demolished the church in Hagatna as
well as most of the stone houses on the island.
Mabini was unshaken nonetheless in his resolve not to
reconcile with America. Inspite of the ministrations of his
brother Prudencio and regular check-ups by an American doctor
to ease the distress brought about by his disabilities, he
pined for his beloved country as he wrote his ``opus
magnum,'' the political masterpiece entitled ``The Rise and
Fall of the Philippine Republic.'' Agonizing over his frailty
and mortality and fearing that he might die without a
country, Mabini finally gave in. He wrote a beautiful and
plaintive poem entitled ``Adios, Asan'' which he handed to
Maximo Tolentino before he sailed back to the Philippines
with Juan Villanio, a Spaniard who fought on the side of the
Filipinos. On Feb. 26, 1903, moments after he alighted from
the U.S.S. Thomas on Philippine soil, he took the oath of
allegiance to the Stars and Stripes. Refusing offers of money
and a high government position from U.S. officials, he
deigned to live quietly in his nipa hut along the Pasig River
in Manila. Barely three months later, he died, a victim of
the cholera epidemic of 1903. Thousands of friends and foes
alike bade him farewell as a twelve-horse carriage carried
his mortal remains along the streets of Manila.
His words ring true almost a century later to remind us
that a nation's freedom comes at a great cost.
``. . . Let us fight while a grain of strength is left us;
let us acquit ourselves like men, even though the lot of the
present generation is conflict and sacrifice. It matters not
whether we die in the midst or at the end of our most painful
day's work the generations to come praying over our tombs,
will shed for us tears of love and gratitude, and not of
bitter reproach.''
I like to think that Mabini spent a lot of happy and
peaceful moments on Guam. Even now, as one visits his
memorial on the quiet and timeless sands of Asan, in between
the sound of the breaking waves, I whisper to this great
patriot that he did not die in vain; that the American
regime, for the most part, showered great benevolence to his
beloved people; that the cruelty of the Spanish rulers was
not enough to kill the humanity of the Filipino race because
their Faith in God sustained them; that the Americans opened
up the hearts and minds of a subdued people through the
wonders of universal education, that the Americans, through
the military genius of Gen. Douglas MacArthur whose father
caused him undue torment, more than compensated for their
past sins by dying by the thousands alongside their true
brown brothers in the defense and eventual liberation of his
beloved Philippines from the cruel and avaricious Japanese;
that the fruits and blessings of a true democracy are enjoyed
everyday by everyone which allows each individual to be
independent, productive and integrated with society as a
whole; that the Filipinos are well on their way to accomplish
greater things, aided and abetted by a government of the
people, by the people and for the people, a form of
government wished by him for his country and ultimately
handed freely by the Americans whom he suspected as just
another cruel taskmaster, that on the beautiful island of
Guam where he was exiled, there are now tens of thousands of
inhabitants of Filipino lineage engaged in nation-building,
aware of their proud heritage, thankful to their noble heroes
for restoring their dignity as Freemen, ever-conscious of
what Dr. Jose Rizal wrote in affirming the inalienability of
rights: ``God gave each individual reason and a will of his
or her own to distinguish the just from the unjust; all were
born without shackles and free, and nobody has a right to
subjugate the will and spirit of another.'', and ever-
vigliant in guarding the principle that All Men are Created
Equal.
If Mabini were alive today, he would exhort us with one of
the timeless gems he wrote a hundred years ago in his True
Decalogue. ``Contribute to the progress of humanity by
developing your own talents, working, studying, honing your
abilities, never leaving the path of righteousness and truth.
By doing so, you will be honored and being honored, you will
glorify God.''
ADIOS ASAN
(By Don Apolinario Mabini)
(English translation from Spanish original)
Adios, Asani Adios, Agana!
We bid thee adieu, We, the unfortunate victims of the love
for a sacred ideal;
We vow thee our loyalty for thy humanitarian hospitality.
Adios, Asian! Our favorite village, on whose sands our pains
have been sprinkled, and our tears spread;
Your name I shall Never forget.
Adios, Agana! Soon I shall leave thee;
May heaven shower Happiness on thee;
Adios, my brothers, sisters, of my soul
Adios! Farewell! Adios!
Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that Guam's own role in the
Philippine independence movement was significant in that ironically a
number of Philippine insurrectionists were put in exile on Guam at the
turn of this century and many ties have resulted from that. I urge
again this body to pass the resolution and more importantly to address
the issues of Philippine veterans equity.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Rohrabacher).
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Gilman) for providing me this opportunity to just
add a couple of points to the statement that I made earlier about the
Philippines. Of course I support the gentleman's position that we
should return those bells. It is an insult to the people of the
Philippines. There is no reason for a country that is so close to us
now that we should not bend over backwards to be sensitive to their
pride in those parts of their culture. But let us note when we talk
about the Philippines that that is one of the lesser problems and
challenges they face. They are working hard to develop their economy,
they are working hard and struggling hard to make sure that they
maintain a democracy, but one of the greatest threats to the
Philippines now comes from mainland China.
The Chinese, the Communist Chinese, are in a territorial dispute with
the Philippines, and we in the United States who support democracy, we
in the United States who believe in a more peaceful world and a
peaceful solution to the problems in the Pacific should stand very
closely to the Philippines at this time and let the Communist Chinese
know that we will not tolerate the use of military force the Chinese
seem bent on doing in their intentions to grab the Spratley Islands.
Already we have been told that a permanent Chinese presence has been
established in the last few years in the Spratley Islands. This is
outrageous. We have found after just it seems like
[[Page H4279]]
a few brief moments of not paying attention that the Communist Chinese
have come into the Spratley Islands with their warships and established
a presence in the Spratley Islands. This is an act of intimidation, it
is an act of a bully, and our best friend in the Pacific, the
Philippines, is being bullied by the Communist Chinese. We need to
stand by the Philippines by giving them the means that they need at the
very least to protect their own interests to their own territory.
To deter this type of aggression from China and belligerence from
China, we need to move forward to ensure that as we have surplus ships
and airplanes that we are taking out of service from the Cold War, we
should be providing these to the Philippines, at no cost or at very low
cost, because it does not cost us anything, we are just going to store
them out in the middle of the desert, let us give these weapons that
are surplus weapons, Cold War weapons, to the Philippines and let them
defend themselves so that they can make sure that they deter any
aggression in the future. This is what friendship is all about.
As we are now patting ourselves on the back and patting the
Philippines on the back for being a democratic country, let us make
sure we remember they are in need of somebody standing beside them in
this confrontation with China.
Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important and a timely resolution recognizing
the importance of the Philippines and their relations with our Nation.
It is supported by the administration and has significant bipartisan
backing. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues in the House to fully adopt
this measure.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support for enactment of
House Resolution 404, regarding relations between the people of the
United States and those of the Philippines.
It is significant that we enact the resolution to salute and
congratulate the Philippines on the 100th anniversary of its
independence from Spain and its achievement of the establishment of its
democracy.
It is also noteworthy that the resolution also thanks the Philippines
for aiding the U.S. in World War II, the Korean War and in Vietnam. It
underscores the need for Congress to enact the Filipino Veterans Equity
Act to extend full veterans benefits to Filipino soldiers who fought
along side U.S. soldiers in World War II.
Mr. Speaker, approximately 200,000 Filipino soldiers were under the
command of General Douglas MacArthur during the early months of World
War II. During that period, our armed forces in the Philippines were
isolated from food, medical and ammunition supplies. Filipino soldiers
displayed exemplary loyalty and courage in the defense of their nation
and fought in every major battle, including Bataan and Corregidor.
Beyond the outstanding conduct of the regular Army forces, after the
islands fell to Japan, thousands of courageous Filipinos took up arms
to continue the fight through guerilla warfare against enormous odds.
Not only did they undermine the occupation forces, but they provided
valuable intelligence to U.S. forces in the Southwest Pacific, rescued
downed American pilots and diverted powerful enemy forces from
deployment elsewhere.
An estimated 60,000 to 80,000 surviving Filipino veterans, however,
have been denied the full range and extent of veterans benefits
available to American veterans with whom they fought side by side. This
is an intolerable situation and we must resolve to remedy this tragic
and insensitive dilemma.
I urge my colleagues to review the provisions of H.R. 836, the
Philippines Veterans Equity Act, and support the effort to bring the
bill to the House floor for debate and enactment.
Mr. BERMAN. I rise in support of H. Res. 404 regarding American-
Philippines relations, regarding Taiwan's positive role in the Asian
financial crisis and affirming American support for peace and stability
on the Taiwan Strait and security for Taiwan's democracy.
There is no more apt time than the centennial of American-Philippine
relations to salute the enduring friendship between our two countries.
It is a friendship which has flourished despite its tragic beginnings
in a conflict first with the Spanish and subsequently with Filipino
independince fighters. But we learned from that struggle and
subsequently worked diligently to grant independence as quickly as
possible. American teachers spread throughout the archipelago bringing
the benefits of modern education to the majority of the country. In
World War II, Filipino troops fought bravely side-by-side with American
forces and Filipino guerrilla fighters were indispensable in the
liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation. The Philippines
continued, even after independence, to be America's most important ally
in Asia, again contributing troops to the Korean Conflict and to the
Vietnam War. We owe a debt of gratitude, if not more, to our Philippine
friends. We all rejoiced when the Filipino ``people power revolution''
overthrew the Marcos dictatorship. The Mulitlateral Aid Initiative for
the Philippines that the Amercian Congress launched following the fall
of Marcos was an effort not only to demonstrate our support for
Filipino democracy but also to show our lasting commitment to an
enduring close relationship with the Philippines. This continues to be
the basis for our policy and it is instructive that during the current
Asian financial crisis it is the democratic country of the Philipines
which has so far escaped the worst effects of the crisis
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution of which I am an
original cosponsor.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 404
which commemorates the 100 years of relations between the people of the
Philippines and the people of the United States.
As an original co-sponsor of this resolution and a Member who
represents one of the largest Filipino communities in the Nation, I am
keenly aware of the many contributions that Filipinos have made to this
country and of the immense importance of continued good relations with
the nation of the Philippines.
As President Clinton once said, the Philippines is our oldest friend
in Asia.
This bill recognizes the great sacrifices that the Filipinos made in
the struggle against Japanese imperialism in World War II where they
fought alongside American soldiers, as they did again in Korea and
Vietnam.
In addition to our historic ties, today our nations are also united
by our strong economic ties. The Philippines is the twenty-first
largest trading partner of the United States and absorbs a large amount
of U.S. exports.
As the years pass, I am confident that our bilateral relations will
only grow stronger--the bonds between our nations go beyond the
diplomatic relations we have with most nations; these are bonds between
people fostered by our historic relationship and maintained out of
mutual respect and admiration for one another.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 404.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________