FIL-AM CONTRIBUTIONS TAKE FRONT AND CENTER
OCTOBER is celebrated as Filipino American History Month across the United States because the earliest documented Filipino presence in North America was on October 18, 1587 in Morro Bay, California.
They were late physicians Fred Cordova and his wife Dorothy Laigo Cordova, founder of the Filipino American National Historical Society ( Fahns).
Fahns is a community- based organization whose mission is “to promote understanding, education, enlightenment, appreciation, and enrichment through the identification, gathering, preservation, and dissemination of the history and culture of Filipino Americans in the United States,” who first introduced October as Filipino American History Month back in 1992.
In 2009, the United States Congress passed subsequent resolutions recognizing October as Filipino American History Month, urging people across the country to celebrate the significant contributions of Filipino Americans to the enrichment of the country.
ABS- CBN subsidiary The Filipino Channel is one of the foremost organizations taking part in the annual celebration
of Filipino American History Month, and will take part this year in four major events.
On October 6, the City of Carson will host the kick- off ceremonies for the 9th Annual Filipino American History Month festivities. The day starts at the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Monument outside the Carson Community Center where a wreath- laying ceremony will be held as well as a leadership awards ceremony in three categories: Community Leadership, Youth Achievement, and Heroism.
Headliners for the program are singers Fe de los Reyes and Miguel Vera, along with the CSU Long Beach Filipino American Coalition, Shane Selloria, Jason Farol, Kindreds of Carson, and former “Fil- Ams Got Talent” champions Charishma Marquez, Shekinah Austria, and Therese Masangcay. Keynote speaker is Asian Pacific Studies Professor Mary Talusan- Lacanlale. Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz and Council Member Elito Santarina will also grace the kick- off.
Daly City will then mark FilipinoAmerican History Month via “Kasayahan sa Daly City” at the Marchbank Park on the same day. There will be food trucks, a family fun zone, arts and crafts, a jump house, a beer garden, several vendor booths, a bubble machine, and entertainment from homegrown talents.
Capping off the day is the “TFC Hour” where “Queen of Freestyle” Jocelyn Enriquez and rapper and spoken word artist Ruby Ibarra are set to peform.
Furthermore, “12 Million” – a glimpse into the Filipino diaspora through story and song, will be shown in Los Angeles and the Bay Area on October 20 and 27, respectively. Through artistic expressions of music and drama, the show will offer a glimpse into the real- life experiences of Filipinos from across the globe.
On October 27, the 9th Annual Larry Itliong Day Celebration will be held at the Veterans Park, also in Carson, California to be capped by an awards night for exemplary laborers. Speakers for the event are Johnny Itliong, director of the Larry Itliong Foundation through Education, and son of labor leader Larry Itliong; Fernando Chavez, founder of the Chavez Law Group and son of union leader and labor organizer Cesar Chavez; and Historian Roger Gadiano, who is also a member of the Filipino American National Historical Society- Delano chapter.
Silakbo sa Mik Tinig, a socially relevant rap group whose songs tackle issues on immigration, women and demilitarization will serve as performers.