Filipino-American History Month Comes to THD: A Little Celebration of a Big Heritage

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October has a special meaning for Filipino Americans. It is Filipino-American History Month, a time to remember the people, experiences, sacrifices, achievements, traditions and stories that have helped shape both the Philippines and the United States.

This October, I will be doing my own small part in celebrating that history right here at The Heritage Downtown (THD) in Walnut Creek-my home since June, 2023.

It will not be a large festival. There will be no parade or elaborate program. Instead, I will have a small display of some Filipino treasures that have been part of my life for many years, three Philippine wood carvings and my collection of jeepney art.

And, on October 7, our THD restaurant will give us an even more delicious way to celebrate: a Filipino dinner  featuring some of the foods that remind me of home.

Why October?

Filipino-American History Month is observed every October because the first recorded presence of Filipinos in what is now the continental United States occurred on October 18, 1587, when Filipinos known as Luzones Indios came ashore at what is now Morro Bay, California. The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) began promoting October as Filipino-American History Month in the early 1990s, and Congress formally recognized the observance in 2009. 

That date always fascinates me. Filipinos were in California more than four centuries ago.

As a Filipino American living in California today, I sometimes think about that long historical journey from those early Filipino sailors on a Spanish galleon to the millions of Filipino Americans who now call the United States home.

My own journey is, of course, much more recent.

I was born in the Philippines in 1934 and spent my first 26 years immersed in Filipino life and culture. I grew up speaking Hiligaynon/Ilonggo and later Tagalog, went to the University of the Philippines, earned my chemistry degree, and eventually came to America as a young scientist.

Today, at 91, I find myself looking backward as much as forward.

And these three pieces of wood have suddenly become more meaningful to me.

Filipino Carvings and a Forgotten Memory

I purchased these three wood carvings in the Philippines several years ago.

At the time, I don't remember having a profound reason for buying them.

Perhaps I simply liked them. That happens to me more often as I get older. Something that seemed ordinary many years ago can suddenly acquire a different meaning.

Looking at these carvings today, I see more than pieces of Philippine handicraft. I see my ancestry.

The central figure is a woman carrying a vessel on her head. The two darker carvings beside her have a primitive, almost ancestral quality. They remind me of the Philippines before modern buildings, highways, shopping malls and smartphones.

They make me think of our islands, our villages, our farmers, fishermen, craftsmen and women, and the generations who came before us. These wood carvings were from Benguet, Northern Luzon. 

Their meaning to me is personal. They remind me that before I became an American scientist, FDA chemist, husband, father, grandfather and now a 91-year-old blogger, I was a Filipino boy from Iloilo.  And that part of me never disappeared.

My Little Jeepney Collection

I will also display some of my jeepney art.

The jeepney may be one of the most recognizable symbols of Filipino ingenuity.

The original jeepneys developed from American military jeeps left in the Philippines after World War II. Filipinos transformed them into colorful public transportation vehicles, extending and decorating them in ways that became uniquely Filipino.

To me, the jeepney represents something larger than transportation.

It represents Filipino creativity, taking something left behind and turning it into something distinctly our own.

That idea has always resonated with me.

Filipino Americans have done something similar in America. We brought our language, food, music, faith, family traditions and values with us, while becoming part of the larger American story.

We did not have to choose between being Filipino and being American. We could be both.

Filipino Food Comes to THD

Perhaps the most enjoyable part of our little celebration will take place on October 7, when Filipino dishes will be served in our THD restaurant.

Just look at this menu:

• Beef nilaga
• Chicken adobo
• Garlic-fried deboned bangus
• Lumpia
• Eggplant and okra vegetable mix with shrimp paste
• Leche flan
• Puto

For a Filipino, that is almost a culinary trip back home without having to get on an airplane!

Nilaga reminds me of the simple comfort foods of Filipino families.

Adobo, of course, may be one of the best-known Filipino dishes around the world. Every Filipino family seems to have its own version.

Bangus, our milkfish, takes me back to the Philippines immediately. And garlic-fried bangus is difficult for me to resist.

Then there is lumpia. I don't think a Filipino gathering is complete without lumpia!

And for dessert- leche flan and puto. What more could a Filipino-American ask for?

There is also something especially appropriate about celebrating history through food.

Food travels with people.  When Filipinos immigrated to America, they didn't leave their kitchens behind. They brought recipes, flavors and memories with them. Filipino food became one of the ways subsequent generations could remain connected to their heritage.

FANHS has even highlighted the important historical role of Filipino cooking, agriculture and food-service workers in the United States. 

So our October 7 meal at THD is more than just lunch. It is a little edible history lesson.

From My Filipino Childhood to My American Life

My own Filipino-American story has many chapters.

I left the Philippines as a young man to pursue graduate education in America. I earned my Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago.

I eventually worked in industry and later spent many years with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where I retired after a long career in pharmaceutical chemistry.

My wife Macrine and I built our married life in America while maintaining our love for the Philippines. We raised our family, watched our children grow, and eventually became grandparents and great-grandparents.

But America never erased the Philippines from our lives.

Our family traveled to Marinduque. We participated in medical missions. We cooked Filipino food. We spoke Filipino languages at home. We danced Filipino and American dances. We maintained friendships with Filipinos and Filipino Americans.

And I continued writing about the Philippines. In fact, many of my blog posts are really my attempt to preserve pieces of that Filipino-American journey.

Filipino-American History Is Also Family History

The official 2026 theme for Filipino-American History Month is "Beyond the Margins: Centering Intersectional Filipino American Histories." FANHS describes the theme as an effort to bring attention to Filipino-American stories and experiences that have sometimes been overlooked or underrepresented in traditional historical narratives. 

That theme makes me think about something I have learned at 91:

History is not only made by presidents, generals and famous people.

History is also made by ordinary families. It is made by the Filipino nurse who works the night shift.

The farmworker who helped harvest California crops. The sailor who served in the U.S. Navy.

The teacher who educates American children. The scientist working in a laboratory.

The restaurant worker preparing Filipino food.

The immigrant mother raising children while trying to preserve her language and traditions.

And the 91-year-old Filipino-American blogger living in a senior community in Walnut Creek who still wants to tell his stories!

Each of us carries a small piece of history.

Filipino-American History Comes to THD

That is why I am happy to bring these objects to our little corner of THD.

I have lived here for several years now. I have discovered that a senior community can become much more than a place where older people live.

It can become a community where we share our stories.

At THD we have residents with fascinating backgrounds, people who have been scientists, engineers, physicians, nurses, teachers, business people, artists and professionals in many fields.

We have lived through different eras and come from different backgrounds.

So perhaps my three wood carvings and jeepney collection can start a conversation.

Someone may look at them and ask: "David, what are those?"

And I can tell them: "They are from the Philippines. Let me tell you a little about where I came from."

That is how history sometimes begins, not in a textbook, but with a conversation between two people.

My Ancestry Is Part of My Legacy

As I have written before, I have become increasingly interested in my Filipino ancestry and the stories behind the family names and places that came before me.

At 91, I have discovered that ancestry is not simply about looking backward.

It is about understanding who we are today.

The Philippines gave me my first language, my childhood memories, my education, my values and my sense of family.

America gave me opportunities to pursue higher education, build a scientific career, raise a family and eventually become a writer.

I am grateful for both. I don't see my Filipino heritage and my American identity as competing identities.

They are two parts of the same life. I am Filipino. I am American. I am Filipino- American.

And after 91 years, I am finally beginning to appreciate just how beautiful that combination can be.

A Small Celebration, A Large History

Our THD Filipino-American History Month celebration will be small.

A few wood carvings. Some jeepney art. A Filipino meal.

Perhaps a few conversations around the dining table.

But sometimes small things carry big meanings.

Those three wooden figures that I bought years ago without really knowing why may have been waiting for this moment.

They now remind me of my Filipino ancestors.

The jeepneys remind me of Filipino creativity.

The food will remind me of home.

And sharing these things with my fellow THD residents allows me to share a little piece of the Philippines with the community that has become my home in America.

At 91, I have learned that a legacy does not always have to be something grand.

Sometimes a legacy is simply telling your story while you still can.

And perhaps that is what Filipino-American History Month means to me.

Remember where you came from. Appreciate where you are.
And leave a little of your story behind for those who come after you.

From the Philippines to America, from my ancestors to my children and grandchildren, the journey continues. Mabuhay!

Finally My Photo of the Day:

Bayanihan Katague Philippines -Personalized Printing of Shirt from Wonder Prints 

Proudly Presenting the New Website of My Daughter- The Ditas Group

I am proudly presenting the new Website of My Daughter Consulting Service

  

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The Ditas Group - Strategic consulting to strengthen democracy

https://www.theditasgroup.com/

The tagline on the site is "Strategy That Moves Communities Forward."

The core idea is closing the gap between civic institutions and the communities they serve,  providing what they call the strategic architecture that makes democracy work for everyone.

Who leads it: 

Ditas Katague described as a democracy strategist and institutional leader with 25+ years building trusted-messenger infrastructure. The site notes she's the creator of the trusted-messenger ecosystem model, first piloted in California in 1999 and later scaled to national federal operations. It's now cited as a breakthrough approach to community-driven communications and civic trust-building.

What they do:

The Ditas Group advises government, philanthropy, and the private sector on:

• democracy strengthening,  voter engagement and  Census investment

Their focus areas are strategic architecture, trusted-messenger expertise, and partnerships to strengthen civic participation and build stronger connections with communities.

The site also has sections for "Areas of Expertise," "We've Worked With," and "Explore Our Work" with images of civic organizing, voting rights advocacy, and team organizing.

AI Overview: 

Ditas Katague is an expert in civic engagement, multi-ethnic public outreach, and communications who has built a distinguished 25+ year career across federal, state, and non-profit sectors. She is highly regarded as a bipartisan leader in democracy strengthening and public participation.

Career & Leadership Highlights

• The Ditas Group, LLC: She currently serves as the founder and President of The Ditas Group, a consulting firm advising California government, philanthropic organizations, and civic leaders on election administration and democracy strengthening.
• Center for Inclusive Democracy (CID): In July 2026, she joined the National Advisory Board of the Center for Inclusive Democracy to assist in their mission of providing nonpartisan research and data to election officials and communities. 
• U.S. Census Bureau: Katague was appointed by the Biden administration in April 2022 as the Associate Director for Communications and Engagement. In this role, she directed all internal and external communication efforts, marketing, media relations, and congressional affairs for the nation's largest statistical agency. 
• California Complete Count (Census 2000, 2010, 2020): She served as the Director or Chief Deputy Campaign Director for California’s decennial census outreach campaigns across three decades. She pioneered the "trusted-messenger ecosystem model," a localized, multi-lingual messaging strategy designed to count historically underrepresented or hard-to-count demographic groups. 
• California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC): She previously served as Chief of Staff to CPUC Commissioner Catherine Sandoval, focusing on expanding public integration and access to utility rate-making, broadband, and regulatory processes.

Core Competencies & Policy Expertise

Katague is recognized as a pioneer in community-driven communications. Her policy and advisory experience spans a vast array of civic and infrastructure sectors, including: 

• Democracy infrastructure and voting safety
• Race, ethnicity, and hard-to-count population variables
• Telecom, broadband expansion, and digital equity
• Environmental policy, energy regulation, and water 

Personal Note: As Ditas Father, I am super proud of her accomplishments.  For her other passions: yoga, painting and art, visit : 

https://www.grievingthruglee.com/

A Seat at the Table: Representation, Identity, and the Filipino American Journey

A Seat at the Table: Representation, Identity, and the Filipino American Journey

I came across an image(above) recently that made me stop and reflect. Three individuals stood proudly before the U.S. Capitol, accompanied by a statement that carried historic weight: for the first time, a Native American, a Native Alaskan, and a Native Hawaiian are serving together in the House of Representatives.

It is the kind of moment that, at first glance, feels symbolic. But when you sit with it a little longer, it becomes something more a reminder of how long the road to representation has been for so many communities.

For most of American history, the faces inside Congress did not reflect the diversity outside its walls. Entire groups-Indigenous peoples, immigrants, and communities of color were largely absent from the rooms where national decisions were made.

So when we see change, even incremental change, it matters. It made me ask a question that feels personal:

Where do Filipino Americans stand in this evolving American story?

Today, there is a Filipino American voice in the U.S. House of Representatives- Robert Garcia. His journey, from immigrant roots to public service at the highest levels, is both inspiring and familiar. It echoes the quiet resilience of so many Filipino families who came to this country not seeking recognition, but opportunity.

But the Filipino American story in U.S. politics did not begin here.

We can look back to leaders like Bobby Scott, one of the longest-serving members of Congress with Filipino ancestry. At the state and local levels, many others have paved the way often without fanfare, but with lasting impact.

And yet, compared to our numbers and contributions, Filipino Americans remain underrepresented in national leadership. That contrast is striking.

Ours is a community deeply woven into the fabric of American life. We have been on the frontlines of healthcare, in the corridors of science and research, in the military, and in public service. I think about my own journey at the FDA years spent in service, contributing in ways that were meaningful, even if not always visible.

That has been the Filipino way: to serve with dedication, humility, and excellence.

But representation asks for something more. It asks not only that we serve but that we are seen.

That our voices are heard in the shaping of policy, not just in its implementation.

That young Filipino Americans can look at Congress and say, “Someone there understands where I come from.”

The image I saw is not just about Native representation. It is part of a broader shift, a slow, sometimes uneven movement toward an America that reflects its true diversity.

And in that movement, Filipino Americans are beginning to take their place. Still, there is work to be done.

Representation is not a destination; it is a process. Each new voice added to Congress is not the end of the story, but the continuation of it.

A Future Already Taking Shape

As I write this, I cannot help but think of my granddaughter( Carenna Katague Thompson), standing at the threshold of her own future, preparing for graduate school, with dreams of teaching at a college or university.

Another granddaughter ( Marina Katague) wrote me recently:  "Hi Lolo ( Grandpa): Just to let you know, I am hoping I will finish my doctoral thesis by July. Also evaluating and thinking on post- doctoral opportunities/employment".    

Both my granddaughter's path are still unfolding. 

There is uncertainty, as there always is at the beginning. Questions about opportunity, direction, and purpose. But there is also something my generation did not always have in the same way:

Visibility. Possibility. A clearer sense that she belongs in any room she chooses to enter.

When my two granddaughters looks at the world today at Congress, at universities, at leadership across this country, they are beginning to see faces that reflect a broader America. Not perfectly, not completely, but undeniably more than before. And that matters.

Because representation does something quiet but profound. It expands the imagination. It tells the next generation, “This space is not closed to you.”

Whether both of them becomes a professor, a researcher, or perhaps something entirely unexpected, I hope they carry that understanding with them, that their voices has value, that their heritage is not a limitation but a strength, and that their presence in any field is part of a larger story still being written.

A story that includes all of us. For my two granddaughters, and for so many young Filipino Americans like them, the question is no longer simply “Is there a place for us?”

It is becoming something far more powerful:

“What will we do with the place that is now opening?”

And perhaps that is the true meaning behind the image I saw.

Not just who is in Congress today - but who will be there tomorrow.

Not just representation as it exists - but representation as it continues to grow.

Because the future is no longer something we wait for.

AI Overview: As of 2026, Filipino Americans are represented in Congress, with notable members including Representative Bobby Scott (VA-03), the first Filipino American to serve in the House, and Delegate Jim Moylan (R-GU), who serves as a co-chair for the U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus. Other members with Philippine heritage often engage in initiatives celebrating Filipino-American contributions. 

Filipino-American Representation in Congress (As of 2024-2026):

• Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA-03): Representing Virginia since 1993, he is the first American of Filipino ancestry to serve as a voting member of Congress. Delegate Jim Moylan (R-GU): Represents Guam and is heavily involved in Filipino-American initiatives, including co-leading a resolution for Filipino-American History Month.
• Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-39): While not exclusively identified in all lists, he is often involved in API Congressional caucuses. 

Key Congressional Context:

• U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus: This caucus works to strengthen ties between the two countries, often involving members with Filipino heritage or districts with large populations. 
• Filipino-American History Month: Congress has officially recognized October as Filipino-American History Month. 
• Emerging Representation: The 2024 election cycle highlighted several Filipino-American candidates aiming to increase representation at both state and federal levels.

• AI Overview: For the current 119th Congress, Pew has a good set of demographic estimates, though some categories are reported a bit differently than your question asks. The cleanest figures I found are for gender, race/ethnicity, education, wealth, and religion in the 119th Congress.

  Gender

  There are 151 women and 382 men in the 119th Congress, out of 533 voting members in Pew’s count. That works out to about 28% women and 72% men.

  Race and ethnicity

  Pew’s current race/ethnicity report says 139 members identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, or multiracial, which is 26% of voting members.
  For the groups you asked about specifically, Pew’s breakdown gives approximately 74% White and 26% non-White overall; by chamber, the House has 303 White, 61 Black, 46 Hispanic, 18 Asian American, 3 Native American, and 5 multiracialmembers, while the Senate has 83 White, 5 Black, 7 Hispanic, 3 Asian American, and 1 Native American.

  Education

  Pew’s education data for the 118th Congress found that 94% of House members and all but one senator held at least a bachelor’s degree. A CRS profile of the 119th Congress says 96% of House members and 99% of senators have at least a bachelor’s degree, and 66% of House members and 78% of senators hold advanced degrees beyond a bachelor’s.
  That means the vast majority of Congress has a bachelor’s degree or higher, and a very large share also has graduate or professional education.

  Wealth

  Reliable, current, official counts of how many members of Congress are millionairesare harder to pin down than gender or religion because wealth is usually estimated from financial disclosure ranges rather than declared directly. I did not find a clean, authoritative 119th-Congress count in the sources above, so I would treat any exact “millionaire” number cautiously. If you want, I can pull together the best available estimate from financial disclosure studies and journalism.

  Religion

  Pew’s “Faith on the Hill” report for the 119th Congress says 150 are Catholic, 32 are Jewish, and 4 are Muslim. The same report says 87% of Congress is Christian overall.
  

  So the shares you asked for are roughly Roman Catholic 150, Jewish 32, and Muslim 4. 

congress_demographics_compact

Category	Group	Value

Category	Group	Value
Gender	Men	382
Gender	Women	151
Race/Ethnicity	White	74
Race/Ethnicity	Black	9
Race/Ethnicity	Asian American	4
Race/Ethnicity	Hispanic/Latino	12
Education	Bachelor’s degree or higher	97
Education	Advanced degree beyond bachelor’s	69
Religion	Roman Catholic	150
Religion	Jewish	32
Religion	Muslim	4

Congress Demographics CompactChart