Philippine Consulate in Honolulu Leads Filipino American History Month Celebrations in American Samoa and Hawai‘i

The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, led by Consul General Arman R. Talbo, marked the historic launch of the first Filipino American History Month (FAHM) celebration in American Samoa on October 1, 2025.

The event gathered more than 200 members of the Filipino community for a town hall meeting with Consul General Talbo, who discussed consular services and key concerns of Filipinos in the territory. During the program, Talbo read the Proclamation signed by American Samoa Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula, officially declaring October 2025 as Filipino American History Month in American Samoa.

The celebration, organized in partnership with the Filipino Community in American Samoa (FCAS), featured cultural performances by Filipino children, showcasing the enduring ties and shared heritage between the Philippines and American Samoa.

In Honolulu, the Consulate also supported the launch of “FiliRooted: From Plantation to Diaspora, Filipino-American Voices in Hawai‘i Now” on October 4 at Capitol Modern. The event opened with “Bamboo to Brass: Sonic Journeys Across the Philippines,” an exhibit curated by House of Gongs and Elle Karayan, followed by “808 x 63: Stories Between Islands,” a showcase of Filipino indigenous textiles, tattoos, and art.

The month-long FAHM celebration continues with the Pamana Kids Workshop on October 18 and the finale “Sakada to Cypher: Island Gongster Edition” on October 25, featuring local artists, artisans, and a special performance by Ruby Ibarra with NPR’s 2025 Tiny Desk Contest-winning band.