Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at Flag-Raising Ceremony for Philippines

June 16, 2023

Video available at: https://youtu.be/oUzI1ucOcFw

Commissioner Manuel Castro, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs: Please join me in welcoming Consul General Senen Mangalile.

Consul General Senen Mangalile, Philippines in New York: Thank you. Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Commissioner Manny Castro, Commissioners Mermelstein, Anne del Castillo, a Fil-Am, Bowling Green Chairman Arthur Piccolo, Commissioner Vilda, an adopted Filipina, married to a Filipino, your excellency, Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, our permanent representative to the United Nations, all the hardworking men and women of New York City Hall, the Filipino American community [speaks in Filipino] and ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant afternoon to all of you.

Good afternoon. [Speaks in Filipino]. First of all, on behalf of the 85,000 strong Filipino community that has sunk roots and made a home in New York City, I wish to thank Mayor Adams and his administration for hosting this flag racing ceremony to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine independence. We consider this flag raising ceremony in this hallowed grounds as a recognition of the many contributions and achievements of Filipinos to New York City. And for that, we are very grateful.

The detective said that there is a Filipino saying that whoever fails to look back to where he came from will never reach his destination. June 12, 1898 is the date when our ancestors proclaimed our country's independence from colonial oppression. We look back. We look back to that date to recall the many sacrifices they made for the cost of freedom and self-determination. We honor them for establishing the first ever constitutional democracy in Asia as we likewise honor the many other heroes, both celebrated and unsung, who followed after them and contributed glorious pages in our nation's history.

At the same time, we celebrate the current crop of present day heroes represented by all of you who are here, Filipinos who have immigrated to the United States mostly for economic reasons and to be reunited with their pioneering family members, thereby continuing a long tradition of people to people exchanges between our two countries. You are the bearers of an illustrious heritage passed on by seafarers who escaped indentured service aboard the Manila galleons in the 16th century. The Manila men who fought for the US in the War of 1812, our soldiers and sailors who fought in the trenches of France and sailed the seas in the First World War and many others.

Fil-Am history is replete with so many stories of overcoming adversity, enduring discrimination, being shortchanged when it comes to federal benefits such as our veterans of the Second World War and basically having to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Filipino Americans have triumphed over these challenges and have proven themselves a positive contribution to the fabric of American society. Because of you, Filipino nurses, doctors, and other health workers, Filipinos in the military, law enforcement and emergency services, Filipino small business owners, most of whom are women.

Filipino accountants, auditors, lawyers, [inaudible], artists in Broadway, caregivers and housekeepers. Because of you, the image of the Filipino as hardworking, God-fearing, family-oriented and very friendly and hospitable has been validated time and again. Because of you, we can look to the future with confidence and optimism knowing that for the next 125 years, our voices will be heard in the corridors of power as many more Stephen Ragas are elected, as other cities follow the example of Mayor Adams and appoint and elect many more Maria Torres-Springers and Anne del Castillos in their own City Halls.

Today we look back with gratitude. We celebrate you, our present heroes, and your contributions to this great city. And we rededicate ourselves to working together with the city administration to strengthen the ties that bind our communities together. Today as we hoist both flags of the United States of America and the Philippines, we honor the great City of New York that has made the American dream a reality for many Filipinos. Thank you and [speaks in Filipino].

Commissioner Castro: Thank you so much, Consul General. Let's hear it from Filipino New Yorkers! It is now my honor to introduce someone who works so hard on behalf of all New Yorkers, including the millions of immigrant New Yorkers and Filipino New Yorkers who make this city their home, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer.

Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Economic and Workforce Development: Thank you, Commissioner. Good afternoon. [Speaks in Filipino]. I am so humbled to be with all of you today, not just to help raise the flag in honor of the 125th anniversary of Philippine independence, but to also of course celebrate the very rich history of the Philippines, the extraordinary contributions of Fil-Ams and the amazing community of Pinoys here in this great city. Now, I come from a long line of very proud Filipinos, strivers, doers, survivors in their own right and my father Manny used to tell me that every bloodline runs in the Filipino.

And in many ways, this is also true of our great city because it is a place which has become home to so many regardless of where their life story began. And so it is truly fantastic that we are able to raise the flag of the Philippines, not just once but twice over the last seven months. And this is no accident because my boss, the person I now have the honor of introducing, has always been and will always be a true champion of the Filipino community. So please join me in welcoming the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Thank you so much. And the posture of acknowledgement of the existence of a group is in the duality of the approach. One, there must be a level of symbolism, such as today. The first time we have raised the Philippine flag was last year when I became the mayor of the city of New York. This is the second time, and the raising of the flag here at Bowling Green is a symbolic gesture of stating that we acknowledge you, we see you, we know your commitment, your dedication, and how much you have played such a crucial role in the city. But that symbolism must be matched with substance.

How do we ensure that in a very substance way that you are at the seat of power, that you are there to speak on behalf of not only all New Yorkers in general, but specifically on the communities that you represent. When you're at the seat of power, you will never be left out of the sharing of power. The substance of my actions to match the raising of the flag was to ensure for the first time in the history of this city with 110 mayors that we have the first Filipina American to be a deputy mayor in Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer.

Her portfolio of business and development, economic development, housing is not a portfolio of just going through the motions. She is at the foundation to determine how well this city is going to do. When you look at the fact we've recovered 99 percent of the jobs we lost during pre-pandemic, when you look at the fact we need new housing and building structures and attract businesses here to the city, when you look at the fact that we're seeing tourism return to the city, 56 million last year, 65 million predicted this year.

When you look at the economic stability of this city, you must understand that not only are members of your community, not only are they part of the medical profession, the small businesses, not only are they part of the law enforcement like the detective we have here, but they also are part of the major entities that must move this city forward. Why is that significant? New York City is the greatest city on the globe. We need to be clear on that. Even those who wait online to take a picture with the bull know that New York City is the greatest city on the globe.

So if New York City is the greatest city on the globe, that makes me the greatest mayor on the globe, and it means that the greatest economic developer is from your community that's the greatest on the globe. You have the largest economic developer in the entire globe is from your community and our deputy mayor. But we don't stop there. We compete with Hollywood when it comes down to the attractions of movies and how you build out stages, how do you encourage people to come and see the Hollywood experience. The person in charge of that, Commissioner Castillo is also from your community.

So your community is so much in the fabric of this city and what we represent. So yes, we're raising the flag. That's our symbol, but don't miss our substance. The combination of our substance and symbol is saying to you, I see you. I recognize you. I respect you. I need you. You believe in families. You believe in business. You believe in public safety. You believe that there's a resiliency that comes with this city. We never surrender. We never give in. We're hardworking. We're committed. We're dedicated. We know that there's something special about this place.

From here, ideas cascade throughout the entire country to say that this is a country where you can keep your culture while you embrace the American culture. You never abandon that culture. It's the combination of all of our cultures that create this great product, this great experience we call the American Dream. Thank you for what you have done, what you will do, and what you are currently doing. Thank you very much.

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