MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ Proclamation No. 381, September 18, 2000 ]
DECLARING DECEMBER 7, 2000 AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER AS PHILIPPINE BRITISH FRIENDSHIP DAY
WHEREAS, the Philippine British Society, Inc., which was established in 1955, is desirous in celebrating every year a Philippine British Friendship Day to commemorate, enhance and enrich the historical and contemporary ties that strongly bind the two countries which encompasses the political, economic, and cultural fields;
WHEREAS, the Society has a membership of over two hundred prominent individual and responsible corporate members coming from the diplomatic corps of the Philippines, Great Britain and other countries, members of the judiciary, business, government, academic, cultural and the arts;
WHEREAS, the Society, which preceded the establishment of the British Council, the cultural arm of the British embassy, has the support of the British embassy in Manila, in the pursuit of this worthwhile endeavor;
WHEREAS, Great Britain is the biggest investor country in the Philippines and has infused a total of One Hundred Thirty Four (P134B) Billion in investments and that it is noteworthy that this remarkable increase, of trade and commerce and cultural activities between the two countries was achieved under the Estrada Presidency. It is likewise notable that the construction of the Salaam Bridges for Peace in Mindanao is being aggressively undertaken under the Estrada administration;
WHEREAS, the Society has passed a board resolution for the purpose of celebrating a Philippine British Friendship Day citing the consideration that the Republic of the Philippines was once under the British Civil Government between 1762-1764 during the so-called Seven Years War (1756-1763) between England and France where Spain sided with France. And, during this historical event, the British Fleet, consisting of 13 ships and 6,830 men (British and Indian troops) entered Manila Bay on September 22, 1762 and after days of fierce battle, Manila fell into British hands on October 5, 1762;
WHEREAS, the British government during its brief occupation of the Philippines was responsible for the establishment of the city government of Manila under a British city mayor and the opening of Manila to foreign trade; and the British occupation of the Philippines thrust the country into the limelight of world attention.1aшphi1 This footnote in our countrys history broke the stature of invincibility of Spain and which led to the various local revolts led by Diego Silang in Ilocos and by Juan de la Cruz Palaris in Pangasinan;
WHEREAS, many Sepoy (Indian) soldiers who deserted the British army, settled in the town of Cainta, Rizal and intermarried with Filipino women. The present day people of this town have dark round eyes, high aquiline noses, wavy dark hair and dark complexion - attesting to their Indian ancestry;
WHEREAS, the Society has a counterpart organization based in London, England which is called the British-Philippine Society and that the proclamation of the Philippine British Friendship Day will further enhance British Philippine relations in Great Britain; and that such proclamation will enthuse Philippines and British based organizations which evince interests common to both countries such as the British Alumni Association of the Philippines whose members are graduates of prestigious British Schools and are now in the country holding responsible positions in government and in business.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare December 7, 2000 and every year thereafter as Philippine British Friendship Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 18th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, two thousand.
(Sgd.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
By the President:
(Sgd.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary
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