Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

House Bill No. "2112

Introduced by GABRIELA Women’s Party List Representatives
Emmi De Jesus and Arlene Brosas

Explanatory Note

This last February 4, 2018 marks the 119th 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
ilippine territory as its newly acquired colony.

jpine-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 Samarefios, 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 ll, 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.

‘A nationalist historian such as Renato Constantino 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 acknowledgement in the same degree as the
struggles against Spain and Japanese imperial forces.


Asa 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
\e-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 acknowledgement.

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.

Aven

Rep. EMMI DE J
GABRIELA Womén’s Party

BRIELA Women’s Party


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

‘SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

House Bill No"? 11.2

Introduced by GABRIELA Women’s Party List Representatives
Emmi De Jesus and Arlene Brosas

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 REQUIRINGTHE 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 andcontrolled
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, specialy 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 affectedthereby.

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