Honoring Filipino American History Month in Lake County
Lake County Board of Supervisors Passes and Adopts Proclamation
The Lake County Board of Supervisors passed and adopted the proclamation recognizing October as Filipino American History Month in Lake County, celebrating Filipino Americans’ contributions to Lake County’s community and economy.
During the Board’s meeting on October 22, 2024, Supervisor Eddie Crandell led the presentation and explained “it is very important to honor all diverse folks from everywhere.” While Supervisor Crandell read the proclamation in English, Lloyd Guintivano, the County Counsel, read the proclamation in Tagalog.
Supervisor Crandell commented that “when the country was formed, it [was] taught that everyone [was] welcome. There is no specific [officially designated national] language. When I see people speaking in their native language, it is important and remarkable.” Supervisor Crandell shared that Lake County is rich with Filipino history, reading from the proclamation that as “early as the 1930s, Filipino immigrants significantly contributed to the history of Lake County,” to Lake County’s economy in agriculture and medicine, and helped build our county “as pioneers and as servicemen and servicewomen in the Armed Services.”
Public Defender Director Ray Buenaventura, who was featured in our inaugural June 2024 newsletter edition, was also present during the presentation. Buenaventura, who joined the County of Lake administration earlier this year, shared that “as a former elected official in my past life, I have issued proclamations, but have never received one. It’s quite humbling to receive it. When I first came here, you welcomed me, and I felt really at home in Lake County, never like this today.”
After Supervisor Crandell and Guintivano read the proclamation in English and Tagalog respectively, Supervisor Jessica Pyska highlighted that “this is the third proclamation in the last few weeks that has been done in multiple languages,” reflecting on the proclamations of Indigenous People’s Day on October 8, 2024, and Hispanic Heritage Month on October 1, 2024. She continued that “it is very beautiful to shine on the diversity that makes Lake County so strong and so beautiful.” Supervisor Moke Simon thanked Supervisor Crandell, and reflected on how “Filipino culture is ingrained in Lake County’s history” and how tribal members have also married into Filipino culture.
Supervisor Bruno Sabatier thanked Supervisor Crandell for bringing and initiating the proclamation, and also thanked Guintivano and Buenaventura for representing Filipino culture, ending with “we see you, and we appreciate you, and thank you for bringing this to our community.” A public comment also supported the proclamation, adding that there are many remarkable Filipino Americans in Lake County. Click here to watch the full proclamation from October 22, 2024.
Lake County continues to celebrate the diversity of its people who contribute to our county’s community, economy and culture.