Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Reflections on Filipino American History Month

 
Mel Orpilla , FANHS National President writes:
"It has been a great Filipino American History Month with meaningful activities commemorating our rich history from Hawaii, to Alaska to New York and everywhere in between. I am so proud to be the FANHS National President and bearing witness to the efforts of Fred and Dorothy Cordova and their incredible vision and foresight. I dedicate my work with the Filipino American Historical Society to my parents, who without their support and inspiration, I wouldn't be here today."  (See video on Mel Orpilla's Facebook page.)
 
 
ALASKA: "Filipino Stories Exhibit Opens in Kodiak"
Photo: Property of the University of Washington Libraries via Alaska website 
 Christine R Marasigan , FANHS National Treasurer posted news on this exhibit in Kodiak, Alaska. She says: "Super proud of the people in Kodiak for making this happen. Especially proud of the students who helped document the community. October is Filipino American History Month, making history for 425 years!"

Christine's first FANHS national conference was Virginia Beach (2000), as a guest of the late Thelma Buchholdt,  former FANHS National President and the first Filipina woman in U.S. history to be elected to a state legislature.  http://thelmabuchholdt.com 
 
 Drexel Alum and former member of FISDU, Ben Silverio wrote a blog for the Philadelphia Film Society with the headline:
"Celebrate Filipino American History Month at the Philadelphia Film Festival"
http://filmadelphia.org/blog/celebrate-filipino-american-history-month-pff21

Visual Communications http://www.vconline.org/alpha/cms/ in Los Angeles, CA, closed Filipino American History Month with their blog focused on youth.  Beside historical images of Filipino American children from VC's vault, Visual Communications states: "It is our belief that our history lives within and continues with our youth and that we look forward to them to make their own histories."  (Thanks to Michelle Magalong and her My HiFi for references to Visual Communications and many more resources.  Michelle dilligently met FANHS NY President Kevin Nadal's challenge to tweet about Filipino American History Month #fahm2012 every day in October :-)   
 
Cheers to FANHS founders Dr. Dorothy and Dr. Fred Cordova http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/cordovas.htm 
second generation Filipino Americans (now 80!) who not only envisioned Filipino American History Month more than 20 years ago, but founded the Filipino American National Historical Society / FANHS (1982) and co-founded Filipino Youth Activities (FYA) in 1957!  Both organizations mentored generations of youth who continue as leaders of communities throughout the USA.  So many of us are forever grateful for their inspiring work.  The work they began will continue with the dynamic leadership team of FANHS National Officers and Trustees.   FANHS emeriti and old friends will continue to be supportive as well. 
 
Elected at the FANHS national conference in New Mexico (2012), current FANHS National Officers are:
President Mel Orpilla of Vallejo, California
Vice President Dr. Judy Patacsil of San Diego, California
Secretary Dr. Patricia Espiritu Halagao of Honolulu, Hawai'i
Treasurer Christine Marasigan of Kodiak, Alaska
 
Other national trustees represent New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Mexico

First Filipino American History Month Resolutions in Philadelphia presented at FANHS PA's 5th Annual FAHM Celebration!

CLICK for EVENT PHOTOS and UPDATE:
FANHS PA's 5th Annual Filipino American History Month Celebration, October 26, 2012





 
FANHS PA thanks Councilman David Oh and Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez who co-sponsored Philadelphia's first ever Filipino American History Month Resolution. After reading the full Resolution during FANHS PA's 5th annual Filipino American History Month Celebration, Councilman David Oh posed for photos with FANHS PA Founding President Eliseo Art Silva during the October 26th event that drew nearly 170 people. 
        Many thanks to all who've supported FANHS PA over the years.  Organizations represented at FANHS PA's celebration included: Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia, Asian Americans United, Philippine Community of Southern New Jersey, Inc., Filipino Intercultural Society of Drexel U, Asian American Women's Coalition, Philippine Folk Arts Society, Inc., Filipino American Association of Philadelphia, Inc., Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp., Asian Chamber of Commerce,  Filipino American Athletic Association, Mutya Philippine Dance Troupe, and others. Full program linked below.





Dr. Rommel Rivera, Commissioner, presented a Filipino American History Month Proclamation from the Mayor's Commission on Asian American Affairs to FANHS PA founding members during their October 26th celebration that drew nearly 170 people. Standing l-r FANHS PA founding life member Roger Hilario, Mary Faustino, Dr. Joan May Cordova, Dr. Rommel Rivera, Marife Domingo, Eliseo Silva.  FANHS PA founding member Skip Voluntad is pictured below.

Congrats to all FANHS PA Community Service Awardees! Pictured: FANHS PA Founding President Eliseo Silva, FANHS PA Past President Kim Barroso, FAAPI President & Commissioner Dr. Rommel Rivera and FANHS PA Community Service Awardees Mary Faustino, Skip Voluntad, Virgie Olivar Luz, Amelia Belardo-Cox, Cyndi Gutierrez, Janet Ismael Escarcha, Noel Abejo, Lovella Calica with Dr. Joan May Cordova and Marife Domingo. (Awardees' bios are linked below.)

Thursday, October 18, 2012

2012 Filipino American History Month Resolutions: New York and California

FANHS Metropolitan New York Chapter received a Filipino American History Month Resolution for the third year in a row.  Cheers to FANHS Metro NY President Kevin Nadal!


FANHS National President Mel Orpilla accepts the Filipino American History Month Proclamation from Solano County Superintendent of Schools, Jay Speck, and board members Dr. Rozzana Verder-Aliga and Larry Asera.
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FANHS national trustee Ron Muriera accepts proclamation on behalf of FANHS Santa Clara Valley Chapter from Assemblymember Jim Beall recognizing October as Filipino American History Month in California.

Monday, October 8, 2012

More FANHS Filipino American History Month events throughout the USA

FANHS Metro NY Chapter President @KevinNadal began a challenge to Tweet about Filipino American History Month #fahm2012 each day. @EmilyLawsin and others are on! I'll RT @ForCommunities Please join us!

It's truly inspiring to learn of Filipino American History Months events taking place throughout the USA.  Please click FANHS Chapter links below to learn more about October's Filipino American History Month events sponsored by

FANHS San Diego Chapter

FANHS Greater Chicago Chapter & various co-sponsors

FANHS Los Angeles Chapter & Larry Itliong Foundation sponsor Larry Itliong Day
UPDATE! NY Times Article on Larry Itliong 18 October 2012

FANHS Metro New York Chapter


More news on Facebook and on the newly re-launched FANHS National website
http://fanhs-national.org

Happy Filipino American History Month!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Celebrate Filipino American History Month in Philadelphia with FANHS PA on October 26


UPDATE:
See FANHS PA's 5th annual Filipino American History Month PROGRAM part 1
FANHS PA's Community Service Awardees:  bios and photos here

Cheers to the Filipino Intercultural Society of Drexel University (FISDU) who will be performing and emceeing at FANHS PA's 5th annual Filipino American History Month dinner-dance celebration on the 26th! 

Zumba Dancers and Pure Ener-J Line Dancers of PCSNJ / Philippine Community of Southern New Jersey will be performing, too.  Yehey!


Congrats to Noel Abejo, Amelia Belardo-Cox, Lovella Calica, Cyndi Gutierrez, Janet Ismael Escarcha, Mary A Faustino, Virginia Olivar Luz, and Skip Voluntad who'll be receiving "FANHS PA's Community Service Awards" on October 26!

Kirby Asunto,  one of the winners of the competitive 2012 TOFA - NY awards (The Outstanding Filipino Americans of NY),  will be performing at FANHS PA's 5th annual Filipino American History Month celebration! 

  Filipino American National Historical Society Pennsylvania Chapter (FANHS PA) invites everyone
to FANHS PA's 5th annual celebration of Filipino American History Month on October 26, 2012 at Ocean City Restaurant in Philadelphia.
Join FANHS PA in an 8 course banquet, dancing with "DJ Pure J" - Jerry Ancheta, a book signing with Eliseo Silva - artist and author of the new "Filipinos in Philadelphia" just published by Arcadia Press, FANHS PA community service awards, entertainment and much more!
Tickets: $45 / $35 students   For more information as well as advanced tickets contact Marife Domingo 267.679.365   Joan.May.Cordova@post.harvard.edu

@FANHS_national's #FilipinoAmericanHISTORYmonth -- #FAHM2023's the most successful ever!

Just search the hashtags and social media handles (of ALL the FANHS Chapters) to learn more about how @FANHS_national's #FilipinoAmerica...