Manila: The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) is reaching out to Philippine-based relatives of early Filipino migrants in the United States as it aims to preserve the legacy of the nation's pioneering diaspora.
According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative supports the upcoming Smithsonian Institution's exhibition 'How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories,' presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center at the National Museum of American History. CFO is particularly tracking down families of pioneering Filipino agricultural workers in California from the 1910s to the 1970s.
CFO Secretary Dante Ang II stated that the effort also supports Dr. James Sobredo, a professor emeritus from California State University, Sacramento, in his research. 'By helping Sobredo locate the living descendants of the "Manongs"-the pioneering Filipino agricultural workers in California from the 1910s to the 1970s- the CFO is ensuring that the narrative of the Filipino diaspora is built on historical accuracy and direct community involvement,' Ang said. "Our mission is to ensure that no Filipino, no matter how long they have been away or how many generations have passed, feels disconnected from their roots."
The National Museum of American History, on its website, noted that the exhibit, running from Dec. 23, 2025, to Nov. 28, 2027, explores the overlooked history of a trailblazing Filipino community in California, particularly in Stockton, California's Little Manila. It highlights 26 steamer trunks discovered in 2005, filled with personal artifacts, including clothing, photographs, letters, tools, and textiles, that provide intimate insights into the migrants' work, family life, community ties, and cultural identity.
The museum mentioned that the trunks and their contents were preserved by the Legionarios del Trabajo, a fraternal organization that stored the personal effects of deceased members to be sent home or collected by loved ones. 'Decades later, the recovered trunks serve as time capsules, offering a window into what was once the largest population of Filipinos living outside of the Philippines,' it stated.
The exhibit's title, 'How Can You Forget Me', comes from a hand-embroidered pillowcase found among the trunks, symbolizing memory, separation, and the resilience of Filipino Americans across generations. The exhibition also assists in 'remembering the people whose labor contributed to the growth of California's agricultural industry and paved the way for future generations of Filipino immigrants.'
Ang emphasized that helping locate the living descendants of these migrants would ensure that the diaspora's story is told accurately, personally, and with cultural significance. 'Preserving the stories of early migrants is meant to instill pride in second and third-generation Filipino-Americans, validate their historical contributions to their host countries and the motherland, and build a foundation of trust that encourages overseas Filipinos to reinvest in Philippine communities,' he said.
