Fil-Am History month declared in New York State

MANILA, Philippines – The State of New York has issued a proclamation declaring October as Filipino-American History Month in recognition of the Filipinos’ contribution to the state, the Philippine consulate general in New York said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a proclamation issued by the State of New York Executive Chamber and turned over by Director David Turley of the Office of Constituent Affairs to the Filipino community leaders, headed by Philippine Consul General to New York Mario De Leon Jr., at the governor’s Manhattan office on Oct. 9.

The proclamation recognizes that Filipinos have been in the continental United States as early as Oct. 18, 1587 when the first “Luzones Indios” set foot in Morro Bay, California aboard the galleon ship Nuestra Señora de Esperanza. 

It also acknowledges the economic, cultural and social foundation of the New York State and the whole nation since their permanent settlement in Louisiana in 1763. 

“This proclamation uplifts the presence of Filipinos in the Northeast and in one of the foremost states of the US. Our aim as a community is to further raise the influence of Filipinos in mainstream American society,” De Leon said.

According to the 2013 US census, an estimated 120,000 single and multi-racial Filipino-Americans were living in the state of New York.