Filipino-Americans are a growing presence in Sonoma County, with an interesting local history they are eager to share.

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The first Filipinos to travel to North America came aboard the Manila Galleons such as this, Spanish trading ships that traversed the Pacific ocean during the 1700s and 1800s.

Most of the young Filipino men who came to California in the first half of the 20^th century intended to eventually return home, but many of them never did.

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Remembering Our Manongs- Sonoma County's Filipino History is a historical documentary film covering the first Filipino immigrants who traveled to the US and settled in Sonoma County during the First half of the 20^th Century. The film will be broadcast on KRCB-TV, Channel 22 on Tuesday evening, May 12, at 9 pm.

Partial funding for the film came from California Council for the Humanities through their California Stories grant with additional support from the Filipino American National Historical Society. The Society's Sonoma County chapter is one of 30 across the country. Chapter president Delia Lanosa Rapolla explains the organization's purpos in 5the audio clip below.

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For more information about the film call (707) 294-3784.