Whereas the earliest documented Filipino presence in the
continental United States was on 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, 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;
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 in the Armed Services, from the Civil War to the
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 9 Filipino Americans have received the
Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an
enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the United
States Armed Forces;
Whereas Filipino Americans are an integral part of the
United States health care 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 that enrich the landscape of the
country;
Whereas efforts should 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 2009: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)recognizes the
celebration of Filipino American History Month 2009 as a study of the
advancement of Filipino Americans, as a time of reflection and remembrance, and
as a time to renew efforts toward the research and examination of history and
culture in order to provide an opportunity for all people in the United States
to learn and appreciate more about Filipino Americans and their historic
contributions to the Nation; and
(2)urges the people
of the United States to observe Filipino American History Month 2009 with
appropriate programs and activities.