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The Filipino American Community
in New York, New Jersey,
and Pennsylvania
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Beginnings of the Community
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According to Bruno Lasker, the
history of Filipino migration to the east coast, in particular, the New York Metropolitan
Area, started in the 1920s when government-sponsored intellectuals were sent by the
provisional government to study in this region's prominent academic institutions such as
Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and others. Formal
and non-formal assocations have been existing since.
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"The Filipino Student
Bulletin," the only publication linking all students from the (former American)
colony, was published out of New York City by The Filipino Students' Christian Movement.
And additionally, contrary to the belief that most Filipino students, (according to Fred
Cordova President Emeritus of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS)),
received their post-secondary education in a college campus, some went into other
"non-traditional" schools such as the Caroline Kempton Drama School of New York.
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Numerous organizations catering
to various interests have existed in th 1920s such as the Filipino Women's Club, now know
as the Filipino American Women's Club of New York, the Filipino Social Club of New York,
and the Philippine Nurses Association; these three groups continue to exist and thrive
today. In addition, The Filipino Community Center, providing a vehicle for social
interaction, existed in New York City in the 1930s. In Pennsylvania, the Philippine
Society of Philadelphia has been around since 1917 (?).
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Demographics and Political Involvement
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Today, the Filipino Americans
living in what is referred to as the Tri-State Area are professionals in the fields of
accounting, law, medicine, nursing, engineering, and entrepreneurship. Mirroring this
largely professional population, Filipino households in this area have a high median
income: $40,928, according to the U.S. Census of 1990.
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Filipino Americans in New York
City, home to over 43,229 (U.S. Census 1990) Filipinos, are upwardly mobile. In fact, the
median income of Filipino households is approximately $45,000, the highest among all
groups including whites. It is also believed that those who are more affluent and work in
New York City, live in its outlying suburbs and tend to have much higher income levels.
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Unfortunately, the tremendous economic capacity
of the group has not translated into political empowerment. Although Filipinos have been
involved in political campaigns of various politicians at the City level, there are no
Filipinos in New York City holding an elective post. Filipino American who have been in
New York City for more than twenty years are more likely to support campaigns and
therefore, a generation from now, could be elected into office. Second generation Filipino
immigrants are also more likely in the future to run for public office in New York as a
number have been elected to student governments, a training ground for local political
aspirants.
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TO BE CONTINUED... COME BACK AND VISIT FOR THE
REST OF THE CONTINUING HISTORY OF FILIPINOS IN THE TRI-STATE AREA |
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