The Filipino Forum

The Museum received an interesting donation in 1987. A law office at 524 S. King St was closing and found in it were 3 items which were left by a previous tenant. The address was formerly the office of The Filipino Forum and the publisher and editor was Victorio A. Velasco. Velasco, who had immigrated to the US in 1926 and worked various menial jobs as well as in the Alaskan canneries while also pursuing a degree in college.

The 3 items found were his high school diploma, a photo of him at his first college, Bellingham Normal School, later WWU, and an award, The Golden Tamaraw, from the Filipino Youth Activities of Seattle to The Filipino Forum from 1957 to 1961 signed by Frederic A, Cordova and Gerald Laigo. These artifacts are a touchstone to an important and fascinating life.

More about him may be found at: https://depts.washington.edu/civilr/victorio_velasco.htm

And join us and the Filipino American National Historical Society in celebrating Filipino American History Month this October.

More about FAHNS here: http://fanhs-national.org/filam/filipino-american-history-month-october-2021/