Filipino and American Friendship Day

Cyjichan
5 min readJul 6, 2024

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Fourth of July is when the Americans come altogether to celebrate their nation’s birthday and their Independence Day. During this day, most of the Americans enjoyed grilling in their backyards, in the parks or at the beaches. Some partake in marches or parades and take pleasure of the fireworks that are usually launched at dusk. The Americans glory of the Red, the White, and the Blue, is being celebrated during their Independence Day. There are so many details and trivia about the fourth of July festivities and their Independence Day.

Another special event to celebrate every Fourth of July is the Filipino and American Friendship Day that the Filipinos are also celebrating every July 4 of each year to mark the historical alliance with United States. The relationship between these two states started as the hostile one then, with the involvement of another force into a friendly one. The Filipinos believe that the good they are enjoying from America outweighs those bad that they experienced from the past. They decided to remember the friendship with the state. Are you aware that America greatly helped out the Philippines to battle the invading Japanese force during the WWII? Now, you are aware why the friendship is worth to celebrate.

HISTORY OF THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN CAMARADERIE DAY

This celebration of the Filipino-American Friendship or Camaraderie Day follows over 100 years of allocated history between these two nations. The start of the good relationship between these two states could be thought to have begun in 1946 during the time that the Philippines gained their total independence from the U.S.A. To show their appreciation for the support being offered to them during the time that Japan attacked, the government of the Philippines’ designated July 4 to be their Independence Day. This is also celebrated as the Filipino-American Camaraderie or Friendship Day. The Philippines had formerly obtained their independence from Spain from years back.

Afterwards, the Independence Day commemoration was transferred to July 12 through President Diosdado Macapagal, then, Philippines Republic Day had been arranged as the present July 4 holiday. Truly, Republic Day is one more name for the Filipino-American Friendship or Camaraderie Day. And so, now we can utter that the remembrance of the day informally start during that time. With the charge toward setting the relationship between the Filipinos and Americans, and President Ramon Magsaysay hand-out the proclamation establishing a celebration of the Philippine-American Day in year 1955. And in year 1984, under the President Ferdinand Marcos rule, July 4 was chosen as the non-working holiday for the Filipino-American Friendship/Camaraderie Day to celebrate. In this regard, it can be said that the first ever official celebration of the Filipino-American Camaraderie Day under the identity it is known that started in 1984.

The defeat of President Marcos directed to the ascension for the first female president of the Philippines, President Corazón Aquino in year 1987. This non-working holiday standing of the day had been abolished. The list of regular and special holidays was released underneath the 1987 Administrative Code and it did not contain July 4. Despite the relationship in between the U.S.A. and the Philippines remains good.

TIMELINE OF THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN CAMARADERIE DAY

1946 — Independence from the U.S.A.

The country gained complete self-rule from America after a surrender of Japan, who occupied.

1955 — The Philippine American Day

The President Ramōn Magsaysay issued the proclamation establishing the celebration of the Philippine-American Day.

1984 — The Official Declaration of the Filipino-American Camaraderie Day

The President Ferdinand Marcos issued the proclamation that declared July 4 as the Filipino-American Camaraderie Day.

1987 — Cancellation from a Non-Working Holiday

The celebration of this day to be one of the non-working holiday had been abolished under a regime of the firstly female president; Pres. Corazón Aquino.

1996 — The Celebration as the Republic Day

The President Fidel Ramos celebrated July 4 as the Republic Day.

FAQS FOR THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN CAMARADERIE DAY

1. When did the U.S.A. give the Philippines in return?

On 1946 of July 4, after the occupying of Japan forces surrendered in year 1945 to end the WWII.

2. Who declared the Philippine American Camaraderie Day?

The day had been initially named as the Philippine American Day through President Magsaysay and it was changed as the Filipino-American Camaraderie Day through President Marcos.

3. What is the connection between the Philippines and the U.S. today?

The relationship in between the two states remained as the strong one, with good alliance and the healthy trade.

HOW TO OBSERVE THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN CAMARADERIE DAY

1. Take it online. Observe it online with the famous hashtags. Do not forget to also tag your friends.

2. Read up its history. There is no best way to comprehend the significance of any holiday than reading then be informed about it. Read the history books and be knowledgeable.

3. Reach out to your American friend. With a long history that these two countries have, the citizens most probably had an acquaintance on both sides of the earth. Mail, call, or text a friend in the US and reiterate your friendship.

FIVE FACTS REGARDING THE PHILIPPINES THAT CAN SURELY INTEREST YOU

1. The special flag. The flag of the Philippines is the simply the flag in the entire world that is able to indicate whether a country is at war or at peace, depending on way it is flown.

2. The National Bird. The national bird of the country is Monkey-Eating Eagle. They do not eat monkeys but instead moderate-sized animals such as bats, pigs, and snakes.

3. Home to the iconic river. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean is the longest underground river in the world that can only be discovered in the Philippines.

4. The distinct island. The Camiguin Island of the country is our earth’s only island that has lesser town and more volcanoes to be found.

5. Home to biggest shopping malls

There are three largest shopping malls in the world that can be situated in the Philippines.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN CAMARADERIE DAY?

1. It strengthens the intercontinental bonds. The nations felt more inclined towards each other with days such as Filipino-American Friendship/Camaraderie Day. The ties between these countries become stronger. This is necessary, in this world of turmoil.

2. It promotes good global relationships. Both the Americans and Filipinos consider each positively. It results in the quick governments that established stronger, better and firmer relationships between one another.

3. It reenacts history. A history of a longtime relationship in between these two countries has been retold and reenacted to this day. It has proved to both states how closely linked the history had made them.

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