Assemblymember Alex Lee Honors Filipino American History Month

Assemblymember Alex Lee introduced legislation to celebrate and recognize the contributions of Filipino Americans in California. House Resolution 112, which passed the State Assembly, recognizes October 2024 as Filipino American History Month and commemorates the 437th anniversary of the first recorded arrival of Filipinos in the continental United States. 

“Filipino Americans have played a vital role in the history of California and the country,” said Assemblymember Alex Lee. “From fighting for farmworkers’ labor rights and advocating for housing, to serving in many levels of public office, they are making a big difference in our communities. I am proud to introduce HR 112 to recognize the achievements of Filipino Americans statewide.”

Filipino Americans have made vast contributions to the farm labor movement, uniting farmworkers in their fight for better wages and working conditions. The Delano Grape Strike led by Filipino American labor leaders is one of the most important labor movements in U.S. history, and the legacy of the strike continues to live on.

The first wave of Filipino immigrants, often referred as the manongs, arrived in the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century. Thousands worked in agricultural fields across California, but farmworkers often endured harsh labor conditions and poor wages. Despite the many risks they faced, Filipino American labor leaders like Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz organized over 1,500 farm workers from the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) in the 1965 Delano Grape Strike, where workers crossed the picket lines to strike against grape growers in Delano, California. They then joined forces with César Chávez, Dolores Huerta and other Mexican American labor leaders of the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA). Together, AWOC and NFWA formed the labor union United Farm Workers and pushed forward a boycott of table grapes.

Beyond their labor struggles, Filipino Americans have also played an integral role in the fight for housing justice. From the 1960s to 1970s, Filipino American activists and residents of San Francisco’s International Hotel organized a campaign against the displacement of its tenants. The I-Hotel, located in what was once the thriving Manilatown, has since become a symbol of Asian Americans’ identity, resilience and the fight for affordable housing.

Today, Filipino Americans continue to make significant impacts on all facets of society, including the fields of public service, education, health care, technology and the arts. They have served the public in a wide range of capacities, including Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, Attorney General of California, as well as city, state and federal lawmakers, among others. In music, Filipino Americans have made major influences across various musical genres, whether it be jazz, rock, pop, hip-hop or contemporary music. When it comes to health care, Filipinos represent roughly 20% of California’s registered nurses workforce, and Filipino nurses have long played a crucial role in the American medical system.

HR 112 recognizes the diverse contributions of Filipino Americans who have helped shape the social, cultural and economic fabric of the country. Assemblymember Lee represents the most Asian American district in California, and the Filipino American population accounts for the district’s third largest Asian American group.

Community organizations are pivotal in empowering Filipino Americans through advocacy, education, outreach and beyond. In Assemblymember Lee’s district, the City of San José named a city park the Delano Manongs Park in 2022. It was driven by community members and volunteers, with the community organizations Leadership, Education, Activism and Dialogue (L.E.A.D) Filipino and the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Santa Clara Valley Chapter leading the effort. The City of Milpitas also named a city park recently in honor of the Filipino Americans who led the Delano Grape strike.

“Before we can progress, we need to know where we come from. Raising awareness about the historic and intersectional experiences of Filipino Americans while we advance social equity and justice for our future is necessary,” said Dr. Angelica Cortez, Founder and Executive Director of LEAD Filipino and National Trustee for the Filipino American National Historical Society, the sponsors of HR 112. “Our organizing around Delano Manongs Park, Queer Filipino experiences, civic education, and premier FAHM events across Silicon Valley demonstrate our values in action.”