Fil-Am leaders to launch national historical group chapter in San Mateo County

Ever proud of her Philippine heritage, Flor Nicolas (swearing in) and family wear traditional attire at her 2022 mayoral inaugural, from left: Shirley Nicolas (Arie Nicolas in the foreground), Elijah, Nicolas, Iggy, Nenar and Genevieve Nicolas, Elden Nielson carrying Isa Nielson. Photo by Vincent Virina

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – This month will be doubly significant for Filipino residents of this city as it prepares to herald Filipino American History Month and launch the San Mateo County Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS).

Presided by South San Francisco City Council member Flor Nicolas, the South City chapter is the latest of 44 since Seattle educators Fred and Dorothy (Laigo) Cordova convened FANHS in 1982.

Long before the US Congress recognized October as Filipino American History Month (FAHM) in 2009, the Cordovas had led FANHS in issuing a 1992 resolution proclaiming the occasion in honor of the first recorded presence of Filipinos in what would become the United States of America.

That historic moment was Oct. 18, 1587, when “Luzones Indios” aboard the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Esperanza set foot on Morro Bay, California.

Four hundred and twenty-eight years later, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the first FAHM festivities in the White House.

On Oct. 5, Nicolas and the founding members of FANHS-SMC will replicate the revelry at a free and inclusive event to bring together all Filipinos and their fellow Americans of every background.

“Annually, the City of SSF celebrates Filipino American History Month and raises the Philippine flag at City Hall.  We will do the same thing but this time, it will be at the new Library | Parks and Recreation Center located at 901 Civic Campus Way,” Nicolas began detailing plans to Inquirer.net USA.

“The St. Augustine’s Praise and Glorify choir will sing our two national anthems.  There will be a proclamation from the City Council and we have invited the Philippine Consul General and staff to accept the proclamation,” she added.

“In keeping with this year’s FANHS theme ‘Struggle, Resistance, Solidarity, Resilience,’ we will watch the film, ‘Delano Manongs (Forgotten Heroes of the United Farmworkers)’ at the Council Chambers.”

As in every Filipino gathering, she noted, a “salo-salo” or breaking bread and entertainment will follow at the social hall.  More information at [email protected].

Beyond food or fashion 

When Nicolas swore in as this city’s first Filipina Mayor in 2022, her fourth year in office, she requested guests to attend in Filipiniana attire, turning the Municipal Services Building into a pistahan or celebration, with her entire family garbed in traditional Philippine finery.

Nicolas’ effort to highlight her heritage goes beyond donning traditional apparel or serving the typical party treats.

“Every immigrant in this country has a story and I want those stories, especially the immigrant stories of my fellow Filipinos to be told for our understanding and appreciation to inspire us and our future generations further,” she explains what has become an advocacy.

“The more I hear about the Filipino diaspora, the more I want to reconnect with my Filipino-ness, not just for my sake but more for the sake of my three granchildren – Iggy, Arie, and Isa,” she stressed.

Just as she fulfilled her aspiration to elevate her chemical engineering education from Mapua University to a masters in public health at University of Massachusetts – Amherst and became a top pharmacovigilance executive, she dedicated herself to volunteerism, impressing city officials to encourage her to use her skills and visibility to represent Fil-Ams in the city leadership.

She had “a very limited knowledge of Filipino American history” as a newcomer, she admits.

“I was young and all I wanted was to find a way to make a good life for my family.  I had heard about many families who succeeded in making a wonderful life here.  There were some failures, but I relied mostly on what I saw from the people I knew and how they overcame their challenges.”

Her and husband Nenar’s own encounters with adversity, such as their home burning down while the family was on vacation out of state, taught her resilience and empathy.  The outpouring of support from the community allowed her children to continue studies in the church school, among acts of kindness informing her interaction with her constituents today.

Too, she saw the sad side: “Many hardworking and hopeful Filipinos who really did not get their fair share and had to go back home” or “many who prey on their fellow Filipinos.”

Contrary to common Filipino traits of hospitality and charity, she discovered those who, “instead of extending their helping hands were the ones who caused trauma on others.”

She heard of “Filipinos who were embarrassed to be identified as such and have stayed away from fellow Filipinos as far as they could.” And she came across  “parents who let their children call anything ugly, atrocious, unintelligent, or in general negative, ‘very Filipino.’”

On the other hand she also found “ a lot of hardworking, humble but very successful Filipinos who were willing to take you by the hand and help you elevate our being Filipinos…Filipinos who remain optimistic despite going through their struggles and hardships.”

“There are many faith-filled Filipinos who were kindred spirits,” she invoked a value deeply instilled in her family.

Kindred spirits

Why it took over 40 years for a FANHS chapter to rise in the county with one of the highest concentrations of Filipinos is a wonder as it is a testament to Nicolas’ resolve and influence.

“I joined the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) East Bay chapter in 2022 after not getting any response from my repeated requests for information from the San Francisco chapter,” she shared.  “FANHS East Bay welcomed my husband and me with open arms.”

The Nicolases attended with SSF residents Lydia Pomposo and Florie Ventura, both active in city service.

Licensed marriage & family therapist Nan Santiago and SSF Cultural Arts Commissioner Lydia Pomposo welcome efforts to highlight Fil-Am history in their county. Photo by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

“It is important for us to educate our children and grandchildren to recognize and appreciate the long history, rich culture, and significant contributions of Filipino Americans to this country,” said Pomposo, Pangasinan-born daughter of a US Army Air Corps (later Air Force) member.

Like her Dad who came to this country in 1926, “Filipinos come to the US as ‘land of opportunity.’ They want to better themselves, make a better life for their families,” said Pomposo, who serves on the SSF Cultural Arts Commission.

The meeting inspired them yet the over 40-mile distance can be daunting.

Flor and Nenar would have been at the July biennial conference in Houston but for a scheduled visit with her mother, now 90, in the Philippines.  Shortly before their Asian journey, Nicolas surfed the FANHS website and “stumbled” on steps to start a chapter.

Realizing she only had to convince six more people to comply with the required 10 members paying an annual individual membership fee of $30, $45 for a family of two adults and children, $10 for students and adults 62 years and older, Flor shot an email blast to her contacts.

“The response was overwhelming,” she told Inquirer.netUSA. “We ended up having a total of 68 members from that initial” invite.

That was a mere three months ago.

Now the stage is set and Nicolas promises to “remain true to the FANHS mission: 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.”

Impactful 

Response to the organization coming to their county ranged from sheer delight to serious reflection.

Belmont residents Jun and Tessie Madrinan expressed pride in being founding members of the new chapter.

Church and civic leaders Jun and Tessie Madrinan see another ideal opportunity for their volunteerism in FANHS latest chapter. Photo by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

“As members of a Filipino community, we can share our stories, values and experiences which will connect our future generations with our roots and rich history,” said Tessie, Filipino peer counseling coordinator of nonprofit Peninsula Family Service.  “Families can engage in events promoting intergenerational learning.  We have opportunity to volunteer, share our skills, provide resources and support the organization’s mission.”

LMFT Nan Santiago zoomed in on the chapter impact on the next generation.

“It would be good to know there is the FANHS in San Mateo to continue to educate the younger generations about pertinent history and art/culture of our ‘kababayan,’”said the mother of two including a GenZ’er.

The resident of nearby Hillsborough saw in FANHS an opportunity “for connection” when “cousins of similar age are visiting us here from Canada.”

Skyline College Ethnic Studies Professor Rod Daus-Magbual lauded the move as crucial to highlighting how County Filipinos “have shaped culture, politics and leadership.”

Ethnic studies Professor Rod Daus-Magbual lauds the impact of FANHS on students like his daughter Amianan Daus-Magbual, who administered his oath as Daly City Vice Mayor. Photo by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

The current Daly City vice mayor rued the “rarity” of “large Filipino American communities in locally elected politics as mayors and vice mayors; in student, grassroots and community-based organizations, the performing arts, Hip Hop and activism.”

“The emergence of FANHS in San Mateo County can help people understand that Filipinos have been here for centuries, even before the establishment of the United States,” Daus-Magbual pointed out.  “The more knowledge that our larger communities have about the experiences of Filipina/o/x Americans, we can create a consciousness to humanize and acknowledge the struggle and survival stories of immigrants to this country.”

He linked education impact to a raging issue: “This can help our society to understand the long history of anti-Asian/Filipino violence and learn from the lessons to instill messages of community, solidarity and love.”

Closer to home, SSF Council Member Mark Nagales harkened to the city’s FilAm pioneers.

SSF Council Member Mark Nagales says he looks forward to contributing to FANHS San Mateo founded by his fellow Council Member Flor Nicolas. Photo by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

“Filipinos in South San Francisco have contributed locally, regionally and nationally,” reminded Philippine-born Nagales, the first Fil-Am man elected to govern his home city the same year as Nicolas.

“Any conversation that involves the Filipino movement has to start with Tita Alice Bulos. She’s the trailblazer that paved the way for Council Member Nicolas and me to be on the City Council. I look forward to contributing my story to the FANHS San Mateo Chapter.”