Filipino American History Month Symposium Schedule

Philippine-Louisiana Historical Society (PLHS) in partnership with the Philippine Consulate Generals in Honolulu and Chicago, and Louisiana community organizations is hosting the Filipino American History Month Symposium, October 8th in the Convocation Annex at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. The event aims to explore the history of Filipino migration to the United States and discuss policies that could support the longstanding relationship between the Philippines and the United States.

Highlights of the symposium:

The unveiling of the Philippine-Louisiana Historical Mural, which honors early Filipino settlers who throughout the 18th and 19th centuries resided in fishing villages along the Louisiana coast. The mural was painted in the Philippines by five renowned Filipino artists and was donated to the PLHS.

A talk on the Manilaners, Jewish WWII refugees who settled in Manila, by Dr. Sharon Delmendo, author of The Star-Entangled Banner: One Hundred Years of America in the Philippines.

Two community roundtables featuring the Filipino community in Louisiana, one with descendants of early Filipino settlers to Louisiana and another on the work of Filipino American community organizations.

A presentation on the Ilokano Narrative by Dr. Aurelio Agcaoili, an Ilokano scholar and novelist.

The symposium is free and open to the public.

8:30	Registration
9:00	Introductory Remarks Dr. Jose Bautista, J.P. Morgan Chase Professor of Economics Xavier University of Louisiana
	National Anthem of the United States Christina Hera
	National Anthem of the Philippines Natasha Cang Moreland
	Invocation Rev. Etido Jerome, S.S.J., Chaplain Xavier University of Louisiana
	Welcome to Xavier University Dr. Anne McCall, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Xavier University of Louisiana
	Welcome Message Robert Romero, Consul, a.h. Philippine Honorary Consulate – Louisiana Founding President, Philippine-Louisiana Historical Society
	Introduction of Special Guests Robert RomeroSpecial Guests The Honorable Generoso D. G. Calonge, Consul General Consulate General of the Philippines, ChicagoThe Honorable Gina Jamoralin, Consul General Consulate General of the Philippines, Honolulu
9:20	Introduction to the Philippine-Louisiana Historical Society Dr. Carmelo Astilla, Professor of History (retired) Southern University at New Orleans
9:20	Historical Overview of Filipino Migration to Louisiana Dr. Randy Gonzales, Assistant Professor of English University of Louisiana at Lafayette
9:45	Featured Speaker The US’ Impact on the Manilaner Refuge Dr. Sharon Delmendo, Professor of English St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY
10:15	Presentation of the Philippine-Louisiana Historical Mural Dr. Almira Astudillo Gilles
10:45	Descendants of Early Filipino Settlers Moderator Dr. Alvaro Alcazar, Professor of Languages and Culture Director, Twomey Center Loyola University, New Orleans Participants The Honorable Timothy Kerner, Mayor of the City of Lafitte Rhonda Richoux Todd Roxas William De La Cruz
11:15	Break, Refreshments Available for Purchase
11:30	Filipino Diaspora Moderator Dr. Jose Bautista Presenters Filipinos in Hawaii The Honorable Gina Jamoralin Love, Romance, and Nostalgia: Reframing the Ilokano Narrative of Exile and Diaspora Dr. Aurelio Agcaoili, Associate Professor of Ilokano Coordinator, UH Manoa Ilokano Program University of Hawaii at Manoa Balikbayan Bell Dr. Sharon Delmendo Filipino Americans in the Heartland of America Princess Emraida Kiram, President Filipino American National Historical Society-Wisconsin Jelly Carandang, President Filipino American National Historical Society-Midwest Chapter
12:45	Entertainment Natasha Cang Moreland
1:00	Filipino Communities in Louisiana Moderator Dr. Randy Gonzales Participants Christine Changho Bruneau, Esq., President Louisiana Asian Pacific American Bar Association Southwest Regional Governor, National Filipino American Lawyers Association Eva Dolorosa V. Adolpho, Vice-President Filipino-American Association of Greater Baton Rouge Ingrid Cruz, Founding President Filipino Educators Federation of Louisiana Filipino-American Doctors Association
1:30	Awards, Recognitions, and Closing Remarks Robert Romero