Organizations and communities across the US are celebrating Filipino American History Month in October.
Image courtesy of FANHS
Across the nation, FANHS Chapters, colleges and universities, museums and community groups, will be commemorating Filipino American History Month with various activities and events to bring awareness of the significant role Filipinos have played in American history. 2020 highlights the history of Filipino American activism.
#FAHM2020 | @fanhs_national | @FANHSnatl
October 2020
Under the leadership of The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, community volunteers have united and curated a series of thought provoking virtual events to support Filipino American History Month.
Pablo Manlapit (left) lived to uplift Filipino sugarcane workers in Hawaii. Image credit: Asian American His/Herstory Blog and Fil-Am Experiences 1930-1945,
Organizing Committee and Participating Organizations
This year’s celebration of Filipino American History Month would not be possible without the support of the following people and institutions: Ara Laylo, Binhi at Ani, East West Center Arts Program, East West Center Participants Association International Women’s Group, Farrington High School Filipino American Club, Filipino Association of University Women (FAUW), Hawai‘i Contemporary, Kit Zulueta, Furukawa, Dr. Patricia Halagao (FANHS), Tinalak Council, Ilokano The Movement, Mary Lou Cunanan, Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce, Mystery Maui, NMG Network, One Down Media, Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, Pusong Filipinx, Norman Sales, Suyomano, Dr. Teresita Bernales, Tekniqlingz
Featured speakers include Calvin John Bagaoisan, Kimee Balmilero, Dr. Jeanne Batallonos, Annalisa Burgos, James Clar, Dr. EJ David, Dean Domingo, Almond Jaye Ereno, Eunica Escalante, FAUW, Kit Zulueta Furukawa, Prof. Patricia Halagao, Lalaine Ignao, Germaine Juan, Andrei Julian, Ara Laylo, Jennyliz Ordonez, Jeff Orig, Pamantasan 2020, Paul Pfeiffer, Adara Pineda, Pusong Filipinx, Desiree Quintero, Qayland Quintero, Sara Raza, Corinne Romabiles, Norman Sales, Gabe Torno
October 2020 Schedule of Events
Philippine Flag Raising Ceremony
October 1
Virtual Event hosted by the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce 12:00 PM livestream via Facebook Live
To commemorate the start of Filipino-American History Month, the Philippine Flag will be raised in the County of Maui. Mayor Michael Victorino will lead the raising of the Philippine flag which will be flown alongside US and Hawaii flag for the whole month of October. The event will be broadcasted on Facebook.
Presented by: Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce
Recording available here
Sunday Spotlight on Gangsa Music & Dance in the Philippines
October 4
Sunday Spotlight on Gangsa Music & Dance in the Philippines 2:00-3:00 PM livestream via @EWC.Arts Facebook
In celebration of Filipino-American History month, we invite you to join "Gangsa Music & Dance of the Philippines" on October 4, 2:00-3:00 PM HST. This event is hosted by the East-West Center Arts Program and will feature gangsa music of the Philippines with Desiree Quintero, Ph.D. and Wayland Quintero, Ph.D., MFA.
Gangsa (handheld flat gongs) and dancing are intrinsic to ritual and secularized communality for people in and of the northern Philippine highlands. In this presentation Desiree and Wayland discuss cultural context, show field examples, and demonstrate movement that viewers will be encouraged to follow along to the rhythms of gangsa.
Presented by the East West Center
Check Da Tekniq: Modern Tinikling Dance Workshop
October 17
Virtual Event Hosted by the Tekniqlingz
10:00-11:30 AM via Zoom
Join the modern tinikling workshop organized by Tekniqlingz.
Email: tekniqlingz@gmail.com for the Zoom link
51st Annual Barrio Fiesta
October 17
Virtual Event Hosted by the Binhi at Ani Foundation
11:00-1:00 PM livestream via @BinhiatAni Facebook
Binhi and Ani celebrates the 51st Annual Barrio Fiesta.
Who are you? Who am I? Unravelling of the Filipino American Identity
October 14
Virtual Panel Discussion featuring Germaine Juan, EJ David, Ara Laylo, and Dr. Jeanne Batallonos. Moderated by: Patricia Halagao and Norman Sales. We invite the audience to critically engage with our Filipinx community about race, skin color and identity and the prevalence of colonial mentality and white preference.
Panelists:
Germaine Juan, poet, University of Hawai‘i, Manoa student
Dr. EJ David, author of "Brown Skin, White Mind", Professor, University of Alaska
Ara Laylo, Artist, Creative Director, NMG Network
Dr. Jeanne Batallonos, Counselor, Hawaii Community College
Presented by: Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, Farrington High School Filipino American Club, NMG Network
Voices of the Youth 2020: Literary Reading
October 17
Virtual Event Hosted by the Filipino Association of University Women
2:00-3:00 PM livestream via @FAUW Facebook
This year is the 30th anniversary of the publication of Voices of the Youth. The original anthology served as a small window to the lives
of the Filipino and Filipino-American youth. The 2020 publication aims to discover the changes, if any, the 30-year difference has brought not only to our Filipino youth but to all the keiki in Hawaii. In this new anthology, the winning entries from the Letter to My
Parents Hawaii will be included, as well as the poetry and other
literary forms submitted by the youth of Hawaii.
This Literary Reading will feature the poets from the Voices of the Youth 2020 and 1990 with the team behind the historic publication of Voices of the Youth 1990.
Presented by: Filipino Association of University Women
Branding things Filipino: What, Why, and How featuring Corinne Romabiles
October 24
4:00-5:00 PM Register at Suyomano
Her research on Cultural Diplomacy & interest in Nation Branding began in Italy, where she lived to study Theology & Philosophy at the Pontificia Universita della Santa Croce, Rome.
This pioneer Philippine Branding program is backed by 2 decades of research, fieldwork & a forerunner portfolio of 10 years. The program is anchored on the principles of Nation Branding, a business strategy used by countries, synthesizing key forces (political-economic, cultural-artistic & historical-social) for optimal positioning in a global-tech marketplace.
The course, in 5 parts, teaches a basic process of ‘styling’ next- generation Filipino products & services. This creative process is significantly conceptual & firmly rooted in Philippine Art & Culture Studies with the aim of radically animating the branding blueprint (promise, voice, values, visual identity, architecture, journalism, etc.).
The course, authored by Corinne Romabiles, is currently offered at the School of Executive Education & Lifelong Learning of the Asian Institute of Management in Manila.
Presented by Suyomano
Filipino American Heroism in World War II by Andrei Julian
October 24
6:00-7:00 PM Register at Suyomano
A storytelling of the Battle for Manila, a heart-breaking story in our history that will make us understand the present condition of the Philippines. Best to take if you are interested in war stories and already have a background of Philippine history. For mature audiences, as it features graphic pictures and stories.
The Battle for Manila, a 29-day battle during the Second World War II that converted Manila from being the Pearl of the Orient to the Warsaw of the East. The month-long battle fought by forces from both the United States and the Philippines against Japanese troops in Manila. It is now known as the worst urban fighting in the Pacific theater. We will e-xplore site where horrendous events happened in 1945 with a goal of understanding the event that lead to the Manila of the present.
Presented by: Suyomano
Pusong Filipinx Virtual Market Place
October 25
Pusong Filipinx Virtual Market Place
Filipinx-owned businesses will participate in a virtual marketplace to showcase their products and services.
Follow Pusong Filipino for updates on participating vendors
Creative Resistance Within the Filipino Diaspora
October 26
4:00-5:00 PM via @PHinHonolulu Facebook
In celebration of Filipino American History Month, Hawai‘i Contemporary associate director Sara Raza moderates a lively panel discussion with contemporary artists Paul Pfeiffer, James Clar, and Ara Laylo. Their conversation will explore the role that Filipino diaspora artists play in introducing overt and covert visual strategies for creative resistance and in seeking to question ideas around societal and cultural perceptions, as depicted through various media.
Presented by Hawai‘i Contemporary in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu.
Presented by: Hawai‘i Contemporary and the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu
“Pakada” Ilokano - English Children’s Book Launch
October 28
6:00-7:00 PM livestream via @ilokanoTM Facebook
Pakada is a story about a playful boy named Pakada. He embarks on many adventures with his friends. He does not tell his mother
where he goes until something goes wrong.
The stories that Almond Jaye Ereno heard from her grandmother in Ilocos Sur inspired Pakada, his first children’s book. Jennyliz
Ordonez’s illustrations were inspired by vibrant and eclectic styles of Japanese animation. These Farrington High School alumni were joined by Calvin John Bagaoisan who graduated from Moanalua
High School. Calvin’s design and layout was influenced by the
inabel, a handwoven textile from the Ilocos region in the
Philippines.
Panel:
Almond Jaye Ereno - Author
Jennyliz Ordonez - Illustration
Calvin John Bagaoisan - Layout & Design
Moderators: Dean Domingo, Norman Sales
Who tells our stories? A panel discussion on Filipinx/a/o representation in the media
October 29
5:30-6:30 PM livestream via @PHinHonolulu Facebook
One out of five Asian Americans in the US are of Filipino descent, and yet Filipino-Americans are still woefully underrepresented in the media. They are a highly diverse ethnic group across age, gender, race, and cultural and economic backgrounds, with contributions to every aspect of US society. However, stereotypes remain and their stories are easily misrepresented.
In this free, public, online discussion, an accomplished panel of journalists and media professionals will discuss how Filipix media makers can harness the power of storytelling to forge narratives which encompass more of the unique characteristics of the community.
Registration Link: tinyurl.com/FilipinxPanelZoom
32nd Annual Pamantasan 2020 Virtual Conference
Theme: Leading from where you are, moving forward, and staying focused!
October 30
All-Day hosted by Leeward Community College
We invite you to join the Pamantasan Virtual Conference on 30 October 2020. In Filipino, pamantasan (root word, pantas - expert , wise person) means institute for higher learning. Thus, as its name suggests, higher education has been the central interest of the Pamantasan Council since its establishment in 1987. Comprised of Filipino/a administrators, faculty, and staff from across the ten campuses of the University of Hawaiʻi System, Pamantasan advocates for the representation of Filipino-American and
Philippine representation in university curricula as well as to
support and to recognize achievements in higher education among Filipina/os.
Filipino American History Trivia Night – Battle of the Filipino Organizations hosted by Mystery Maui
October 30
8:00-9:00 PM Register here
To help wrap up Filipino American History Month of October, Mystery Maui is hosting a Filipino Trivia Night on Friday, October 30 at 8 p.m. in a virtual event via Zoom, featuring Filipino organizations that help promote the culture and advance community building.
The event called Battle of the Filipino Organizations will test participants' knowledge about history, culture, current events and other themed trivia about the Philippines and Filipinos in the United States. There are more than 300 Filipino organizations in Hawaii alone.
The event is FREE and those who register will compete both as individual players and for the team they register under. Ranking is computed using the average score of all players so organizations with one player can still compete against those with multiple players.
Because the event is via Zoom, participants don't have to be together to play the game. Players are recommended to check-in Zoom via computer and use their mobile device to play. No app or program will be required to download. There will be 40 questions during the hour-long game and participants are encouraged to wear their colors to cheer for their team.
"It would be epic to see Filipino organizations break barriers and come together in a friendly trivia competition to conclude Filipino American History Month," said Kit Zulueta Furukawa, trivia night host and owner of Mystery Maui. "And if you're not involved yet, now would be a good time to become a member of one, whether it is your island's Filipino chamber, school club, regional association, or even your church."
We hope you can help us spread the word so we can find out who will win the Battle of the Filipino Organizations for this year!
The Oct. 30 event features the Tinalak Council at the Department of Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. A tip jar will be opened for your generous donations to help support the council’s mission to envision, inspire, and weave together Hawaii’s new generation of educators through the recruitment and support of Filipinos in the education field.