Where are the Filipino Americans (Part 2)?
Oct 15, 2009
Hey Gang…
Here’s the second part of the “Lost in America” documentary. Enjoy!!!
Welcome to Brown Nation! As you can probably see, we really do have pride in our culture, so if you got anything to show us about the Filipino Culture that you think we might be interested in posting, then feel free to send it over to: info@brownnationculture.com.
Hey Gang…
Here’s the second part of the “Lost in America” documentary. Enjoy!!!
422 Years in America!!
October has arrived and Filipino American History Month, also known as the Filipino American Heritage Month, is here. The Filipino American National Historical Society established the month as Fil-Am History Month in the year 1988. In California and Hawaii, where large number of Filipino Americans reside, Filipino American History Month is widely celebrated in these states. Many Filipino American organizations in these states often initiate their own independent celebrations.
Some argue that Filipino American History Month has not yet attained the prestige of other similar minority celebrations, such as the Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This is evidenced by the fact that no United States Congress has ever resolved to recognize Filipino American History Month.
Here’s an interesting documentary made last year that signifies our existence in America. This Film Documentary (part 1) shows the representation or lack of Filipino Americans in the media, film, literary, pop culture and even food. It will show some ambiguities as to which the Filipino Americans are seen as. These questions are presented and answered by professional and credible Filipino Americans representing their communities. The interviews will include a TV news journalist, Filipino magazine founder, restaurant owners, Immigration lawyer, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome, Pop-culture performers and shop owners. Locations include a major Filipino Festival, The Philippines, San Francisco, and the bay area.
Music from Florante Aguilar & Lori Abucayan is used as a backbone for the Documentary.
Standby for Part 2……

Bonifacio’s birthday on November 30 is celebrated as Bonifacio Day (Filipino: Araw ni Bonifacio) and is a public holiday in the Philippines. This is the day to remember our hero, Andres Bonifacio, who led the Filipinos to fight for their freedom from the Spaniards in the late 1800s. Bonifacio Day is quite odd, because heroes — like saints — are often remembered more for their death rather than their birth. Rizal’s birthday, June 19, is a holiday in Laguna province, and the date of his execution, Dec. 30, is a national holiday known as Rizal Day. Anyone who knows Philippine history will understand why Bonifacio is remembered on his birthday, Nov. 30, rather than the date of his death, May 10, 1897. Unlike Rizal who was executed by the enemy, and other heroes who died in battle, Bonifacio was executed by fellow Filipinos.
FYI:
There are many monuments to Bonifacio across the nation, the most famous being two sculptures, one by Napoleon Abueva and the other by Guillermo Tolentino, both National Artists. Also, in current Philippine currency, he is depicted in the 10-peso bill (currently out of production) and 10-peso coin, along with fellow patriot Apolinario Mabini.
On 7 December 1941 the attack on Pearl Harbor was accompanied by attacks on all American bases in the Pacific including Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s forces in the Philippines. After months of fighting, almost entirely a losing defense, MacArthur was holed up in his last redoubt on the fortified island of Corregidor. He was ordered by Roosevelt to escape by submarine to Australia to avoid his capture by the Japanese. On 11 March 1942, MacArthur complied, leaving his few remaining troops to certain capture or death, including the horrors of the Bataan Death March. His final words to them, and to all the Philippine patriots, were: “I shall return!”
Dec. 20, 1906: The first group of 15 sakadas (contract laborers) recruited by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association to work on the sugar plantations arrive in Honolulu aboard the SS Doric and were assigned to the Olaa plantation on the Big Island.
1915: The Philippine Government (under U.S. colonial rule) expresses concern about labor outflow and recruitment abuses. HSPA works out a system of individual contracts.
1919: Filipino labor leader Pablo Manlapit organizes the Filipino Labor Union to demand higher wages and better working conditions for sakadas.