Heroes Welcome parade for 2024 Paris Olympics Philippine Delegation with medalists Carlos Yulo, Nesthy Petecio, and Aira Villegas | Photo by Patrick Roque via Wikimedia Commons
Part VIII of “Agenda 2026-2046” Series
Since the early 1990s, this journalist has been urging his peers in the Filipino-American Fourth Estate to write about “Filipinos looking good, feeling good, and being proud of their positive contributions to the United States and the world.”
Then, a big break came when this writer was chosen in an election in February 2004 to chair what the Philippine government deems as one of the most important Filipino events in the United States. The Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles, CA (PCG-L.A) conducted the election. He became the chairman-elect of the Kalayaan Philippine Independence Day Committee for 2006, as reorganized by then Consul General Marciano Paynor, Jr. Then Consul General Willy C. Gaa replaced Ambassador Paynor early in 2006, as he was recalled to become the Philippine president’s protocol officer. The new consul general joined the Kalayaan volunteers in adopting — for the Kalayaan 2006 theme — the centennial of the first wave of Filipino workers brought to Hawaii in 1906.
A gala celebration of the 1898 Philippine independence from Spain was held on June 10, 2006, at the Bonaventure Hotel Ballroom in Downtown Los Angeles. More than 500 couples attended it. It also featured a cocktail reception for the visiting Filipino dignitary, who was the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the Bonaventure Hotel reception. The dignitary was Juan Flavier, who headed the Philippine Department of Health before he was elected to the Philippine Senate. Thanks to the lobbying efforts of Kalayaan 2005 Chairperson Lucy Babaran and her husband, Dr. Joselito Babaran, the Philippine Medical Association of Southern California hosted a cocktail reception at a Japanese hotel in Downtown Los Angeles on June 9.
After the Kalayaan 2006 events, it was time for a historic project. The project was first proposed to friends in the Big Apple in 1977. However, Filipino-American community leaders could not hold the first Filipino community day at a Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium.
History was made on July 24, 2006, when the First Fi-Am Community Night was held at the Dodgers Stadium. Consul General Gaa (then already named the acting Philippine envoy to the U.S.) threw the ceremonial first pitch in a regular MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. Before the game, there was a 30-minute performance of Filipino-Muslim folk dances. It was followed by a rendition of the Philippine national anthem in its Tagalog version, which was the first ever in MBL history. Carmel Angeli Justine (Chelsea) Emata, a budding singer, sang it a cappella. (It is sad to report that Ms. Chelsa Emata passed away in October 2024, but history will never forget her historic performance of the Philippine national anthem at Dodgers Stadium.) The Kalayaan and Fil-Am Community Night at Dodgers Stadium received no Philippine government fund. Both were all funded by Filipino-American community leaders.
“This means the application to host the 2044 Summer Olympics will be submitted in 2035. Filipinos, therefore, have at least nine years to begin the reinvention of the country and build up the economy while at the same time eliminating or mitigating homelessness, crime, and other social cancers.”
Incidentally, both Ambassador Gaa and Senator Flavier have died also. But Filipino Americans in Southern California do not forget their efforts to help them do more for the homeland.
Indeed, winning a bid to host the Summer Olympics will entail much more human and financial resources than organizing a local ethnic event in Los Angeles or any other locality. But it may be the best international event to enable the Philippines to reclaim its role as the “Pearl of the Orient.” Or, for that matter, remind the world that the Filipino archipelago used to be the citadel of Spanish civilization in the Far East. Or that the Filipino-Muslim women of Mindanao are second to none in the Islamic world, as they even have their own Mindanao State University in Marawi City, where many of them finished college. Some became lady members of the Philippine Senate, House of Representatives, local government units, and/or appointed to senior national government positions.
There is enough time, as the Olympic Games host city is usually selected 6-to-7 years before the Games. The selection process involves two years when cities can apply to host the Games. Once the host city is chosen, the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (OCOGs) will propose new sports for that specific Games, with proposals made 4 to 6 years before the Games. This means the application to host the 2044 Summer Olympics will be submitted in 2035. Filipinos, therefore, have at least nine years to begin the reinvention of the country and build up the economy while at the same time eliminating or mitigating homelessness, crime, and other social cancers.
The 2028 Philippine presidential, senatorial, congressional, and local elections may be the best time for a referendum. Yes, to choose—based on their platforms of governance and economics plus track records—the best leaders who can make possible the staging of the 2044 Summer Games and implement the suggested agenda that will culminate in 2046.
This series has been renamed the “Agenda 2026-2046” because turning U.S. states into a “Commonwealth” is a pipe dream. Most U.S. national leaders do not even want to comment on it. But the re-making of the Philippines as a commonwealth is possible. The said 20-year proposed agenda may accelerate the process of socioeconomic and governmental reforms. That is, when Filipino voters may decide to make their government and economy of the people, for the people, and by the people and their cooperatives, credit unions, and labor co-ops.
