Fil-Am history & activism
The US is a second home for wonder | wonder | women which we have come to love it as deeply as our original homeland, the Philippines.
The 2010 census claims there are 3.4 million Filipinos in the US although the total number is bound to be much higher by now. Filipinos are the largest Asian group in the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, Wyoming and South Dakota.
On 18 October 1587 the first Filipinos landed in what is now the Continental United States at Morro Bay in Upper California.
The historical moment marked the settlement of Filipino sailors, called Luzones Indios by the Spaniards they served. As they all traveled on the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Esperanza (Our Lady of Hope) to what would eventually be California.
Filipino American History Month was established in October around this day because the eighteenth signifies the first documented appearance of Filipinos in the continental United States, according to the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS).
Filipino Americans are the second largest Asian American group in the nation and the third largest ethnic group in California, after Latinx and African Americans. The October 18 celebration commemorates not only Filipino heritage but our presence in this country.
Fil-Am organizations across the US campaign and support local actions and current events happening in the Philippines and the US. For all Filipinos — those living and working in the Philippines and abroad.
We band together and practice bayanihan traditions, the spirit that keeps our culture and communities alive and thriving no matter where we are.
Filipinos will go out of our way to help kababayans in need. May we all continue to keep this spirit alive, within us and in our world. Mabuhay!
Originally published at https://wonderwanderwomen.blogspot.com.
