Celebrating Filipino American History Month in Renton

Of the 109,800 people who call Renton home, roughly 7,000 residents identify as Filipino, more than 3% speak Tagalog, and close to 3,000 residents were born in the Philippines. Renton’s Filipino community is ever present and vibrant, and October provides an opportunity to shine a light on the Filipino Americans locally and across the nation. 

October is dedicated to the recognizing the depth Filipino Americans have contributed to the fine arts, education, medicine, business, journalism, education, science, technology, government, and other fields in the United States while enriching the fabric of the nation and local communities.  

During Monday's city council meeting, Mayor Armondo Pavone designated October as Filipino American History Month in Renton. Berliner Pub owner Dennis Mascarinas accepted the proclamation. 

Mascarinas shared, "Growing up in a Filipino family, I learned how much it means to bring people together and make them feel at home, this spirit has carried into the Berliner...Being able to welcome that same sense of welcome in Renton means a great deal to us”.   

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FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS GATHER IN CELEBRATION  

Monday evening, prior to the city council meeting, city hall welcomed members of Renton’s and the Puget Sound Region’s Filipino community for a celebratory reception.  

Mayor Armondo Pavone and Renton city council were joined by members of the Association of Filipino-American Engineers of Washington, the Filipino American Community of Renton (FILAMCOR),  Filipino American Educators of Washington, the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest, Filipino Community of Seattle, Filipinotown, and the Asian Pacific Cultural Center. 

“This history, this heritage, is evaluated and known, to make sure that whatever our community has achieved through time is really recognized,” shared Consul General Henry Bensurto Jr, as he expressed his gratitude towards Renton for its recognition of the Filipino Community. 

Following the Consul General’s Speech, former Commissioner of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) Reynaldo Pascua spoke about his work with Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson to remind the United States of the Filipino American leaders in involved in the farm workers movement. Governor Ferguson declared the 2026 theme for Filipino American History Month in the State of Washington to be Filipino Farmers History Month. 

This was the City of Renton’s second year hosting a reception in recognition of Filipino American History Month and third year formally honoring the month with a proclamation.