2022: A Year of Many "Firsts" for Filipinos!
WRITTEN BY: FRANCESA JANA SANTIAGO
Everything always seems impossible until someone actually does it. Years ago, seeing Filipinos on western media would have been a foreign concept, or would at least entail that they won in some sort of global competition, maybe for singing or boxing. But today, Filipinos of all gender or age can be found winning the Olympics, attaining Michelin stars or writing best-selling novels. And in case you missed it, our kababayans were in the frontline of many impressive and rather diverse “firsts” this year! From the first Filipino nurse to be awarded a medal by the Queen of England to the first Filipino American crowned winner of Miss USA, our community is showing no sign of slowing down when it comes to being pioneers and leaving a mark on the world.
Earlier this year, a former youth leader in the Philippines not only became the first Filipino American city councilor of Lyn, Massachusetts, but the first openly gay one too. Constantino “Coco” Alinsug came from a family of politicians and previously served as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth. And just this August, a woman named Odette Aquitania Ricasa was given the official title as the first Filipino to see ALL 193 countries in the world since she started 40 years ago. The 77-year old from Quiapo immigrated to New York in the 1970s and started out as a humble bookkeeper. Our people also gained historic wins from having the first all-Filipino podcast competition by KUMU USA and the first Filipino movie to be produced by a major Hollywood studio… you all know which one it is: Easter Sunday!
And it doesn’t stop there because this year’s Filipino American History Month also gave way to a set of “firsts” that helped bring in more recognition and appreciation for the community. Harvard Square celebrated its first Filipino American Festival on October 9 with the help of its Philippine Alliance (HSPA) and the Consulate General in New York! An estimated 80,000 attendees came to be entertained by Sinulog dancing and taste Filipino delicacies. A similar event took place in Las Vegas on October 27 in the form of the first Filipino night market held in the state! Space & Time took the concept of time travel and provided its goers the opportunity to experience Filipino history through music, cuisine and fashion. Prior to these, the only Filipino punk festival Aklasan Fest returned last August for the first time since the two-year pandemic. This time around, the festival featured 15 Filipino American bands from across the country.
Whether it’d be in demand professions or niche interests, a Filipino’s potential can never be placed inside a box. Which gives us more reason to continue being proud of whatever kind of achievement our community gains. While we may be popularly known for our prominent contributions in the healthcare industry or our natural-born talent for music, we are never limited to just that. Just like many others, Filipinos are multidimensional enough to fit under any category we choose. And now that we’re down to the last two months for 2022, we have further proven that Filipinos can make history wherever they go and however they want!