Dumaguete City Philippine American Friendship Day or 4th of July

- July 11, 2021

Philippine American Friendship Day or 4th of July is also known as Republic Day in the Philippines. Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America.

In Dumaguete we coincided with the 99 anniversary of the establishment of the Dumaguete American Cemetery. A simple celebration in Dumaguete City together with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines BSP Negros Oriental -Siquijor Council and Order of the Knights of Rizal Negros Oriental and Dumaguete City Chapter with special Thanks to Knights of Rizal Tanjay City Chapter.

The Beautification and Heritage Clean up drive project of the American Cemetery started in 2018 with Prof. Josefino T. Larena Jr. and Prof. Phitz Jaculbe Enojo. The project is now supported by the Order of the Knights of Rizal Negros Oriental and Dumaguete City Chapters and Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Negros Oriental-Siquijor Council.

Knights of Rizal and BSP Negros Oriental Council

The program started with Opening Prayer by Prof. Phitz Jaculbe Enojo. The floral Offering was led by Chapter Commanders Sir Charles Lelis Tuozo,Dr. Gerard JudeC. Bumanglag and Queen Marie T. Ferraren our Council Scout Executive. Outfit Adviser Marlon Fernandez Sumanoy has sung God bless America and Pilipinas kong mahal. The Inspirational message was given by The Chief Girl Scout Maria Kaye Hathaway and our guest speaker for this year’s celebration is Dr. Earl Jude Paul L. Cleope the Vice President for Academic Affairs of Silliman University and commissioner of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) representing the private sector.

Queen Marie T. Ferraren our Council Scout Executive pay tribute pioneer American Postmaster

Sir Charles Lelis Tuozo ,KCR pay tribute to

the American Missionaries

According to CGS Maria Kaye Hathaway...being a Filipino -American the 4th of July is American Independence Day. This is a very important holiday in the United States that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. A day to celebrate with family. She also said that both cultures share common influences that can be seen in history and today. Music, food, and advocate to educate our young generation.

CGS Maria Kaye Hathaway

Our guest speaker Dr. Cleope said that on July 4, 1946 the American government recognized the Independence of our country from the United States of America. he emphasized the role of the American colonial government during the first few years, one of the biggest challenges was health problems and pandemics during that time, but the lighter side Education and English languages were the best legacies of the Filipino American Diplomatic Relations. Economic condition was firm while shipping business was introduced in Negros that would connect to other islands in the Visayas and Mindanao. Public works with 28 bridges, ports, roads, and boulevard. He also said that the best living legacy in this period is the establishment of Silliman University, the first American school in Asia.

75 years ago, the Filipino nation regained once again its status as a republic as scheduled by the Tydings-McDuffie Law of 1934. Through the signing of the Treaty of General Relations and Protocol between the Philippines represented by President Manuel Roxas and the U.S. represented by Paul V. McNutt on behalf of President Harry S. Truman, the Philippine Republic was established as a sovereign state and the Philippine independence originally proclaimed on 12 June 1898--was officially recognized. The treaty was signed during the inauguration of the Republic at Luneta, Manila. It was followed by the lowering of the U.S. Flag accompanied by the U.S. National Anthem. Succeeding the ceremony was the raising of the Philippine flag with the Philippine National Anthem playing.

Guest Speaker Dr. Earl Jude Paul Cleope

This event would not be made possible without the help of generous people special thanks to Prof. Phitz Jaculbe Enojo, Queen Marie T. Ferraren, Sir Charles Lelis Tuozo, Sir Alden Rabina, Dr. Gerard Jude Bumanglag, Sir Marlon Fernandez Sumanoy, Cezar Lopez, Leif Ferraren, Ian Diputado Antecristo,Jojo T. Larena,Sir Cesar Estrope, Alvin B Mamauag and Vincent Mark Enojo for all your support of the event and the heritage clean up project of the Dumaguete City American Cemetery.

Nowadays the vast majority of Americans still believe in Abraham Lincoln’s confident aspiration at Gettysburg “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

The U.S.-Philippine relationship is indeed “Thriving at 75.” These deep bonds and shared ideals give me confidence that, for our Youth to come, the United States and the Philippines will be “bound as closely as ever by ties of friendship, cooperation, and mutual trust.