Speech #1090097392

I rise to speak about the resolution submitted today with the senior Senator from Hawaii. DAN INOUYE. This resolution formally recognizes the 2006 centennial of Filipino immigration to Hawaii. acknowledges the contributions of the FilipinoAmerican community to our country. and celebrates the long and productive relationship between the Philippines and the United States. On December 20. 1906. the first Filipino "sakadas." or farm workers. arrived at Honolulu Harbor. Over the years Filipino workers provided an invaluable service for Hawaiian sugarcane and pineapple plantations. Other Filipino immigrants who arrived on the West Coast contributed to the workforce on farms in California and Washington. lumber operations in the North West. and salmon canneries in Alaska. Three years earlier. following the passage of the Pensionado Act. about 200 Filipino "pensionados." or government scholars. were brought to the U.S. to receive an American education. Though many of the "sakadas" and "pensionados" intended to return to the Philippines. a number of them stayed to become American citizens. forming the foundation of todays FilipinoAmerican community.