By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(Journal Group Link International)

C HICAGO (jGLi) – Top government officials of Illinois have proclaimed October 2010 as Filipino-American History Month in Chicago and in the state, Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim has announced.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has issued a proclamation, informing the Filipino American community that he is proclaiming October 2010 as Filipino-American History Month in Chicago. He encouraged all Chicagoans to appreciate the contributions that the Filipino American community has made to the city and the nation.

In a separate proclamation dated September 9, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn also proclaimed October 2010 as Filipino-American History Month in recognition of the contributions Filipino Americans have made to the state and to the nation as a whole and in celebration of all Filipino Americans, who call Illinois home.

During the month-long celebration, the Philippine Consulate and the Filipino American community will be presenting various activities such as art exhibit and workshop, cultural exhibit and display, film showing, community picnic, sports activities and cultural presentations in different venues around the city.

In issuing the proclamation, Mayor Daley cited “Oct. 15, 1587, (another account puts it on Oct. 18, 1587) as the earliest documented Filipino presence in the United States when the first “Luzones Indios” set foot on Morro Bay, California, after disembarking from Manila-built galleon ship Nuestra Senora de Esperanza.

Editor’s Note: The galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza was not built in Manila. Actually the first Spanish shipyard was built in an island off Magallanes, Sorsogon, in the mid-1590s after the Spaniards arrived there and celebrated the first mass in the Island of Luzon in 1565. The shipyard in Magallanes and a repair facility in Palapag, Samar, were moved to Cavite only in the early 1640s.

The few days’ landing would be followed 176 years later by a settlement of a bigger number of Filipino settlers in 1763 in St. Malo, Louisiana as promoted by the Filipino American National Historical Society that also aims to promote the study of Filipino American history and culture.

Editor’s Note: The supposed landing in Louisiana by Filipino settlers in 1763 is based on a fictional account by Marina Espina.

Please read Joseph Lariosa’s article about it,

 The Real First Filipino Settlers in Louisiana

and Tom Seyer’s essay,

How Joseph Lariosa Found Another Fabrication in Marina Espina’s Book, “Filipinos in Louisiana”

M ayor Daley said Filipino American citizens contribute to the vitality and strength of the city of Chicago and the entire country, making outstanding contributions in business, health, law, education and many other professions.

“Chicago’s history and cultural fabric have been shaped and enriched by Filipino Americans and their commitment to helping make our city a better place to live, work and raise families,” Mayor Daley said.

For his part, Governor Quinn said in his proclamation, the Filipino-American community is the second largest Asian American group in the United States with a population estimated to be close to four million.

He added that Filipino-American servicemen and servicewomen have a long-standing history in the United States Armed Forces, including approximately 250,000 Filipinos who fought under the United States flag during World War II.

Governor Quinn said the celebration of Filipino-American History Month in October provides an opportunity to mark the heritage and culture of Filipino Americans and “their immense contributions to our country, and presents a time to renew efforts toward the examination of history and culture in order to provide an opportunity for all people in the United States to learn more about the Filipino Americans and their historic contributions to the growth and development of the United States.”

The Filipino-American Historical Society of Greater Springfield and the Central Illinois Philippine Society will host a kick-off event on Saturday, Oct. 2, to mark the beginning of the first national observance of Filipino-American History Month in the Land of Lincoln.

However, the Philippine History Group in Los Angeles, California, is disputing the Morro Bay landing by “Luzones Indios,” saying that the account that documented the landing failed to mention a huge volcanic landmark, Morro Rock, which indicated that the “Luzones Indios” may have landed elsewhere. # # #

E ditor’s Notes: Here are the citations that back up the contention by the Philippine History Group that the supposed landing made by the so-called Luzones Indios might not have even occurred in what is now Morro Bay:

http://www.bibingka.com/sst/esperanza/morrobay.htm

http://www.bibingka.com/sst/esperanza/indios.htm

http://www.bibingka.com/sst/esperanza/chars.htm

Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at:  (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)