The Philippines has long been associated with the United States of America. The relationship has been amenable at times and contentious at others. For example, on February 4, 1899, the Philippine American War began because one U.S. private, Willie Grayson, from Nebraska, shot at some Filipinos at the San Juan Del Monte Bridge. The war lasted three years, although the struggle for Philippine independence would extend until July 4, 1946.
During those years, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos came to the U.S. as "nationals", not aliens; but ineligible to become naturalized U.S. citizens. Also on February 4, but in 1942, the U.S. House of Representatives would hear and deny a bill to allow Filipino naturalization. Again, it would not be until after World War II and Filipinos were able to attain U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process.
Today, I recognize these events to remember what and how much people before me had to endure so that I could enjoy the rights and privileges I, and my generation, have today.
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