Independence Day -- July 4, 1776...

Welcome to the Global Kalinga e-Rotary Club for the week of Sunday, June 28 through Saturday July 4, 2015, Indepence Day. We are an Internet based Rotary Club based in Quezon City, Philippines with core groups of members in Southern California and elsewhere. We serve our local and nearby communities as well as projects in the Philippines,

Inspiration

"The important consequences to the American States from this Declaration of Independence, considered as the ground and foundation of a future government, naturally suggest the propriety of proclaiming it in such a manner as that the people may be universally informed of it." ~ John Hancock

"If the Philippines secure their independence after heroic and stubborn conflicts, they can rest assured that neither England, nor Germany, nor France, and still less Holland, will dare to take up what Spain has been unable to hold." ~ Jose Rizal

Rotary 4-Way Test

Of the things we think, say or do: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”

By building your team's self-esteem and encouraging them, the entire team becomes stronger.

Sing-Along Song - Patriotic Medley

Take your time and sing-along (wherever you may be).

Finemaster (Fines and Happy Dollars)

http://youtu.be/CkQQbRqLoCI

Program -- Independence Day

It seems if we ask the person on the street--or, in this case, on the beach--why we celebrate the 4th of July, we ​​get--well--confusion. Why? Shouldn't each of us understand and know the reasons why we celebrate the 4th of July. Watch this video as Mark Dice talks with California beach goers about the 4th of July and finds that many Americans simply don't know WHY we celebrate the 4th of July or from what country we declared independence.

Surely we know the history of our Independence Day; however, just in case, here's a brief history of the 4th of July- animated documentary by Project Happening.

Celebrating Independence Day Vienna

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As Rotarians, what does Independence Day mean to you. Last year, for the first time, all three U.S. Ambassadors, Ambassador to Austria Alexa Wesner, Ambassador to the OSCE Daniel Baer and Ambassador Joseph Macmanus, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Vienna, invited their guests to celebrate with them the 238th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America.

July 4, 1946: True Philippine Independence Day

We had a weekly meeting earlier in June related to the Philippines Independent Day on June 12. The Filipinos also celebrate the independence from the United States on July 4. Here is an article written several years ago by someone you may know, Bobby Reyes.

The Philippine government talks of the coming centennial of the Philippine independence de- clared in 1898. President Diosdado Macapagal signed an executive order in 1963 (The correct date is May 17, 1962. - Ed.) that "moved" the Philippines's independence day from 1946 to 1898. On the basis of the June 12, 1898, (alleged) declaration of independence by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite, he thought that it was his mandate to correct "history." He thought it would serve better the national aspirations of the Filipino people to adopt that date as the Philippines's independence day. Can President Macapagal's executive order change history? I do not think so. It seems that a vast majority of Filipino Americans share my view. Wars of Independence We argue that the war that led to General Aguinaldo's proclamation of independence was but one of a series of wars for independence that the Filipino people waged. If we were to trace the Filipino struggle for independence, we could mark April 27, 1521, as the day the Filipinos first declared their freedom. The naturalized-Spanish explorer, Fernando de Magallanes, died on the beach of Mactan, Cebu, Philippines, on that day at the hands of native freedom fighters. But do historians admit that fact? No. The Philippines, at that time, consisted of warring tribes. The archipelago was not yet a nation. In 333 and 48 years, respectively, the Spaniard and the American colonial masters nearly unified the Filipinos. They managed to unite nearly all the people of the Philippines into a semblance of a nation. There were many wars of, and for, independence of the Filipino people. Prior to the founding of the Katipunan in July 1892, there were at least 32 instances, since 1754, of rebellions, mutinies and revolts against the Spanish government in the Philippines. If we were to count the uprisings during the British occupation of Manila from 1762-1764, the number would total 41. There were sporadic revolts in 1763 in the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Tayabas (now called Quezon), Cavite, Camarines (Bicol region), Samar, Panay, Cebu and Zamboanga. The total of 41 revolts from 1574 to 1888 does not even include the war for independence waged by Princess Urduja of Pangasinan. If my memory serves me right, Princess Urduja's army fought the Spaniards from 1680 to 1692. The war for independence in 1898 actually began in 1892. The founding of the secret society of Filipino rebels called the Katipunan was on July 7, 1892. Prior to the execution of Jose P. Rizal on Dec. 30, 1896, there was the so-called "First Cry of Philippine Independence" on April 10, 1895, in Montalban, Rizal. The more famous Cry of Balintawak was on Aug. 26, 1896. The Filipino rebels fired the first shots of the revolution on the same day. There was the first encounter in the sitio of Pasong Tamo that was then a part of the Bulacan province. In that encounter the Katipunan suffered more than 3,000 casualties. The Battle of Pinaglabanan in San Juan, Rizal, followed on Aug. 30, 1896. The 1896 revolt spread to the other provinces. On Sept. 2, 1896, Mariano Llanera and his 2,000 followers rose up in arms in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. General Aguinaldo declared Philippine "independence" over the dead bodies of the Katipunan founder, Andres Bonifacio, his brothers and their followers. Aguinaldo's goons murdered these freedom fighters. History has it that Aguinaldo ordered also the assassination of Gen. Antonio Luna in Vigan, Ilocos Sur (Luna was killed in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. - Ed.). These were among the reasons the Aguinaldo proclamation of "independence" was parochial in scope. He had only limited support in his native province of Cavite and some neighboring areas. On June 12, 1898, the Spaniards still controlled cities such as Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Legazpi, Zamboanga, Vigan and their adjacent towns (Only Iloilo was still under Spanish control. - Ed.). The Americans controlled the walled City of Intramuros, Manila, after their May 1, 1898, naval victory at Manila Bay. There was not even a single (third) country that recognized the proclamation of "independence" made by General Aguinaldo. The Filipino people did not ratify the 1899 Malolos constitution, which ostensibly gave "retroactively" Aguinaldo his "emergency" powers to declare a dictatorial government in 1898. There are many Filipinos and Filipino Americans who think that the 1998 centennial celebration will be a commemoration of a fictional independence. Filipino leaders can amuse themselves into thinking that the Philippine independence will be 100 years old by 1998. Even if we were to assume arguendo that the Philippines were already independent by the turn of this century, still the right year would have been 1896 and not 1898. There are many of us who want to set the record straight. We celebrate only what is real and factual. We cannot distort historical facts. We cannot celebrate an event that only "resembles the truth." We reckon that it was only on July 4, 1946, when the United States granted it independence that the Philippines became politically free as a country. U.S. 48-star flag This is what the 48-star United States flag that was hauled down at Luneta Park on July 4, 1946 looks like. The Philippine-independence centennial in 1998 will have no relevance to the United States and the American people. We believe that the Philippine National Centennial Commission and the Philippine leaders who insist on the June 12, 1898, independence are insensitive to the facts of history. They are also insensitive to the feelings of the American people, especially those of Philippine ancestry. To ignore the July 4, 1946, independence is hypocritical. It demonstrates, once more, the myopic view of some Philippine leaders who think that to be pro-Filipino is to be anti-American. A Lesson in World War II History In case the Philippine national leaders have forgotten, the United States lost more than 20,000 American lives in recapturing the Philippines from the Japanese invaders in 1944-1945. The Americans, with the help of the Filipino soldiers and guerilla fighters, had to drive out first the Japanese invaders in order to give independence to the Philippines. This was the independence that the Aug. 29, 1916, Jones Law provided, as amended by the March 24, 1934, Tydings-McDuffie Law. Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt could have sided with the American Navy top brass in October 1944 and avoided American casualties in the Philippines. The admirals wanted to bypass the Philippines, drive the Japanese from Formosa (now Taiwan) and attack mainland Japan from there. Gen. Douglas MacArthur appealed to President Roosevelt. The general said: "To bypass the Philippines would admit the truth that we had abandoned the Filipinos and would not shed American blood to redeem them." President Roosevelt agreed with General MacArthur and authorized the October 20, 1944, landing at Leyte. The rest is history, as the cliché goes. Ingratitude has never been a trait of the Filipino people. Some critics have said that might be part of the character of the Filipino national leaders. We refuse to believe these critics. A Philippine-American Centennial? What we ought to celebrate is the centennial of American involvement in the Philippines. This would make the 1998 centennial relevant in the United States. We could celebrate the 100 years of special ties between the peoples of the United States and the Philippines. To make this centennial truly international, we could commemorate in 1998 the centennial of the Spanish-American War. The Filipinos, especially the Filipino Americans, therefore, will have to put their thinking caps on and select which independence day to celebrate. We are confident that the more than three-million-strong Filipino Americans, many of whom are now citizens of the United States, will support our stand. Yes, the Philippines has only one independence day. The date of independence is July 4, 1946. What say you Filipinos and Filipino Americans? Editor's note: Bobby Reyes is a "media advocate and founder of the Media Breakfast Club (MBC)" according to a piece of literature he handed out recently. He is also the main organizer of the Philippine- American exhibits and shows that occasionally grace the halls of the West Covina Mall in Southern California. This article is an excerpt from a paper that Reyes released on March 3, 1996. Commas, quotation marks, italics, and information presented are the author's. Reyes, Bobby. "July 4, 1946: True Philippine Independence Day" in Hector Santos, ed., Philippine Centennial Series; at http://www.bibingka.com/phg/misc/july4.htm. US, 3 June 1997

For those who might want to enjoy the fireworks display at Disneyland two years ago, on July 4th 2013, here is something extra.

Club Business

Congratulations to Chuck Cota for his year as president 2014-015. See our president's report below. Photos of our last monthly meeting Golden Skewers this past Thursday may be viewed on our public Facebook group, Global Kalinga e-Rotary Club thanks to Benita.

Our new Rotary year begins this week. Please be sure to RSVP for our installation dinner on July 11 at Marlarkey's in Long Beach. You may RSVP online or by sending a check to Rillea, our treasurer for 2015-16. The cost is $50.00. Check with Frank, frank@fsadamo.com or 714-408-9287, if there are any problems RSVP'g online.

Please submit your dues by Monday, June 29, otherwise you will be (temporarily) terminated as a member. DO NOT MAIL your check if you haven't done so. Checks will not be received in time. Remit your dues onlie ($100 for 6 months or $190 for 1 year). Again, contact Frank (see above) if you have any problems submitting your dues.

This should have been reported before; however, our officers, directors, and committee chaairs for 2015-16 are:

Officers

President...........................Celly Adamo

Executive Secretary...........Frank S. Adamo

Foundation Chair...............Art Azarcon

Club Membership Chair.....Ernie Delfin

Secretary...........................Ernie Delfin

Treasurer...........................Rillea Pax

Directors and Others

Immediate Past President..Chuck Cota

President Elect..................Art Azarcon

Club Director.....................Frank S. Adamo

Community Directors.........Belle Olson and Benita Delfin

Vocational Directors..........Bon Munar and Lino Caringal

International Director.........Ali Famisaran

Youth Directors..................Andrew Rimando (Philippines) Calendar: Be sure to view the calendar on our site. It lists both the U.S. and Filipino holidays, our upcoming monthly meetings, fundraisers, and events for the whole Rotary year. Generally, our monthly meetings will be held the 2nd from the last Sunday of each month [not sure how that came to be, but...:)] from 2:00 pm to 5 or 6. Tentatively each meeting will have a general members meeting followed by or prior to a board meeting. If you have any questions about the calendar, please feel free to contact Celly, or preferably Frank since he has a more open schedule.

President's Report for 2014 - 2015 I am happy to report that we finally made it through the Rotary Year for 2014 -2015! Books to the children in the Philippines, mostly hosted by Ernie. Orangewood Christmas Dinner for the Families in Santa Ana, and Toys, Towels and Swimwear for the Children in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico - and programs at our 10 General Membership Meetings each month. I am so grateful and proud of the faithful that came to my last meeting as your president for 2014 2015 and to our guests. I am so sorry that you couldn't be with us; Benita, Rillea, Ali, Ernie, Lino and myself were the only members in attendance; Guests were: Dion and Linda Santos - from Manila via Monterey Park and Rotary Club of El Monte, Barrett Jackson, 1st timer from Brea and Linda Belle. Tony Anguiano, (He joined us for dinner and the program and brought the Beach Towels for the Casa Hogar de la Gracia children's home in Baja, Mexico)

You missed a fantastic dinner! For the faithful that were there it was a banquet to say the least and was by far the best dinner we shared this year! If you have not experienced the Golden Skewer Restaurant in Montebello. It was just by providence that we ended up there when our first choice double booked and we were out! Give yourself a treat and visit. It has got to be the best Armenian Cuisine in Southern California, the Golden Skewer Restaurant - Armenian Cuisine.

About the Beach Towels for the children; I would like to remind you that as a Rotarian you promised (Is it the Truth - remember?) to support our Club and its Goals and Projects as voted on and approved by the Club. The Beach Towel project was one of those projects. I expected every member to at least make a minimal donation of $39 to buy a towel for the children ( and you even get one for yourself to show off your membership in G K e-Rotary Club and tell friends and family about what we are doing to help an orphanage. I know some of you are busy and just dropped the ball on getting this obligation done - also of just offering the opportunity to serve to others by telling your family and friends. There is still time to do so. Please mail your check today to our treasurer or you can do so online. It is the least you might do to support GK e Rotary for this worthy project.

Lino and Benita received their Director and Treasurer's Recognition Awards respectively. Linda Belle received her well deserved First Lady Extraordinaire Award! Ernie received two awards, The First G K e-Rotary Rotarian of the Year award for 2014-2015 for all the work he has done on behalf of our Club; and there is more, Ernie won the gift bottle of fine wine given to me at the 1st Installation Ceremony last July at the Royal Vista Country Club by our sister Rotary Club, Club Rotario de Rosarito; for bringing in the most members this year.

We were entertained - or better said "wowed" by the magic of Carlos Caliente , Mae 'East' and Cookie the Psyche Dog! He performs at the world famous - Magic Castle in Hollywood. What a treat he was for all of us. Linda Belle and I were happy to be able to give this performance as a gift to our club - and believe me Rotarian - it cost us more than a measly $39 for towels! Kumuha ng mga larawan? ¿Entiendes? I am proud to have served you as President this term and to be counted as a Rotarian! I wish you all God Speed in our Rotary Year 2-15 - 2016.

C.J. "Chuck" Cota President 2014 -2015 Global Kalinga e-Rotary