Filipino-American Friendship Day, July 4, is a day in the Philippines designated by President Diosdado Macapagal to commemorate the liberation of the country by joint Filipino and American forces from the Japanese occupation at the end of World War II.
The Philippines was a U.S. territory from 1898 to 1942, when it was occupied by Japanese forces, and again for a brief period after the war. The country gained complete independence on July 4, 1946.
The Philippines was a U.S. territory from 1898 to 1942, when it was occupied by Japanese forces, and again for a brief period after the war. The country gained complete independence on July 4, 1946.
Initially, the nation's Independence Day holiday (Araw ng Kalayaan) was held on July 4. Former President Diosdado Macapagal moved it to June 12, the date on which the Philippines declared independence from Spain in 1898.
Filipino-American Friendship Day was created in its place, and coincides with the United States' July 4 Independence Day.
Filipino culture is a combination of indigenous Austronesian civilizations and influences of Hispanic and American cultures. Small Chinese and Islamic contributions are also seen and portrayed.
Culturally, the Philippines is the most Westernized country in Asia, a legacy of over three centuries of Spanish and 50 years of American colonial rule. Filipino culture has taken a Latin and Catholic flavor from Spain, which ruled the country for centuries.
Filipino culture is a combination of indigenous Austronesian civilizations and influences of Hispanic and American cultures. Small Chinese and Islamic contributions are also seen and portrayed.
Culturally, the Philippines is the most Westernized country in Asia, a legacy of over three centuries of Spanish and 50 years of American colonial rule. Filipino culture has taken a Latin and Catholic flavor from Spain, which ruled the country for centuries.
Today, most Filipinos are distinguishable from other Asians by having a Hispanic and Hispanic-sounding name and/or surname, by practicing the Catholic religion, and by speaking English and (to an extent) Spanish.
Filipino Americans are Americans of Philippine ancestry, which trace back to the Philippines, an archipelagic nation in Southeast Asia.
The Filipino American (Fil-Am for short) community is the second largest Asian American subgroup and the largest Southeast Asian American group. Filipino Americans are also the largest subgroup of the Overseas Filipinos.
In 2007, the Filipino American community was estimated to be at 4 million, or 1.5% of the United States population.
Filipino Americans are Americans of Philippine ancestry, which trace back to the Philippines, an archipelagic nation in Southeast Asia.
The Filipino American (Fil-Am for short) community is the second largest Asian American subgroup and the largest Southeast Asian American group. Filipino Americans are also the largest subgroup of the Overseas Filipinos.
In 2007, the Filipino American community was estimated to be at 4 million, or 1.5% of the United States population.
More than half of the community are either naturalized or American-born, while the remainder are Filipino nationals or dual citizens of both the Philippines and the United States.
Immigration
Filipinos remain one of the largest immigrant group to date with 80,000 people migrating per annum. About 75% consist of family sponsorship or immediate relatives of American citizens while the remainder is employment-oriented.
Immigration
Filipinos remain one of the largest immigrant group to date with 80,000 people migrating per annum. About 75% consist of family sponsorship or immediate relatives of American citizens while the remainder is employment-oriented.
A majority of this number prefer to live in California, followed by Hawaiʻi, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, Alaska, Maryland and Virginia.
Filipinos experience the same long-waiting periods of visa issuance experienced by immigrants of all other nationalities.
Filipinos experience the same long-waiting periods of visa issuance experienced by immigrants of all other nationalities.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a preference system for issuing visas to noncitizen family members of U.S. citizens, with preference based generally on the closeness of familial relation, and some noncitizen relatives of U.S. citizens can spend long periods on immigration waiting lists.
Petitions for immigrant visas, particularly for siblings of previously naturalized Filipinos that date all the way back to 1984, were granted in 2006.
Many visa petitions by Filipino Americans for their relatives are on hold or backlogged and as many 1.4 million petitions are affected causing delay to the reunification of Filipino families.
Dual citizenship
As a result of the passage of Philippines Republic Act No. 9225, also known as the Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003, Filipino Americans are eligible for dual citizenship in both the United States and the Philippines.
Dual citizenship
As a result of the passage of Philippines Republic Act No. 9225, also known as the Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003, Filipino Americans are eligible for dual citizenship in both the United States and the Philippines.
Overseas suffrage was first employed in the May 2004 elections in which Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was reelected to a second term.
In 2004, about 6,000 people became dual citizens of the Philippines and the United States. This act encourages many Filipino Americans to invest in the Philippines, buy land (only Filipino citizens and, with some limitations, former Philippine citizens are allowed to purchase land in the Philippines, vote in Philippine elections, retire in the Philippines, and participate in representing the Philippine flag.
Many dual citizens have been recruited to participate in international sports events such as the Olympic Games in Athens 2004, the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in Manila, the 15th Asian Games in 2006 and the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing 2008.
In addition, the Philippine government actively encourages Filipino Americans to visit or return permanently to the Philippines via the "Balikbayan" program and to invest in the country. Philippine consulates facilitate this process in various areas of the United States.
In 2004, about 6,000 people became dual citizens of the Philippines and the United States. This act encourages many Filipino Americans to invest in the Philippines, buy land (only Filipino citizens and, with some limitations, former Philippine citizens are allowed to purchase land in the Philippines, vote in Philippine elections, retire in the Philippines, and participate in representing the Philippine flag.
Many dual citizens have been recruited to participate in international sports events such as the Olympic Games in Athens 2004, the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in Manila, the 15th Asian Games in 2006 and the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing 2008.
In addition, the Philippine government actively encourages Filipino Americans to visit or return permanently to the Philippines via the "Balikbayan" program and to invest in the country. Philippine consulates facilitate this process in various areas of the United States.
These are located in Chicago; Honolulu; Los Angeles; New York; Saipan; and San Francisco while honorary consulates are also available in Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Majuro, Miami and New Orleans.
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