October is typically celebrated because of Halloween, however, it should also be celebrated because of Filipino-American History Month to honor the countless Filipino-Americans around the world.
Filipino-American History Month was established in 1992, but it was not recognized by Congress until 2009. According to the University of Washington, Filipino Americans are the second-largest Asian American group in the United States. Taking up a large portion of Asian Americans, Filipino-American History Month should be celebrated and acknowledged more than it already is.
Across the U.S., many places celebrate Filipino-American History Month in their own distinct ways. In Honolulu, the Neal S. Blaisdell Center simply draws a Filipino flag. Even a basic tribute like Honolulu’s is still very much appreciated by the Filipino-American population.
At the Washington State History Museum, the Filipino American National Historical Society’s Greater Puget Sound Chapter held the event “Laban: The Filipino Fighting Spirit” to recognize Filipino contributions to American history on Oct. 17. The museum hosted performances, food, documentary screenings, cultural demonstrations and exhibits that guests thoroughly enjoyed during their stay.
For a more local setting, Fullerton College Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Amplified team made a list of events and activities to attend to and celebrate this special month. Such events consist of guest speakers, book talks and film screenings.
Here at ANHS, the Pinoy Barkada club contributed to Filipino-American History Month and celebrated during their October meeting. On Oct. 25, the club talked about geography and the history of the Philippines while playing Pinoy music and sharing Pinoy desserts with club members.
Jairah Torres (11), President of Pinoy Barkada shared about the club, “We are inclusive to all races and nationalities, regardless if you’re Filipino or not, so come join us to celebrate Filipino American History Month and other future meetings in room 308!”
Another club at ANHS that celebrated Filipino-American History Month is the Southeast Asian Student Association club. For the club’s first meeting of the 2024-2025 school year, SEASA presented a presentation about the club, upcoming events members can participate in with SEASA members from other schools and gave out common Filipino snacks for members to try.
Kat Tran (12), President of SEASA, says, “For this first meeting, I wanted the new SEASA members to get a taste of what SEASA is like by sharing what the club is as well as what we do and by showing appreciation to Southeast Asian countries. This meeting was good timing since we not only had club activities and events to share to members but we also had a specific country, the Philippines, to celebrate and show appreciation for for our October meeting.”
At a time like this, Filipino-Americans should not feel ashamed of their culture as it is widely celebrated and appreciated in countless places around the United States. Being Filipino-American comes with comforting traditions and life lessons that have not only shaped history but also the identities of many.
