OUSD Celebrates Latino Heritage Month: Sept. 15 - Oct. 15
During Latino Heritage Month, we promote and celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Latinos in the U.S., whose ancestors are Indigenous to the U.S. Southwest and to the Americas which include Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. Communities mark the achievements of Latino Americans with festivals and educational activities. Join us & find resources below!
Latino Heritage Guide Front Page
Filipino/a/x American History Month - OUSD Resource Guide
Thank you to Berkeley USD, SFUSD, Pin@y Educational Partnerships (PEP) and
Sama Sama Cooperative for resources!
Objective
We celebrate Filipino/a/x American History Month in October to recognize the rich history, culture, significant contributions and legacy of Filipino Americans, including many of our students, families and staff, to our city, country and California.
Definition & Background
Filipinos have long been a part of the history of this nation. The first record of people from the islands now known as the Philippines in the continental United States was on October 18,1587, right here in California at a place called Morro Bay. These indigenous Filipinos, called Luzones Indios, were skilled sailors who had been forced to labor on Spanish ships trading goods between the Philippines and Mexico. Filipinos who escaped indentured servitude on Spanish ships established the first permanent settlement by Asians in this country in 1768 in Louisiana. And Filipinos began arriving to the United States in significant numbers after the U.S. colonized the Philippines following the bloody Philippine-American War at the turn of the 20th Century.
Since 2009, U.S. Congress and California have recognized October as Filipino American History Month and California recognizes October 25 as Larry Itliong Day to honor the Filipino labor leader who spearheaded the great Delano grape strike. We recognize that many of us have not been taught this history.
As Oakland resident and Filipino American poet, educator and writer Aimee Suzara says: “It is our job as writers, artists and educators to help young people see themselves reflected in centralized parts of the curriculum and literature, not just in the footnotes. And it is the job of everyone else to carry the load, shifting and expanding the conversation.” We encourage teachers to delve more deeply and seek ways to engage both students and families in activities that acknowledge the contributions of Filipino American communities throughout the year.
Learn more by watching A Filipino American Story Since 1587 (7 min), Short Video of 15 Facts about Fil-Am History, This is American History by Aimee Suzara and reading our post on 5 Fierce Facts about Filipino American History.
Message from School / Draft Newsletter Blurb
Happy Filipino/a/x American History Month! Throughout the month of October, we celebrate and promote the history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans. We invite all students, parents and staff to celebrate the many contributions of Filipino Americans during this month by using the resources provided in OUSD’s Filipinx American History Month Guide for Sites.
Classroom Resources & Activities!
Suggested Site Based Activities:
Print this poster on Filipino American History Month to put up at your site or in your room.
Weekly newsletter integration: Highlight a quote or story of Filipino American History Month or profile one of your Filipino American staff or community members.
Organize an assembly or class event that highlights the contributions of Filipino/a Americans using resources below!
Elementary Resources:
October 25 is Larry Itliong Day in California. Teach about farmworkers, unions, strikes, solidarity and justice:
Watch this fun music video "Our Friend, Larry Itliong" by AJ Rafael (6 min)
Read Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong by Dawn Mabalon and Gayle Romasanta
Video of interview with the author, Gayle Romasanta
Slides for read aloud by OUSD parent Angelica Jongco
Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong" Read Aloud video
Read a book together featuring Filipino American stories:
Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore
Lakas and the Makibaka Hotel read aloud by author Anthony Robles
Lakas and the Manilatown Fish Read Aloud
Willie Wins by Almira Astudillo Gilles
When Lola Visits on Sora
Do classroom trivia with these Filipino American HIstory Month Slides from an SFUSD teacher Tracie Noriega
Kilusan for Kids (Puppet show) by Pin@y Educational Partnerships (PEP)
TK-5 ART LESSON by Leo Valledor
Secondary Resources:
Journey for Justice: The LIfe of Larry Itliong
Video of interview with the author, Gayle Romasanta
Watch The Fall of the I-Hotel
Article about the history of the San Francisco I-Hote
Watch Delano Manongs: Forgotten Heroes of the United Farmworkers Movement (26 min) or a trailerl
High School: Create an Identity Zine inspired by Filipino American artist Carlos Villa
All Grades:
Watch A Filipino American Story Since 1587 (7 min)
SFUSD TK-5 Slide Deck celebrating Filipino American History
How Daly City's Filipino Mobile DJ Scene Changed Hip Hop Forever | KQED Arts
Read and discuss: On Black and Filipino solidarity
Cultural Energizer: Tatlong Bagsak closing ritual
From Isang Bagsak to #FilipinxforBlackLives, the Filipino Identity Has Always Been Political
Filipino vs Filipinx | Breaking The Tabo | Episode 2 | One Down
Additional Book & Album Recommendations:
Elementary:
Jack and Agyu read by author Justine Villanueva
The House That Lou Built and Any Day With You by Mae Respicio (on Sora)
When Lola Visits - on Sora
Colorful Pages Filipino American History Month: 2020 Book List
Additional recommendations in Activities above
Secondary:
Lalani of the Distant Sea and other books by Erin Entrada Kelly - on Sora
We Belong by Cookie Hiponia - on Sora
Gangster of Love by Jessica Hagedorn
I Was Their American Dream by Malaka Gharib
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
My Heart Underwater by Laurel Flores Fantauzzo
Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas
America Is in the Heart by Carlos Bulusan
America is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo
Little Manila Is in the Heart: The Making of the Filipina/o American Community in Stockton, California by Dr. Dawn Mabalon
Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn
In The Country by Mia Alvar
A short list of music and comedian albums on the Filipino American Experience:
Rocky’s Revenge by Rocky Rivera (Hip Hop)
CIRCA 91 by Ruby Ibarra (Hip Hop)
Party Worker by Bambu (Hip Hop)
Husky Boy by Rex Navarette (Comedy)
Social Media & Visibility
Send us your photos and a short narrative of how you celebrated Filipinx American History Month at your school and be highlighted in OUSD news! Every opportunity to showcase what is happening at our school sites provides inspiration and motivates more participation in future events! Be recognized for what you do! Tag @ousdnews & use the hashtag #FilipinxOUSD
Post your celebration photos on social media, utilize this year’s Filipinx American History Month - Social Media announcement with your posts. Tag us on Facebook: @APISAOUSD, on Instagram: @ousdapisa
Filipinx Community Leaders To Learn About:
ARTISTS:
Ruby Ibarra, Bay Area poet & rap artist
Video Video Music Video for "HERE"
Thomas Orlina, openly gay musician
Music Video for "Brush it Off"
Zoe Dorado, 1st Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate
Article & Video (8 min)
Kalaya’an Mendoza, activist and artist
Aimee Suzara Bay Area writer, performer and educator, Blog
H.E.R., Bay Area Grammy award winning musician
Video of H.E.R. speaking about her Filipino and Black identity
DJ Qbert & Invisbl Scratch Piklz revolutionized turntablism as an art
form
Dev Heyrana, Bay Area based visual artist
ORGANIZERS/ADVOCATES:
Lilian Galedo, local Community Organizer, Activist and former Executive Director of Filipino Advocates for Justice
Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and openly gay and undocumented immigrant justice advocate
Gabriela Silang, Anti Colonial Fighter in the Philippines
Dr. Jose Rizal - Filipinx revolutionary
Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas
Labor Leaders:
OTHER NOTABLE ICONS:
Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz, Barbie made a doll of her for their front line worker release
Victoria Manalo Draves, first American woman of Asian descent to win an Olympic Medal and the first female diver to win two gold medals at the Olympics at the London Games in 1948
California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye
Pedro Flores, Filipino businessman and immigrant credited with popularizing the yo-yo
Hidilyn Diaz, first gold medal Olympic winner from the Philippines
Community Connections for Classrooms & Schools
San Francisco Public Library FAHM Celebration page
Pin@y Educational Partnerships PEP
Filipino Advocates for Justice
Filipino American Coalition for Environmental Solidarity
SamaSama Cooperative Summer Camp