Filipino American History Month

Filipino Americans are the second-largest Asian American group in the nation. They have contributed greatly to the cultural, political and economic life in the United States, the State of California and Los Angeles County. October was declared Filipino Heritage Month in California and Hawaii in 1988, and the California Department of Education officially recognized October as Filipino Heritage Month in 2006.

October is the birth month of Filipino-American labor leader Larry Itliong, an icon in the farm labor movement. The Los Angeles County Board of Education passed a resolution to commemorate October as Filipino American History Month and encourage districts to celebrate Filipino history and heritage. The resources below provide an opportunity to explore the historical and cultural aspects of the Filipino American community and the Philippines.

LACOE offers the following professional development opportunities:

Ethnic Studies Three Day Summit:
September 8, 2025, October 21, 2025, February 17, 2026
Join us for a three-day institute dedicated to exploring best practices in Ethnic Studies. This professional learning opportunity is designed for educators seeking practical, research-based strategies to create more inclusive and responsive classrooms. You may register for one, two, or all three days of the institute. Information and Registration Link

Ethnic Studies Three Day Teacher – Led Symposium:
October 17, 2025, November 18, 2025, March 18, 2026
As part of our three-day Ethnic Studies Teacher-Led Symposium, this professional development highlights lessons and strategies that most effectively engage students in meaningful exploration of their own identities and lived experiences.
Presenters will share practices that elevate student voice, affirm cultural and personal identity, and foster inclusive, critically engaged learning environments. Participants will walk away with classroom-ready ideas grounded in Ethnic Studies principles and shaped by real-world teaching experience. Leave with lessons and strategies that you can implement in your classroom the next day! Information and Registration Link

Sample Board Resolutions

Filipino American National Historical Society – FANHS

About Filipino American History Month

Larry Itliong Day – October 25

PBS

Advancing Justice and UCLA

United Farm Workers (UFW) Movement: Philip Vera Cruz, Unsung Hero

UNIPRO

Colorlines

This Filipino American Life

"This Filipino American Life" podcast

UC Davis

"The Filipino American Experience" podcast

KQED

Stockton’s Little Manila: The Heart of Filipino California

UCLA Library

Filipino Collections

People

Cora Cooks Pancit By Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore
In this charming picture book, Cora and Mama work together to cook up pancit for the family in this celebration of Filipino heritage and foods.Cora loves being in the kitchen, but she always gets stuck doing the kid jobs like licking the spoon. One day, when her older sisters and brother are out, Cora finally gets the chance to be Mama's assistant chef and try out the grown-up cooking jobs while she and Mama make pancit, her favorite noodle dish. Find teaching tools to accompany this book on TeachingBooks.com

Hand Over Hand By Alma Fullerton
Nina can’t convince her lolo to take her fishing with him on his old banca boat. Lolo’s reply is the same as always: “A boat is no place for a girl.” When Nina promises to bait her own hook and remove her own catch, her grandfather finally relents “just for today.” Much to the amusement of the other fishermen in their village, lolo shows Nina how to jig the lines, to set the hook, and to pull in a fish, hand over hand. But no one is laughing when Nina brings in the biggest fish of the day! Find teaching tools to accompany this book on TeachingBooks.com

Lakas and the Manilatown Fish By Anthony D. Robles
In this bilingual English-Tagalog story set in the U.S., an all-American boy of Filipino descent, some amusing manongs--Filipino elders--and a fish with unusual faculties take off on a fanciful romp through a dreamscape of the imagination. Author Anthony D. Robles's irrepressibly lively characters and improbably funny adventure will delight readers. Artist Carl Angel's evocative illustrations leap off the page and pay affectionate homage to one neighborhood's Filipino-American past. Find teaching tools to accompany this book on TeachingBooks.com

Pedro’s Yo-yos How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys By Roberto Peñas
Discovery the backstory of one of America’s favorite toys in this colorful biography. Winner of the Lee & Low’s New Voices award, Pedro’s Yo-yos shares the journey of Filipino immigrant Pedro Flores, his ups and downs as an entrepreneur and his determination to create a toy that would capture the imagination of children and adults all over the world. Find teaching tools to accompany this book on TeachingBooks.com

Purple Ube By Hannah Arp
Nori is from the Philippines and loves the color purple. She is nervous to start her new school in America. When her first day arrives, she is overwhelmed by all of the new things to learn. Then lunchtime rolls along, and Nori cannot wait to eat her lunch, which reminds her of home. Sadly, not everyone is welcoming of her favorite meal. Find out how Nori connects with her classmates through the power of Purple Ube.

When Lola Visits By Michelle Sterling
In this tender picture book, a young girl spends her summer with her lola—her grandmother who is visiting from the Philippines. Together they make traditional foods, sing songs in Tagalog and explore everything the season has to offer. As summer transitions to fall, Lola must return home, but not without a surprise for her granddaughter! Find teaching tools to accompany this book on TeachingBooks.com

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings Fifteen Retellings of Asian Myths and Legends By Various Authors, Edited By Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman
A young man learns the true meaning of sacrifice. A young woman takes up her mother's mantle and leads the dead to their final resting place. Bestselling and award-winning authors explore the timeless themes of East and South Asian lore, exploring love, wit, and more in original stories that will appeal to every reader. Find teaching tools to accompany this book on TeachingBooks.com

Blackbird Fly By Erin Entrada Kelly
Twelve-year-old Apple grapples with being different from her classmates. She and her mother immigrated from the Philippines when she was little. Her mother still cooks Filipino foods and gives Apple a hard time for becoming “too American.” When her friendships become difficult, Apple turns to music and starts saving for a guitar. Acclaimed Blackbird Fly is a heartfelt story about family, friendship, identity and finding your own way. Find teaching tools to accompany this book on TeachingBooks.com

Brown Boy Nowhere By Sheeryl Lim
Sixteen-year-old Filipino American Angelo Rivera has been uprooted from his San Diego home to a boring landlocked town in the middle of nowhere. Behind him are his dreams of ocean waves, his girlfriend, and the biggest skateboarding competition on the California coast. Ahead, he faces flipping burgers at his parents’ new diner and, as the only Asian in his all-white school, being trolled as “brown boy”. But Angelo isn’t alone. Kirsten, a crushable ex-cheerleader and graffiti artist, and Larry, a self-proclaimed invisible band geek, recognize a fellow outsider. Soon enough, Angelo finds himself the leader of their group of misfits. is an evocative young adult story about fitting in, bullying, and standing up for yourself.

Chloe and the Kaishao Boys By Mae Voyiuto
This young adult romantic comedy features a Chinese-Filipina teen named Chloe who must decide between her dreams and her family's expectations. An endearing story of family, love, and taking chances, Chloe has her future all planned out for her while at home in the Phillipines. But an opportunity at the esteemed USC opens up in America, where nothing is certain. With her future far from guaranteed, Chloe must decide if following her dreams and moving to the U.S. is worth everything—and everyone— she’ll be leaving behind in the Phillipines. Find teaching tools to accompany this book on TeachingBooks.com

Growing Up Filipino: Storiesfor Young Adults By Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
This acclaimed collection of 29 short stories shares the experience of being young and Filipino in the Philippines and the United States. This impressive array captures the complexities of both the culture and history and the realities of the lives of young adults. Authors include those born and continuing to live in the Philippines, emigres, and American-born Filipinos. Introduced by a thumbnail sketch of the author and a paragraph or two about some element of Filipino culture, each story is assigned to one of five universal themes: family, angst, friendship, love, and home.

Made in Asian America A History for Young People By Erika Lee
This story sharestales of migration and of people and families crossing the Pacific Ocean in search of escape, opportunity, and new beginnings. It is also the story of race and racism and of being labeled an immigrant invasion and worse. It tells the story of Asian Americans and their contributions to the United States and is a powerful, inspiring and necessary resource for youth. Find teaching tools to accompany this book on TeachingBooks.com

Somewhere in the Middle A Journey to the Philippines in Search of Roots, Belonging, and Identify By Deborah Francisco Douglas
A memoir filled with warmth and humor, Somewhere in the Middle captures the simple joy found in ordinary moments and in the people we share our lives with, shedding new light on what it truly means to find the place where you belong. Half Filipino but raised in an American household, Deborah Francisco Douglas had always longed to know more about her Filipino heritage. So, when a thick envelope arrived at her door announcing her assignment to the Philippines as a Peace Corps Volunteer, she snatched the opportunity and set out on a journey of self-discovery, travel, and adventure.

WeBelong By Cookie Hiponia Everman
An extraordinarily beautiful novel-in-verse, this important debut weaves a dramatic immigrant story together with Filipino mythology to create something wholly new. Stella and Luna know that their mama, Elsie, came from the Philippines when she was a child, but they don't know much else. So one night they ask her to tell them herstory. She shares tales of sisterhood and motherhood, of the difficult experience of trying to fit into a new culture, and having to fight for a home and acceptance. Glorious and layered, this is a portrait of family and strength for the ages. Find teaching tools to accompany this book on TeachingBooks.com