West to East, from sea to shining sea, the United States marks Filipino American History Month the whole of October - kicking off this weekend with an exhibit on the historic USS Hornet in Alameda, Ca. and this year’s staging of the long-running Filipino festival in Virginia Beach, Va.
Locally, the Migrant Heritage Commission’s People’s Ball is coming back after a year’s hiatus because of the Covid 19 pandemic. The Ball - which also marks 75 years of US-Philippine diplomatic relations will be held at the Marriott Fairview Hotel in Falls Church, Va.
The US Congress passed in 2009 a resolution recognizing October as Filipino American History Month. The month coincides with the first landing of Filipinos - conscripted to crew the Spanish galleon Senora de Buena Esperanza - in what is now Morro Bay, California on Oct. 18, 1587.
Various Fil-Am organizations across the US usually mark the event with exhibits and lectures to raise awareness of the Filipino contributions to America, as well as concerts, foodfests and parties.
The USS Hornet Museum in partnership with the Bataan Legacy Historical Society, the Friends & Family of Nisei Veterans and the USS Telesforo Trinidad Campaign are opening an exhibit this weekend (Oct. 3) to kick off Fil-Am celebrations.
The month-long exhibit will focus on “120 Years of Loyal & Faithful Service by Filipinos in the US Navy.” It will chronicle the role of Filipinos in the US Navy fron 1901 when President William McKinley created the Insular Force until 1992 when the enlistment program ended by which time Filipinos became the largest foreign-born recruits in the US Navy.
The exhibit also features Telesforo Trinidad, the first Filipino sailor who received the Medal of Honor in 1915. There is now a Fil-Am community campaign to have one of the new US Navy ships named in his honor.
The USS Hornet saw action during World War II in the Philippines.
On the East, Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer will preside over a day-long Filipino festival at Mount Trashmore tomorrow (Oct. 2) that will feature a beauty pageant and a lot of dancing.
Virginia Beach has the highest Filipino population in Hampton Roads region and is home to the Philippine Cultural Center of Virginia in Kempsville.
Chicago comedian Erick Esteban and hip-hop artists S.N.R.G. (Some Never Really Get) from Northern Virginia are among the featured artists.
Buko Resto-Bar food truck will serve Filipino street food. Bambu and Maria & Isabel’s will offer desserts. There will also be a lumpia (eggroll) eating contest.
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