Re-committing Philippine relations with the CNMI

The following is the speech delivered by Philippine Consul General Wilfredo Maximo during the vin d’honneur held Friday at the Hibiscus Hall of the Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, as part of celebrations for the anniversary of the Philippines’ declaration of independence.

Hafa Adai, Magandang tanghali sa inyong lahat, good afternoon to all our distinguished guests.

We are gathered here today to commemorate another happy anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence. One hundred seven years ago on June 12, the Filipino revolutionaries unfurled for the first time from the balcony of the home of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo the Filipino flag that you see here today and proclaimed before the townspeople of Kawit, Cavite, the independence of the Philippines from Spain, culminating 400 years of constant struggle against foreign domination. The guns have fallen silent since those bloody struggles and we are now engaged in another struggle, which is the pursuit of a better life for our people under a regime of liberty, justice and democracy.

We would like to take this occasion to also celebrate the warm and friendly relations that happily exist between the Philippines and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Much like marital vows are renewed at each wedding anniversary, we re-commit ourselves to maintaining and preserving those friendly relations. I would like especially to thank the people of the Commonwealth through their leaders for their goodwill and friendship and sympathetic understanding shown toward the Filipino community through all these years. I wish also to recognize the part played by our community for ensuring that our relations with our host government remain as ever cordial through their respect for and obedience to the regulations. Indeed if our relations are in a happy state at the present time it is because they are founded on mutual respect and goodwill.

I have every hope and optimism that the excellent relations between the Philippines and the CNMI will be further strengthened in the years ahead, a cause to which the present and previous Commonwealth leaders have contributed so much of their unstinting efforts.

I would like to end my remarks by inviting everyone present to join me in a toast to the people of the CNMI and to the continued friendship among the Philippines, the United States of America and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.(Wilfredo Maximo)