SFA-AGR-096-08

FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH PROCLAIMED IN GUAM

27 February 2008 – The Philippine Consulate General in Agana reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Government of Guam has declared February 2008 as “Filipino- American History Month”.

Philippine Consul General Bayani Mercado, Guam Lieutenant Governor Mike Cruz, and members of Guam’s Filipino-American Community, witnessed Guam Governor Felix Camacho sign and pronounce Proclamation No. 2008-2013.

The proclamation also commemorates the 60^th anniversary of the arrival of the first group of Filipino immigrants in Camp Roxas who were skilled and unskilled laborers, and professionals recruited by the US military in 1946, following the Second World War. The first batch of workers were mostly from Iloilo.

The proclamation encouraged the people of Guam to recognize the important contributions of the Filipino-American community to the island. It also recognized the diversity of the Filipino-Americans, and the history, traditions, talents that they share with the local populace.

With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Guam Humanities Council sponsored a 30 minute documentary film and interpretative photographic exhibition entitled “Remembering Camp Roxas: The History of Filipino-Americans on Guam” which depicts the lives and experiences of the Filipinos at Camp Roxas.

The photo exhibit was launched at the University of Guam’s Isla Center for the Arts in the first week of February. A series of lectures will also be held in relation to the project. END,

/wingret