6 June 2012- Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo signed Proclamation No. 2012-055 honoring Filipino-Guamanians and celebrating the 114th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence for the month of June 2012.
The signing was held at the Governor Bordallo Complex last May 29.
The signing ceremony was attended by officers and members of the Filipino Community of Guam, led by its President, Ms. Leah Beth Naholowaa, Board of Trustees Chair Emelio Uy, the officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Guam, together with visiting Mayor Suzette Mammon of Badiangan, Iloilo.
The Filipino-Guamanian cabinet members of the Calvo-Tenorio administration were also in attendance.
In the said proclamation, Governor Calvo praised the many contributions to Guam by Filipino educators, doctors, engineers, architects, business leaders and philanthropists who have made Guam their home.
The Governor thanked them for contributing to the development of the island and for helping build and make Guam a better place. He also commended them for their industriousness and commitment to excellence.
Governor Calvo likewise highlighted the fact that he is also married to a Filipina-Guamanian and that a number of his Cabinet members are Filipino-Guamanians, including Director of the Agency for Human Resources Development Alfredo Antolin Jr., Interim Administrator of the Guam Memorial Hospital Rey Vega, Legal Counsel to the Governor Mariz Cenzon, Esq., Executive Director of the Guam Commission for Educator Certification Leah Endriga Santos, and Deputy Director of the Department of Public Health Leo Casil.
He also stressed that a number of other civil servants and members of the judiciary are of Filipino descent.
Philippine Consul General to Guam Bayani Mangibin thanked the Governor for recognizing the contributions of Filipinos and Filipino-Guamanians to the development of the island.
He likewise emphasized that both Guam and the Philippines share a common history and that these commonalities are the basis of the strong ties that exist between the island and the Philippines.
Consul General Mangibin, also stressed that in working more closely with the administration of Governor Calvo, the economic ties between the Philippines and Guam will be strengthened further. END