WHEREAS, The State of Washington has previously recognized the
proud history of Filipino-Americans; and
WHEREAS, The earliest documented proof of Filipino presence in the
continental United States was the date of October 18, 1587, when the
first "Luzones Indios" set foot in Morro Bay, California; and
WHEREAS, The Filipino-American National Historical Society
recognizes the year of 1763 as the date of the first permanent Filipino
settlement in the United States in St. Malo Parrish, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Washington State contributed to this history with the
recognition of the 1888 documents of Port Blakely on Bainbridge Island,
Washington, at the time the largest lumber mill in the world, as
listing a "Manilla," the first known employee from the Philippines in
the Pacific Northwest; and
WHEREAS, These events set in motion the focus on the story of our
nation's past from a new perspective by concentrating on the economic,
cultural, social, and other notable contributions that Filipino-Americans have made in countless ways toward the development of the
United States; and
WHEREAS, Efforts must continue to promote the study of Filipino-American history and culture, as mandated in the mission statement of
the Filipino-American National Historical Society; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative for Filipino-American youth to have
positive role models to instill in them the importance of education,
complemented with the richness of their ethnicity and the value of
their legacy; and
WHEREAS, Washington State is home to Filipinos, one of the largest
Asian/Pacific Islander populations found in the state, and is the
location of historic Filipino-American communities; and
WHEREAS, Filipinos have served with special distinction in all of
the United States military branches; and
WHEREAS, The United States and the Republic of the Philippines
continue to hold a special bond; and
WHEREAS, Governor Gregoire has designated October 2012 as Filipino-American History Month;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives
celebrate the 425th anniversary of the presence of Filipinos in the
United States, as a significant time to study the advancement of
Filipino-Americans in the history of the State of Washington; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be
immediately transmitted by the Washington State House of
Representatives to Rey Pascua, President of the Filipino-American
Community of the Yakima Valley.