Filipino American History Month:
This year, Filipino American History Month focuses on "Struggle, Resistance, Solidarity, and Resilience," a theme that highlights the indomitable spirit of the Filipino American community.
From October 1st to October 31st, the United States celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans to the country. Social Justice Peer Educator Nick Peralta and the Foley Library are proud to collaborate on this Libguide to provide resources for learning about Filipino American heritage and stories. This guide includes important information on Filipino American history, culture, literature, art, and more.
Here are some specific ways you can celebrate Filipino American Heritage Month and support the Filipino community:
This year, the Foley Library and Social Justice Peer Educator (SJPE) Nick Peralta collaborate to inform the community about Filipino American history, culture, and traditions.
Social Justice Peer Educator, Nick Peralta
Nick Peralta is a Junior at Gonzaga and a first-year Social Justice Peer Educator. As an SJPE, Nick selected Filipino American Heritage Month in October to highlight a commonly underrepresented identity and its rich history that has contributed so much to our country and the world. Nick hopes to continue to use his role to vocalize the voices of often marginalized communities and continue educating others.
Click here to learn more about the Unity Multicultural Education Center and Social Justice Peer Educators!
October 18, 1587: The first documented Filipino Americans arrived in Morro Bay, California. Called "Luzones Indios" by the Spaniards, Filipino sailors were among the galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza crew to explore the coast of northern California.
1763: Filipino Americans established their first recorded North American settlement in St. Malo, Louisiana, after escaping forced labor and enslavement by the Spanish.
1898: On April 21, 1898, the United States declared war against Spain, which had a drastic effect on the Filipino American population and their independence. In 1989, the Treaty of Paris granted the United States control of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War, ending Spanish colonization in the region.
1899: The Philippine-American War began in the wake of the Spanish-American War. The war only lasted three years, but fighting continued in the Philippines until 1913.
1901: President William McKinley signs an executive order allowing the Navy to enlist 500 Filipinos. Many Filipinos who joined the Navy would use their service to become U.S. citizens and bring their families to the United States.
1903: The Pensionado Act allowed Filipino college students to enter the United States.
1907-1908: In 1907, the United States systematically recruited Filipino agricultural and manual laborers. The Filipino presence in the United States prompted several anti-Filipino riots. Filipino workers in the United States formed mutual support organizations and joined labor unions to protect their peace and rights.
1910-1930: The Filipino population working in Alaskan canneries doubles. Known as "Alaskeros," Filipino laborers made up the majority of workers in Alaskan canneries by the mid-1930s.
1919: The Filipino Labor Union was established in Hawai'i, and Philippine-born laborer Pablo Manlapit was appointed president.
1920-1930: Filipinos began appearing in Hollywood Films, mainly fulfilling roles as "aborigines" or "natives."
1930: The Filipino Women's Club (FWC) is founded in Salinas, California.
January 1930: The Watsonville Race Riots began to discriminate against and harm the Filipino community in Watsonville, California. White protestors and vigilantes were upset about white women dancing with Filipino men and Filipino immigrants "taking American jobs."
1931: Filipinos finally became eligible for U.S. citizenship.
1934: The Tydings—McDuffie Act assigns an annual quota allowing 50 Filipinos to enter the United States annually. It also promised the United States would grant the Philippines independence after ten years.
1941-1945: During WWII, the 1st and 2nd Filipino Regiments formed to fight got the United States in exchange for citizenship.
1945-1948: After WWII, the United States passed the War Brides Act, allowing Filipino men and women who fought for the United States and acquired citizenship to bring their families to the United States.
1955: Filipina American activist, Rose Bamberger, works with her queer and lesbian friends in the San Francisco area to create a space where queer individuals can meet without having to fear discrimination and violence from the homophobic community. Her efforts led to the creation of the first American lesbian club, Daughters of Bilitis.
1959: Philip Vera Cruz, Pete Velasco, and Larry Itliong established the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee.
October 3, 1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which increased the Filipino population in the United States. Referred to as the "brain drain," Filipino migration to the United States after the Immigration and Nationality Act provided incentives for skilled and educated Filipinos to come and work in the United States.
1980s: Filipino American National Historical Society was founded.
1980s: Filipino nurses became part of the front lines of medical professionals treating the HIV epidemic.
1990s: Filipino Americans from the West Coast became major influencers in the DJ, R&B, and Hip-Hop scenes. Examples include Kai, One Voice, and Jocelyn Enriquez, all of whom meld Filipino ballads with acoustic vocals, pop, and R&B undertones.
2001: The first Filipino American film, The Debut, was released. It highlights Filipino American pop culture and explores issues related to immigration, such as intergenerational cultural conflict, assimilation, and the core values behind Filipino American family formation.
2002: Los Angeles’ Filipinotown district becomes an official historic site.
2009: Congress declares October “Filipino American History Month.”