- Filipinos are the second largest Asian demographic in the United States numbering approximately 2.4M. The Pusong Pinoy Sa America program is for those wanting to come to the US, for those who are in the US wanting to hear stories of those coming to the US and for those who wants to get more information about varying immigrant issues affecting their lives as immigrants in the US. Success stories of immigrants shall inspire the immigrants to strive harder to attain their goals and that featured successful immigrants eventually shall act as role models for the young Filipino viewers. This TV material features a local immigration lawyer and a Filipino civic multi-awarded community leader, Lourdes Santos Tancinco ("Atty Lou") who is able to bring effective messages across to the viewers in the Filipino language.—Anonymous
- PUSONG PINOY SA AMERIKA Season Six
Theme: Looking Back, Moving Forward"
The sixth season of Pusong Pinoy sa Amerika is dedicated to recognizing and appreciating the struggles and triumphs of our Filipino Immigrant predecessors who paved the way to making the almost four million Filipinos a vibrant immigrant community in America today.
The ties between the US and the Philippines evolved more than a century ago. However, the first recorded landing of Filipinos in America dates back to October 18, 1587 where Filipinos participated in the building of a California missions in Morro Bay.
In 1906, fifteen (15) Filipino agricultural workers arrived in the Territory of Hawaii to work on the islands sugar plantations. These were the Sakadas or the farm workers who are one the first Filipino immigrants in the US.
Along with the Sakadas were the Pensionados who arrived from the Philippines to obtain US education.. There were 200 Filipino Pensionados who arrived in the US in 1906.
During World War I, Filipinos were also asked to serve the US and were granted full US citizenship benefits. Unfortunately, for World War II veterans only certain veterans were granted US veterans benefits and are still struggling for recognition to this day.
Military bases were established in the Philippines and Filipinos were also recruited to join the US Navy through a recruitment center at Olongapo City. In 2006, there were 81,545 immigrants from the Philippines who served in the armed forces of the United States (army, navy, air force, marines or coast guards). The Filipino born composed the largest group among the 658,020 foreign born veterans (12.4%), followed by immigrants from Mexico (10.9 percent), Germany (8.8%) and Canada (7.3%).
In 1965, with the amendment of the Immigration Nationality Act , Filipinos immigrated to the US for education, work or to escape from repressive political regime of President Marcos. These new Filipinos were mostly professionals, majority in the medical field (nurses and doctors).
In 1990, with the easing of the immigration law on employment based petitions, immigration of professionals, skilled workers, artists, computer engineers made their way to becoming permanent residents.
Prior to the recession I 2008, US hospitals recruited Filipino nurses to meet the nursing shortage. In the same way, Filipino school teachers were likewise recruited to work in US schools especially in the field of special education, math and science.
There are now 2.4 million Filipinos in the US. The history of Filipino immigrant is a story of struggle, pain, sacrifices but we all succeeded in overcoming challenges to attain a strong community to finally be recognized as a part of mainstream America. In their honor, join us in showing our appreciation to them as we celebrate and dedicate this season of Pusong Pinoy sa Amerika to our predecessors who have paved the way to become who we are today.
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