Titled “Where Everyone Gets to Tagalog – A Gala Evening Marks 100 Years of Filipino Fusion,” and written by Jose Antonio Vargas, the article described the June 10 gala as an evening where “the women donned colorful Maria Claras, a Spanish-inspired dress. The men wore carefully embroidered barong tagalogs, with fabric made from pineapple or banana cloth. The conversations were mostly in ‘Taglish,’ a fusion of Tagalog and English, both official languages of the Philippines.”

The picture illustrating the story in the front page showed Carl Layno and Irene Bueno, clad in barong and formal attire, dancing on the floor after the speeches. In the inside pasa page was a picture of the Northern Virginia Rondalla band playing for arriving guests. Another photo shows Manila Mail’s Bing C. Branigin kissing the ring of outgoing Cardinal Theodore McCarrick (he was the keynote speaker) while Ruby Barbosa looked on.

The title of the pasa page was aptly called: “Filipinos Step Out Of The Shadows.”

Washington Post staff writer Vargas quoted Kris Valderrama, a third generation Filipino American and daughter of former Maryland Assembly Delegate David Valderrama, in how to recognize a Filipino: “If someone has a Spnaish name (‘Like me,’ she said) , and they look Asian (‘Like me,’ she added) , they’re probably Filipino.”

Vargas said the gala celebrating the centennial of Filipino migration to the United States was very Filipino indeed. “Which meant it was a little bit Spanish, a lot American, and definitely Asian, which makes Filipinos, so distinct – and nearly invisible. “

He pointed out that while the Filipinos are second only to the Chinese in number in the United States, “they’re the invisible minority, relatively unknown compared to Indian Americans, Korean Americans and Japanese Americans”

The description of being invisible was explained to him by Jon Melegrito, Manila Mail columnist and one of the hosts at the gala. Melegrito said: “As a people, Filipinos have assimilated so well in this country that we almost work in the shadows. It’s almost like we carry an inferiority complex. Not because there’s something wrong with our culture –we’re industrious people. It’s because we have this colonialist mentality of being a guest in this country, when we’ve been here for many, many, many years.  

The article said there are more than 34,000 people of Filipino heritage in the Washington metropolitan area but estimates are that they are in the range of 70,000. And what it failed to mention was that while the theme of the fair and parade the preceding week and the gala June 10 was the centennial of Filipino immigration, it was also in celebration of the 108^th<D> anniversary of Philippine  independence June 12. In fact, this celebration started more than 20 years ago mainly to make Philippine independence.

The article noted that this is a busy month for the Filipino American community. Hew cited the parade and fair June 4, the Pitoy Moreno (the Oscar de la Renta of the Philippines) fashion show June 17, and the Singgalot exhibition at the Smithsonian.

Then Mr. Vargas proceeded to trace the history of the Philippines under the Spanish and American colonial rule for hundreds of years and later, the annexation by the US of the Philippines at the turn of the century.

He said “the Philippines, a predominantly Christian country, is perhaps the most Americanized of all Asian countries, where ‘Pinoy Idol’ is as closely watched as ‘American Idol.’”

Vargas continued: “It was an all-Filipino night for sure – a Pinoy band belted out classics like ‘Paano’ (Hose) – though dinner was decidedly American beef filet and sea bass. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the outgoing archbishop of Washington, gave the opening remarks, and was followed by Rep. Michael M. Honda (D-Ca), who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and Albert del Rosario, the Philippine ambassador to Washington."

Another celebration, billed as the June 10^th<D>’s People’s Centennial Ball was hosted by the Migrant Heritage Commission at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal city. The evening began with a 6:30 pm VIP cocktail reception, followed by a spectacular program which included a unique lighting ceremony to greet the one hundred years of Filipino migration to America. One of the highlights of the evening was the awarding of medals to migrant attendees and supporters.

Organizers said it was a sold out event. One of the cultural presentations was a very elegant and sophisticated fashion show, by Orientalia Connections Internationale, with a “Waves of Migration” theme. Pianists and violinists representing the youth group, the Philippine Chamber Rondalla of New Jersey, the Filipino-American Heritage Dance Ensemble and the SLIGO Friends also participated. Another will be an International Rigodon Dance performed by some Filipino American community leaders and other Asian Americans. A live band and DJ provided dance music throughout the evening, until 1:00 am.