Council declares October 2016 as Filipino American History Month in King County

October 17, 2016

Summary

Filipino American History Month provides an opportunity to promote the study of Filipino American history and culture and recognizes the contributions made by Filipino Americans

Story

 

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, Filipinos have lived in the United States for over 425 years, beginning with the earliest documented proof of Filipino presence in the continental United States on October 18, 1587, in Morro Bay, California; and

WHEREAS, Washington State is home to the third largest Filipino population in the United States, and Filipino Americans are the largest Asian Pacific American population in the state, with the vast majority making King County their home; and

WHEREAS, Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to the cultural, economic, social, and political life of King County; and

WHEREAS, King County is home to cultural and historical institutions important to the Filipino community, locally, nationally, and internationally, including the Alaska Cannery Workers Union, Local 37, Inlandboatman’s Union, the Filipino American National Historical Society’s national office, the Filipino Community Center of Seattle, and the Carlos Bulosan Historical Museum; and

WHEREAS, Filipino American History Month provides an opportunity to promote the study of Filipino American history and culture and recognizes the contributions made by Filipino Americans;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, proclaim October 2016 as

FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

in King County and encourage all county residents to join us in celebrating the many contributions of Filipino Americans to King County and the United States.

DATED this seventeenth day of October, 2016.