Council Member Julie Won introduces Resolution declaring June 12 as Philippine Independence Day in NYC

Resolution honors Filipino New Yorkers’ contributions and celebrates the 36th Annual NYC Philippine Independence Day Parade

Council Member Julie Won (CD-26, Queens) introduced on March 14, 2026 a resolution before the New York City Council declaring June 12 as Philippine Independence Day in NYC. The resolution recognizes the historic significance of June 12, 1898, when General Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from more than 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, and honors the enduring legacy and contributions of Filipino New Yorkers to the city's civic, cultural, and economic life.

Resolution 469 comes ahead of the 36th Annual NYC Philippine Independence Day Parade, scheduled for Sunday, June 7, 2026, which marches down Madison Avenue from 38th Street to 27th Street, the largest parade commemorating Philippine Independence Day outside of the Philippines.

Council Member Julie Won with members of the Knights of Rizal organization, Assemblymember Steven Raga (2nd from right), Clifford Temprosa (rightmost), and NAFFAA NY president Rachelle Ocampo (left).

Filipino American community leaders asked the NYC Council to pass the resolution without delay.

The Filipino American community is the second largest Asian American group in the United States, with a population of approximately 4.4 million (Pew Research 2023). In New York City, about 94,000 Filipino New Yorkers reside across the five boroughs, with just over half living in Queens. About 65 percent of Filipino New Yorkers hold a bachelor's degree or beyond, and both male and female Filipino New Yorkers are most commonly employed in the health care industry, which employs approximately one-third of the community.

Philippine Independence Day has been commemorated in the Filipino diaspora with festivals, parades, and community events celebrating Filipino arts, cuisine, customs, and traditions. In June 2025, the New York State Assembly adopted Resolution No. 692 calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 12 as Philippine Independence Day in New York State, a recognition that Council Member Won's resolution now seeks to affirm at the city level.

“New York City is home to one of the largest and most vibrant Filipino communities in the country, and their contributions to our neighborhoods, workforce, culture, and civic life have shaped this city for generations,” said Won.

Philippine Independence Day Parade on Madison Avenue in 2019. (File photo)

“Declaring June 12 as Philippine Independence Day in New York City is a recognition of the Filipino people’s long struggle for self-determination and freedom, and an affirmation that Filipino New Yorkers are an essential part of our city’s story. As we celebrate the 36th Annual NYC Philippine Independence Day Parade, we honor the resilience, sacrifice, and leadership of the Filipino community and recommit ourselves to ensuring their history and contributions are recognized across all five boroughs.” 

The resolution traces the full arc of Philippine independence, from Aguinaldo's 1898 declaration to the U.S. granting formal independence on July 4, 1946 through President Harry S. Truman's Proclamation 2695 and the Treaty of Manila. It further notes that on August 4, 1964, Republic Act No. 4166 officially proclaimed June 12 as Philippine Independence Day, marking the people's declaration and exercise of their right to self-determination, liberty, and independence.

Filipino New Yorkers have been and continue to be well-positioned to contribute to New York City's multicultural communities and workforce. The resolution affirms the City's commitment to recognizing and celebrating that legacy every June 12.

“Declaring June 12th as Philippine Independence Day in the City of New York is not a ceremonial gesture - it is an act of recognition. It tells every young Filipino American growing up in the 5 boroughs that your heritage has a place in this city’s story,” said Rachelle Ocampo, President of NaFFAA New York.

“On behalf of NaFFAA New York, we stand in full and enthusiastic support of Resolution 469. We thank NYC Councilmember Julie Won for her leadership and community organizations such as the Knights of Rizal for spearheading this initiative, and we call on the New York City Council to pass it without delay.”

“Too often, Filipino communities function as invisible infrastructure in New York City. They are essential to the life of this city, yet absent from public recognition, policy conversations, and institutional investment,” said Clifford Robin Temprosa, Director of Public Policy at NaFFAA New York and Founder of Dare to Change Consulting, Inc.

“Resolution 469 matters because recognition shapes narrative, narrative shapes policy, and policy shapes which communities are protected, invested in, and remembered. We urge the New York City Council to pass this resolution and affirm the dignity, history, and contributions of Filipino New Yorkers.”

“It's time and it's overdue after 300 years of the Philippine/American relationship. The Philippine Independence June 12 is given the acknowledgment to be honored by NYC,” said Potri Ranka Manis of Kinding Sindaw Cultural Heritage of Indigenous Philippines in Diaspora.

“Thank you Julie Won NYC Council Member for championing the Filipino Americans and maraming salamat Clifford Temprosa of Knights of Rizal in advocating this endeavor.”

“Recognizing June 12 as Philippine Independence Day in New York City is also a recognition of the generations of Filipino migrants, workers, caregivers, and families whose labor and sacrifices continue to sustain both this city and communities back home,” said Riya Ortiz, Executive Director of Damayan Migrant Workers Association. #