Immigrant rights activist Jose Antonio Vargas will be the featured speaker at the Philippine Independence Day Gala Ball in Washington, DC in June.
“We are proud of his courage in speaking on behalf of the rights of immigrants everywhere,” Ador Carreon, told the Inquirer. ” He took great risks in coming out. It is fitting that we honor him on this occasion when we are also honoring the bravery and heroism of the Filipino people who fought for their human and political rights more than a hundred years ago.”
Two years ago, Vargas came out as an undocumented immigrant who arrived in the United States at age 12, not discovering until several years later his immigration status. Since then, he’s been the face of Filipino immigration rights. He was even featured on the cover of Time magazine.
