LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim October 2013 as Filipino American History Month in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, The earliest documented Filipino presence in the continental
United States was on October 18, 1587, when the first "Luzones Indios"
set foot in Morro Bay, California, on board the Manila-built galleon
ship Nuestra Senora de Esperanza; and
WHEREAS, The Filipino American National Historical Society recognized
the year 1763 as the date of the first permanent Filipino settlement in
the United States in St. Malo, Louisiana, which set in motion the focus
on the story of our Nation's past from a new perspective by concentrat-
ing on the economic, cultural, social and other notable contributions
that Filipino Americans have made in countless ways toward the develop-
ment of the history of the United States; and
WHEREAS, New York State has the third largest population of Filipino
Americans and the largest population of Filipino Americans on the East
Coast; and
WHEREAS, Filipino Americans have a long-standing history of serving in
the United States Armed Forces, from the Civil War to the Iraq and
Afghanistan conflicts, including the 25,000 Filipinos who fought under
the United States flag during World War II to protect and defend this
country; and
WHEREAS, Filipino Americans are an integral part of the United States
health care system as nurses, doctors, and other medical professions;
and
WHEREAS, Filipino Americans have contributed greatly to the fine arts,
music, dance, literature, business, journalism, education, science,
technology, government, politics, fashion, and other fields in the
United States that enrich the landscape of the country; and
WHEREAS, Efforts must continue to promote the study of Filipino Ameri-
can history and culture, as mandated in the mission statement of the
Filipino American National Historical Society, because the roles of
Filipino Americans and other people of color have been overlooked in the
writing, teaching, and learning of United States history; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative for Filipino American youth to have positive
role models to instill in them the importance of education, complemented
with the richness of their ethnicity and the value of their legacy; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2013 as Filipi-
no American History Month in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.