From storytelling and scholarship to activism and cultural memory, Filipino American voices resonated across the Washington, D.C., area during the 21st Biennial National Conference of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), held July 22–25 at the Gateway Crystal Marriott.
“The FANHS National Conference in Virginia this week was so healing for the soul,” outgoing national president Dr. Kevin Nadal said in a statement to TOFA News.
“For decades, it has been the premier space for Filipino Americans of all generations and regions across the U.S. to learn about Filipino American history and experiences. I’ve been going to these conferences since I was 20 years old, and I learn something new every time.”
Framed by the theme “PiNoise on the Potomac: Monuments to Change,” the four-day conference brought together participants from across the United States for films, presentations, roundtable discussions and workshops that elevated Filipino American stories, identity and advocacy.
The conference marked the first time the national gathering was held in the nation’s capital. Featured speakers included Maryland Del. Kris Valderrama, New Hampshire state Rep. Luz Bay, FANHS founder Dorothy Cordova, and journalist Elaine Quijano.
Organizers said the theme of “making noise” reflected the current national climate, particularly amid concerns over the erasure of Filipino American history in education. One workshop track, “Teaching Our Stories,” addressed renewed threats to ethnic studies, while another session examined the Smithsonian Institution as both a site of Filipino American historical recognition and omission.
A pre-conference tour of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s exhibition, “How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories,” underscored the contributions of Filipino farmworkers in California and their role in shaping labor movements and immigrant communities. It is the first known exhibit at the Smithsonian focused fully on Filipino American history and is expected to be on display until the end of 2027.
Founded in 1982 in Seattle by Dr. Dorothy Laigo Cordova and Dr. Fred Cordova, FANHS is a volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting Filipino American history and culture. The organization has grown to include 48 chapters nationwide, a national museum in Stockton, California, and the National Pinoy Archives, one of the largest collections of Filipino American historical materials in the United States. FANHS also launched the nationwide observance of Filipino American History Month in October, first celebrated in 1992.
Programming spanned multiple tracks, including biographies, politics and civic engagement, museums and archives, history and healing, and creative expression. Sessions highlighted the voices and contributions of Filipinas, veterans, youth, LGBTQ+ individuals and members of the local Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia community.
Throughout the conference, participants engaged in conversations on immigrant rights, racial justice, student activism and cultural preservation. Speakers addressed issues affecting Filipino World War II veterans, seafarers, detainees, nurses and LGBTQ+ Filipinos in social justice movements.
Creative work was also brought to the forefront through sessions on Filipino American voices in film, journalism, music and literature. One interactive workshop, “Bahala Na: Exploration of Sikodiwa,” invited attendees to explore ancestral knowledge and spiritual practices through storytelling and shared experiences.
The conference opened with a welcome reception at George Washington University, which included a tribute to the late Joe Montano, a FANHS member and community activist who died in 2016 at age 47.
More than 50 exhibitors participated in a “Palengke” marketplace on the final day, offering books, cultural items, food and educational materials. Attendees also took part in a silent auction and community-centered events, including karaoke night and live music.
The conference concluded with a gala night featuring a reunion performance by the vocal group Pinay, a Filipina American singing quartet who topped U.S. charts in the late 1990s. Consisting of Maylene Briones, Angelica Abiog, Irma de los Santos, and Loredie Reyes, the group received the first Pinayism Award, which was presented by Dr. Nadal and Dr. Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales.
FANHS was honored as a TOFA Awards recipient at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2011. Dr. Nadal, a prominent Filipino American scholar and psychologist, was also recognized twice: as a TOFA awardee in 2015 and as one of the TOFA100 Most Influential Filipino Americans in 2020.
