1Recognizing the month of October 2013 as "Filipino-American
2History Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, The earliest documented proof of Filipino presence
4in the continental United States is October 18, 1587, when the
5first 'Luzones Indios' set foot in Morro Bay, California, on
6board the Manila-built galleon ship Nuestra Senora de Esperanza;
7and

8WHEREAS, The Filipino American National Historical Society
9recognizes 1763 as the year of the first permanent Filipino
10settlement in the United States in St. Malo Parrish, Louisiana,
11which precipitated the focus on the story of our nation's past
12from a new perspective by illuminating the economic, cultural,
13social and other notable contributions that Filipino Americans
14have made in countless ways toward the development of the
15history of the United States; and

1WHEREAS, The Filipino-American community is the second
2largest Asian-American group in the United States with a
3population of approximately 3,100,000 people; and

4WHEREAS, Filipino-American servicemen and servicewomen have a
5longstanding history serving within the armed services of the
6United States, from the Civil War to the present Iraq and
7Afghanistan conflicts, including the 250,000 Filipinos who
8fought under the United States flag during World War II to
9protect and defend this country; and

10WHEREAS, Filipino Americans are an integral part of the
11United States health care system as doctors, nurses and other
12medical professionals; and

13WHEREAS, Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to the
14fine arts, music, dance, literature, education, business,
15journalism, sports, fashion, politics, government, science,
16technology and other fields in the United States which enrich
17the landscape of the country; and

18WHEREAS, Efforts must continue to promote the study of
19Filipino-American history and culture, as mandated in the
20mission statement of the Filipino American National Historical
21Society, because the roles of Filipino Americans and other
22people of color have been overlooked in the writing, teaching
23and learning of United States history; and

24WHEREAS, It is imperative for Filipino-American youth to have
25positive role models to instill in them the importance of
26education, complemented with the richness of their ethnicity and
27the value of their legacy; therefore be it

28RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
29month of October 2013 as "Filipino-American History Month" in
30Pennsylvania to celebrate the advancement of Filipino Americans

1and to bring awareness to this time of reflection and
2remembrance and the renewal of efforts toward the research and
3examination of history and culture in order to provide an
4opportunity for all people in the United States to learn and
5appreciate more about Filipino Americans and their historic
6contributions to the nation; and be it further

7RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the people
8of this Commonwealth to observe Filipino-American History Month
9with appropriate programs and activities.