Hundreds of Filipino American historians convene in Hawaii
The Filipino American National Historical Society’s (FANHS) 12th Annual Conference was held in Honolulu from June 28 through July 1 as part of Hawaii’s Centennial Celebration of Filipinos coming to Hawaii, according to a press release.
“We knew there would be interest in the Conference just because of its location,” said Dr. Dorothy Cordova, “but we were surprised at the more than anticipated registration and the array of participants who ranged in age, academic credentials and resources.”
Hundreds of the early-arriving delegates visited some of the Sakada (early Filipino sugar cane and pineapple workers) camps at the pre-Conference tour. They then arrived by the busloads and carloads at the recently-built Filipino Community Center in Waipahu.
The next morning the audience of nearly 500 delegates filled the auditorium at the convention site, the Ilikai Hotel.
Following each general session, there were numerous workshops with panels on topics ranging from ancient Filipino history discoveries to historical episodes involving Filipino Americans, genealogy resources, instructional curriculum materials, analyses of Filipino American historical events, impact of mixed marriages on the community and how to do an oral history project.
“Virtually every workshop was filled, if not packed,” reported Larry Flores, a Seattle Central Community College intercultural communications instructor, who was videotaping several workshop sessions.
And, in between the Conference’s more formal events were gatherings of all sorts. One of the more popular ones was the author reception featuring more than a dozen writers signing their newly published books.
FANHS was formed in the early 1980s by a group led by Fred and Dorothy Cordova. The FANHS national headquarters is located at 810 18th Ave. in Seattle.
National APA Leaders host event for Tammy Duckworth
Over 100 Chicago-area and national Asian Pacific American leaders will rally behind Tammy Duckworth, the candidate of Chinese and Thai descent from the Sixth Congressional District in Illinois, at a watershed event on Aug. 17, according to a press release. Congressman Michael Honda, chair of the Congressional APA Caucus and vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee, will headline the event.
“Tammy is an extraordinary person who will be a tremendous addition to the U.S. Congress,” said Honda about Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran and healthcare expert running for the open seat vacated by retiring Congressman Henry Hyde. “The Asian Pacific American community is very excited about her candidacy, but really, Tammy is an inspiration to all Americans.”
According to the latest polling information, Duckworth is in a statistical dead-heat with State Senator Peter Roskam, 40 percent to 40 percent..