PRESS RELEASE - 27 - 2020
Every October, community groups, colleges and universities, museums and other institutions commemorate Filipino American History Month (FAHM) with various activities and events to raise awareness on the significant role Filipinos have played in American history. This year, FAHM seeks to highlight the history of Filipino American activism. Under the leadership of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, community volunteers and stakeholders have united and curated a series of virtual events to support Filipino American History Month in Hawaii.
To kick-off the celebration of FAHM, the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce held a virtual flag raising ceremony with Mayor Michael Victorino on October 1 at 12:00 noon outside the Kalana O Maui Building.
On October 4 at 2:00 PM, the East-West Center Arts Program featured “Gangsa Music and Dance in the Philippines” with lectures and performances by Dr. Desiree Quintero and Dr. Wayland Quintero. Dancing and music using the gangsa, a handheld flat gong, are intrinsic to ritual and secularized communality for people of the northern Philippine highlands.
On October 14 at 3:30 PM, the Philippine Consulate General, Farrington High School Filipino American Club, and NMG Network invite audiences to engage in a discussion about race, skin color, and identity, breaking the cycle of colonial mentality and white preference and the historical context of why certain stereotypes persist in the Filipino and Filipino-American communities in the United States and the Philippines. Dr. Jeanne Batallonos, Counsellor at the Hawaii Community College, Dr. EJ David, author of “Brown Skin, White Mind,” Professor at the University of Alaska, and Filipino American National Historical FANHS Trustee, Ara Laylo, artist and Creative Director of NMG Network, and Germain Juan, poet and student at the University of Hawai’i (UH) shall serve as panelists for the event. Dr. Patricia Halagao of UH Manoa and Norman Sales of Farrington High School will moderate the event.
On October 17, three (3) community organizations will hold events to celebrate FAHM. Tekniqlingz will conduct a Hip Hop Tinikling Virtual Workshop at 10:00 AM, Binhi at Ani will hold their 51st Annual Barrio Fiesta at 11:00 AM, and the Filipino Association of University Women (FAUW) will host the Voices of the Youth 2020: Literary Reading at 2:00 PM. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the publication of the first volume of Voices of the Youth, which features the literary work of young Filipino and Filipino Americans in Hawaii. The poetry reading on October 17 will show the changing perspectives of the Fil-Am youth over the course of 30 years.
Suyomano, an online education platform based in the Philippines, will also contribute two (2) webinars to celebrate FAHM. Professor Corinne Romabiles of the Asian Institute Management (AIM) in Manila will talk about “Branding Things Filipino: What, Why, and How”, a topic that many Filipino Americans grapple with considering their dual identity. Meanwhile, Andrei Julian will discuss “Filipino American Heroism in World War II.”. The webinars will be held at 4:00 and 6:00 PM, respectively.
On October 25, Pusong Filipinx will hold its virtual market place promoting the creativity, craftsmanship, and culinary skills of Filipinx entrepreneurs in Hawaii.
The Consulate and Hawai’i Contemporary will partner in a panel discussion on “Creative Resistance within Filipino Diaspora” featuring renowned Fil-Am artists, Paul Pfeiffer and James Clar, on October 26 at 4:00 PM. Sara Raza, Associate Director of Hawai’i Contemporary, and Ara Laylo, will serve as moderator and reactor, respectively.
On October 28 at 6:00 PM, Ilokano The Movement will virtually launch “Pakada,” an Ilokano - English children’s book. Written by Almond Jaye Ereno, the book features stories that the author heard from her grandmother who grew up in Ilocos Sur, Philippines. Enero will be joined in the online launch by Jennyliz Ordonez, the book’s illustrator, and Calvin John Bagaoisan, who did the layout and design of the book inspired by the inabel, a handwoven textile from the Ilocos region. Dean Domingo and Norman Sales shall serve as moderators.
For the whole day of October 30, audiences can attend the various presentations during the online streaming of the “32nd Annual Pamantasan 2020 Virtual Conference”. Comprised of Filipino administrators, faculty, and staff from across the ten campuses of the University of HawaiĘ»i System, Pamantasan advocates for the representation of Filipino-American and Philippine representation in university curricula as well as to
support and recognize achievements in higher education among Filipina/os.
Finally, various Filipino organizations are invited to participate in the Filipino American History Trivia Night hosted by Mystery Maui on October 30 at 8:00 PM. The event will test the participants’ knowledge about history, culture, current events, and other trivia about the Philippines and the Filipinos in the United States.
Complete details of these event including registration and live streaming links are accessible on FAHM Hawaii’s Facebook page (@FAHMHawaii) and website (www.filamhistorymonthhawaii.com).
For more information about the cultural events of the Philippine Consulate General, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
51st Annual Barrio Fiesta organized by Binhi at Ani scheduled on 17 October 2020 at 11:00 AM
Voices of the Youth 2020: Literary Reading scheduled on 17 October 2020 at 2:00 PM
“Branding Things Filipino: What, Why, and How” featuring Prof. Corinne Romabiles on 24 October 2020 at 4:00 PM
“Filipino American Heroism in World War II” presented by Suyomano on 24 October 2020 at 6:00 PM
