109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 218
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the centennial of sustained immigra-
tion from the Philippines to the United States 
and acknowledging the contributions of our Fili-
pino-American community to our country over 
the last century.
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 218
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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 stra-
tegic 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
•HCON 218 EH 
of United States governance between 1898 and 1946, 
and the period post-independence starting in 1946, dur-
ing which the Philippines has taken its place among the 
community of nations and has been one of our country’s 
most loyal and reliable allies internationally; 
Whereas the bonds between our two countries have been 
strengthened through sustained immigration from the 
Philippines to the United States; 
Whereas the 2000 census counted almost 2.4 million Ameri-
cans of Filipino ancestry living in all parts of our coun-
try, including the top two States: California, with almost 
1.1 million 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 dis-
tinction 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 Viet-
nam War, the Gulf War, and today in Afghanistan and 
Iraq; 
Whereas within the United States, Filipino Americans re-
tained 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 U.S.-Philippines relationship;
•HCON 218 EH 
Whereas both the Filipino experience in the United States 
and the resultant ties between our two great countries 
began in earnest in 1906, when 15 Filipino contract la-
borers arrived in the then-Territory of Hawaii to work on 
the islands’ sugar plantations, the beginnings of an emi-
gration 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 two hundred 
‘‘pensionados’’ arrive from the Philippines to obtain 
United States educations with the intent of returning, al-
though 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 over-
coming ethnic, social, economic, political, and legal bar-
riers 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 memo-
rials honoring the centennial of sustained immigration 
from the Philippines; and 
Whereas this centennial is for all Americans of whatever eth-
nic origin to celebrate both with and in order to under-
stand 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
•HCON 218 EH 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) recognizes the centennial of sustained immi-
gration from the Philippines to the United States; 
(2) acknowledges the achievements and con-
tributions of Filipino Americans over the past cen-
tury; and 
(3) requests that the President issue a procla-
mation calling on the people of the United States to 
observe this milestone with appropriate celebratory 
and educational programs, ceremonies and other ac-
tivities.
Passed the House of Representatives December 13, 
2005. 
Attest:
Clerk.