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A Proud Filipino American

America is considered a melting pot of different ethnic groups. By today's standard, "American culture" is the result of a variety of races integrating their own cultural beliefs into American society. Throughout the years, the United States has seen a massive increase of people migrating from Asian countries; "they make up 3.6 percent of the U.S. population, a 199 percent increase from 1980 when they constituted only 1.5 percent of the population" (Ng). Like other immigrants, Asians come here in order to seek a better life and experience civil liberties. According to statistics, "Filipino Americans today make up the second largest Asian Pacific American (APA) group in the country" (Aquino). Filipinos alongside other Asians have experienced and overcome racism with great pride, honor and respect. They have made great strides in reminding us of the history that was forgotten as well as improving the common misconceptions about the Philippines and its people.
The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) was established in the early 1980s in order to "promote understanding, education, enlightenment, appreciation and enrichment through the identification, gathering, preservation and dissemination of the history and culture of Filipino Americans in the United States"
(Cordova). FANHS has been an instrumental tool in bridging the gap between the

younger and older generation as well as making a significant influence on American culture by designating October as the month for us to come together and reflect on the past, present and future. Even though it seems like we have made a positive impact in this country, it hasn't always been easy.
Relations between the United States and the Philippines has been pleasant yet tumultuous at times. Even before America set foot into the country, Filipinos had endured years of abuse at the hands of Spain. The Philippines was promised that if they became allies with America to defeat Spain during the...