The Democratic nominee was showing a little love to the Philippines, Filipino Americans and the push for the veterans equity proposal yesterday on the real Philippine Independence Day.
It certainly got play—in the Philippines:
http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=20080613-142528
It’s a departure for Obama, who rarely likes to bring up his Hawaii upbringing. But he did so here in discussing Filipinos. And most Filipinos in the Philippines don’t vote here, so its a fairly safe thing for Mr. Race Avoidance.
It would be great to see more of this, however, from the candidate. We certainly didn’t see it in the campaign. Remember how careful he was in that 80/20 fiasco?
Let’s hope statements on Philippine Independence Day aren’t just event driven photo ops, and that it’s a sign we’ll see more of an outreach to Asian Americans in general.
APAs are among his biggest fans.
As for June 12, you’re likely to see more celebrations throughout June.
But June 12th is the actual day General Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain after the Spanish American War, only to then have to fight that fledgling imperial force, the United States of America.
June 12 really should be Emilio Aguinaldo day because he was the human force and spirit behind that drive for independence. He needs the recognition and the love.Not current President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a poor substitute for a modern-day Aguinaldo.
When I was growing up in San Francisco’s Filipino community, we were all brainwashed by the common thinking that July 4th was Philippine Independence Day. But that day is intended to mimic America. The U.S. finally gave up and let the Philippines go in 1946, but it only did so after creating a junior version of democracy that has both helped and hindered the Filipino political psyche ever since.
We should celebrate the month of the birth of the first Philippine Republic and honor June 12 as Aguinaldo’s day. He had it right first.