'Filipino Towns' around the US preserve history and raise community's visibility

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Bernie Benito speaks during a celebration for the designation of Filipino Town as a Clark County Cultural District, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

It was over four centuries ago to the day Saturday that Filipinos set foot on the North American continent for the first time. Now, Filipino Americans are working to sustain a cultural footprint.

During celebration of October's Filipino American History Month , many Filipinos are seeking their cities' acknowledgment of “Filipino Towns” — a cultural district designation similar to Chinatowns, Japantowns and Koreatowns that highlights the contributions of expat and immigrant populations to a major city's overall identity.

That recognition can be th