Jim Moylan: “As a Pacific Islander, I wish to recognize the significance of June 12 as Philippines Independence Day and the…”

“As a Pacific Islander, I wish to recognize the significance of June 12 as Philippines Independence Day and the relationship that the U.S. and the Philippines share. As a founding member of the United Nations and a member of many international global security organizations, the Philippines has long been a bastion of freedom in the Pacific as a close friend of the United States. It is well known that the horrors of World War II affected the entire world. In the Pacific, many island nations and territories were conquered by the Imperial Japanese forces and many suffered under their occupation. In the face of such harsh conditions, Pacific nations like the Philippines and territories like Guam preserved an unbreakable spirit that could not be rivaled. In 1945, Filipino guerrilla fighters, with the help of Allied forces, broke free of their shackles and forced their occupying forces away, despite 4 years of atrocities. Ever since then, the Philippines has been a bastion of freedom and an integral part of keeping the world safe. June 12, the day Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain in 1898, represents more than just a free Philippines. It demonstrates to the world that an independent nation can withstand whatever challenges come its way. Yet, because of their unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom and democracy, the Philippine Government and people face daily harassment from the People's Republic of China.…”