Taken from the WHIAAPI website.

Since their first documented arrival in Morro Bay, California on October 18, 1587, Filipino Americans have made remarkable contributions to every sector of American life.  On Friday, October 2, we were proud to host the first-ever White House Celebration of Filipino American History Month, in order to commemorate the rich history, heritage, and culture that bond the Filipino American community with the larger mosaic of the American immigrant story.  Dressed in Filipiniana, or traditional Filipino attire, more than 175 Filipino American leaders from almost 25 states joined us for this historic occasion.

The Celebration kicked off with remarks by Jason Tengco, Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), and Mel Orpilla, President of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), who highlighted FANHS’ efforts in 1991 to recognize October as Filipino American History Month for the first time.  Jason then surprised Mel and FANHS Executive Director Dorothy Cordova with a special message from President Obama:

This year’s keynote speaker, Nani Coloretti, who serves as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is the highest-ranking Filipino American in the Obama Administration, highlighted her upbringing in Hawaii and the role that her family played throughout her personal and career journey.  The Celebration featured remarks by several other senior Administration officials, including Maria-Contreras Sweet, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); León Rodríguez, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); and Dr. Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States.  Speakers highlighted federal resources for community members, including around small business,citizenship and immigration, and health and well-being.  USCIS Director Rodríguez also discussed the Department of Homeland Security’s announced efforts to create a parole program to allow certain family members of Filipino and Filipino-American World War II veterans to receive parole to come to the United States on a temporary basis.

In line with celebrating the diverse talents of the community, the Celebration highlighted prominent Filipino Americans in different sectors of society, including the arts, entertainment, and dance industries.  The event DJ, Les Talusan, played an eclectic mix of songs by Filipino American singers.  The Celebration also featured performances by The Filharmonic, an all Filipino American a cappella group; the Pilipino American Cultural Arts Society, who performed a preeminent Filipino cultural dance called the Singkil; and Apl.de.ap and Jessica Reynoso, who brought the audience to their feet.