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Filipino American History Month celebrated across the nation

From Filipino American Student Association, Cal State University, Fullerton

October is Filipino American History Month, and Filipino Americans all over the U.S. are finding creative ways to celebrate their culture, events and history of their heritage.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the official commemoration of Filipino American History Month, which was recognized by House and Senate resolutions in 2009, according to Inquirer.net.

Filipino Americans have a long history in America. Filipino sailors aboard a Spanish galleon were the first Asians to reach North America in October 1587, according to Radio Milwaukee.

The month primarily commemorates key Filipino American figures who changed the course of American history, like Larry Itliong, the labor organizer who worked alongside Cesar Chavez. While Chavez gained national recognition for leading the farmworker labor movement, Itliong is his lesser-known but equally important counterpart. In fact, it’s been said that Itliong inspired Chavez, according to Ed Dionko.

Decades later, Itliong is finally being recognized. Californian Assemblymember Rob Bonta, the only Filipino American member in the state legislature, designated Itliong’s birthday, Oct. 25, to be Larry Itliong Day, reported Dionko.

One way to spread awareness of the month while celebrating Filipino American heritage is through food. This week, media outlets across the nation highlighted the delights of Filipino cuisine.

Representatives for Fil Fest 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va. demonstrated how to make homemade lumpia on WKTR News 3. The New York Times reviewed Tsismis, a Manhattan-based restaurant that serves Filipino American drinking food, just in time for Filipino American History Month. In Milwaukee, Wisc., the co-owners of Meat on the Street, a Filipino food truck and storefront, discuss the importance of the family-owned business to their cultural roots to Radio Milwaukee. And Seattle-based Hood Famous Bakeshop, popular for its Filipino desserts like ube cheesecake, created “Greetings from Filipino Town” apparel to rejuvenate Filipino American presence in Seattle’s Chinatown International District, according to the International Examiner.

College students also commemorate the month by organizing events within Filipino American-based organizations.

About 4000 students all across the West Coast gathered for the 34th annual Friendship Games at California State University, Fullerton on Oct. 19. The Friendship Games brings the West Coast chapters of the Pilipinx American Students Association together for games, relay races and skits, making it one of the largest student-run events celebrating Filipino American culture, according to The Orange County Register.

At the University of Southern California, Troy Philippines, a student organization that provides community for Filipino Americans, will host a Pilipino American Culture Festival in honor of Filipino heritage on Oct. 27, according to Annenberg Media. Less than 1 percent of students at USC from the class of 2023 identify as Pacific Islander; Troy Philippines provides an outlet where students can discuss what it means to be Filipino American.

Although Filipino American History Month officially draws to a close with the end of October, Filipino American representation will continue through the local business owners, college students and community leaders who take pride in their Filipino roots.

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