Hey Gang…

Here’s the second part of the “Lost in America” documentary. Enjoy!!!

422 Years in America!!

October has arrived and Filipino American History Month, also known as the Filipino American Heritage Month, is here.  The Filipino American National Historical Society established the month as Fil-Am History Month in the year 1988.  In California and Hawaii, where large number of Filipino Americans reside, Filipino American History Month is widely celebrated in these states.  Many Filipino American organizations in these states often initiate their own independent celebrations.

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Bonifacio’s birthday on November 30 is celebrated as Bonifacio Day (Filipino: Araw ni Bonifacio) and is a public holiday in the Philippines. This is the day to remember our hero, Andres Bonifacio, who led the Filipinos to fight for their freedom from the Spaniards in the late 1800s. Bonifacio Day is quite odd, because heroes — like saints — are often remembered more for their death rather than their birth. Rizal’s birthday, June 19, is a holiday in Laguna province, and the date of his execution, Dec. 30, is a national holiday known as Rizal Day. Anyone who knows Philippine history will understand why Bonifacio is remembered on his birthday, Nov. 30, rather than the date of his death, May 10, 1897. Unlike Rizal who was executed by the enemy, and other heroes who died in battle, Bonifacio was executed by fellow Filipinos.

FYI:

There are many monuments to Bonifacio across the nation, the most famous being two sculptures, one by Napoleon Abueva and the other by Guillermo Tolentino, both National Artists. Also, in current Philippine currency, he is depicted in the 10-peso bill (currently out of production) and 10-peso coin, along with fellow patriot Apolinario Mabini.

This photo was taken by a U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer as MacArthur and members of his staff and entourage waded ashore about four hours after the landings. With him were key figures of the exiled Philippine government, Philippine President Sergio Osmeña and Gen. Carlos P. Romulo. MacArthur announced upon reaching land: “People of the Philippines; I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil consecrated in the blood of our two people. We have come, dedicated and committed to the task of destroying every vestige of enemy control over your people. The hour of your redemption is here.”

On 7 December 1941 the attack on Pearl Harbor was accompanied by attacks on all American bases in the Pacific including Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s forces in the Philippines. After months of fighting, almost entirely a losing defense, MacArthur was holed up in his last redoubt on the fortified island of Corregidor. He was ordered by Roosevelt to escape by submarine to Australia to avoid his capture by the Japanese. On 11 March 1942, MacArthur complied, leaving his few remaining troops to certain capture or death, including the horrors of the Bataan Death March. His final words to them, and to all the Philippine patriots, were: “I shall return!”

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Dec. 20, 1906: The first group of 15 sakadas (contract laborers) recruited by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association to work on the sugar plantations arrive in Honolulu aboard the SS Doric and were assigned to the Olaa plantation on the Big Island.

1915: The Philippine Government (under U.S. colonial rule) expresses concern about labor outflow and recruitment abuses. HSPA works out a system of individual contracts.

1919: Filipino labor leader Pablo Manlapit organizes the Filipino Labor Union to demand higher wages and better working conditions for sakadas.

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