Filipino Americans have had a profound impact on American history, and October is specially dedicated to remembering and honoring that legacy.
The story of Filipinos in America is long and rich, reaching as far back as the 18th century, when Spanish galleons first reached the American continents, bringing Filipinos who established settlements in present-day Louisiana and Hawaii. They eventually reached the West Coast of the United States.
After gaining independence from Spain, the Philippines became an American colony, which led to a wave of Filipino immigration to the United States. A second wave followed after immigration reform opened up America’s doors to even more people in the 1960s.
Today, Pew reports that the Filipino American community is over 3 million strong, and U.S. Census data shows that Tagalog/Filipino is the third most widely spoken language in the country, with over 1.6 million speakers. Just last month, it was announced that Filipino veterans who fought alongside the United States in World War II would be honored with a Congressional Gold Medal.
Watch the AARP Asian American and Pacific Islander Community’s short animated video for an overview of Filipino American history:
