Where to celebrate Filipino American History Month in the Sacramento region

While October is Filipino American History Month, the Sacramento region is rife with signifiers of FIlipino community year-round. 

In the Sacramento region, according to the 2020 American Community Survey, Filipinos are the largest Asian subgroup in several counties, including Sacramento, Placer and San Joaquin, and are the second largest in others like Yolo. 

Places like Filipino supermarket franchise Seafood City Supermarket — located on Mack Road, nestled between Filipino bakeries Red Ribbon and Valerio’s — are community mainstays. Filipino veterans, their families and their friends frequently gather at American Legion Hall, Post 604, Magellan Hall. Plus, the Jose Rizal Community Center in south Sacramento is named after the Philippines’ national hero.

Filipino contributions to state history honored in new California Museum exhibit

And less than an hour from the state capital is a city where “all Filipinos know” all roads lead, according to late Filipino historian Dr. Dawn Mabalon: Stockton, which houses Little Manila. 

For the past two years, thanks to Council member Mai Vang, Sacramento has passed a resolution celebrating Filipino American History Month. 

This year, the awareness month is also a somber moment that offers an opportunity to examine U.S.-Philippine history, said Dr. Robyn Rodriguez, founder of the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies (now under the Amado Khaya Foundation) and the former chair of Asian American Studies at UC Davis. 

This October marks 125 years of the Philippines and United States locked in entanglement — Spain signed the Treaty of Paris in 1898, ushering in an era of U.S. colonization of the Philippines that would ultimately create the conditions pushing Filipinos to move across the globe, including to California. 

“What I really invite folks to do is really look at the continuing neocolonial relationship that exists between the Philippines and the United States,” she said, adding that San Francisco is hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation next month. “We haven’t often thought about how big trade agreements have these impacts on our community … among many other things, environmental devastation in the Philippines [and] the continued out-migration of Filipinos to work as cheap, low-wage workers around the world.” 

Last year, Rodriguez — in partnership with the Bulosan Center and Filipino American Educators Association of California — released a guide to resources in the Sacramento region and ways to get involved with learning about Filipino history outside of the month. 

Here’s how you can learn more about and celebrate Filipino American history this month in the Sacramento region.

3rd Annual Magkaisa: Filipino American History Month Celebration

Oct. 13-14 | Times vary | Laguna Town Hall

This two-day celebration, organized by Sacramento Filipinx LGBTQIA+, the city of Elk Grove, the Philippine National Day Association and several other community partners, has it all — the first day includes an outdoors night market with Filipino food and vendors, accompanied by community resources and live Filipino American entertainment. The expansive line-up of performers includes the Bay Area’s Ruby Ibarra, whose “Someday” was featured on NPR’s All Songs Considered, and UC Davis alum Rudy Kalma. The second day has educational workshops, ranging from a Zumba class to solidarity journalism. Admission and parking are both free.

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FAHM Fest Stockton 2023

Oct. 14 | 11 a.m. | San Joaquin Delta College

Organized by the college’s EPIC (Empowering Positive Initiatives for Change) Program, which serves the campus’s Asian American and Pacific Islander students, the event includes history, health and wellness workshops and celebrates labor rights leader and Filipino organizer Larry Itliong. Performances will background local vendors, who will be present selling their handiwork and Filipino food. Admission is free. 

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Celebrating Fil-Am History Month: The Growth of the Filipino Community

Oct. 14 | 5 p.m. | Jose Rizal Community Center

The Filipino Community of Sacramento & Vicinity will host this banquet with live music at the Jose Rizal Community Center. Dinner will be served and D’Zound Conneczion will provide the entertainment. Organizers set a dress code of Filipiniana attire for attendees and are asking for a donation of $40.

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Celebrating Filipino American History Month: Filipino Cultural Performance

Oct. 21 | 1 p.m. | Vacaville Performing Arts Theater

The Solano County Library is hosting Kaisahan of San Jose Dance Company, Inc. The San Jose troupe will give a performance for all ages grounded in Filipino tradition, culture and custom and, according to its mission statement, strives toward “teaching to other cultures … the beauty of the community and splendor of the cultural traditions of the Filipinos through song and dance while fostering community spirit and support.” The presentation starts at 2 p.m., but seating is first-come, first-serve, with doors opening at 1 p.m. and seating beginning at 1:30 p.m. 

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