Vignettes from Filipino-American History

TWO PINOYS CHEERED BY THE U.S. CONGRESS

In 1986, President Cory Aquino gave a speech before a joint session of the United States Congress that drew more than 10 standing ovations, made House Speaker Tip O’Neill exclaim, “It was the finest speech I’ve heard in my 34 years in Congress!” and prompted the lawmakers to rush a vote to give the Philippines an additional $200 million in economic aid which was "the honorarium for an excellent speech" decided "by our hearts, not our heads."

In 1902, another Filipino's words similarly touched the hearts of the members of the US Congress—and he wasn't even there.

Henry A. Cooper, a Republican from Wisconsin and Chairman of the House Committee on Insular Affairs, took the floor of the US Congress to defend a bill that would create a Philippine legislature designed to put the colony on the road to independence.

That was the time when the American public knew nothing about their new colony and only imagined Filipinos to be black-skinned savages who lived in trees like monkeys.

Cooper had barely opened his mouth when congressmen started shouting him down. Determined to keep the Philippines a US colony, Republicans and Democrats stood one after another to interrupt Cooper.

“Mr. Chairman,” Cooper cried, “Think of their history! For three hundred hopeless years the Spaniards robbed these helpless people! For three hundred years they lived under a government which deliberately kept the masses in ignorance!”

“Yet, Mr. Chairman,” Cooper continued, “despite this deprivation, this race has given to the world not a few examples of intellectual and moral worth — men in the height of mind and power of character.”

“It’s been said that if American institutions had done nothing else than to furnish to the world the character of George Washington,” Cooper said, “that alone would entitle Americans to the respect of mankind. So, Mr. Chairman, I say to all those who denounce the Filipinos indiscriminately as barbarians and savages: this race has proven itself entitled to their respect and to the respect of mankind when it furnished to the world the character of Jose Rizal!”

Cooper briefly narrated the story of Rizal’s life and death and then read, with eloquence and feeling, an English translation of Rizal’s poem 'Mi Ultimo Adios.'

After the last lines “Farewell to thee, too, sweet friend that lightened my way/Beloved creatures all, farewell! In death there is rest!” the entire US Congress sat in stunned silence, then broke into prolonged applause.

Cooper concluded, “Search the long and bloody roll of the world’s martyred dead. Where, on what soil, under what sky, did Tyranny ever claim a nobler victim?”

With that speech, the US Congress passed the bill into law which is now known as the Philippine Organic Act of 1902. It created the Philippine legislature, appointed two Filipino delegates to the US Congress, extended the US Bill of Rights to Filipinos, and laid the foundation for an autonomous government. The colony was on its way to independence.

The Americans also finally accepted their kinship with Filipinos after realizing that the bolo-wielding islander was not a savage but like them, a passionate defender of freedom and democracy.

(Reference: “Rizal in the American Congress” in Philippine Free Press, December 27, 1952 by Vicente Albano Pacis)

Did you know that the Philippine-American War (1899–1902) was one of the deadliest conflicts in Asian history, yet it is often downplayed in global textbooks?

While military deaths were significant, the civilian toll was catastrophic, with estimates ranging from 200,000 to over 1,000,000 lives lost.

The majority of these deaths resulted from famine, forced displacement in "reconcentration" camps, and a devastating cholera epidemic triggered by the chaos of war.

This demographic tragedy claimed a massive percentage of the total population, marking a somber chapter in the Filipino struggle for sovereignty.

Meanwhile, 

In 2019, scientists confirmed the existence of the Apolaki Caldera, now recognized as the largest known volcanic caldera on Earth, hidden deep beneath the Philippine Sea within the Benham Rise or Philippine Rise. The discovery was led by Filipino marine geophysicist Jenny Anne Barretto, together with an international research team that included Dr. Ray Wood and Dr. John Milsom. Using detailed geophysical and bathymetric data, the team identified the massive underwater structure, measuring approximately 150 kilometers in diameter, making it far larger than the Yellowstone Caldera in the United States. Their findings were later published in a peer reviewed scientific journal, marking a major milestone in marine geology and volcanology.

The caldera was named Apolaki, after the Filipino sun and war deity whose name translates to great lord or giant lord, symbolizing both its immense size and national significance. The discovery highlights the geological importance of the Benham Rise and reinforces the Philippines’ role in advancing Earth science research. Beyond national pride, Apolaki Caldera provides scientists with valuable insight into ancient volcanic activity, plate tectonics, and the formation of large igneous structures beneath the ocean floor. Its identification also underscores how much of Earth’s geology remains unexplored, particularly beneath the seas, where discoveries can reshape our understanding of the planet’s dynamic history.

Lastly,

Sitangkai: The Philippines’ Southernmost Municipality

Located in Tawi-Tawi, Sitangkai is the southernmost municipality of the Philippines and is often called the “Venice of the South.” Built entirely on stilts over saltwater, daily life here depends on bancas and pump boats instead of roads.

Just 1–2 hours by boat from Sabah, Malaysia, Sitangkai has strong cross-border ties, with about 80% of its goods sourced from Sabah. Surrounded by rich waters, it is also known as the Seaweed Capital of the Bangsamoro Region, with fishing and seaweed farming as key livelihoods.