PH Consulate General in New York Marks Fil-Am History Month with Film Screening, Panel Discussion

Some of guests join Consul General Claro Cristobal (top row, ninth from left ), Philippine Consulate General in New York Officers and Staff, distinguished panelists, and National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA) officers at a photo opportunity at the end of the Fil-Am History Month (FAHM) event. (Lambert Parong photo)

NEW YORK 07 November 2019 — In celebration of the Filipino American History Month (FAHM), about 110 guests attended the screening of a documentary entitled, “Manila 1945: The Rest of the Story” and a panel discussion featuring five distinguished Filipino-Americans on their experiences growing up as Filipino Americans, both held in the Philippine Center New York on 24 October 2019.

The animated short video entitled “The Filipino American Story” was also played after the film screening.

“As we remember the achievements of those who arrived in America before you, let us not forget that the Filipino American History Month is also about you; it is about the story of success and struggle of each one in this room. Let us continue the great story of the Filipino Americans,” Consul Arman Talbo in his welcoming remarks said.

The documentary film Manila 1945 tells the story of the Battle of Manila from the perspective of World War II survivors, veterans, historians, and experts. Some audiences expressed appreciation of the war’s effects on the Filipinos’ psyche and the Philippine culture and society today. Spyron-AV Manila’s New York representative Janette Andrada, who introduced the film, said that the film was shown not to open wounds but as a way for Filipinos, Americans, and Japanese alike to heal and forgive. She encouraged the audience, mainly the younger generations not forget the sacrifices of these unsung heroes and do everything in their power to avoid war and history repeating itself.

“After looking back, learning our history, the next thing to do is to look around, see where we are as a people and as a community. And hopefully, after looking around, we can look ahead, to see the future, and define what we have to do as a community so that our presence in this country will be felt even more,” Consul General in New York Claro Cristobal said.

The panel discussion themed “Filipino Americans Across Generations: Challenges and Opportunities” featured Seton Hall University Anthropology Professor Cherubim Quizon as moderator, and retired US diplomat and army officer Santiago Busa, Jr., New York City Mayor’s Office of Media Entertainment (MOME) Commissioner Anne del Castillo, New York State Assembly Chief of Staff Steven Raga, and Huff Post’s journalist and media consultant Leezel Tanglao as members of the panel.

The FAHM event, which was hosted by Vice Consul Tanya Faye Ramiro, was organized by the Philippine Consulate General in New York in cooperation with the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA). END

Consul Arman welcomes guests to the film screening and panel discussion celebrating Filipino American History Month at the Philippine Center New York. (New York PCG photo)

From left: Panel members Steven Raga, Leezel Tanglao, Sonny Busa and Anne del Castillo, together with moderator Professor Cheree Quizon during a panel discussion on Filipino-Americans Across Generations. (New York PCG photo)

Retired U.S. diplomat and army officer Sonny Busa during the panel discussion. (Lambert Parong photo)

Mayor’s Office of Media Entertainment (MOME) Commissioner Anne del Castillo relates during the panel discussion. (Lambert Parong photo)

New York State Assembly Chief of Staff Steven Raga during the panel discussion. (Lambert Parong photo)

Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) 2019 Delegate Leezel Tanglao of HuffPost during the panel discussion. (Lambert Parong photo)

Seton Hall Anthropology Professor Cheree Quizon during the panel discussion. (Lambert Parong photo)

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph,  https://www.newyorkpcg.org  or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/.