From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 11):
Statement by Secretary Kerry on the Philippine's Independence Day
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the
United States, I am delighted to congratulate
the people of the
Philippines
on the 115th anniversary of your nation’s independence.
The
United States is
proud of our rich history and enduring alliance with the
Philippines, an
important democracy and strategic partner in the dynamic Asia-Pacific region.
I'm especially proud of my long connection to the
Philippines dating back to the first
amendment I ever passed as a United States Senator, calling for free and fair
elections. Not long after, I found myself on the ground in
Manila as an election observer for those
hard-fought 1986 presidential elections that restored democracy to a people
yearning to be freed from dictatorship.
One of the first possessions I hung on the wall of my office at the State
Department was the Order of Sikatuna I received from the government of the
Philippines
just a couple years ago.
Today, our two countries enjoy ever-broadening cooperation on challenges
from countering extremism to strengthening economic ties. Through our
Partnership for Growth, we can help sustain the
Philippines impressive economic
growth and our joint efforts in the Open Government Partnership are advancing
good governance, accountability, and vibrant civil societies.
On this special day, as Filipinos around the world come together to
celebrate, I wish you a joyous Independence Day and a prosperous future.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=533228
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