Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1387

‘House Bill No.

Introduced by GABRIELA Women's Party List
Representatives LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN and EMERENCIANA A. DE JESUS

Explanatory Note

February 4, 2002 marks the 103 anniversary of the start of the Philippine American
War-the long and bloody conflict in which the United States of America, by force of arms,
imposed its authority on the Filipino people and Philippine territory as its newly acquired
colony.

The Philippine-American War began on February 4, 1899 with heavy fighting in the
suburbs of Manila and officially ended in 1913, although pockets of resistance continued
thereafter. This war of colonial conquest is therefore the longest war in US history. This testifies
to the courageous and indomitable spirit of the Filipino people, who fought the American
colonizers and refused to be conquered even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Filipino resistance was so popular and widespread that at its peak the United States
deployed over 100,000 of its troops to fight the war. The United States fought the war in a
manner that was notable for its brutality. This was exemplified by Gen, Jake Smith's infamous
order to turn Samar into a "howling wilderness," resulting in the death of 50,000 Samarenos,
Gen, Franklin Bell's 1902 Batangas campaign against Gen. Miguel Malvar which killed 200,000,
and the massacres of hundreds of Muslim men, women and children in Bud Dajo in 1906 and in
Bud Bagsak in 1913.

It is estimated that over one million Filipinos died as a result of the war. This surpasses
the Filipino death toll in World War Il, making the Philippine American War the bloodiest in our
history,

The victorious American colonizers made effective use of the educational system to
obliterate all knowledge of the Philippine-American War from our people's collective memory

Renato Constantino, a nationalist historian, has described this as part of the
“miseducation" which continues to produce a pervasive "colonial mentality" among Filipinos.
The vast majority of Filipinos today - young and old, know little about the Philippine-American
War.

The Philippine-American War has not been given acknowledgment in the same degree
as the struggles against Spain and Japanese imperial forces.


As a result, to this day the countless Filipino patriots who lost their lives in the heroic
struggle to defend their hard-won freedom against the new colonial masters remain
unremembered and unmourned.

Government itself has neglected its obligation to honor the heroes and martyrs of the
Philippine-American War. In 1998, the Ramos Administration spent billions to celebrate the
June 12 Sentenaryo; in contrast, the Centenary of the Philippine-American War on February 4,
1999 came and went with hardly an official acknowledgment.

It is therefore the duty of every Filipino to remember, honor, and pay respect to our
heroic but forgotten ancestors who fought and died in the Philippine-American War.

It is important for every Filipino to appreciate the continuous struggle against direct
foreign occupation by the Spanish, British, American and Japanese forces.

This piece of legislation’ seeks to rectify the historic injustice which has been
perpetrated against our heroic forebears. Declaring February 4 to be "ARAW NG PAGDAKILA
SA MGA PILIPINONG NAGBUWIS NG BUHAY NOONG DIGMAANG PILIPINO-AMERIKANO" an
annual regular National Holiday (similar to April 9, "Bataan Day") will provide Filipinos the
opportunity to remember and honor them, as well as to learn valuable lessons in patriotism
which are extremely relevant in our society today.

The historical truth must come out.
The support of this bill is earnestly sought.

INDA C. ILAGAN EIMERENCIANA “EMMI” A. DE JESUS
Gabriela Women’s Party List Gabriela Women’s Party List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

House Bill No__1387

Introduced by GABRIELA Women's Party List
Representatives LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN and EMERENCIANA A. DE JESUS

AN ACT DECLARING FEBRUARY FOUR OF EVERY YEAR AS "ARAW NG PAGDAKILA SA MGA
PILIPINONG NAGBUWIS NG BUHAY NOONG DIGMAANG PILIPINO-AMERIKANO", PROVIDING
FOR SUPPORT PROGRAMS, AND REQUIRING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. February 4 of every year is hereby declared as a regular national holiday in
commemoration of the "ARAW NG PAGDAKILA SA MGA PILIPINONG NAGBUWIS NG BUHAY
NOONG DIGMAANG PILIPINO-AMERIKANO".

SECTION 2. The following activities shall be done in observance of this day:

a. Heads of government agencies and instrumentalities, government-owned and
controlled corporations, local government units, employers in the private sector
and the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) shall encourage and
allow sufficient time and opportunities for their employees to engage and
participate in any ceremony or activity to commemorate the "ARAW NG
PAGDAKILA SA MGA PILIPINONG NAGBUWIS NG BUHAY NOONG DIGMAANG
PILIPINO-AMERIKANO."

b. Television and radio stations nationwide’ shall allocate a minimum of one (1)
hour airtime for programs exclusively about major battles, incidents, sites and
participants of the Philippine struggle against the Americans.

The Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education, in
coordination with the National Historical Institute, National Commission for
Culture and the Arts, National Museum and other appropriate agencies and
entities, shall lead public and private school communities at all levels in the
commemoration of the "ARAW NG PAGDAKILA SA MGA PILIPINONG NAGBUWIS
NG BUHAY NOONG DIGMAANG PILIPINO-AMERIKANO".



SECTION 3. The Commission on Higher Education, National Historical Institute and
National Commission for Culture and the Arts shall undertake or support researches, especially
on the effects and aftermath of the Philippine-American War, in order to make the annual
commemoration of the "ARAW NG PAGDAKILA SA MGA PILIPINONG NAGBUWIS NG BUHAY
NOONG DIGMAANG PILIPINO-AMERIKANO" more relevant and meaningful.

SECTION 4, Funds shall be allocated in the national budget for the implementation of
the above activities, programs and projects.

SECTION 5. If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is held to be
unconstitutional or invalid, the validity of other sections herein shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,