GLENDALE, Calif. — The City of Glendale joins the Filipino community in celebrating the month of October as the annual Filipino American History Month.
On Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Glendale City Council passed a resolution proclaiming that Glendale “recognizes of the increasing number of Filipinos who live and work in the City, and therefore join in the celebration of Filipino American Heritage Month.”
The month-long commemoration of Filipino-American history was first instituted by the Filipino American National Historical Society in 1988. It is also commonly referred to as Filipino American Heritage Month.
The resolution was read by Councilmember Ara Najarian during the council session on Tuesday night. Councilmember and former Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver then presented a signed copy of the resolution to the members of the Filipino community who were present at the time.
After Weaver turned over the resolution to the Pinoys in attendance, Ruby De Vera, president of the Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale (FABAG), expressed her gratitude to the city council on behalf of the Filipinos in the city.
De Vera said that their group was “truly honored” to receive the proclamation resolution. She also highlighted the importance of Glendale as a city that continues to attract prominent Filipino businesses.
“Last year, two major Filipino corporations moved to the City of Glendale — Asian Journal Publications, the biggest Filipino American Publication in California; and ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel,” De Vera pointed out. “The City of Glendale continues to attract these huge corporations because of the economic stability and public safety [experienced] by companies who relocate here.”
De Vera, as the head of the local Fil-Am business association in Glendale, represents some of the most successful Filipino entrepreneurs and businesses in the area.
Aside from FABAG, the local arm of the Soroptimist International of The Verdugos (SITV) was also represented in city hall on Tuesday night.
Edith Fuentes, governor evermore for SITV, said that the proclamation resolution was a result of the lobbying of some of the past presidents of the Filipino-American Business Association of Glendale, which included herself, De Vera, Nini Maldonado, Marlene Cagatao, and Linda Weaver — the Fil-Am wife of Former Mayor Weaver.
SITV, together with the FABAG, held a celebration of Filipino History Month on Friday night, at the Glendale Recreation Center on Colorado Blvd. The event featured musical performances by local Pinoy acts, and a Filipiniana Fashion Show by fashion designer Lou Razon.
Currently, Filipino-Americans are the largest and fastest growing Asian community in Glendale, Fuentes pointed out.
“The new generations of Fil-Ams need to hear, see and know about their culture and heritage. This experience, we hope, will raise their curiosity! And what better way than to celebrate and showcase our rich history and heritage, year after year!” Fuentes said.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend October 18-21, 2014 Sec. A pg.7)
