October commemorates the first arrival of Filipinos in Morro Bay, California, on October 18, 1587. In 1991, the Filipino American National Historical Society proposed the first annual Filipino American History Month, and it was celebrated in October 1992.
Although it is sometimes referred to interchangeably as Filipino American Heritage Month, it is important that the celebration focuses on “history” as we highlight the important contributions of Filipinos in the United States.
In Hawaii, Filipino laborers, called Sakadas, arrived in the islands beginning in 1906 to work on plantations in hopes of a better life for themselves and their families. The Sakadas contributed to Hawaii’s plantation economy while laying the foundation for the vibrant Filipino community we celebrate today.
Filipino laborers led the labor movement in the United States, advocating for better work conditions, wages, and benefits. They led unions to support, represent, and uplift fellow laborers.
One of the most notable Sakada is Pablo Manlapit, a Filipino labor leader from Lipa, Batangas, who moved to Hawaii in 1910 to work at a sugar plantation. He became Hawaii’s first Filipino lawyer and led a Filipino labor union demanding equal pay and an eight-hour workday.
Manlapit led the territory-wide strike of Filipino sugar plantation workers in 1924 on Oahu, followed by Hawaii island and Maui. Kauaʻi was the last to join the strike.
Tensions due to the strike escalated into a battle between armed law enforcement and about 150 Filipino labor strikers on September 9, 1924, in Kauaʻi. Twenty lives were lost that day: 16 Filipino strikers and four policemen. The tragedy became known as the 1924 Hanapepe Massacre.
Today, the 1924 Hanapēpē Massacre continues to serve as a symbol of Filipino American struggle and resistance. Filipinos made great sacrifices. They led the struggle to improve Hawaiʻi’s working conditions.
This year is the 120th anniversary of the arrival of Sakadas in Hawaii. In 2015, then-Governor David Ige signed into law a bill declaring December 20 as Sakada Day in Hawaii.
Even though Sakada Day is a few months away, several organizations held events to commemorate Sakada’s 120th anniversary this October during Filipino American History Month.
In early October, the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce held the annual The Filipino Forum with a panel titled “Modern Sakada.” Descendants of Sakadas reflected on the challenges Filipinos continue to face while they shared what it means to be a Sakada in Hawaii today.
Beyond celebrating Filipino heritage, it’s important to look back and reflect on the contributions the Filipino community made in Hawaii and the United States. Filipino American history shows
About Author
+ There are no comments
Add yours