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Mabuhay ang Pinoy on FAHM!

joe-mauricio

By: Joe Mauricio

 

For this month of October in the United States of America, the Filipino Diaspora (which includes Filipino migration in the 1970’s), mainly called and known as the Filipino Americans (no hyphenation), including of course, the still-living early migrants in this country, celebrate the Filipino American History Month in October, officially since 2017 in this country.

Why October? October was chosen as the celebration month to commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos who landed in what is now Morro Bay, California on October 18, 1587. It is also the birth month of Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong, whose brief story of his fight can be read in this issue.

On 18 October 1587, the first Filipinos landed in what is now the Continental United States at Morro Bay in Upper California. They arrived aboard the Nuestra Señora de Buena Esperanza, which had sailed from Portuguese Macao, as part of the Manila galleon trade.

In 1991, Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) board of trustees proposed the first annual Filipino American History Month to commence in October 1992.

In California and Hawaii, where many Filipino Americans reside, Filipino American History Month is widely celebrated. Many Filipino American organizations in these states often initiate their own independent celebrations. 2006 was a pivotal year as it marked the centennial celebration of Filipino migration to the United States.

While some used the term Filipino American Heritage Month 8 interchangeably with Filipino American History Month, FANHS cites that the month should be properly focused on “history” instead of “heritage.” Whereas history includes the events, experiences, and lives of people and their impact on society, “heritage” is solely about cultural traditions handed down from the past.

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