OCTOBER marks Filipino American History Month, celebrating and recognizing Filipino-American heritage and the growing culture in the United States.
Starting in 1991, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) has observed Filipino American History Month. A resolution to formally recognize the month was passed in Congress in 2009, 2010, and 2011, but was never made permanent, according to NBC News.
“There hasn’t yet been national legislation that proves October as Filipino American Heritage month perpetuity,” said Joan May Cordova, a leader in FANHS.
The resolution, introduced in Congress by two influential political leaders: Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), who also represents the only Asian American-majority district in the continental US, and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), from the only Asian minority state in the nation.
“Recognizing Filipino American History Month in Congress is a testament to the countless contributions that Filipino Americans have made to our country,” Hirono said in a statement.
According to the latest Census bureau report, there are approximately 3.4 million Filipino Americans–the second largest Asian-American group–in the US, although the total number is believed to be much higher.
October was chosen as the official month of Fil-Am History Month, because it marks the first Filipino presence on US soil on Oct. 18, 1587, when the very first Filipinos arrived on the central coast of California, in what is now Morro Bay.
The late Dr. Fred Cordova and his wife Dorothy, founders of FANHS, first introduced October as Fil-Am History Month in 1992.
“The Cordovas wanted to commemorate Filipino-American history and they wanted the contributions of the Filipino-American community to the United States be highlighted,” said Dr. Kevin Nadal, FANHS National Trustee. “Somewhere, people started mistaking it as Heritage Month and people started to make it about the Philippines – which is great, but the month is really meant to be about Filipino American history.”
In the 1940s, World War II was underway in the Philippines. The Battle of Leyte Gulf also took place in the month of October (Oct. 23-26, 1944), when General Douglas MacArthur had led US forces and Filipino guerrilla fighters against the Japanese.
Many Filipino war veterans, now legal American citizens, continue to this day to seek pay equality, recognition, and other benefits. Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a program that would allow certain family members of WWII veterans to receive parole to come to the US temporarily, “based upon urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit,” according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
During the second World War, 260,000 Filipino and Filipino American veterans fought under the American flag at the request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Today, as many as 26,000 Filipino veterans (of over 260,000 Filipino soldiers who fought in WWII) are now US citizens, after former exclusion from a law that granted citizenship to foreign soldiers who served in the US forces. The White House estimates around 6,000 veterans are still alive in the US today.
Alongside historical anniversaries, October marks the birthday of Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong, who spearheaded the famed Delano Grape Strike in 1965, working with Philip Vera Cruz and other manongs. Itliong also convinced Cesar Chavez to join the Filipino farm workers who had already started the labor strike in California’s Central Valley.
This year, Larry Itliong Day on Oct. 25–Itliong’s birthday–was formally recognized in the state of California, following Governor Jerry Brown’s signing of AB 7.
FANHS also holds an annual celebration commemorating Filipino-American history. This year, their theme focus is the year “1965: Tipping Point for the Filipino American Community,” commemorating the Delano Grape Strike and the Immigration and Nationality Act also passed that year.
“When we talk about diversity strengthening the fabric of our nation, the contributions of Filipino Americans come to mind,” Sen. Hirono said. “Every day in Silicon Valley, I see evidence of the continued courage, innovation, and hard work that Filipino Americans have displayed throughout American history as labor leaders, service members, artists, and business owners.”
