‘We support, honor and thank you’: Biden shares gratitude to Fil-Am community for Filipino American History Month

October 3, 2022

President Joe Biden expressed his gratitude to the Filipino American community in celebration of Filipino American History Month (FAHM) this October.

On Sunday, Biden and the first lady recognized the contributions and heritage of Filipino Americans.

“Jill and I are proud to recognize Filipino American History Month and celebrate the innumerable contributions and rich heritage of Filipino Americans across our nation,” Biden tweeted. “We support, honor, and thank you for all you have done to help fulfill the promise of America for all of us.”

View post on X

The statement was in line with Biden’s declaration from last year.

“With a recorded presence in the continental United States as far back as October 1587, Filipino Americans have served our nation, defended our democracy, and fought for the promise of a more just and inclusive America,” Biden previously stated.

He acknowledged the contributions of Filipino Americans in World War II and the service and sacrifices of Filipino Americans frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) shared that this year’s FAHM theme is “Celebrating Our History and Legacies: 50 Years of Filipino-American Studies, 40 Years of the Filipino-American National Historical Society and 30 years of Filipino-American History Month.”

According to FANHS, the first Filipino American studies (FAS) classes were taught at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Davis in 1972. Over the past 50 years, college-level FAS classes have been instituted at colleges and universities all over the U.S.

Forty years ago, Dorothy Laigo Cordova founded the FANHS in 1982. It is reportedly the oldest national Filipino American organization committed to gathering, promoting and preserving Filipino American history.

FAHM was first celebrated in the U.S. 30 years ago and has been celebrated annually since October 1992, after FANHS passed a proclamation spearheaded by Fred Cordova in 1991.

In 2009, the U.S. Congress officially declared October as FAHM, citing the “advancement of Filipino Americans and as a time to renew efforts toward the examination of history and culture in order to provide an opportunity for all people in the US to learn more about Filipino Americans and their historic contributions to the Nation.”

FAHNS, a volunteer-run organization, has a national office and National Pinoy Archives in Seattle and a Filipino American National Historical Society Museum in Stockton, California.

The organization encouraged Filipino Americans and allies to celebrate FAHM through activities, such as reading books and supporting arts and media that advance Filipino American studies.

“We kindly remind people that we emphasize HISTORY (not Heritage) during #FilipinoAmericanHistoryMonth – commemorating our struggles, resilience, and contributions to the history of the United States,” FANHS wrote on Facebook.

Featured Image via PBS NewsHour

Share this Article