The Filipino American Museum: Where Two Nations Meet

By Doug Puppel // Photography courtesy of Cashman Photo

On the Fourth of July, millions celebrated a milestone anniversary of their nation’s independence beneath the red, white and blue … and gold.

The country was the Philippines, which became independent on July 4, 1946, after nearly half a century under U.S. rule. Its flag features horizontal bands of blue and red and a white triangle containing a golden sun and three stars.

The archipelago of 7,641 islands shares bonds with the United States that extend beyond the colors of its flag. The Spanish-American War of 1898 ended 333 years of Spanish colonial rule and transferred control of the Philippines to the United States.

“The relationship between our two nations is more than pages in a history book,” says David Tupaz, chief curator and executive director of the Filipino American Museum, which opened in June at the Boulevard Mall, and an internationally recognized fashion designer and creative director of Chic Compass. “It's a living connection reflected in families, service, business and culture.”

Over the generations, several million Filipinos have made their way to the United States, building a Filipino American community that now numbers about 4.6 million. That includes more than 200,000 people in the Las Vegas area, helping make Filipinos Nevada’s largest Asian American ethnic community.

Through rotating exhibits, the museum introduces visitors to the Filipino experience while helping Filipino Americans, including many who have never visited their ancestral homeland, connect with their heritage.

“For many Filipino Americans, especially younger generations, this museum is a place to discover where they come from and take pride in who they are. We also want every visitor to leave with a deeper understanding of our history and our culture,” Tupaz says.

The museum is a pillar of Filipino Town, a cultural district established last year by Clark County along Maryland Parkway that is attracting Filipino restaurants, stores and other businesses.

The Filipino American Museum is open from noon to 6 p.m. every Friday through Sunday. If you bump into Tupaz, he can explain how the eight-rayed sun on the Philippine flag symbolizes the first provinces to rise against Spanish colonial rule, while its three stars represent the country's principal island groups: Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

For more information, visit thefilipinoamericanmuseum.com.