Georgia marks March 11 as first-ever Fil-Am day

Marvin Lim/Facebook

March 11 witnessed a historic event as Filipinos in Georgia gathered to celebrate the state’s first-ever Filipino American Day at the capitol.

The momentous occasion was made possible by the introduction of House Resolution 1378, led by State Representative Marvin Lim, recognizing the invaluable contributions of Filipinos to Georgia’s culture and economy.

The resolution further states that the “members of the Filipino American (Fil-Am) community contribute to the diverse culture and economy of Georgia, with robust participation in the religious, cultural, and social lives of their local communities.”

This comes true as Georgia is “home to more than 47,724 Filipino Americans who are members of the United States Armed Forces and who work as health care professionals, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, accountants, educators, attorneys, public servants, civic leaders and many other professions.”

Adding depth to the narrative, Lim, who is also of Filipino descent, shared an interesting historical nugget on social media, highlighting Filipinos as the first Asians to set foot on what would become US soil, dating back to 1587.

Meanwhile, Natalie Ammons, an advocate for the Fil-Am community and one of the driving forces behind the recognition, expressed her heartfelt appreciation towards Lim and the successful passage of the said house resolution.

Taking to Facebook, Ammons underscored the impact of representation in government, commending Lim as the sole Fil-Am currently serving in the House of Representatives.

“We are proud to have you as the first and only current Filipino to serve in the House of Representatives,” she wrote. “Representation Matters!”

Filipino attendees, like Eugene Frias Ostil, also took to Facebook to share his experiences, with Ostil proudly donning a traditional barong.

He expressed his delight in meeting fellow Filipinos, stating, “I met some cool Pinoys, and I also got to see the Governor and First Lady of the State of Georgia, and had a photo op with them. I felt privileged to be invited to this event.”

The commemoration of Filipino American Day at the Georgia State Capitol not only celebrates the heritage and contributions of the Filipino community but also underscores the importance of representation in shaping the state’s future.