DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-485-06                                                                                                                                                                                                                             16 June 2006

CITY MAYOR OF CHICAGO HONORS FILIPINOS DURING 108th  INDEPENDENCE DAY RITES

16 June 2006 – The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Chicago City Mayor Richard M. Daley acknowledged the Filipino American community’s contribution and services to the City through a Proclamation declaring “June 12, 2006 to be Philippine Independence Day in Chicago, and encourage all citizens to appreciate the contributions of the Filipino American community has made to Chicago.”

Consul General Blesilda Cabrera said Mayor Daley hosted a reception on 8 June 2006 at the Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center to honor Chicago’s Filipino American community as they celebrate the 108th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.

The Mayor’s Proclamation stated that “the Filipino American community in Chicago has greatly enriched the city’s ethnic mosaic with its culture and history.”   The Mayor also recognized that “the Filipino American citizens contribute to the vitality and strength of the City of Chicago and the entire country, making outstanding contributions in business, health, law, education and many other professions.”

In her response, Consul General Cabrera thanked  Mayor Daley for his continued support and friendship for the Filipino-American community in Chicago, which continued to flourish under his leadership.   She cited “the Centennial of Filipino migration to the United States, marked by many important, meaningful and lasting contributions of Filipino migrants to American society and to the communities where they live; Mayor Daley’s support of his Asian Advisory Council during the 64th commemoration of Bataan Day on 9 April 2006 and his proclamation designating that date as Bataan Day in Chicago in recognition of the sacrifices made by Filipino and American soldiers in the Battles of Bataan and Corregidor.”

During the event, Mayor Daley awarded Certificates of Recognition to the leaders of the Filipino American community namely, Dr. Alice Joaquin, Mr. Frederick Magsino, Mr. Max Norte and Ms. Paz Saladino. The Filipino American community in return presented Mayor Daley a token of appreciation.  Miss and Mrs. Philippine Independence Day beauty queens were also presented.

Mayor Daley’s annual reception, which is a recognition of the enduring friendship between the two countries,  was attended  by the Consulate’s officers and staff, leaders of the Filipino-American community, government officials and NGO leaders of Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao who were participating in the three-week program at the Northern Illinois University. END

 

 

/epa