10/17/2025
Thank you Culver City - Local Government Council for proclaiming October as Filipino American History Month on Monday, October 13th!
Culver City is home to Filipino American business owners, cultural ambassadors, artists, scholars, and families who contribute to the history and vibrance of our community.
Maraming salamat to G**o Alvin Catacutan of Pamana Kali - Philippine Martial Arts and Culture and FilAm ARTS, who lead our members in accepting the proclamation and provided remarks.
FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH OCTOBER 2025
WHEREAS, the earliest evidence of Filipinos in the continental United States occurred on October 18, 1587, when the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza arrived on Chumash land in what is now Morro Bay, California; and
WHEREAS, the 1935 Repatriation Act sought to remove Filipino nationals from the U.S., revealing deep anti-Asian and xenophobic sentiments; and
WHEREAS, Larry Itliong, a farm labor organizer, led Filipino farm workers in California to strike in 1965, known as the Delano Grape Strike, and more than 2,000 Filipino farmworkers, members of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, demanded the right to form a union; and
WHEREAS, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) established Filipino American History Month in 1992 to commemorate the anniversary of the presence of the first Filipinos in the U.S. and to observe its heritage, but also to recognize the social, intellectual, and economic contributions of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in this country, and in 2025, FANHS incorporates the theme “From Quotas to Communities: Filipino American Migration and Movement” commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the 1935 Filipino Repatriation Act and the 60th Anniversary of the 1965 Immigration & Naturalization Act; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress first recognized Filipino American History Month in 2009, then formally recognized in the White House in 2015, and in the same year, California Assembly Bill 7, authored by then Assemblymember Rob Bonta, requires the Governor to annually proclaim October 25th as “Larry Itliong Day;” and
WHEREAS, Filipino Americans in Culver City created Culver City Kapwa in 2023, strengthening the social and cultural fabric of our city through leadership, creativity, resilience, and care; and
WHEREAS, the City of Culver City recognizes the need to reflect on the injustices of the past and present, acknowledging that immigrant struggles persist, and recommits to values of inclusion, equity, and community empowerment; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Culver City, California, hereby proclaims October 2025 as Filipino American History Month and encourage all residents to reflect upon, honor, and celebrate the enduring contributions and ongoing journeys of Filipino Americans: past, present, and future.
Dated this 13th day of October 2025.
