Los Angeles’ Asian American community is gearing up to welcome October as Filipino American History Month.
Festivities will include a day of music and talent at the Greek Theater on Oct. 23, presented by a community coalition, headlined by Gary V and featuring Jocelyn Enriquez, Kai, AJ Rafael and Tim Atlas. NBC “Superstore” actor Nico Santos will host.
“We make up one of the fastest-growing Asian American groups in the United States,” Joel Jacinto, the city’s first Filipino American commissioner, said. “It’s important for the rest of L.A. to know who we are, and I think there is no better way to do that than through this exciting event for attendees of all ages.”
This year, the city – led by Councilman Mitch O’Farrell – installed 54 Filipino-designed streetlights in Historic Filipinotown, home to the largest population of Filipinos outside the Philippines, as a part of the month’s celebrations.
The month was designated in 2009, through a resolution introduced by Congressman Mike Honda and Sen. Mazie Hirono.
The first recorded Filipinos – then called “Luzones Indios” – to arrive in the U.S. were crew members of a Spanish ship on Oct. 18, 1587, to California’s central coast. In 1763, St. Malo Parrish, Louisiana, became the first Filipino settlement in the country. The U.S. annexation of the Philippines in 1899 introduced huge waves of Filipino immigrants.
According to Migration Policy Institute, the Filipino immigrant population is the third-largest foreign-born segment from Asia, with 45 percent of them settling in California.
“We’re so excited to put our Filipino pride on full display,” Hildy Aguinaldo, event co-chair, said. “I encourage all Filipino Americans to take time out this month to celebrate our roots.”
