October is Filipino American History Month

For years, the Filipino American National Historical Society has designated October as a month to recognize the contributions, history, and culture of Filipino Americans.  In 2009, the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives officially recognized the month of October as Filipino American History Month. (Download Senate Resolution and Download HR Resolution). 

October was chosen for this celebration because the earliest recorded instance of Filipino presence in the continental United States was on October 18, 1587. According to the Senate Resolution, Filipino American History Month should be used as an opportunity to, among other things, “to promote the study of Filipino American history and culture . . . because the roles of Filipino Americans and other people of color have been overlooked in the writing, teaching, and learning of United States history.”  Important contributions that the Senate resolution highlighted included the service of 250,000 Filipinos during World War II.