http://www.fanhs-national.org/History.html

OCTOBER IS FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

A Resolution

FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

WHEREAS, the Filipino American National Historical Society had declared the Year 1988 to be the 225th Anniversary of the Permanent Settlement of Filipinos in the Continental United States and had set into motion its year-long, national observance in order to focus on the story of our
nation's past from a new perspective by concentrating on the critically economic, cultural, social and other notable contributions Filipino Americans had made in countless ways toward the development of United States History; and

WHEREAS, efforts must continue to promote the study of Filipino American history and culture, so mandated in the mission statement of the Filipino American National Historical Society, because the role of Filipino Americans and those of other People of Color have been overlooked in the
writings, teachings and learnings of United States History; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative for Filipino American youths to have positive role models and to instill in them the importance of education, complemented with the richness of their ethnicity and the values of their legacy; and

WHEREAS, the earliest documented proof of Filipino presence in the Continental United States falls on October 1587, more recently published by Lorraine Jacobs Crouchett in her book, Filipinos in California (1982), annotating John Walton Caughey in his book, California (1953), and that
definitive dates of written landings on the shores of California have been recorded with the earliest on October 18, 1587, according to Crouchett, annotating H.R. Wagner's Unamuno's Voyage to California in 1587 in the Quarterly of the California Historical Society (July 1923), among others;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Trustees of the Filipino American National Historical Society establish Filipino American History Month and that it be observed annually and nationally throughout the United States and its Territories during the Month of October, commencing in the Year 1992 to mark the 405th Anniversary of the Presence of Filipinos in the
Continental United States as a significant time to study the advancement of Filipino Americans in the history of the United States, as a favorable time of celebration, remembrance, reflection and motivation, and as a relevant time to renew more efforts towards research, examination and promulgation of Filipino American history and culture in order to provide an opportunity
for all Americans to learn and appreciate more about Filipino Americans and their historic contributions to our nation, these United States of America.

*Authorized and introduced by Trustee FRED CORDOVA, Founding President.
*Moved for its adoption by Trustee LOREA ACUSZAAR; and seconded by Trustee
STEVE K. OH.
*Unanimously adopted also by Trustees PETER M. JAMERO, KAREN N. JOHNSTONE,
treasurer, Dr. TETSUDEN KASHIMA, NANCY ORDONA KOSLOSKY, and LOURDES CERENO
MARKLEY, secretary, in a special meeting of Trustees, presided by President
TERESA ROMERO JAMERO and arranged by Executive Director DOROTHY LAIGO
CORDOVA, on February 15, 1991, in Seattle.
*Submitted to the remaining Trustees for ratification on March 16, 1991.

==============================================

(Note: some of the information below is outdated, i.e. factoid for October
4, but the spirit of this informaion is still valid.)

http://www.geocities.com/fasa_usc/culture/filamonth.htm

OCTOBER IS FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

The month of October is officially observed as Filipino-American History
Month. And in the spirit of this wonderful occasion, there will be one
interesting fact for every day of the month. Please take the time to read,
think about it, and share your knowledge with others.

Fact for October 1
Question: Did you know who invented the flourescent light? Answer: AGAPITO
FLORES invented the flourescent light in the early 1940s, thus the name
FLUOR-RES-CENT. Source: Information adopted from Filipino American National
Historical Society (FANHS) Instruction Kit 1992

Fact for October 2
In 1902, the U.S. Congress passed into law the Cooper Act which made it
AGAINST THE LAW for Filipinos to:
a) own property
b) vote
c) operate a business
d) live in an "American" residential neighborhood
e) hold public office
f) become naturalized American citizens
Imagine that?! It was later repealed (the exact year is not known).
Source: Information adopted from the National Filipino-American Empowerment
Conference 1997 brochure.

Fact for October 3
Back in the 1920s and '30s, the ratio of men to women was 20 to 1 (because
of World War I). In some places it was 40 to 1. Because they were Filipino,
they were not allowed to marry white women. In the state of California
during 1926, the local authorities imposed anti-miscegenation laws on
Filipinos. Filipinos had to drive out of state in order to marry white
women. Source: Information adopted from the National Filipino-American
Empowerment Conference 1997 brochure.

Fact for October 4
Did you know that the Governor of the State of Hawai`i is a
Filipino-American named Benjamin Cayetano? He is the highest ranking
Filipino-Americna in politics to date. Source: Information adopted from
the National Filipino-American Empowerment Conference 1997 brochure.

Fact for October 5
Major General Edward Soriano of the U.S. Army, a Filipino-American, became
the second highest ranking Asian Pacific American in active-duty miltary
service this past July 1997. Major General Soriano was born in Pangasinan,
Philippines, and moved to the United States during the 1960s. He joined the
army after graduating from San Jose State University with a degree in
management. He also holds a master's degree in public administration from
the University of Missouri. Source: Information adopted from Asian Week,
August 22-28, 1997.

Fact for October 6
In 1763, Filipinos made their first permanent settlement in the bayous and
marshes of Louisiana. As sailors and navigators on board Spanish galleons,
Filipinos -- also known as "Manilamen" or Spanish-speaking Filipinos --
jumped ship to escape the brutality of their Spanish masters. They built
houses on stilts along the gulf ports of New Orleans and were the first in
the United States to introduce the sun-drying process of shrimp. Source:
Marina E. Espina. "Filipinos in Louisiana". A.F. Laborde & Sons: New
Orleans, 1988.

Fact for October 7
With all this talk about the astronauts in space, did you know that a
Filipino-American named Eduardo San Juan designed the Lunar Rover or "moon
buggy" which was used by the Apollo astronauts to explore the moon?
Source: "Filipino Americans - Just like Me!" Compiled by Mencie Y. Hairston

Fact for October 8
The elite class of rich Filipinos, also known as "pensionados," were
allowed to come to America to learn in American universities. In November
1903, 103 pensionados became the first Filipino students in American
universities and campuses. Source: Adelaida Castillo-Tsuchida's "Filipino
Migrants in San Diego: 1900-1946". University of San Diego, San Diego, CA,
1979.

Fact for October 9
Immediately after the Katipuneros (freedom fighters) won their independence
from Spain, the United States began to impose its own brand of
neo-colonialism on the Filipinos. It is known in U.S. history books as the
"Philippine Insurrection," but is hardly ever taught in schools. The
Filipino American War lasted from 1898 to 1902, and in those 3 years:
70,000 Americans died & 2 million Filipinos were killed.
Source: Stanley Karnow. "In Our Image: America's Empire in the
Philippines". New York: Ballintine Books, 1989.

Fact for October 10
Did you know that at George Washington University, something is named after
a great Filipino-American? That's right, last year the Gelman Library named
the circulation desk (1st floor) after our very own advisor, Jonathan
Melegrito, for his 25 years of service to GW and the Gelman Library. It is
officially known as "The Jonathan Melegrito Circulation Desk."

Fact for October 11
Venancio C. Igarta, an artist, is the first and only Filipino to be
exhibited at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. He took the New York
City art world by storm in the 1940s. He is featured in the October 1997
issue of FILIPINAS MAGAZINE. Source: Sison-Paez, Marites. "Igarta
Unbound." Filipinas Magazine, October 1997, pg. 46.

Fact for October 12
In the early 1900s, Filipinos came to the U.S. and settled down in many
areas. In Hawai`i, Filipinos worked on sugar cane plantations. They also
came to the West Coast of the U.S., where they worked many long hours on
farms and in the agricultural fields picking grapes, asparagus, lettuce and
other fruits and vegetables in places like Hayward, Salinas, Stockton, El
Centro, and even in Escondido. In Alaska they worked in the fish canneries.
Source: Adelaida Castillo-Tsuchida's "Filipino Migrants in San Diego:
1900-1946". University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 1979.

Fact for October 13
Since it's Columbus Day....Filipinos first crossed the Pacific Ocean as
early as 1587, fifty years before the first English settlement of Jamestown
was established. Source: Eugene Lyon. "Track of the Manila Galleons".
National Geographic. Vol. 178, No.3, Sept. 1990, pgs. 4-37.

Fact for October 14
As the baseball season winds down....Do you know who the first Filipino
American in the major leagues was? His name was Bobby Balcena, and his era
was during 1948 to 1962. Bobby debuted on September 16, 1956, with the
Cincinnati Reds. He managed to score two runs. Balcena passed away on
January 5, 1993, at the age of 64. Another Filipino-American first!
Source: Emil Guillermo. "Pinoy in the Outfield." FILIPINAS. October 1997.

Fact for October 15
Unknown to many Filipinos, through the Treaty of Paris (April 11, 1899),
Spain sold the Philippines to the United States for $20 million, thus
ending over 300 years of Spanish colonization. That was quite a bargain for
the United States! Source: Stanley Karnow. "In Our Image: America's Empire
in the Philippines." New York: Ballentine Books, 1989.

Fact for October 16
When Filipinos came to the United States in the early 1900's, they had to
compete against other ethnic groups to earn a living. Tensions grew between
white Americans and Filipinos. White Americans blamed Filipinos for taking
their women and their jobs. For this reason, many hotels, restaurants, and
even swimming pools had signs that read "POSITIVELY NO FILIPINOS ALLOWED!"
Sometimes they read, "NO DOGS ALLOWED!" This eventually lead to the passing
of the Tydings-Mcduffie Act of 1934, which limited Filipino immigration to
the U.S. to 50 per year. Source: Cordova, Fred. "Filipinos: Forgotten
Asian Americans". Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publushing Co., 1983.

Fact for October 17
Did you know that ROB SCHNEIDER is Filipino-American? You all know him from
Saturday Night Live, the movies "Judge Dredd," "Demolition Man," and "Down
Periscope." He's the guy who says stuff like "fumble...laya." He is also
the star of Men Behaving Badly on NBC. Source: "Filipino-Americans -- Just
Like Me!" Compiled by Mencie Y. Hairston

Fact for October 18
Yet another Filipina leader is a GW GRADUATE - Dr. Helena Z. Benitez. She
earned her master's degree at the Graduate School of Education & Human
Development in 1939 and was awarded GW's Distinguished Alumni Achievement
Award in 1961. Dr. Benitez is described as "the leading female figure in
the Philippines today." She serves as the chairperson of The Philippine
Women's University. She has also served as a Philippine senator,
assemblywoman, and ambassador. Even more impressive are her years at the
United Nations, where she became the highest ranking woman in the U.N.
Secretariat. You can learn more about her at: http://www.pwu.edu Source:
GW Graduate School of Education & Human Development Alumni Directory 1997,
pg. XIV.

Fact for October 19
Where did the term Pinoy originate?
It is believed that the term Pinoy originated from the early Filipinos who
came to the United States. The Manongs (uncles) as the "oldtimers" were
also known to call themselves Pinoys to distinguish themselves from
Filipinos living in the Philippines. (Contributed partly by Dawn Bohulano
Mabalon whose family has been using the term Pinoy/Pinay since the 1920s.)
Source: Philippine History 101 website
http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/~flip/history.html

Fact for October 20
It was on October of 1890 that San Miguel Beer was born. San Miguel
Corporation is the largest employer in the Philippines other than the
government. San Miguel Corporation has over 39,000 full-time employees. It
was the first brewery in Southeast Asia. San Miguel Pale Pilsen is the best
selling foreign beer brand in: the South of China, Hong Kong, Beijing, and
Nepal. FOUR out of EVERY FIVE beers being drunk in the Philippines is a San
Miguel. Source: San Miguel Beer Home Page http://www.sanmiguelbeer.com

Fact for October 21
In 1781, Antonio Miranda Rodriguez Poblador, a Filipino, along with 44
other individuals were sent by the Spanish government from Mexico to
establish what is now known as the city of Los Angeles.
Source: Cordova, Fred. "Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans". Dubuque,
Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publushing Co., 1983.

Fact for October 22
Loida Nicolas Lewis, a Filipina-American, is chairman and CEO of TLC
Beatrice International Holdings, Inc., a multinational food company with
sales in 1995 of $2.1 billion. Working Woman magazine hailed her as the top
businesswoman in the country for 1994. Mrs. Lewis was the first Asian woman
to pass the New York State bar exam without having studied law in the U.S.
She speaks several languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian and
Filipino. She was a sponsor of the National Filipino-American Empowerment
Conference held this past August. She is particularly committed to the
passage of the Veterans' Equity bill in Congress. Source: Ann On-Line
http://www.annonline.com

Fact for October 23
The 4th wave of Filipino Immigration to the United States began after the
passage of the Immigration Act of 1965 and continues to the present day.
This allowed the entry of as many as 20,000 immigrants annually. This wave
of Filipinos was also called the "brain drain", and consisted mainly of
professionals: doctors, lawyers, nurses, engineers, as well as the
military, Filipinos who continued to join the navy off Sangeley Point in
Cavite City, Philippines. Source: Cordova, Fred. "Filipinos: Forgotten
Asian Americans". Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publushing Co., 1983.

Fact for October 24
No fact available.

Fact for October 25
On October 25, 1944, General Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his promise to
return to the Philippines. After destroying the Japanese fleet in the Gulf
of Leyte, General MacArthur, then in the company of the greatest armada
ever to sail the Pacific, landed in Palo, Leyte. The Japanese were forced
to leave the Philippines soon thereafter. Source: Stanley Karnow. "In Our
Image: America's Empire in the Philippines". New York: Ballintine Books,
1989.

Fact for October 26
Did you know that TAMLYN TOMITA, from the "Karate Kid II" and the "Joy Luck
Club" is part Filipina? Why do you think she's so beautiful? Source:
"Filipino-Americans Just Like Me!" Compiled by Mencie Hairston.

Fact for October 27
The 3rd wave of Filipino immigration was from 1945-1965. Filipinos from the
Philippines joined the U.S. Navy to fight against the Japanese. Filipinos
were allowed to join the navy because they were so-called "Nationals". They
were not U.S. citizens, nor were they illegal aliens. But despite their
status, Filipinos fought side by side with American soldiers for freedom
gainst the Japanese. These veterans are were denied benefits and are still
to this day fighting for their rights. If you are interested in working on
the passage of the Equity Bill through Congress, contact the National
Federation of Fil-Am Associations at (202) 986-9300.

Fact for October 28
The Philippines was named after the Crown Prince Philip II of Spain. He was
reputed to be an extreme introvert, humorless, and unpopular. Dubbed the
"Spider of the Escorial" because he seldom left his palace, Philip II
reigned over the vast Spanish empire handed down by his father, Charles V,
and was a leading patron of Catholicism. Source: From Bong Barrameda's
Pinoy Trivia Vol. 2, Anvil Publishing, 1993.

Fact for October 29
Did you know that in the state of California, there are more Filipinos than
there are of Chinese. And in San Diego County, Filipino Americans are the
largest Asian Pacific Islander group. It is estimated that by the year
2000, Filipinos will surpass the Chinese in being the largest Asian-Pacific
Islander group in America. Source: National Filipino-American Empowerment
Conference, August, 1997.

Fact for October 30
Did you know that Dr. Abelardo Aguilar, a Filipino-American, discovered the
now widely used antibiotic known by its generic term as erthyromycin.
Chances are, you've already used this antibiotic.
Source: http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu

Fact for October 31
Both Ruben Aquino and Cynthia Ignacio, two Filipino-Americans, were
instrumental in the creation of the Disney animation film "THE LION KING."
Aquino has been with Walt Disney Studios for over a decade and was the
supervising animator of the character Simba. Ignacio, born and raised in
Maryland, started as an intern at Walt Disney, but eventually was promoted
to a full-time artist and layout specialist.
Source: Ayuyang, Rachelle. "A Great Lion of Work." Filipinas Magazine,
September 1994, pg. cover, 7.

If WE DON'T know our own history, WHO else WILL?
Filipino American history doesn't end here!

This information was taken from Rodney J. Salinas' "Filipino American
Trivia" website.

This web page was made possible by the Pinoy Business Directory.

Request a Pinoy Business Directory brochure by email to pinoytexas@aol.com.