Supervisors Proclaim Filipino American History Month

LA County is home to largest concentration of Filipinos outside of Manila

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and coauthored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis to proclaim Filipino American History Month in Los Angeles County. October marks the anniversary of the arrival of the first Filipinos in what is now the United States, which occurred on October 18, 1587.

“Since long before the United States even existed, Filipinos have been here, molding our County and our nation. We would not be who we are without that proud legacy,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I’m especially thankful for the role that our Filipino employee groups like the LA County Filipino American Employees Association play in the life of our County government, and I wish them a very happy Filipino American History Month.”

Hahn and Solis have previously led the County in proclaiming Philippine Independence Day, and Hahn has sponsored the Philippine-American Friendship Day Festival in Cerritos.
“As Supervisor for the First District—which proudly includes robust and traditional Filipino communities like Historic Filipinotown — I know how important it is to uplift and celebrate the resilience and rich history of our Filipino communities,” said Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor, Hilda L. Solis. “Filipino Americans are the second largest Asian American group in the nation and the second largest ethnic group in California. In Los Angeles County, we are proud to proclaim the month of October as Filipino American History Month. Together, we honor and recognize Filipinos for their enduring impact, cultural resilience, and invaluable contributions to the very fabric and soul of our communities.”

There are over 4.4 million Filipinos living in the United States, and 340,000 in Los Angeles County alone, the largest concentration of Filipinos in the world outside of Manila. The Filipino American National History Society began Filipino American History Month in 1992, and the month was officially recognized by Congress in 2009.