Celebrating Filipino American History Month 2021

Dear friends,

Almost three decades ago in 1992, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) first introduced October as Filipino American History Month with a formal resolution from the FANHS National Board of Trustees. The U.S. Congress later recognized October as Filipino American History Month in 2009.

The celebration is intended to commemorate the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States. This occurred on Oct. 18, 1587, when “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California.

This year, the FANHS has chosen “50 Years Since the First Young Filipino People’s Far West Convention” as the Filipino American History Month 2021 theme. That meeting took place at Seattle University in 1971 and brought together over 300 young Filipino American participants from the West Coast of the U.S. That 1971 convention is hailed as the beginning of the Filipino American Movement.

Our own Andrews Filipino International Association (AFIA) has chosen “Pagkilala” as a theme for this month’s celebration to serve a tribute to those who have come before. We are grateful for AFIA’s leadership in putting together celebratory events for our Andrews University community.

Here is a list of celebratory campus events for the month:

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 11:30 a.m.
Filipino Stick Choreography (co-curricular program)
Recreation Center, Campus Center

Tuesday, Oct. 26, 11:30 a.m.
Filipino Tinikling Dance (co-curricular program)
Recreation Center, Campus Center

Oct. 17–Nov. 7
AFIA Rice Run (virtual event)

Thursday, Oct. 28, 11:30 a.m.
AFIA Chapel
Location TBD

Sunday, Oct. 31, 5:30–9 p.m.
White Rabbit Night Market
Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds

I look forward to celebrating with all of you as we take the opportunity as a campus to affirm and appreciate the contributions of the Filipino community to our campus, church, this country and the world.

Best,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion