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Filipino Americans help shape the vision for a future national museum in Washington, D.C. honoring AANHPI history and culture

FIL-AM VOICES FRONT AND CENTER AS NATIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN MUSEUM COMMISSION HOLDS LAS VEGAS LISTENING SESSION



LAS VEGAS — Filipino Americans took a leading role today as the National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission held its Las Vegas Regional Convening and Listening Session at the Waldorf Astoria, drawing nearly 200 community members, cultural advocates, and youth from across Nevada.


Co-hosted by the Committee of 100 (C100) and the Asian Community Development Council (ACDC), the event marked the latest stop in the Commission’s nationwide listening tour—an effort to gather public input on what could become the first National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture.


Filipino Americans: A Driving Force in a National Effort


Nevada’s Filipino American community—one of the largest and most civically active in the state—showed up in full force, emphasizing that any national museum must reflect the depth and breadth of Fil-Am stories. Attendees highlighted the need to preserve narratives of early Filipino migration, labor movements, military service, arts, faith, and community leadership.


Speakers underscored several priorities:


• Visibility and representation: Fil-Ams remain one of the largest AANHPI groups in the U.S., yet their stories are often underrepresented in national institutions.


• Intergenerational storytelling: Elders and youth alike stressed the urgency of capturing oral histories before they disappear.


• Regional pride: Las Vegas Fil-Ams called for strong collaboration between the future museum and local cultural centers, historians, and storytellers.


• Authenticity: Community members urged the Commission to present honest, unfiltered histories—including colonial legacies, discrimination, and the long fight for recognition.


What This Museum Means for the AANHPI Community


Created by Congress in 2022, the Commission is tasked with delivering a full plan for the museum by October 2026. Today’s session reaffirmed themes emerging nationwide:


• Strong support for a museum located in Washington, D.C., ideally on the National Mall.


• A desire for the museum to join the Smithsonian Institution.


• A commitment to representing the full diversity of AANHPI communities—across regions, ethnicities, and generations.


• A call for long-term community involvement, not just one-time consultations.



For many Filipino Americans, the museum represents more than a cultural institution—it symbolizes belonging, validation, and a permanent place in America’s historical narrative.


A Platform for Community Voices


During the listening session, selected community speakers delivered two-minute testimonies ranging from immigration journeys to reflections on identity and hopes for future generations. Commissioners responded in real time, reinforcing that community input will directly shape the museum’s vision.


Las Vegas Joins a National Movement


Las Vegas is one of more than a dozen cities on the Commission’s listening tour, following stops in Princeton, San Francisco, New Orleans, Dallas, New York, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Michigan, Connecticut, Denver, and Houston.


With the Committee of 100 and the Asian Community Development Council co-hosting today’s convening, the event underscored the power of cross-community collaboration—and the central role Filipino Americans play in shaping the future of AANHPI storytelling.


As the Commission continues its work, Fil-Am leaders like Gloria Caoile, a staunch advocate of the Filipino American community, say they will remain engaged to ensure their history, resilience, and cultural legacy take their rightful place in the nation’s collective memory.




 
 
 

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