October is Filipino American History Month!

See links below for more information

Philippines: Brief Background

The Philippines is positioned on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, along the Ring of Fire. It is located on the north side of Australia. The Philippines is the second-largest archipelago on the planet, with 7,107 individual islands counted within its borders. It is the third largest English-speaking continent in the world. 

http://travelvideo.tv/news/more.php?id=A8522_0_1_0_M The nationals of the Philippines are called Filipinos.

There are three major islands in the Philippines, they are Luzon (largest), Visayas (second), and Mindanao (smallest).  Luzon is located at the northern part of the Philippines; however, the other two main islands (Visayas and Mindanao) are at the southern part.  The Philippines has 79 provinces and 115 chartered cities.  Each major province has its own local or native language, such as: Tagalog (Pilipino), Capampangan, Ilocano, Visayans, Cebuano, Bicolano, Pangasinanes, and many more.  However, the Filipinos are able to communicate through the national language called Tagalog or Pilipino.

Philippines was under the Spanish colony for almost 400 years, but then were ceded to the US in 1898 (June 12, 1898 - Philippine Independence from Spain), following the Spanish-American War. Eventually, Philippines became a territory of the United States until its independence.

One of the main focal points of battles between Japan and the US during World War II, at the end of that war (in 1946) with the US victory in the South Pacific, the Philippines attained total independence on July 4, 1946.  The rest is history...

To tourists-"... Enjoy the frantic pace of Manila's night life, its many museums, and World War II markers; the incredible Banaue rice terraces; the world-famous White Beach on Boracay Island, widely considered the most beautiful tropical beach in the world; Cebu and Palawan islands, and their world class diving spots; the white beaches of Mindoro Island; the Taal Volcano and its volcanic lake, and the Spanish-Chinese colonial structures of Vigan in Ilocos - to truly only name but a few".   For more information, click on the website:  (http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/ph.htm)

As you can see, the Philippines itself is not only rich in natural resources and its majestic vacations resorts, but also very rich in diversity.  Although, the islands are all in one country, the culture, tradition and language of each island vary from the other islands.  Therefore, Diversity in the Philippines has been long observed and practiced even up to the present time...

NOW, if you want an up-close and personal answers to your curiosity and questions about the Philippines and the Filipino employees at the City of Portland, such as:

Would you like to know more about the history of the Filipinos in the Philippines?

Are you curious on how many Filipinos residing in Portland and vicinity?

How many Filipino American associations that have been established in Portland and vicinity?

Who can you contact in the Filipino American community?

Do you want to know on what part of the Philippines where the FACE members or their ancestors came from?

Are you wondering on what type of occupations the FACE members have at the City of Portland and how many are currently employed by the city?

Do you want to learn more about Philippine languages, business/commerce, tourist spots, food, music, and fashion?

FACE Group Application - February 2007

Filipino American Associations of Oregon and Southwest Washington: www.filam.org