San Francisco, California — The Filipino American community in South San Francisco is preparing to celebrate Filipino American History Month by launching a new chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) in San Mateo County.
This new chapter, led by City Council member Flor Nicolas, becomes the 44th FANHS chapter since its inception in 1982. The organization was founded initially by Seattle educators Fred and Dorothy Cordova to preserve and share the history of Filipino Americans.
Before the Congress designated October as Filipino American History Month in 2009, FANHS had already marked the occasion with a 1992 resolution. This commemorated the arrival of the first Filipinos in the U.S. on October 18, 1587, when they landed in Morro Bay, California.
Read the related story here:
California Honors Filipino American History Month with HR 112
The official launch will occur on October 5 at the new Library | Parks and Recreation Center in South San Francisco. The event will include a flag-raising ceremony, performances of national anthems, and a proclamation by the City Council.
Nicolas emphasized the importance of recognizing the struggles and contributions of Filipino Americans, which is in line with this year’s FANHS theme, “Struggle, Resistance, Solidarity, Resilience.”
Nicolas, who became South San Francisco’s first Filipina mayor in 2022, has made it her mission to bring attention to Filipino American history. “Every immigrant in this country has a story,” Nicolas said, “and I want those stories, especially the immigrant stories of my fellow Filipinos, to be told for our understanding and appreciation.”
The event promises to unite the community and foster a greater understanding of Filipino American heritage through history, culture, and shared experiences.
