Filipino American National Historical Society -Spokane Chapter

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Filipino American National Historical Society -Spokane Chapter The FANHS Spokane Chapter was founded August 5, 2025.

The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) was founded by Dorothy and Fred Cordova on November 26, 1982 and chartered by the State of Washington on January 7, 1985.

Join us for A Taste of the Philippines—KAIN TAYO! Gather your friends for a delicious Filipino dinner curated by Chef Ni...
10/17/2026

Join us for A Taste of the Philippines—KAIN TAYO!

Gather your friends for a delicious Filipino dinner curated by Chef Nicholas deCaro of Island Style Barbeque, live music, and vibrant cultural performances!

🍸 Sip Rice W**e Cocktails, B**r & W**e, bid on Silent Auction treasures, and shop Merchandise—all while helping build something lasting for our community.

Proceeds support our building project to create a home for our community, preserve the stories and legacy of Spokane’s Chinatown and Trent Alley, and help keep Lunar New Year and the ANHPI Heritage Festival running in 2027.

Celebrate our culture. Preserve our history. Build our future.
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 5–8:30 p.m.
📍 Southside Senior Center | 3151 E. 27th Ave., Spokane
🎟️ $60 before October 22 | $70 at the door

Everyone is welcome! Come hungry, bring your friends, and make it a night that gives back.

Contact: [email protected] or 509.928.9664

The first Filipinos arrived in Spokane, WA on November 6, 1899.1899 — Spokane Soldiers Fight in the Philippine–American ...
10/16/2026

The first Filipinos arrived in Spokane, WA on November 6, 1899.

1899 — Spokane Soldiers Fight in the Philippine–American War
The Philippine–American War began on February 4, 1899, as Filipino forces fought for independence against American rule. Filipinos had declared independence from Spain in June 1898 and established the First Philippine Republic in January 1899.

The United States refused to recognize the republic, claiming the islands under the December 1898 Treaty of Paris with Spain.

Spokane’s Companies A and L served with the First Washington Volunteer Infantry during the war’s opening campaigns on Luzon. Company A entered the fighting at Paco on February 4 and participated in the advance on Santa Ana. According to a contemporary Spokane history, 20 of its officers and enlisted men were killed or wounded in the opening fighting.
Company L, initially held in reserve, advanced on February 5. Its subsequent service included operations around San Pedro, Pasig, Pateros, Guadalupe and Taguig, along with detachments assigned to other expeditions. The Spokane history records one Company L soldier killed during its Philippine service.

Company A was led by Captain A. H. Otis, with Lieutenants William I. Hinckley and Walter L. McCallum. Company L’s officers included Captain John M. Moore and Lieutenants John E. Ballaine and Charles E. Nosler. Their service directly connects Spokane to the American campaign against the First Philippine Republic.

When Spokane's troops returned on November 6, 1899, Charles E. Nosler of Company L brought two Filipinos back to Spokane with him.

A Spokane newspaper identified them as approximately 20-year-old “Ramondo Polma” and seven-year-old “Geronimo de la Croix.” Nosler told the reporter that he intended to care for them and provide an education. Their names and ages are recorded here (Spokesman Review), as reported in that historical account.

NOTE: The newspaper Anglicized or incorrectly recorded their names as “Ramondo Polma” and “Geronimo de la Croix.” Possible spellings are Raymundo Palma and Geronimo de la Cruz, but these remain unverified pending further research.

Spokane also had ties to the Buffalo Soldiers: members of the 24th Infantry were stationed at Fort George Wright in 1899. During the Philippine–American War, the Black American soldiers defected and joined Filipino forces fighting against U.S. colonial rule.

Among them was David Fagen of the 24th Infantry, who became a leader in the Filipino resistance.

Image below depicts a defected Buffalo Soldier training Filipino soldiers with weapons possibly stolen from the US Army.

Keep Chinatown & Trent Alley’s Stories Alive—Join Us at the Table! KAIN TAYO! A Taste of the P...
10/15/2026

Keep Chinatown & Trent Alley’s Stories Alive—Join Us at the Table! KAIN TAYO! A Taste of the Philippines

An evening of Filipino flavors, music, and community
October 24, 2026 | 5 p.m. (doors open at 4:45 pm) Proceeds support our efforts to secure the Max Snyder Building on the Spokane Community College campus as a multicultural community center, while helping sustain Lunar New Year and the ANHPI Heritage Festival in 2027.

Please help us get the word out!October is Filipino American History Month—a time to honor our history, celebrate our vi...
10/15/2026

Please help us get the word out!

October is Filipino American History Month—a time to honor our history, celebrate our vibrant traditions, and recognize the contributions of Filipino Americans. It’s also a celebration of bayanihan—the Filipino spirit of unity, generosity, and community.

Last year’s Lumpia Festival was an overwhelming success!

We sold out of everything in less than two hours, leaving many supporters empty-handed.

To show our gratitude, we’re hosting a FREE Filipino American History Month

Open House on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Southside Senior Center from 11 am - 1:30 pm.

Enjoy live cultural performances (NW Hula, SFCC's Saja Soda Pop Dancers and the Zumbaline Beat Shakers).

FREE pancit (made by Nelly Christoffersen), lumpia (sponsored by the FAAIE), and dessert (while supplies last).

Bring a potluck dish to share and join us for an afternoon of food, culture, friendship, and community!

We also have a free arts&crafts for the kids, resource fair, Filipino-American merchandise, Raffles and a Bake Sale.

This is our way of saying SALAMAT PO!
Thank you for your incredible love and support. Everyone is welcome!

Then join us for dinner fundraiser!
Featuring a menu by Chef Nicholas DeCaro of Island Style BBQ, Tapuy cocktails, Philippine b**r, and live Filipino music and performances.

The entertainment includes The Barriotix—Abe Legaspi, Danny, Jeah Lambino, and special guest Roger Rigor of VST & Company—along with Kultura Filipino Dance Co., FAAIE's Bayanihan Rondalla, Bee Aaron, Marilyn Myers and emcee Estella Fullerton.
The fundraiser supports Spokane United We Stand’s Building Fund and community programs, including Lunar New Year and the ANHPI Heritage Festival.
Dinner Fundraiser from 5 pm - 8 pm
To purchase tickets:
https://www.spokaneunitedwestand.org/.../fundraiser-dinner

Come hungry, bring your family and friends, and celebrate with us!

Celebrate Filipino American History Month in Spokane!Let’s turn up the flavor—Filipino American soul, irresistible rhyth...
10/06/2026

Celebrate Filipino American History Month in Spokane!
Let’s turn up the flavor—Filipino American soul, irresistible rhythms, and a month to remember!

Bring your stories, your appetite, and your love for a good celebration!
This October, we’re honoring our roots, sharing delicious traditions, and turning up the music. Preserve treasured memories at I-Archive Natin, gather at our Community Open House, and savor an unforgettable evening at KAIN TAYO! A Taste of the Philippines.

Come for the culture. Stay for the food, music, and connections!

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I-Archive Natin: Preserve Our Stories
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 1:00–4:00 PM
Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (MAC)
Joel E. Ferris Research Archives
2316 W 1st Ave #100, Spokane, WA 99201

Every photograph has a story. Every family has a place in our history.

Bring your photographs, newsletters, programs, documents, and other historical treasures to help preserve the Filipino American story in the Inland Northwest.

The Eastern Washington State Historical Society / Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (MAC) and the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) are coming together to document these memories for future generations.

We especially welcome longtime Filipino American Association of the Inland Empire (FAAIE) members and families of founding members to share materials celebrating the organization’s history and community contributions.

Enjoy merienda (refreshments) provided by The Family Guide / Spokane United We Stand as we share memories and preserve our stories.

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Community Open House & Filipino American Historical Celebration
Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 11:00 AM–1:30 PM
Southside Senior Center
3151 E 27th Ave, Spokane, WA 99223

Good food, warm welcomes, and a little island spirit!
Join Filipino organizations from Spokane and the Inland Northwest for a gathering celebrating our history, heritage, and community.

Enjoy FREE lumpia courtesy of FAAIE and FREE pancit and zucchini bread courtesy of The Family Guide / Spokane United We Stand, while supplies last.

Catch a special performance by Northwest Hula, reconnect with friends, and make a few new ones!

Bring a potluck dish to share and a friend to join the fun.
Everyone is welcome!

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KAIN TAYO! A Taste of the Philippines & Building Fundraiser
Big Flavors. Sweet Serenades. Disco Fever.

Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 5:00–8:00 PM
Southside Senior Center
3151 E 27th Ave, Spokane, WA 99223

Let’s eat, let’s celebrate, and let the music take us home!
Treat yourself to a culinary journey through Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, with a specially curated menu by award-winning Chef Nicholas DeCaro of Island Style BBQ. Sip signature Tapuy rice w**e cocktails, with Philippine b**rs available for purchase by the half-case or full case.

From swoon-worthy love songs to disco beats you can’t sit still for, **The Barriotix—Abe Legaspi, Danny, and Jeah Lambino—**will set the mood, joined by special guest Roger Rigor of the legendary VST & Company.

Relive the golden era of Manila Sound, sing along to beloved classics like “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko,” and let a little ’70s and ’80s nostalgia sweep you away!

The evening also features the talents of FAAIE Bayanihan Rondalla, Bee Aaron, Kultura de Filipino Dance Company, and Estella Fullerton.

Help Us Build Our Dream!
A delicious night out with a lasting purpose. Your participation supports Spokane United We Stand’s building fund and our vision for a vibrant multicultural community center—a place where families find support, traditions thrive, and our community comes together.

• Early Bird Tickets: $60 through October 22
• At the Door: $70
• Explore the silent auction and shop merchandise during the evening

Bring your appetite, your friends, and your flair—let’s make it a night to remember!
Get your tickets: www.spokaneunitedwestand.org/category/fundraiser-dinner
Questions or ticket inquiries?
[email protected]
509.928.9664
SpokaneUnitedWeStand.org

Spokane has an actual Philippine battlefield artifact.At Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane is a Spanish-American War...
10/02/2026

Spokane has an actual Philippine battlefield artifact.
At Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane is a Spanish-American War-era cannon.

But according to historical reporting, this isn't simply a commemorative cannon. The gun was actually used in fighting in the Philippines.

It is identified as No. 78GWB, manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal in 1897. After its return to the United States, the Spokane Veteran Soldiers Monument Association obtained it and presented it to the cemetery in 1920 as a veterans memorial.

Source: Spokesman.com

Located in downtown Spokane on West Riverside Avenue, in the Riverside Avenue Historic District is a granite obelisk com...
10/02/2026

Located in downtown Spokane on West Riverside Avenue, in the Riverside Avenue Historic District is a granite obelisk commemorating U.S. volunteer servicemen who participated in the Spanish-American War, the Philippines Campaign.

The First Washington Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed in 1898. It consisted of twelve companies from around Washington—and two of those companies came from Spokane.

The regiment had 1,126 men and was sent to the Philippines. Although organized for the Spanish-American War, the men arrived after the principal fighting with Spain had ended.

Instead, they fought Filipino forces seeking independence in what U.S. military records historically called the "Philippine Insurrection" and what is now widely called the Philippine-American War.

The Washington State Military Department confirms that the First Washington participated in the Manila campaign and combat on Luzon in 1899, including the Battle of Santa Ana. Washington State Military Department.

Illustrated History of Spokane County, published in 1900, that preserves an extraordinary roster of Spokane's Company L, First Washington Volunteer Infantry. Genealogy Trails.

Its officers included:
- Captain John M. Moore
- First Lieutenant John E. Ballaine
- Second Lieutenant Charles E. Nosler
- First Sergeant Leroy L. Childs
- Quartermaster Sergeant Howard Woodward
- Sergeants Thomas Doody, Reno D. Hoppe and James J. Butler

Company L was a Spokane organization. A Washington military history records that the unit that later became Company B, 161st Infantry was organized in Spokane in 1886 as Company L, was mustered into federal service in May 1898, and reached Manila later that year.

Photo Credit: Joyce Cabildo

I-ARCHIVE NATIN: PRESERVING OUR FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY 🇵🇭Our history deserves to be remembered, preserved, and passed...
10/02/2026

I-ARCHIVE NATIN: PRESERVING OUR FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY 🇵🇭

Our history deserves to be remembered, preserved, and passed on. ❤️💙💛

We invite members of the Filipino American Association of the Inland Empire (FAAIE)—especially longtime members and descendants of founding members—to take part in I-Archive Natin, a special opportunity to document and preserve the history of the Filipino American community in the Inland Northwest.

FAAIE holds an important place in our region’s story as the oldest and original Filipino American organization in the Inland Northwest. Through I-Archive Natin, we have an opportunity to preserve the people, families, celebrations, programs, and community leaders who helped build that legacy.

FAAIE’s history and contributions are being documented and preserved in partnership with the Eastern Washington State Historical Society, the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (MAC), and the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS).

📸 BRING YOUR HISTORY!

We encourage FAAIE members and families to bring:

• Historic photographs
• Past newsletters
• Event programs and flyers
• Documents and memorabilia
• Family and community stories
• Materials from past FAAIE celebrations and activities

These pieces of our history will help create a lasting digital record so that the stories of FAAIE’s founders, longtime members, families, programs, celebrations, and contributions are not lost to time.

🍰 Merienda will be provided by The Family Guide / Spokane United We Stand for attendees.

This is more than archiving photographs and documents. It is about preserving our community’s story in our own voices—and making sure future generations know who came before them, what they built, and how they helped shape the Filipino American community of the Inland Northwest.

I-Archive Natin — Let’s archive our history together.

Our Stories. Our History. Our Legacy.Preserving Filipino American History, One Memory at a Time!Bring your family photog...
09/22/2026

Our Stories. Our History. Our Legacy.
Preserving Filipino American History, One Memory at a Time!

Bring your family photographs, historical documents, and treasured memorabilia to be scanned and preserved for future generations!

You keep your originals! Digital copies will become part of the historical collections of the Joel E. Ferris Research Archives, Eastern Washington State Historical Society, and Filipino American National Historical Society.

Every photograph tells a story. Every memory preserves our heritage. Together, let's ensure our Filipino American history lives on for generations to come!

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 1–4 PM
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
2316 W 1st Ave., Spokane, WA 99201

Light merienda and refreshments will be served!
Questions? Call 509.928.9664 or email [email protected].
Bring your memories. Share your stories. Preserve our legacy!

We invite organizations to join us as community resource partners, working alongside those serving Spokane’s ESL, BIPOC,...
08/31/2026

We invite organizations to join us as community resource partners, working alongside those serving Spokane’s ESL, BIPOC, immigrant, and underserved communities to help us reach families who are too often left behind. Language barriers, unfamiliarity with available resources and systems, cultural differences, or reluctance to ask for assistance can prevent families from accessing the help they need—especially during an emergency. - https://mailchi.mp/thefamilyguide.org/showcase-your-services-at-our-family-emergency-resource-fair

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Spokane, WA

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+15099289664

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