Filipino American History Month

Filipino American History Month (FAHM) celebrates Filipino heritage and culture, and recognizes the contributions of Filipino Americans to American history. The Filipino American National Historical Society introduced FAHM in 1992, and Congress officially recognized FAHM in 2009. FAHM is celebrated in October to commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos to America (California) on October 18, 1587. In addition, October is the birth month of Larry Itliong, a Filipino American who emigrated from the Philippines at the age of 15. He became an organizer and community leader, who played an important role in the farm labor movement, including the Delano Grape Strike of the 1960s. The five-year strike remains an iconic 20th century labor struggle that led to an international grape boycott, won better pay and benefits for agricultural workers, and led to the eventual formation of the United Farm Workers union.

In 2021, BosFilipinos interviewed Richard Chu from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Mary Talusan from California State University Dominguez Hills in a podcast entitled “The History of Filipinos in Boston.” Chu and Talusan discussed when and why Filipinos first came to Massachusetts and the various organizations that help bind the community together.