The first Filipino community hall ever built in the United States has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Northwest Public Broadcasting reports the Filipino community established the center in Wapato, WA in 1948 and construction was completed in 1952.
It opened at a time the Alien Land Law prevented Filipinos from owning land and when mobs threatened to attack Filipinos.
“It was built as a safe haven by our fathers back in the early ‘50s. They built it as a meeting place to have parties and weddings. It’s available to the whole community,” said Jim Tabayoyon, the president of the Filipino American Community of the Yakima Valley.
Rey Pascua recalls immigrating with his mother from the Philippines in 1953, shortly after the hall opened.
“It was a place of refuge, but it was also a place of celebration,” Pascua added. “It was a place where we learned ‘hey, we’re a permanent part of the Yakima Valley. We’ve earned our place here. No one can kick us out now.’”
Residents young and old joined in celebrating the Halls designation this past weekend.
According to NBC Right Now, The Filipino National Historic Society nominated the hall for the registry.
The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation funded the effort with a grant from the National Park Service.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
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