We aim to preserve Filipino cultural heritage, keep the legacy of Filipino traditions alive, and educate the diaspora of Filipinos about our cultural inheritance.
The Philippines
An archipelago made up of about 7,641 islands in the Pacific with over 185 ethnolinguistic groups that have their own unique culture, identity and languages, the Philippines is a cultural fusion of East and West. The Chinese have long traded with them, the Spanish converted the majority to Catholicism, the Americans implemented an education system that taught English, the British and Japanese both occupied the country, and the Muslims flourished in the south. As a result, the Philippines has a rich and diverse array of customs and traditions evident in their culture.
A Brief Filipino American History
The Filipino experience in American history dates back to October 1587 when the very first documented Filipinos arrived in Morro Bay, California on a Spanish galleon. Around two hundred years later, in 1763, the very first permanent settlement of Filipinos was recorded in Louisiana. In 1898, the Philippines ceased to be a colony of Spain after 333 years and became a colony of the United States until its independence in 1946. During these 48 years, mass migration from the Philippines to the USA began.
Today, Filipinos make up the third largest Asian American immigrant group after Indians and Chinese with 4.5 million people residing in the USA. There are approximately 40,000 people of Filipino descent in the Carolinas (25,000 in North Carolina and 15,000 in South Carolina).
Upcoming Events
MAY 2024
Virtual
Organized by the Music of Asian America Research Center In partnership with Wing Luke Museum in Seattle, Washington on April 27-29 and VIRTUALLY on May 11, 2024
Chiara Cox will be giving a lecture on the work of Evelyn Mandac and its impact on the opera world on 11th May 2024 at 10:45am PST or 1:45pm EST on their Zoom Fest2024 event.
Columbia, SC
Evelyn Mandac in South Carolina
Organized by the Filipino American Association of Greater Columbia on May 14, 2024 at 5:30-7pm.
The screening of Chiara Cox's mini documentary on Evelyn Mandac and a personal Q&A with the Filipina opera legend herself.
Charlotte, NC
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates the US achievements and contributions of people from around 75 countries that include Asia (East, Southeast, and South Asia) and the Pacific Islands (Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.) The Philippines is a country that is in Southeast Asia and it's people are Pacific Islanders.
Contemporary Filipino Textiles for May.
A family-friendly event at East Voyager Academy of Charlotte will introduce you to the diverse fabrics of the Philippines, and explore Filipino culture in the Carolinas. In addition to educational discussions, the event will include music, dancing, food, and more!
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 4:00 - 8:00 pm
Accompanied by the exhibit curator, Chiara Cox, we will explore two short documentaries about Philippine ancestral weaving produced by different communities today. The films will introduce various Filipino textile-making cultures and emphasize the importance of preserving these important traditions. Your registration will include refreshments and snacks.
Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
COMING TO YOU
October 2024
Columbia, SC
BAMBOO WHISPERS: A PEEK INTO THE FILIPINO SOUL
Mangyan Poetry in Two Scripts and Four Languages
Presented by Lolita Delgado Fansler, President of the Mangyan Heritage Center.
Learn about the ancient Mangyan heritage and the Philippines' oldest system of writing, Mangyan Scripts, dating to the 10th century A.D. and still in use today.
October 5, 2024
Screening of K'na The Dreamweaver at the Nickelodeon
Evening of October 24, 2024
More details to come!