Los Angeles, California — Los Angeles marked Fil-Am History Month with its annual celebration, bringing together community leaders and residents to honor the Filipino American community’s contributions and rich heritage. The event featured performances, food, and cultural presentations, spotlighting Filipino Americans’ journeys in California and the United States.
Chef Lord Llera, owner of the Melrose Hills restaurant Kuya Lord, was a highlight of this year’s celebration. His restaurant specializes in Filipino cuisine inspired by his upbringing in Lucena City, Philippines.
Llera, who migrated to the U.S. in 2004 to study culinary arts, worked with top chefs on the West Coast and eventually opened his restaurant in 2022. This June, he was awarded the James Beard Award for Best Chef in California.
Read the related story here:
Filipino Chef Wins James Beard Award
The celebration also paid tribute to SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans), founded in 1972 in LA’s Historic Filipinotown. SIPA’s mission remains focused on uplifting Filipino American youth, families, and underserved community members through health, economic development, and arts programs.
Additionally, the documentary Nurse Unseen was screened. It explored the legacy of Filipino American nurses on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film highlighted the historic ties between the Philippines and the U.S., emphasizing the vital role of Filipino caregivers across the American healthcare industry.
