Filipino American History Month Message

October 2025

Celebrated throughout the month of October, the Filipino American History Month commemorates the earliest evidence of Filipinos in the continental United States of America. Filipino men arrived at Morro Bay, California on October 18, 1587 on a Spanish galleon named Nuestra Senora de Buena Esperanza. Today, there are 4.6 million Filipino Americans, the third largest Asian American group in the nation. Over the years, contributions and legacy of Filipino Americans in their communities are celebrated.

A Washington DC exhibition “Fabricated Boundaries: Filipino American Textile and Fiber Art” showcases the shared culture and heritage of legendary and emerging artists in the United States. We share below a message on such a celebration and a short video of the artists.

MESSAGE

Congratulations to the artists, patrons, and the creative talent behind the scenes, especially Professor Tiffany Hunt, who has made the Fabricated Boundaries exhibit possible. American University’s Katzen Arts Center is one of Washington’s premier venues for showcasing works of artists from the U.S. and around the globe. It is a fitting tribute that the four Filipina American featured artists, Pacita Abad, Mic Dino Boekelmann, Jeanne F. Jalandoni, and Patricia Orpilla, occupy a central gallery in this lovely, modern and spacious arts center.

We will appreciate over the next three months, particularly the month of October when the Filipino American History Month is celebrated, this unique exhibition of shared heritage attracting diverse visitors from the Washington, D.C. region and beyond. We hope that DMV will take the opportunity to come and view the works of fabric art displayed here to gain a fuller understanding of how these talented artists drew on themes from the Philippines and their Filipino American experience.

The leadership and members of the US-Philippines Society are delighted to assist in drawing public attention to this extraordinary exhibition and honored to help raise awareness of this unique aspect of Philippine cultural heritage and strengthen the connections between our countries and peoples.

Hank Hendrickson

Executive Director
US-Philippines Society