IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 780 

Recognizing the celebration of Filipino American History Month in October. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009 

Mr. FILNER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the celebration of Filipino American History 

Month in October. 

Whereas the earliest documented proof of Filipino presence 

in the continental United States was the date of 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 Parrish, 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 countless ways toward the development of the 

history of the United States; 


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•HRES 780 IH 

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 within the Armed 

Services of the United States, from the Civil War to the 

present 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 Filipino Americans are an integral part of the 

United States healthcare 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 which enrich the landscape of the country; 

Whereas efforts must 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 

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: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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1 (1) recognizes the celebration of Filipino Amer2 ican History Month as a study of the advancement 

3 of Filipino Americans, as a time of reflection and re4 membrance, and as a time to renew efforts toward 

5 the research and examination of history and culture 

6 in order to provide an opportunity for all people in 

7 the United States to learn and appreciate more 

8 about Filipino Americans and their historic contribu9 tions to the Nation; and 

10 (2) urges the people of the United States to ob11 serve Filipino American History Month with appro12 priate programs and activities. 

Æ 


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