[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 163 (Thursday, October 27, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SUPPORTING FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH

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                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 27, 2011

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, October is Filipino American History Month, 
giving us opportunity to remember the storied history of Filipinos in 
Hawaii.
  From the barrios of the Philippines, Filipinos boarded ships and 
sailed across the Pacific.
  Upon reaching Hawaii, they worked on sugarcane plantations where life 
was hard but filled with hope and the dream of a brighter future.
  Today, generations later, Filipinos represent the largest and fastest 
growing ethnic minority in the islands. Through hard work, they 
continue to make steady strides in all professions. They are our 
doctors and lawyers, our teachers, small business owners, and community 
leaders. The next generation of Filipino Americans will build upon this 
legacy of accomplishment. I had the pleasure of meeting with members of 
the Kabatak Filipino Club at the University of Hawaii--Maui College in 
Kahului. Their primary goal is to raise an awareness of Filipino 
culture and to encourage the recruitment, retention, and achievement of 
Filipino students on the Maui campus. This is a noble endeavor.
  For more than a century, Filipino Americans have left their mark on 
America. Let us reflect, celebrate, and honor this cherished heritage.

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