III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 333 

Recognizing the centennial of sustained immigration from the Philippines 

to the United States and acknowledging the contributions of our FilipinoAmerican community to our country over the last century. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 14, 2005 

Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. INOUYE, and Mr. LAUTENBERG) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the centennial of sustained immigration from 

the Philippines to the United States and acknowledging 

the contributions of our Filipino-American community 

to our country over the last century. 

Whereas the peoples of the Philippine archipelago have a long 

and proud history, and today, as the Republic of the 

Philippines, embrace democracy, occupy a central strategic position in Asia and the Pacific, and nurture a rich 

and diverse cultural heritage; 

Whereas the United States and the Philippines have enjoyed 

a long and productive relationship, including the period 

of United States governance between 1898 and 1946, 

and the period post-independence starting in 1946, during which the Philippines has taken its place among the 
2 

•SRES 333 ATS

community of nations and has been one of our country’s 

most loyal and reliable allies internationally; 

Whereas the bonds between our 2 countries have been 

strengthened through sustained immigration from the 

Philippines to the United States; 

Whereas the 2000 census counted almost 2,400,000 Americans of Filipino ancestry living in all parts of our country, including the top 2 States, California, with almost 

1,100,000 Filipino Americans, and Hawaii, with some 

275,000; 

Whereas the contributions of Filipino Americans to the 

United States include achievement in all segments of our 

society, including, to name a few, labor, business, politics, 

medicine, media and the arts; 

Whereas Filipino Americans have especially served with distinction in the Armed Forces of the United States 

throughout the history of our long relationship, from 

World Wars I and II through the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and today in Afghanistan and 

Iraq; 

Whereas within the United States, Filipino Americans retained many of their country’s proud cultural traditions 

and contribute immeasurably to the diverse tapestry of 

today’s American experience; 

Whereas Filipino Americans have also maintained close ties 

to their friends and relatives in the Philippines and in 

doing so play an indispensable role in maintaining the 

strength and vitality of the United States-Philippines relationship; 

Whereas both the Filipino experience in the United States 

and the resultant ties between our 2 great countries 
3 

•SRES 333 ATS

began in earnest in 1906, when 15 Filipino contract laborers arrived in the then-Territory of Hawaii to work on 

the islands’ sugar plantations, the beginnings of an emigration from the Philippines to Hawaii which, during the 

subsequent century, has sometimes exceeded 60,000 a 

year, making Filipinos the largest immigrant group from 

the Asia-Pacific region; 

Whereas 1906 also saw the first class of 200 ‘‘pensionados’’ 

arrive from the Philippines to obtain United States educations with the intent of returning, although many later 

became United States citizens and helped form the foundation of today’s Filipino-American community; 

Whereas the story of America’s Filipino-American community 

is little known and rarely told, yet is the quintessential 

immigrant story of early struggle, pain, sacrifice, and 

broken dreams, leading eventually to success in overcoming ethnic, social, economic, political, and legal barriers to win a well-deserved place in American society; 

Whereas our Filipino-American community will recognize a 

century of achievement in the United States in 2006 

through a series of nationwide celebrations and memorials honoring the centennial of sustained immigration 

from the Philippines; and 

Whereas this centennial is for all Americans of whatever ethnic origin to celebrate both with and in order to understand and appreciate our Filipino-American community, 

but also as a remembrance of the struggles and triumphs 

of all of our predecessors and in honor of our common 

national experience: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 
4 

•SRES 333 ATS

1 (1) recognizes the centennial of sustained immi2 gration from the Philippines to the United States; 

3 (2) acknowledges the achievements and con4 tributions of Filipino Americans over the past cen5 tury; and 

6 (3) urges the people of the United States to ob7 serve this milestone with appropriate celebratory and 

8 educational programs, ceremonies and other activi9 ties. 

Æ