05 November 2013 - California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law on October 25 AB 123, a state bill authored by California Assemblyman Rob Bonta that requires the state board of education to include the role of Filipino-Americans in the farm labor movement in the state’s curriculum. The bill’s signing into law capped a month of activities commemorating Filipino-American History Month, which is celebrated in California in October.
“This year, the Filipino-American population has recently grown to become the largest Asian American population within the state of California,” Assemblyman Bonta noted, at a press conference held by his office to formally announce the signing of the bill. Ms. Mona Pasquil, Governor Brown’s appointments secretary, was present to hand over a copy of the signed bill to Assemblyman Bonta’s office.
He noted, “We have also made great strides as a community; during my first year as an Assembly Member, I have met and worked with groups who have been successful in expanding educational opportunities, fighting for environmental justice, and increasing access to quality healthcare, to name just a few areas. But there is still much work to be done to improve the state of our community in these areas and others, such as socioeconomic justice, employment, and civic engagement. I look forward to continuing to work with stakeholders throughout California during this upcoming legislative year.”
Consul Reichel Quiñones, representing the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, expressed the Consulate’s appreciation of the significance of the event.
“On behalf of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, and our Consul General, Marciano A. Paynor, Jr., I would like to thank Governor Jerry Brown for signing this important piece of legislation, and by doing so, officially recognizing the role of Filipino-Americans in state history,” Consul Quiñones remarked.
“This is a welcome development, particularly as October, which is observed in California as Filipino-American History Month, draws to a close,” she added.
Also present to witness the turnover were Ms. Lillian Galedo from Filipino Advocates for Justice and Mr. Tony Daysog, member of the Alameda City Council.
AB 123 mandates the inclusion of details regarding the roles of Filipino-Americans and other immigrant populations in the farm worker movement in California textbooks for students in grades 7 to 12. For more details regarding the bill, visit http://asmdc.org/members/a18/legislation/2013-2014. END