Speech #1090063308

That relationship has evolved over the past century from the 18981946 period of U.S. governance. during which the thenCommonwealth of the Philippines was represented in the U.S. Congress by thirteen resident commissioners. to the postindependence period beginning in 1946. when the Philippines took its place among the community of nations and became one of this countrys most reliable allies in the international arena. In 2006. our FilipinoAmerican community will join all Americans in pausing to recognize a century of achievement in the United States through a series of nationwide celebrations and memorials marking the centennial of sustained immigration from the Philippines. This centennial will provide every American of whatever ethnic heritage an opportunity to not only celebrate a century of Filipino immigration to the United States. but to celebrate. appreciate. and honor the struggles and triumphs common to the immigrant experience. which. of course. is also the American experience.