Guide to the FCV Mural
Compiled by Armilito J Pangilinan
After an extensive search for a muralist, the Filipino Community Village (FCV) Mural Committee engaged Eliseo Art Silva and gave the latter broad directions on how to tell the story of the Filipinx and Filipinx Americans in Seattle and Washington state through art. He was asked to conceptualize and execute a mural that would:
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be rooted in Philippine history and culture,
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tell stories of progressive history and struggles of the Filipinx/Filipinx Americans,
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reflect the complexities of our identities,
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be in vibrant colors,
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be developed with community involvement and ownership, and
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connect future Fil Am generations to the Philippines.
With this direction, Eliseo Art Silva conceptualized, designed, and executed the painting of the mural, “Ibig Naming Matanghal sa Lupain ng Amerika”, that is now publicly displayed at the Kern-Veloria Plaza of the Filipino Community Village in Seattle, WA.
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There are more than 160 groups and individuals represented in the mural. This document lists below their names and backgrounds with the sole purpose of providing brief introductions of who they are. Please use this list in conjunction with the mural numbers key that can be found in four succeeding pages.
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This document is NOT a product of academic or scholarly research. It is merely a compilation of information that was culled from publicly available sources. If you have better information/resources, do alert us, and send the resources you have to us. We would be pleased to include them.
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The links to the online sources for the documents are provided at the end of every group or person’s background to make it easier for you to explore their histories. Hopefully, it will interest you in going beyond what the links provide. If you notice any errors in the texts, please let us know (info@filcommsea.org) and we will make corrections.
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The Pamana books, I, II, and III, mentioned as resources are available in the Filipino Community of Seattle (FCS) library. You can visit the library to read them. They are also available for purchase at FCS. Please reach out to Germelyn Pasia at 206-722-9372 if you want to add them to your collections. The other books are available through the public libraries and various bookstores.
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Have fun in your journey of discovery…
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Interactive Mural Guide
Click on each number below to learn more about the individuals and groups that are painted within the mural.
Panel 1
The Filipino Story: Our Golden Ages
(900 AD-1565 and 1821 – 1900)
Click on each number for description about the individual.
Panel 2
The Filipino Story: Our Declarations of Independence
(1898-1913, 1904-1946 and 1972-1986)
Click on each number for description about the individual.
Panel 3
The Filipino American Story: Bridging Our Generations and Humanizing Our Workers
(1587-1965)
Click on each number for description about the individual.
Panel 4
The Filipino American Story: Lifting Our Stories Through Filipino Art, Thus Transforming the US Cultural Landscape to Reclaim our Human Face on the Philippine Sun
(1965-2022)
Click on each number for description about the individual.
Groups
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Filipino/Filipino American WWII Veterans (Panel 3)
On July 26, 1941, US President Franklin Roosevelt issued Presidential Military Order bringing together US military forces and 250,000 Filipinos from the Philippine Scouts, Guerrilla Services, and the Philippine Commonwealth Army to serve under the US Armed Forces of the Far East during World War II. These Filipino soldiers were promised full veterans’ benefits if they fought beside US troops. They fought valiantly until the end of WWII and were instrumental in defending democracy in Asia and winning WWII for the Allied forces. Many of the Filipino soldiers were killed, tortured, and suffered life-long injuries as a result of the Bataan Death March.
In 1946, President Harry Truman rescinded President Roosevelt’s promise to give WWII Filipino veterans full benefits, and, in fact stripped them of their veteran status under US laws. This injustice did not fall on deaf ears and the Filipino community, veteran’s groups and elected officials rallied and organized to seek justice for the elder veterans that still deserved their veteran recognition and benefits. In 2009, President Barack Obama authorized a program called the WWII Filipino Equity Compensation to fund the Filipino veterans’ benefits for the, and on December 14, 2016, Congress passed and signed the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015. This act recognized the efforts of the Filipino veterans and authorized the awarding of a single Congressional Gold Medal for all Filipino Veterans which is now displayed in the Smithsonian Institution.
- Cindy Domingo
https://filvetrep.org/
The 10 Most Incredible Filipina Warriors of WWII – FilipiKnow
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LGBTQ+ (panel 3 and 4)
Filipinx and Filipinx American members of the LGBTQ+ community have been playing big roles in the greater Seattle community and beyond. They are present in all facets of life - military, politics, government, entertainment, non-profits, financial services, businesses, and many other industries. Some are activists doing their best to systemically change the world for the better by fighting and advocating for social and governmental policies that positively impact people. Many are directly serving people and improving the lives of many through their work in healthcare, education, direct service organizations and the businesses they own. Others are entertainers and cultural ambassadors who take advantage of their natural born talents to bring laughter and joy to their audiences. The LGBTQ+ community has been a dependable pillar of the Filipino Community of Seattle.
– Armilito J Pangilinan
Pamana III – The Bayanihan Legacy of the Filipino Community of Seattle 2000-2009, pages 79-83
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Filipino Medical Professionals (Panel 4)
The 1960’s saw a new migration of Filipino nurses to the United States to fill a nursing shortage in the country. Since then, Filipino nurses, doctors and other medical professionals have played an integral role in the nation’s healthcare system.
Why are there so many Filipino nurses in the U.S.? | Berkeley News
Filipino nurses in America: The unseen, unsung, untold story - ABC7 Chicago
Pamana II pages 130-131 and 146-147
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Filipino War Brides (Panel 3)
In the aftermath of World War II, many Filipino and US soldiers returned to the US with brides from the Philippines known as Philippine war brides. These phenomena changed the social fabric of the US Filipino communities since males had been the dominant population of the Filipino community. In 1949, The Philippine War Brides Association of Seattle was founded originally as a support group to the war brides, but quickly became the backbone of the whole community. They were one of the major contributors in the development of the Seattle Filipino Community Center organizing family oriented social activities and fundraisers to sustain the center.
-Cindy Domingo
Pamana – Half-A-Century of Filipino Community Life in the Emerald City, pages 395-396
The War Brides — Positively Filipino | Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora
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FYA Drill Team (Panel 3)
Founded by Filipino American activists and historians, Fred and Dorothy Cordova, in 1959. It provided leisure activities for the kids and a source of pride. FYA featured Mandayan Marchers, the Princessa Drill Team, and Cumbanchero Percussioners who all went on to deliver award-winning performances. By the early 1970s, FYA’s reputability among Filipino-American Seattleites garnered the team a strong volunteer base which propelled it to be the first Asian Pacific American agency to receive funding from the United Way of King County.
Seattle Histories: The Power of Authentic Filipino-American Representation - Front Porch
Pamana II, pages148-149
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