III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 298 

Recognizing Filipino American History Month in October 2009. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 1, 2009 

Mr. REID (for himself, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. ENSIGN, Mr. 

INOUYE, and Mr. MENENDEZ) submitted the following resolution; which 

was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing Filipino American History Month in October 

2009. 

Whereas the earliest documented Filipino presence in the 

continental United States was on October 18, 1587, when 

the first ‘‘Luzones Indios’’ set foot in Morro Bay, California, on board the Manila-built galleon ship Nuestra 

Senora de Esperanza; 

Whereas the Filipino American National Historical Society 

recognizes the year of 1763 as the date of the first permanent Filipino settlement in the United States in St. 

Malo, Louisiana, which set in motion the focus on the 

story of our Nation’s past from a new perspective by concentrating on the economic, cultural, social, and other notable contributions that Filipino Americans have made in 


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•SRES 298 ATS 

countless ways toward the development of the history of 

the United States; 

Whereas the Filipino-American community is the second largest Asian-American group in the United States, with a 

population of approximately 3,100,000 people; 

Whereas Filipino-American servicemen and servicewomen 

have a longstanding history serving in the Armed Services, from the Civil War to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, including the 250,000 Filipinos who fought under 

the United States flag during World War II to protect 

and defend this country; 

Whereas 9 Filipino Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon 

an individual serving in the United States Armed Forces; 

Whereas Filipino Americans are an integral part of the 

United States health care system as nurses, doctors, and 

other medical professionals; 

Whereas Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to the 

fine arts, music, dance, literature, education, business, 

literature, journalism, sports, fashion, politics, government, science, technology, and other fields in the United 

States that enrich the landscape of the country; 

Whereas efforts should continue to promote the study of Filipino-American history and culture, as mandated in the 

mission statement of the Filipino American National Historical Society, because the roles of Filipino Americans 

and other people of color have been overlooked in the 

writing, teaching, and learning of United States history; 

Whereas it is imperative for Filipino-American youth to have 

positive role models to instill in them the importance of 


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•SRES 298 ATS 

education, complemented with the richness of their ethnicity and the value of their legacy; and 

Whereas Filipino American History Month is celebrated during the month of October 2009: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the celebration of Filipino Amer3 ican History Month 2009 as a study of the advance4 ment of Filipino Americans, as a time of reflection 

5 and remembrance, and as a time to renew efforts to6 ward the research and examination of history and 

7 culture in order to provide an opportunity for all 

8 people in the United States to learn and appreciate 

9 more about Filipino Americans and their historic 

10 contributions to the Nation; and 

11 (2) urges the people of the United States to ob12 serve Filipino American History Month 2009 with 

13 appropriate programs and activities. 

Æ 


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