Malacañang PalaceManila

Today is a day of remem-brance and renewal.

We remember the heroismand sacrifice of our forebearswho laid the foundations for theestablishment of Asia’s first Re-public in 1898.

This is a democratic legacywhich we – as a state and as anation – should rightly be proudof and strive to further strength-en.

Likewise, we renew thepledge to continue doing our partin building a more peaceful, pro-gressive and prosperous Philip-pines.

The Philippines has advancedsteadily toward greater growth,guided by a common vision fora better shared future and pow-ered by the sinew and might ofthe hard working and dedicatedFilipino.

As we commemorate the111th anniversary of the Decla-ration of Philippine Indepen-

dence, the theme “Kagitingan,Kagalingan at Kasipagan Tun-go sa Tunay na Kalayaan” un-derscores the challenges to andthe responsibilities of our gener-ation to bring to full fruition theideals that animated our forefa-thers’ noble efforts.

These are values that resonatewith relevance for the global Fil-ipino nation – bound as we areby a common heritage andshared aspirations.

I thank the Filipino Americancommunity for your demonstrat-ed commitment to help uphold,protect and promote your Fil-ipino heritage. I am confidentthat you will continue to do yourpart in contributing to the fulldevelopment of your mother-land.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas atang diwa ng kalayaaniMabuhay ang sambayanangPilipino!

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

Department of Foreign AffairsManila

We remember with profound gratitude thegallantry and bravery of our forebears who paidthe ultimate sacrifice so that our nation and peo-ple can enjoy the freedom and sovereignty werightly deserve.

The Philippine flag that was unfurled in Kaw-it, Cavite in 1898 soars proudly today for all tosee, standing on the strong foundations of ourRepublic: a country governed by law, strength-ened by democratic ideals and continuouslyreinvigorated by a free, involved and empow-ered people.

We have gone a long way as a democracy; andwe have a further way to go still as we pursuegreater peace, progress and prosperity for our na-tion.

Our commemoration of the 111th anniver-sary of the Declaration of Philippine Indepen-dence underscores our duty to honor the mem-ory of those who came before us and to ensurethat those who will come after us will continue

to enjoy the full promise of our democracy.This year’s theme, “Kagitingan, Kagalingan

at Kasipagan Tungo sa Tunay na Kalayaan”challenges us all to do our utmost – to harnessour individual and collective talents and abili-ties – in the service of our growing global na-tion.

The Filipino-American community – withwhom the Philippines is bound by common val-ues, shared heritage and mutual aspirations –continues to be our partner for growth.

I laud your sustained efforts to gain a deeperunderstanding of our heritage and to contributeto the Philippines’ full development.

I doing so, you continue to build on the dem-ocratic legacy of and bring honor to our forefa-thers.

Mabuhay ang diwa ng Kalayaan!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!Mabuhay ang Sambayanang Pilipino!

MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Embassy of the PhilippinesWashington, D.C.

June 2009With gratitude in our hearts, we commemorate

the 111th anniversary of the Philippine Indepen-dence with the renewed resolve to bring to fullfruition the aspirations of our nation’s forebears.

This year’s theme, “Kagitingan, Kagalingan atKasipagan Tungo sa Tunay na Kalayaan” remindsFilipinos around the world of the continuing chal-lenge for our nation’s people to do our utmost andcontribute to the further strengthening of our Re-public.

Our forefathers envisioned a sovereign anddemocratic country governed by an accountablegovernment and moved by an involved and em-powered citizenry.

We have made great strides towards greaterpeace, progress and prosperity. And we will con-tinue moving forward, propelled by the collectivecommitment of the global Filipino nation.

Filipinos in the United States and the Filipino-American community continue to be the Philip-

pines’ partners.I commend the sustained efforts to learn more

about Filipino heritage and to contribute to thePhilippines’ growth and development.

The many achievements of Filipinos here inthe United States are an inspiration to Filipinosthroughout the world.

With this demonstrated commitment, our nationand our posterity can be confident that the demo-cratic legacy of our forefathers will continue to liveon and that the fruits of our democracy will be en-joyed by all Filipinos.

Mabuhay and diwa ng Kalayaan! Mabuhayang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang SambayanangPilipino!

I am privileged to join the Filipinosin Guam and throughout the world,in celebrating the 111th anniversaryof Philippine Independence on June12, 2009.

Against the power of an empire, ahandful of valiant Indios hurled achallenge against the imperious col-onizers. Against rifles and cannons,they held to bolosand courage.Against tyranny andoppression, theyheld to the ideals ofdemocracy and thedetermination tofight to freedom. Inthe end, there wasno question of whowould prevail. In theend, sheer determi-nation and fearsomecourage prevailed. And a new nation– Asia’s first democratic republic –was born.

The struggle was not without cost,and the price for freedom was paidfor in blood and tears. But it was aprice our heroes gladly paid. And itis their sacrifices that we re-live, yearafter year. The freedom that all Fil-ipinos enjoy today is the fruit of thosesacrifices. It is truly cause for celebra-tion that Filipinos continue to livefree from the bonds of colonial op-pressors.

Like every nation, the country hashad to face its fair share of challenges,large and small. The economic crisisgripping the world has crossed ourshores and affected our lives. It ishowever a testament to the resilienceof the Filipino spirit that despite thehardships that have shaken the world

economy, the Philippines looks for-ward to a bright future. This bright fu-ture, in no small part, is owed to theskill and industry of many, many Fil-ipinos working abroad, many ofwhom have found their place inGuam. These are our modern-dayheroes, truly world-class in talent andexceptional in their dedication to their

work. The Filipinonation is proud ofall of them and ofwhat they have ac-complished.

Like a light inthe darkness, thecelebration ofPhilippine inde-pendence bringshope to the Filipinonation: that as ourforefathers moved

toward their dream of freedom, sotoo will we, the new generation, findinspiration and the determination torise above present-day challenges.We are secure in the strength of ourdemocratic ideals and institutions,and confident in the legacy of selflessheroism given to us by our foundingfathers.

Congratulations to all Filipinoswherever they may be, in Guam orelsewhere around the world.

Mabuhay ang Kalayaan!Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhaytayong lahat!

MESSAGE FROM THE CONSUL GENERALOF THE PHILIPPINES

MESSAGE FROM THE AMBASSADOR

Sitting L-R: Thelma Sta. Ana, Consul Kerwin Tate, Consul General Olivia V.Palala, Vice Consul Maria Paz Cortes, Margie Morales & Bernadette Galura-Fajardo.

Standing L-R: Dario Legisniana, Jo Ann Alonzo, Fides Sang-Ollay, Ivy Tongco,Merela Gret-Aberin, Rowena Garcia, Samuel Fesalbon & Bonifacio Hilongo.

“LUPANG HINIRANG”Language: Tagalog

Bayang Magiliw, Perlas ng SilangananAlab ng Puso sa dibdib mo’y buhay

Lupang Hinirang, Duyan ka ng magit ing,Sa manlulupig di ka pasisiil.

Sa dagat at bundok,Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw,May dilag ang tulaAt awit sa paglayang minamahal.

Ang kislap ng watawat mo’yTagumpay na nagniningning;Ang bituin at araw niyaKailan pa ma’y di magdidilim.Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhati’t pagsinta,Buhay ay langit sa piling mo;Aming ligaya na pag may mang-aapiAng mamatay nang dahil sa iyo.

English Version

Land of the morningChild of the sun returningWith fervor burningThee do our souls adore.

Land dear and holy,Cradle of noble heroes,Ne’er shall invadersTrample thy sacred shores.

Ever within thy skies and through thy clouds,And o’er thy hills and seas;Do we behold thy radiance, feel the throbOf glorious liberty.

Thy banner dear to all heartsIts sun and stars alright,Oh, never shall its shining fieldsBe dimmed by tyrants might.

The Philippine National Anthem is a prod-uct of revolution, a response to the need of therevolutionary times that gave birth to it. Andthis need arose in 1898, when the revolutionagainst Spain was in its second year and aFilipino victory was in sight.

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo astutely recognizedthe need for national symbols to rally the na-tion against the enemy. On June 5, 1898, he

commissioned Julian Felipe , a Cavite pianistand composer, to work on a march for therevolutionists. Felipe worked on the assign-ment for six days and on June 11, sitting infront of a piano in the Aguinaldo living room,played his music before the presidente and hislieutenants. Named by Felipe the Marcha Fil-ipino Magdalo (after Aguinaldo’s nom deguerre and his faction in the Katipunan), themusic was adopted on the spot and renamedthe Marcha Nacional Filipina (Philippine Na-tional March).

The national anthem was heard publiclyfor the first time on June 12, 1898, when,standing on the balcony of his Kawit mansion,Aguinaldo proclaimed Asia’s first independ-ent republic before a cheering throng. Two ral-lying symbols were presented to the infantnation that day. Also displayed for the firsttime was the national flag, unfurled to thestirring strains of the marcha nacional playedby the band of San Francisco de Malabon(now Heneral Trias) whose members hadlearned the music the day before.

But still without words, Felipe’s music wassimply a march. It could not be sung. Theneed for lyrics was just as great as there wasfor the music. In December 1898, the Philip-pines was ceded by Spain to the United Statesof America in the Treaty of Paris. In Febru-ary of 1899, the Filipino-American War erupt-ed.

The defiant lyrics to march the stirringstrains of Felipe were supplied by Jose Pal-ma, a 23-year old soldier who was as adeptwith the pen as he was with the sword. Hewrote a poem entitled “Filipinas” and thiswas wed to the Felipe composition. The an-them was readily taken by the young nationat war. But on March 23,1901, the war withAmerica ground to a halt with the capture ofAguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela.

The American administors discouraged thesinging of the anthem and in the 1920s, Pal-ma’s original spanish lyrics underwent sever-al English and Tagalog translations.

In 1956, a new version penned by the Suri-an ng Wikang Pambansa (Institute of Nation-al Language) was adopted. These are the of-ficial Filipino lyrics sung all over the countrytoday and given wider propagation through ra-dio, television and cinema.

Source: www.philembassy.org.nz

The Philippine National Anthem

The Philippine flag bears two equal hori-zontal bands of blue (top) and red with a whiteequilateral triangle based on the hoist side. Inthe center of the triangle is a yellow sun witheight primary rays, each containing three in-dividual rays, and in each corner of the trian-gle is a small yellow five-pointed star.

THE MAKING OF THEFILIPINO FLAG

During his exile in Hongkong in 1897,Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo designed the Filipinoflag as it looks today. The flag was sewn byDona Marcela Marino de Agoncillo with thehelp of her daughter Lorenza and Mrs. Del-fina Herbosa de Natividad (niece of the Philip-

pine NationalHero - Dr. Jose P. Rizal). It was first raised dur-ing the declaration of Independence on June12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite.

It was made of silk with a white trianglecontaining a sunburst of eight rays at the cen-ter, a five-pointed star at each angle of the tri-angle, a blue field and a red field. The whitetriangle stands for equality and fraternity; theblue field for peace, truth and justice; and redfield for patriotism and valor. The eight raysof the sun stand for the first eight provincesthat the colonizers have put under martial law.The three stars symbolize Luzon, Visayas,and Mindanao.

Source: www.philembassy.org.nz

The Philippine Flag

Hada Adai, Mabuhay, andcongratulations on this 111thcelebration of Philippine In-dependence.

This annual celebration

symbolizes the intense loveand devotion of the Filipinopeople for liberty and free-dom. Living for over threehundred years under the ruleof Spanish colonial masters,

the Filipinos longed for ba-sic human rights. Led byrevolutionaries like JoseRizal, Emilio Aguinaldo andApolinario Mabini, the Fil-ipino passion for equality

and freedom culminated inthe Philippine Declarationof Independence on June 12,1898.

During these independ-

ence day events, let us un-derstand that the freedomswe hold dear to our heartsare tributes to those whogave their all during times oftyranny and oppression.The members of our com-munity share many tradi-tions, beliefs and culturewhich strengthen and mag-nify our love of freedom anddemocracy. Let these com-mon beliefs and ideals con-tinue to foster the strongfriendships and loyalties thathave made our island a trueparadise.

On behalf of the peopleof Guam I would like tothank the Filipino commu-nity for their goodwill andcontributions that make ourisland a prime model exam-ple of democracy at work inthe Pacific. To all Filipinos,Happy 111th Anniversaryon this celebration of Philip-pine Independence.Maraming Salamat Po andGod Bless Us All.

MESSAGE FROM GUAM DELEGATE MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

Sincerely yours,

MADELEINE Z. BORDALLOMember of Congress

The Philippines is embarking ona major promotions campaign thatwould not only bring visitors to thecountry but would actually enticetourists to settle in using its manyscenic tropical attractions.

The Department of Tourism(DOT) is banking on selling secondhomes, i.e. vacation houses, condo-tels, etc., which it plans to dissemi-nate worldwide, particularly in theAsia Pacific region.

Central to the success of the cam-paign, the DOT has lined up a seriesof strategic marketing and promo-tional activities anchored on aggres-sive TV and print ad placements inkey markets. The campaign is de-signed to draw interested parties toa dedicated Web site with direct linksto participating real estate develop-ers’ respective sites.

The DOTsaid the most appealingaspect of the project is the very af-fordable property prices in thePhilippines, particularly areas out-side Metro Manila. Most peoplethink real estate properties that caterto their ideal lifestyle is way beyondtheir means but that dream home inthe Philippines is within their reach.

Tourism Secretary Joseph AceDurano said through the “Live YourDream” project, the DOT wanted tocommunicate to the world that thePhilippines is the place where yourdream lifestyle turns into reality.Every property is a community in it-self – everything within your reach.You have an improving economy,affordable real estate properties, hos-pitable people, and practically every-thing is within your budget.

Targets of the campaign arespecifically foreigners, 35 to 50 yearsold, aspiring to have their dreamlifestyle abroad and who have visit-ed the country and are familiar withits lifestyle. The Philippines has thebest beaches in the world, the mostscenic nature getaways, the mosthospitable and friendly people whoare the only predominantly Englishspeakers in the whole of Asia, unlim-ited business opportunities and un-rivaled entertainment hotspots, Du-rano said.

Philippines invitestourists to come,stay and “LiveYour Dream”

Community: Gov. Felix P. Camacho, Sen. James Espaldon, Sen. Edward Calvo, Philippine consul general Olivia Palala, and other members of the FilipinoCommunity of Guam gather for a group photo during the proclamation signing ceremony for the Philippine Independence Month in Adelup on May 27.

Two factors that are almostunique to the Philippines – healthyremittances from an estimated 10million Filipinos working overseasand an unprecedentedwave of foreign com-panies setting up back-room and outsourcingoperations in the coun-try – are driving aresurgent property in-dustry despite a gener-al slowdown in the lo-cal economy as a resultof rising prices.

Developers predict aboom in the propertysector much bigger than the surgefelt prior to the Asian financial cri-sis of 1997. Global property con-sultant CB Richard Ellis (CBRE)sees bright prospects for the real es-

tate industry, adding the growth inthe local sector would be more spec-tacular than other key cities in theSoutheast Asian region.

CBRE Philippinesgeneral manager TrentFrankum consideredthe Philippines as thehottest market in South-east Asia in a speechbefore regional real es-tate executives in aHong Kong conven-tion. The assembly washeld to identify real es-tate investments trendsand had the biggest

names in the property industry fromAsia, Australia and the United King-dom.

According to Frankum, thePhilippines, aside from tourism, is

expected to cash in on other indus-tries such as infrastructure and min-ing.

As it is, foreign investors lookkindly at the positive effects of thestable Philippine peso, increasingtourist arrivals, the Business ProcessOutsourcing (BPO) boom, and thepositive effect of overseas Filipinoworker (OFW) dollar remittancesinto the country.

This year alone, remittances av-eraging $1 billion a month are ex-pected to pour into the country withFilipinos working overseas expect-ed to bring in $156 billion; feedingthe growth of a bigger middle classjockeying for a piece of real estatewhich it can call home.

The growing number of touristsis also fueling increased demandsfor resorts and hotels. Tourist ar-

rivals exceeded two millionfor the first time since 2004,with roughly 3,091 millionregistered arrivals last year.New markets such as Rus-sia, and Middle East, Chi-na, and Korea are expectedto help sustain this momen-tum.

CBRE is confident touristarrivals will top 3.4 millionthis year, good for about$5.8 billion in internationaltourism receipts.

Hotel room occupancylikewise rose to 73.06 per-cent in 2007 from 71.95 per-cent in 2006. “New hoteland resort developments arecurrently in strategic busi-ness locations such asMakati City, Fort Bonifacio,and the Bay Area as well astop tourist destinations suchas Cebu and Boracay, further en-hancing industry prospects,”Frankum said. In reclaimed landalong Manila Bay, the PhilippineAmusement and Gaming Corp.(PAGCOR) is developing an ambi-tious $15 billion 1220-hectare Enter-tainment City Manila project withlocal conglomerate Alliance GlobalGroup Inc. (AGI) forming a jointventure with Malaysian gaming gi-ant Genting Berhad and Star Cruis-es, the first of four pre-qualifiedgroups to be awarded a license.

AGI president Kingson Sian fore-sees the project to eventually be oneof the premiere entertainment desti-nations in the region.

The project, which is envisionedto be a wholly integrated tourismand entertainment zone, offersglimpses of the tropical charm ofthe Philippines to mainly gamingenthusiasts.

PAGCOR chairman Efraim C.Genuino sees the project to be thebiggest tourism development thecountry has ever seen.

“The integrated city will be a one-stop destination for people of allages. We envision families andtourists coming in droves to enjoy acomplete range of fun and excitingamenities at par with internationalstandards,” Genuino said.

Among the main features of theproject are luxury hotels, amuse-ment parks, meeting and conven-tion facilities, state-of-the-art the-aters, a sports stadium, race tracks,shopping malls, restaurants, a profes-sional golf course, museums andcultural complexes, residential vil-lages, a waste management facility,a marina and boardwalk and an ob-servation tower which will beamong the tallest mega-structures inthe world.

Japanese gaming equipment sup-plier Aruze had teamed up with an-other giant, Wynn Resorts, to put upthe Okada Resort Manila Bay, whichwill have 2,000 standard rooms and300 VIP suites.

In it will rise the world’s biggestOceanarium, theaters, a 40,000-seater Las Vegas-size sports arena, amuseum and a giant Ferris wheelsimilar to the London Eye (to becalled the Manila Eye).

The Genting-AGI Consortiumwill build several hotels with a min-imum 2,000-room capacity, a world-class theme park, a museum and aniconic building similar to the OperaHouse of Australia. Also being con-sidered is a theme park in the levelof the sprawling Universal StudiosPark in California. Genting Berhadholds the exclusive developmentrights of Universal Studios in Asia.

SM Investments Corp. on the oth-er hand proposes to build a world-class gaming facility with Asia Pa-cific Gaming of Australia. Also in itsblueprint is a major luxury hotel tobe managed by Radisson Hotels andResorts, a museum and a sports are-na.

Bloombury’s plan is to put upthree luxury hotels with a total ca-pacity of 1,500 rooms with design-er retail shopping, celebrity-themeddining, a showroom, a museum anda major entertainment and sportscenter.

Other developments lined up in-clude the $153 million KingdomHotel, which is a combined hoteland residential condominium to risein Makati City.

“We expect 18,143 units to beprovided from 28 upcoming resi-dential condominiums in Makati thatare targeted for completion between2008 and 2013. Likewise in FortBonifacio, 11,652 units are expect-ed to come on the market from 33residential condominiums beingconstructed from 2008 to 2012,” ac-cording to CBRE’s Frankum. Theoffshoring and outsourcing boom inthe Philippines had also created newopportunities for the real estate mar-ket.

“Major investors and businessesare looking at the Philippines be-

Foreign transfers, BPO boom fire up Philippines property

continued on page 11

Eastwood City at night

Hafa Adai!Although it has been more than

a century since the Philippine Is-lands proclaimed sovereigntyfrom colonial rule following theSpanish-American War, the samelevel of forward progress and willto be independent rings true todayin the bustling Republic of thePhilippines – and continues tothrive in the hearts of Filipinosaround the world.

This holds true for Guam aswell, where the Filipino commu-nity continues to play an activeand integral role in the continualadvancement of our island. Buteven more important is the uniqueidentity Filipinos contribute to theisland’s overall diversity, a socialstructure that continues to surpassthe test of time. And just as it hasdone for many years, I am confi-dent that the local Filipino com-munity will continue to contributeto and for the benefit of the entire

island and all of its residents.Today is a very important day

for the Republic of the Philippines,and for Filipino communitiesaround the world. And it is withhonor that I wish to congratulatethe Republic of the Philippinesand its people on the 111th cele-bration of Philippine Indepen-dence Day.

Thank you and Si Yu’usMa’ase.

Mabuhay ang Pilipino!Mabuhay ang Republika ng Pilip-inas!

Sincerely,Alicia G. LimtiacoAttorney General of Guam

MESSAGE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF GUAM

In light of the nation’s recent eco-nomic crisis, the anticipation for themassive military build up in Guamhas brought back faith and hope toour island. With new jobs and busi-nesses expected to improve our lo-cal community, it has become in-evitable that alliances between com-panies hoping to land government

contracts are now widespread. Butwho are the persons expected to ul-timately make this happen? Whoelse but the Filipino overseas work-ers on Guam.

After World War II, thousands ofFilipino workers became the island’snew heroes. From the hardworkingfarmers and skilled carpenters, edu-cators to engineers and doctors, theFilipino workers helped restoreGuam’s debilitated state. Since then,these pioneer workers and their suc-cessors have become exceptionalproviders for their families here inGuam as well as the Philippines.The remittances from overseasworkers in Guam and other parts ofthe world have significantly kepttheir families happy and the Philip-pine governmentafloat.

W i t ht w e n t yp e r c e n t(20%) oft h eP h i l i p -p i n e s ’gross do-mestic prod-uct in the formof remittances from hardworkingoverseas workers, the Philippinegovernment has graciously givenmany the privilege and rights of dualcitizenship and the right to vote onlocal and national elections. Now itis up to us to wisely take advantageof the power and honor given to us.In the upcoming elections, let usvote for those who will look out forour national interests as Filipinosand Filipino-Americans and let us bevigilant and aware of the actions andinactions of our elected officials. Letus continue to be impressive andskillful workers. Let us work togeth-er to restore Guam and our commu-nity.

With the nation in crisis, we mustremember that we can be heroesonce again. Let us help rebuild ourisland and show that our skills andpassion for a beautiful life cannotbe held back by a recession. Let usshow Guam and the nation that we,the Filipino heroes of Guam, canrise above this tough time and helpbring back a life of ease and prosper-ity.

Mabuhay ang Pilipino!Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhayang Guam!

cause it is one of the largest Eng-lish-speaking nations in the worldand has 33.5 million Filipinos in theworkforce,” Frankum said.

That labor advantage, in fact, isbringing in major multinational BPOoperators to set up shop in the coun-

try while those that entered the coun-try much earlier are expanding theiroperations.

US BPO firm Accenture, for in-stance, had leased 1.3 million squarefeet of additional space this year.

Other companies, such asTeletech, have started to look outsideMetro Manila to set up BPO offices.

All of Teletech’s six facilities are lo-cated outside the capital.

“Third party BPOs are not stop-ping in their expansion, with a hand-ful such as Convergys, IBM, Sykes,TeleTech, and People Support alreadypursuing and have secured more sitesin the country,” Frankum said.

Foreign transfers, BPO boom fire up Philippines property Continued from Page 9

MESSAGE FROM THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF GUAM

Mark V. PangilinanChairman EmeritusBoard of TrusteesFilipino Community of Guam

Mabuhay! Ako po ay bumabating maligayang kabuwanan ng ika-111 taon na Kalayaan ng atingbansang Pilipinas. “Kalayaan”,translated in English as “Freedom”or “Independence” is very valuable.Many who are now called heroespaid the ultimate price for the free-dom of our country. Here on Guamduring the month of June, we cele-brate the accomplishments of ourheroes. In today’s world, all Filipinoson Guam, no matter what color yourpassport may be or whichever coun-try’s seal is on its cover, you standalongside your non-Filipino brothersand sisters with a sense of dignityand pride as you celebrate independ-ence. This independence allows usto make an impact on our countryboth here and at our homeland. Youare a part of Guam’s history in themaking. You may be a teacher, doc-tor, nurse, business leader, or a front-line employee. You are a part of thenew hero of our home country - thePhilippines. Bahagi ka ng bagongbayani ng ating bansang-bayangPilipinas. (You are a part of the newhero of our country, the Philippines).“Give me liberty or give me death!”,Patrick Henry once said. Such wordsof pride and determination inspireus. To my fellow kababayans hereon Guam, let’s be proud of who weare, what we do and what we can do.Let’s be more determined to inspireand show our children why we are“Proud to be Pinoy”.

One hero category I am particu-larly proud of, are the inventors.Aside from the yoyo being invent-ed in my hometown of Paete, Lagu-na, there are others that are a bitmore modern. The white light thathelp us distinguish the colors be-tween a black suit and the dark bluepants in our closets is the fluorescentlamp, invented by Agapito Flores;Love Karaoke? It was invented byFilipino Roberto Del Rosario. It wascalled the SAS or Sing Along Sys-tem; How about the moon buggy?Eduardo San Juan invented the Lu-nar Rover. It was used by Neil Arm-strong and other astronauts whenthey explored the moon in 1969; FeDel Mundo was the first Asian toattend Harvard School of Medicine.She invented the incubator; Surfingthe internet and surfing it faster ispossible because of a Filipino whois credited with 8 major contribu-tions to the Information Technology.Diosdado Banatao of Cagayan, whois an Electrical Engineering Gradu-ate from Mapua Institute of Technol-ogy in Manila, is most known for in-troducing the first single-chip graph-ical user interface accelerator thatmade computers work a lot fasterand for helping develop the Ether-net controller chip that made Inter-net possible. There are more, somany to list. I suggest you Googleit and I’m positive there are more tocome.

As for this year’s Philippine Inde-pendence theme, I bid everyone,

“Mabuhay! Sa ating kagitingan, ka-galingan at kasipagan. Mabuhay tay-ong lahat, mga kapatid!”. (Mabuhay!To our valor, skillfulness and indus-triousness. Mabuhay to all of us, mybrothers and sisters). The officialtheme of this year’s Philippine Inde-pendence as set by the Departmentof Interior and Local Government is,“Kagitingan, Kagalingan at Kasipa-

gan Tungo sa Tunay na Kalayaan.”.Translated to English, “Valor, Skill-fulness and Industriousness movingtoward a True Independence”.

Freedom isn’t free, it has a price.This is also the perfect opportunityfor me to say, “Maraming SalamatPo”, for all you do and for all yourcontributions to our beautiful islandof Guam.”

We will be celebrating our Philip-pine Independence Ball on Friday,June 26th at the Sheraton LagunaResort. I invite everyone to comeand join us. Tickets are now avail-able at National Office Supply inBarrigada.

Alex GagaringFilipino Community of Guam President

Message from the Filipino Community of Guam President