2009 R - 175 - NAMING THE PARK IN FRONT OF GORDON COLLEGE AND OLONGAPO CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY TO FIL-AM PARK

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF OLONGAPO, HELD ON NOVEMBER 18, 2009 AT THE CITY HALL.

PRESENT:

Hon. Gina Gulanes-Perez - - -City Councilor & Temporary Presiding Officer

Hon. John Carlos G. delos Reyes- - - City Councilor

Hon. Rodel S. Cerezo- - “ “

Hon. Sarah Lugerna Lipumano-Garcia - - “ “

Hon. Edwin J. Piano- - “ “

Hon. Angelito W. Baloy - - - “ “

Hon. Aquilino Y. Cortez, Jr. - “ “

Hon. Anselmo A. Aquino- - - “ “

Hon. Elena C. Dabu- - “ “

Hon. Jonathan G. Manalo- - “ “.

Hon. Cheenee F. Hoya- - - SK Federation President

ABSENT:

Hon. Cynthia G. Cajudo - - - City Vice-Mayor & Presiding Officer

(On Leave)

RESOLUTION NO. 175

(Series of 2009)

A RESOLUTION NAMING THE PARK IN FRONT OF GORDON COLLEGE AND OLONGAPO CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY TO FIL-AM PARK

WHEREAS, Olongapo and Subic Bay share a significant fulcrum in world history. In 1885, the Spanish Naval Commission authorized the construction of an arsenal followed by the build-up of the Ship Repair Facility. In 1898, during the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Commodore George C. Dewey, Commander of the US Asiatic Squadron, was given orders to attack the Spanish Fleet in Manila Bay. Rear Admiral Don Patricio Montojo y Pasaron moved his fleet from Subic Bay to Manila. The assault ended with a victory among Dewey’s army. The defeat of the Spanish Army in Subic led to their surrender to the USS Raleigh. After a brief Filipino American war, Major Robert E.L. Spence of the US Army led the takeover of Olongapo Shipyard in 1899;

WHEREAS, in 1903 Theodore Roosevelt issued an Executive Order designating Subic Bay and 70,000 hectares of its adjacent lands as an American military reservation. In 1904, the Subic Naval Station became operational and provided support to the US Asiatic Fleet, the largest US Marine Corps Training Facility in the world before World War 1;

WHEREAS, Subic together with the constituents of Olongapo stood hand in hand with the U.S. forces at the forefront of World War II. After the said war, the Americans granted full independence to the Philippines in 1946, yet, Olongapo remained under the administration of the US Naval Reservation;

WHEREAS, during this period, vital installations of schools, hospitals, roads, bridges and even the International Youth Center (IYC), a sports centrum, where the convention center stood were built through the partnership of Filipinos and Americans. IYC was also called then as Fil-Am Center to honor the staunch alliance of the peoples of the two countries in the developments converged in the area;

WHEREAS, since the said stretch also covers the old hospital, the exact location of the Gordon College now, the City Library and the former IYC/Fil-Am Center, the City deems it best that the park in front of the said edifices be named as Fil-Am Park to serve as a memorial, a silent witness attesting for such solid bond and intricate knit that Filipinos and Americans unceasingly share in the pages of history and beyond;

NOW, THEREFORE, on motion of Councilor Edwin J. Piano, with the unanimous accord of the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod present,

RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in session assembled to name, as it hereby names the park in front of the Gordon College and the Olongapo City Public Library to Fil-Am Park.

Let a copy of this Resolution be furnished the National Historical Institute for their record and action.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, November 18, 2009.

CYNTHIA G. CAJUDO

City Vice-Mayor & Presiding Officer

(On Leave)

GINA GULANES-PEREZ JOHN CARLOS G. DELOS REYES

City Councilor City Councilor

& Temporary Presiding Officer

RODEL S. CEREZO SARAH LUGERNA LIPUMANO-GARCIA

City Councilor City Councilor

EDWIN J. PIANO ANGELITO W. BALOY

City Councilor City Councilor

AQUILINO Y. CORTEZ, JR. ANSELMO A. AQUINO

City Councilor City Councilor

ELENA C. DABU JONATHAN G. MANALO

City Councilor City Councilor

CHEENEE F. HOYA

SK Federation President

ATTEST:

ELFLIDA S. SALMON

Council Secretary

APPROVED BY HIS HONOR, THE CITY MAYOR ON _____________________.

JAMES GORDON, JR.

City Mayor

ATTEST:

DELFIN A. JUICO, JR.

Secretary to the City Mayor