October is the month of celebrations, including Filipino American History Month!
Why Do We Celebrate in October?
On October 18, 1587, the first Filipinos arrived in California. The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) voted to celebrate their history beginning in October of 1993. Fast forward to 2009 when U.S. Congress officially recognized the celebration as a nationwide event.
Let’s Learn
According to the 2010 Census, California accounts for 43% of the Filipino American population in the country. Until the 1960’s, Stockton was home to the largest group of Filipinos outside of the Philippines. The city still remains a cultural hub and is home to the FANHS museum.
Review the resources below to learn more about Filipino American history:
- Watch the video at the end of this post to hear from Filipino Americans
- Learn about the culture from the Filipino American National Historical Society
- Filipino Educational Tools for Elementary Grade Students
- Participate in virtual events on Facebook hosted by the Asia Pacific Cultural Center
- Live events every day at 1 p.m.
- 10/26: History and Opening Ceremony
- 10/27: Honoring Filipino Americans in the Military
- 10/28: Educational Kids Activities
- 10/29: Cooking Demonstrations
- 10/30: Folk Dance and Finale
- Live events every day at 1 p.m.
Community Resources
Little Manila Rising – Stockton: After school programs, dance, health assistance and martial arts.
Filipino Americans of Northern California – Sacramento, East Bay & Beyond: Community resources, scholarships and workshops.
Philippine National Day Association – Sacramento: Youth leadership, scholarship opportunities and mentoring.
Asian Resources – Sacramento: Youth employment resources, support services and workshops.