# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Happy Filipino American History Month! In 2009, the US Congress declared October as National Filipino American History Month. This is to commemorate the first recorded presence of Filipinos on the continental United States on October 18, 1587.

I was so excited to compile this Colorful Pages Booklist for Filipino American History Month. Unfortunately, there are not that many books surrounding the Filipino American experience and history - please encourage your Filipino American writer friends to write more because we need more #OwnVoices books for our kiddos! However, I was able to research, read, and list some really amazing books for all ages to help you, your students, your kiddos, and your family celebrate and honor Filipino American History Month.

I chose books that provide windows and mirrors into Filipino and Filipino-American experiences, history, and culture. In this list, there are 5 picture books, 3 middle grade books, and 2 young adult books. Pick a couple to get started and let's uplift Filipino stories!

The Spectrum for Multicultural Lit.: Exploration

Age Range: 5-10 years

In this picture book, Liana Romulo shares about different Filipino celebrations. For each celebration, the pages detail the history and cultural elements behind it through words, labels, and watercolor illustrations. Filipino Celebrations covers Mga Kaarawan-Birthdays, Semana Santa-Holy Week, Mga Barrio Fiestas-Town Festivals, Mga Binyag-Baptisms, and Araw ng Kalayaan -Independence Day and more! This is great for you to teach about Filipino celebrations. Consider using it as a shared reading text by projecting it onto the screen to do research together or assigning one celebration to each kiddo to read up on!

The Spectrum for Multicultural Lit.: Exploration

Age Range: 5-10 years

Liana Romulo wrote this picture book, too! In Filipino Friends, Sam, a Filipino-American boy, visits the Philippines for the first time. The book shares the differences and similarities between Sam's experiences in America and what he sees and learns about in the Philippines. The book is partially bilingual because it is full of labels in English and Tagalog. I wish we had more books like this! I love these culture and country comparisons books because it helps children look beyond their current scope while also seeing mirrors to build empathy and empowerment!

The Spectrum for Multicultural Lit.: Exploration

Age Range: 6-9 years

Cora Cooks Pancit is a beautifully illustrated book that will transport you into Cora's family kitchen. Cora, a young Filipino girl, is always jealous that her older brothers and sisters get to help in the kitchen. Finally, when her siblings go to the mall, Cora gets to be her mom's assistant chef AND she gets to pick the Filipino dish they will make. Cora and her mom make pancit while Cora also learns more and more about her Filipino heritage and family history.

The Spectrum for Multicultural Lit.: Conversation

Age Range: 4-8 years

Journey for Justice is a picture book that tells the true story of Larry Itliong, a Filipino American labor leader. Larry Itliong was co-founder of the United Farm Workers and fought for the rights of farmworkers. According to the publisher, this is the first nonfiction illustrated Filipino American picture book!

The Spectrum for Multicultural Lit.: Exploration

Age Range: 8-12 years

This picture book really is ALL about the Philippines! It is packed full of facts about Filipino history and culture. All About the Philippines is centered around Ari, Jaime, and Mary, three cousins, who show the readers around their nation. There is so much information in this book that I would consider reading a section at a time or leaving it out for kids to explore on their own, too!

The Spectrum for Multicultural Lit.: Mostly Exploration

Age Range: 8-12 years

While Erin Entrada Kelly's book is not specifically about Filipino American History, it definitely deserves to be on our list, especially since it intertwines Filipino folktales into a modern tale about bravery! Hello, Universe is a middle grade book that balances alternating between four narratives. The characters come together as Virgil Salinas and his guinea pig get trapped in a well because of a prank. Kaori, Gen, and Valencia go on a mission to find Virgil and all of the characters learn what it means to find their inner bayani, or hero.

The Spectrum for Multicultural Lit.: Exploration

Age Range: 9-11 years

Everlasting Nora is definitely an empathy builder. Marie Miranda Cruz writes this heart-wrenching middle grade novel that will be a window (and potentially a mirror in some cases) for children. The book is about Nora, a twelve-year-old girl who lives in Manila's North Cemetery, a real-life shanty town in the Philippines, with her mother. But one day, Nora is left alone and goes off in search of her mother. Along the way, Nora learns so much about her community, hope, and herself.

The Spectrum for Multicultural Lit.: Exploration

Age Range: 8-12 years

There is so much to love about this book, but the best part is how Mae Respicio weaves in elements of the Filipino culture and portrays a Filipino family! In The House That Lou Built, the main character, Lou, wants to build her own tiny house that is all her own and where she can escape her loving Filipino family. This book encourages girls to pursue STEM activities, such as architecture and building, while also detailing a young girl's journey through grieving someone who died before she was born.

The Spectrum for Multicultural Lit.: depends on the story, but mostly Exploration and Conversation

Age Range: 12-17 years

This is a great short story collection with stories written by Filipino American writers. Each story explores the complexities of growing up and the Filipino and/or Filipino-American identity. The stories are collected under five themes: Family, Angst, Friendship, Love, and Home. There are author introductions and other articles of information to help bring more life, cultural, and historical layers to the stories. This book makes me wish I was teaching High School English Language Arts, so that I could read this text with students!

The Spectrum for Multicultural Lit.: Conversation

Age Range: 12-17 years

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay follows Jay Reguero, a half-Filipino and half-White teenage boy, who travels to the Philippines in order to find out the real story behind his cousin's death. This young adult novel tackles family, trauma, identity, faith, and Philippines President Duerte's War on Drugs. The author carefully builds a multi-layered conflict that readers will not be able to put down. Plus, look at that beautiful cover art!

You can also check out this NPR article about the author and his book: https://www.npr.org/2019/06/17/727649223/patron-saints-of-nothing-is-a-book-for-the-hyphenated.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
View all posts by Kaitlin Kamalei Brandon

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Filipino American History Month: 2020 Book List

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Happy Filipino American History Month! In 2009, the US Congress declared October as National Filipino American History Month. This is to commemorate the first recorded presence of Filipinos on the continental United States on October 18, 1587. I chose books that provide windows and mirrors into Filipino and Filipino-American experiences, history, and culture.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 2) - US President Joe Biden paid tribute to Filipino American frontliners working during "one of the darkest years in our history."

In a statement issued by the White House on Saturday, Biden recognized Filipino Americans' contribution in the fight against the global health crisis, saying they have been "selflessly working on the widespread frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic."

"According to one study from last fall, while Filipino Americans comprised just four percent of nurses in the United States in 2020, they accounted for nearly a third of all nurses who tragically lost their lives due to COVID-19," Biden said.

"Today, our nation mourns their losses and honors the tremendous contributions of Filipino Americans during this global health crisis and throughout our history," he added.

Biden's statement came as October marks the Filipino American History Month in the US.

"Filipino Americans are an essential part of our nation's strength and diversity, a living reminder of the courage of immigrants, and a growing force in our civic movements and engagement," he said.

Biden concluded his statement by thanking the Filipino American community for their sacrifices and service.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Biden honors Filipino American pandemic frontliners during history month

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 2) - US President Joe Biden paid tribute to Filipino American frontliners working during "one of the darkest years in our history." In a statement issued by the White House on Saturday, Biden recognized Filipino Americans' contribution in the fight against the global health crisis, saying they have been "selflessly working on the widespread frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Abraham Ignacio is librarian for the Filipino American Center at the San Francisco Public Library, a place where Filipino American residents can learn about the history and culture of their homeland and participate in community programs. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

Filipino American History Month: 'We are making our mark on the United States'

Abraham Ignacio helms SF library offering programs, services to his community

This weekend marks the start of Filipino American History Month, an annual celebration that honors the history and legacy of the millions of immigrants from the Philippines and their families who have come to the United States. Such a tribute is especially pertinent here in San Francisco, home to the country's second largest Filipino American community.

More than 7,000 islands make up the single country of the Philippines. By virtue of its strategic location in the Pacific Ocean, proximity to mainland Southeast Asia and extreme biodiversity, it was long passed between different empires as a spoil of war. It finally achieved independence in 1946.

What's largely considered to be the first major wave of Filipino immigrants to this country started in 1899 after the Philippines was annexed by the U.S. Millions have since followed, bringing their families along with them and building entire communities with new generations of Filipino Americans.

Abraham Ignacio comes from one of these families. His story starts with a Filipino father who joined the U.S. Navy in 1946 shortly after the conclusion of World War II. Ignacio's father moved from his home country to San Diego, where he was stationed. That's where Ignacio began his two-decade military career, and met his wife, with whom he had two children.

Today, Ignacio is the librarian for the Filipino American Center, a part of the San Francisco Public Library that helps teach Filipino American residents about the history and culture of their own ancestral homeland, while giving all residents a glimpse into the contribution and complexity of this community.
How did you get involved with the Filipino American Center?
He's held the role since 2017. This year, along with five other librarians, Ignacio put together programming for the month of October that highlights the widespread impact of Filipino Americans in San Francisco, giving participants insight into the culture's food, history, arts, literature, language and more.

"We are Americans like everyone else, and we want to showcase to folks the multiplicity and the richness of our history and contributions to this country," he said.

I'm coming into this as an encore career. I just turned 66 years old a few weeks ago. Before that, I worked for FedEx for 25 years as one of those folks you see driving and delivering packages. They actually reimbursed me for a graduate degree in Library and Information Science that I got while also working there, so here I am.
When did you first visit the Philippines, and what impression did that leave?
But really it starts before that. My dad was in the U.S. Navy, so we moved a lot. In the seventies, I was living in San Diego for high school, and that was during the civil rights movement where I was introduced to activism. I got more involved as a Filipino political activist when the country went under martial law in 1973, and I did work in immigration rights, union rights and other things.

I've always been passionate about learning about our experiences, that of Filipinos in America but also in the Philippines. We did things like make a book of political cartoons from the Philippines. If you are really passionate about something, you really want to do the best you can for it, and it's an important contribution to our community to educate around that.
What's unique about the Bay Area Filipino American community?
I first visited in the 1960s when my dad got a Navy assignment there, so we lived there for nearly four years. The thing that impressed me most was how many relatives I had, and how loving and caring they all were there. There wasn't much of a Filipino American community back in San Diego yet. It left a deep impression on me.

The hard part was we didn't speak the language. My parents were set on us learning English at home so we wouldn't have any other problems. I started to pick it up while we lived there, but I lost much of it once we left.
To that end, why do you think something like Filipino American History Month is important?
Many of our families first came over around World War II because they served in the military and then started families in cities with bases. Then the 1965 Immigration Act loosened restrictions on Asian immigrants, and there was an explosion of Filipinos not just in California but all over the United States. (In San Francisco, many settled in what's now SoMa.)

We have a wide array of Filipinos during a huge variety of things here. Filipinos can be found in pretty much any industry. We are definitely making our mark on the United States, all parts of it and all occupations.

It was initiated about 30 years ago by the Filipino American National Historical Society based out of Seattle to celebrate and educate the contributions that Filipinos have made to America and show what talents and experiences we have brought to this new country of ours.

There are so many misconceptions, not just about Filipinos but also about other ethnic groups, especially now with all the anti-Asian hate stuff. I think there's a lot of dialogue that needs to be undertaken in this country to bridge the misunderstandings, and I think we have a long way to go in doing that. Racism is still pretty prevalent here, and we all need to come together.

I'm excited for all our programs this month because it brings something for everyone. But, because I'm a sci-fi geek, I'm probably most excited about a screening of a science fiction film by a Filipino director.
How has the pandemic shaped Filipino American History month?

Abraham Ignacio holds a Filipino American History Month poster describing the theme "darating ang liwanag," which means the "coming of the light," with light a metaphor for hope. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)

Most of this year's programming will be virtual. It's still raging around us and people are getting sick. Our theme is the Tagalog (term) darating ang liwanag, which sort of means the "coming of the light" with light as a metaphor for hope.
Looking forward, what can people expect to find at the Filipino American Center?
The pandemic has also shown that virtual events can increase our reach. I see that as being the future of some of our events. COVID-19 posed all these challenges, but it also showed us these new possibilities that we have before us.

It's been interesting, but also very sad. All of us have been faced with friends or relatives either getting very sick or passing away. You just feel the pain and sorrow and heartache that's been going on throughout our community but also throughout the country and the world. It's been a trying time for all of us.
This conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. cgraf@sfexaminer.com
Part of the task of being a librarian is developing a collection of materials that span the broad interests of everyone. We are actively curating a collection that focuses on the Filipino American experience but also the experience, history and culture of the Philippines, so people here who are members of the diaspora community can get a sense of what's going on in their ancestral homeland.

With the five other librarians, some of whom are teenage Filipino Americans, we have created a broad array of materials. It takes a village to do the number of programs that we do.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Filipino American History Month: 'We are making our mark on the United States' - The San Francisco Examiner

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Abraham Ignacio is librarian for the Filipino American Center at the San Francisco Public Library, a place where Filipino American residents can learn about the history and culture of their homeland and participate in community programs. (Kevin N.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Here Wee Read | Contemporary Living for Book Loving Families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
October is recognized as Filipino American History Month, where the contributions of the Filipino and Filipino American community are celebrated in the United States. The month of October was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos who landed in what is now Morro Bay, California on October 18, 1587.

In celebration of Filipino American History Month, I've compiled a list of a few books to add to your bookshelf or read, whether you're Filipino or not. Enjoy!

Oh My Kulay!: Colors, Fruits and Veggies in Filipino by Jocelyn Francisco, illustrated by Jamie Lee Ortiz

Children typically have no difficulty learning English and adapting to the culture of the country they live in because they are immersed in it. Oh My Kulay will introduce and help children acquire their colors using vegetables and fruits in Tagalog/Filipino - the official language of The Philippines.

Hand Over Hand by Alma Fullerton, illustrated by Renné Benoit

Nina can't convince her lolo to take her fishing on the old banca boat with him. Lolo's reply is the same as always: "A boat is no place for a girl." When Nina promises to bait her own hook and remove her own catch, her grandfather finally relents, "just for today." Much to the amusement of the other fishermen in their Filipino village, Lolo shows Nina how to jig the lines, set the hook and pull in a fish hand over hand. But no one is laughing when Nina brings in the biggest fish of the day!
Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong by Dawn B. Mabalon, PhD & Gayle Romasanta, illustrated by Andre Sibayan
This book tells the story of labor leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Larry Itliong's lifelong fight for a farmworkers union, and the birth of one of the most significant American social movements of all time, the farmworker's struggle, and its most enduring union, the United Farm Workers. Ages 8 and up.

A gentle Hiligaynon Lullaby to help transport little ones off to the land of sleep.
Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore, illustrated by Kristi Valiant

Cora loves being in the kitchen, but she always gets stuck doing the kid jobs like licking the spoon. One day, however, when her older sisters and brother head out, Cora finally gets the chance to be Mama's assistant chef. And of all the delicious Filipino dishes that dance through Cora's head, she and Mama decide to make pancit, her favorite noodle dish.

With Mama's help, Cora does the grown-up jobs like shredding the chicken and soaking the noodles (perhaps Mama won't notice if she takes a nibble of chicken or sloshes a little water on the floor). Cora even gets to stir the noodles in the pot—carefully- while Mama supervises. When dinner is finally served, her siblings find out that Cora did all their grown-up tasks, and Cora waits anxiously to see what everyone thinks of her cooking.

Willie Wins by Almira Astudillo Gilles, illustrated by Carl Angel

The story of a Filipino American boy who overcomes peer pressure and learns about family love and heritage from his father.

Set in the exotic islands of the Philippines, this Cinderella retelling tale captures the mystical charm of the indigenous culture of the Filipinos.

Filipino Celebrations: A Treasury of Feasts and Festivals by Liana Romulo, illustrated by Corazon Dandan-Albano

From these pages, children will learn the history of each holiday, its cultural influences, the varied ways in which people celebrate in different regions of the Philippines, special customs and food, key words and phrases (in English and Tagalog), and more. Games, songs, and other activities invite young readers to join in the fun. New and familiar holidays take on a special flavor as children learn about the diverse cultures that make up this wonderful island nation. Perfect for Filipino-American families looking to share the unique culture of the Philippines, educators interested in promoting multiculturalism in the classroom, or anyone interested in the country, Filipino Celebrations will encourage children ages five to ten to participate and learn while having fun.

Filipino Children's Favorite Stories by Liana Elena Romulo & Joanne de Leon

Filipino Children's Favorite Stories presents thirteen well-loved myths and tales from the Philippines. These stories will enchant 5 to 14-year-old readers around the world with their wit and charm. Many of the tales have been transmitted from mother to child over centuries, and cover classic childhood themes-such as the forces of good triumphing over evil, children rebelling against evil adults and the weak prevailing over the strong. They make perfect new additions for story time or bedtime reading.

Pan de Sal Saves the Day: A Filipino Children's Story is an award-winning, inspiring tale for young children everywhere. It's the story of a young girl named Pan de Sal who lives in the Philippines and thinks she's the unluckiest girl in the whole world. Aside from not liking her own name and finding her appearance strange, she doesn't have all the fancy things her classmates have. She can't even muster the courage to try out for the Glee Club, even though she has a beautiful voice.

Things change suddenly when an unexpected event forces her into the limelight. With her innate talent and resourcefulness, Pan de Sal wins the admiration of her classmates and finds the confidence she needs to fulfill her dreams.

For anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or experienced adversity, Pan de Sal Saves the Day teaches children to see the unique qualities in everything and everyone, even themselves.

A delightful book about Filipino-American boy visiting the Philippines for the very first time.
Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo...Ito Ay Obalo!: Numbers and Shapes in Filipino Jocelyn Francisco, illustrated by Jamie Lee Ortiz

Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo...Ito Ay Obalo! is part of a series that will introduce the Filipino language to keep the Filipino culture and language alive and reinforce a sense of identity. It is important that children learn that we are all different and that differences must not only be accepted but also celebrated; their culture and language is something they can be proud of.

Your turn: Do you have a favorite Filipino children's book you love? Feel free to share your recommendations below!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10+ Picture Book Recommendations to Celebrate Filipino American History Month | Here Wee Read

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
October is recognized as Filipino American History Month, where the contributions of the Filipino and Filipino American community are celebrated in the United States. The month of October was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos who landed in what is now Morro Bay, California on October 18, 1587.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Newbery Medalist and New York Times besteller

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The earliest documented proof of Filipino presence in the continental United States was on October 18, 1587, when the first "Luzones Indios" set foot in Morro Bay, California.

Filipino American History Month is celebrated in the United States during the month of October. The Filipino American National Historical Society established Filipino American History Month in the year 1988. In California (and in Hawaii), where a large number of Filipino Americans reside, Filipino American History Month is widely celebrated.

A pivotal year was 2006, which marked the centennial celebration of Filipino migration to the United States. In California, Filipino American History Month was first recognized statewide in 2006, when the California Department of Education placed it on its celebrations calendar.

On September 9, 2009, the California State Assembly voted to "designate the month of October 2009, and every October thereafter, as Filipino American History Month." The bill was introduced by former Senator Leland Yee with Senators Carol Liu, Pat Wiggins (now deceased) and Lois Wolk as co-authors.

There are now about four million Filipino Americans in the United States, approximately 1.5% of the country's population. They speak a wide array of Philippine languages such as Tagalog, Bisaya, Ilocano, and Kapampangan, among many others.

Of note:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Filipino American History Month - California Teachers Association

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The earliest documented proof of Filipino presence in the continental United States was on October 18, 1587, when the first "Luzones Indios" set foot in Morro Bay, California. Filipino American History Month is celebrated in the United States during the month of October.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Celebrate Filipino American History Month - Asian Art Museum

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Filipino American History Month honors the history, pursuits, accomplishments, and legacy of Filipinos in the United States.