October-Filipino American History Month

Community Recognition Awards

Every 3rd Saturday in October, our chapter holds an Awards Luncheon to recognize community members who have contributed to the Filipino American history in our area (San Joaquin County).

This year, Stockton FANHS’ 13th Annual Community Recognition Awards Luncheon will be held at China Palace Restaurant, 5052 West Lane, Stockton on October 20, 2012. Deadline for nominations is July 1st, and anyone can nominate anyone they feel is worthy of the award. We ask you follow the guidelines below when submitting nomination. Contact us for more information.

FANHS STOCKTON CHAPTER GUIDELINES FOR RECOGNITION AWARD BIOGRAPHY

 
1.Personal Information: (Show full name, year of birth, where born, parents names, where they were from, your education, short job history, spouse, children and hobbies)
 
2. Community Service History: (Show general volunteer service to school, public office, service in your church, fraternal or political organizations, sports, etc.)
 
3. Service to the Filipino Community of San Joaquin County, CA: (Filipino community organizations, sports, church, schools, political, publications, written stories of your personal Filipino American experiences, lectures to students on Filipino American history, preservation of Filipino American history, etc.)
 
PLEASE LIMIT TO ONE PAGE 8 1/2 x 11 - and submit one photograph -- It is preferable to submit entire biography & photo all by e-mail (stocktonfanhs@aol.com), if possible, or mail to FANHS Stockton, PO Box 4616, Stockton, CA 95204

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The 2009 observance of Filipino American History Month commemorates the first Filipino Presence in the Continental U.S. when on October 18, 1587, 422 years ago, Filipinos, then called Indios from a Spanish galleon, touched shore at Morro Bay, now in San Luis Obispo County in California.

Much history - rich, enlightening, inspirational and at times sad - in four centuries in America has made the Filipino American experience to be a unique and instinctive odyssey deserving to be shared with all Americans and others of goodwill.

Certainly much research has yet to be done in many parts of the nation and particularly in newer communities being established especially by the U.S. arrival of Filipinos from the Philippines after the enactment of the Immigration Act of 1965.

And so, it is not on all Americans, generally, that Filipino American History must be focused but, particularly, on new immigrants from the Philippines who become Filipino Americans by their solid presence in families, the workplace, churches and respective Filipino American communities.

Although their Philippine spirit remains, their Filipino American soul-searching must be fortified by the historical Pinoyness that has helped to give them equality in America, never before attained by all Pinoys of the last century but through my parents' generation which struggled to achieve opportunities for their American-born children and for new immigrants to come.

The Filipino American National Historical Society [FANHS] invites all leaders of our Filipino American communities throughout the United States to join in celebrating Filipino American History Month.  The FANHS Family of 27 trustees and 28 chapters throughout the nation, along with friends and supporters, is committed "to promote understanding, education, enlightenment, appreciation and enrichment through the identification, gathering, preservation and dissemination of the history and culture of Filipino Americans in the United States."

- Fred Cordova, FANHS
  September 14, 2009
  FANHS
 

Immediate Release:
July 13, 2009

Senator Yee authors resolution to recognize accomplishments of
Filipino Americans

SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate has unanimously approved legislation to officially recognize the accomplishments of Filipino Americans. Senate Concurrent Resolution 48, authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo), will declare October as Filipino American History Month.

“It is imperative that we continue efforts to promote the accomplishments of Filipino Americans,” said Yee, whose district includes one of the largest Filipino communities outside of the Philippines. “For far too long the role of Filipinos in our national history has been ignored. Through SCR 48, we help ensure that our children learn about this important history.”

The earliest documented proof of Filipino presence in the continental United States was the date of October 18, 1587, when the first “Luzones Indios” set foot in Morro Bay, California. The Filipino American National Historical Society recognizes the year of 1763 as the date of the first permanent Filipino settlement in the United States in St. Malo Parish, Louisiana. Today, California is home to over half of the Filipino population in the United States.

In 2007, Yee successfully passed Senate Joint Resolution 5, urging Congress to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act and to fully restore benefits stripped from Filipino WWII veterans by the 1946
Rescission Act.

Senator Yee has long advocated for the Filipino veterans. In 2004, then Assemblyman Yee led the effort to prevent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) from eliminating the California
Veterans Cash Benefit Program from the State budget. While the Governor proposed cutting the $226 per month benefit, Yee successfully fought to make sure the Veterans Program was reauthorized in the budget approved by the Legislature. Yee has also authored legislation to add the role of Filipinos in WWII to the high school social studies curriculum.

This year, Yee is authoring SB 242 to protect language as a civil right. In addition to authoring several bills regarding language access, Yee has consistently fought for the Filipino community and helped recognize the accomplishments of Filipino Americans.

In March 2006, Yee honored the contributions of Larry Itliong at a ceremony in San Francisco. Itliong, along with Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, started the farm worker movement. Yee has led various efforts to assist the Philippines after devastating earthquakes, typhoons and mudslides.

In March 2005, Yee honored the late San Francisco community activist, volunteer, and environmentalist Tess Manalo-Ventresca as the 12th Assembly District Woman of the Year.

In 2001, when the airport screeners were laid off, Yee was an outspoken supporter of the workers and his office provided resume and interview tips, and participated in job fairs to help get the workers back on their feet.

SCA 48 will next be considered by the State Assembly.

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Adam J. Keigwin | Chief of Staff
Office of Senator Leland Y. Yee, Ph.D.,
Assistant President pro Tem
California State Senate | District 8

(916) 651-4008 | www.senate.ca. gov/yee