Filipino American History – SSW Resources and Scholarship

Photos of Alma Trinidad, Antonia Alvarez, and Lainey Sevillano
Photos of Alma Trinidad, Antonia Alvarez, and Lalaine Sevillano

To celebrate Filipino American History Month the School of Social Work would like to recognize our Filipinx faculty by sharing their scholarly work and other resources for the public. 

Filipinx Americans are second-largest Asian American group in the United States and the celebration of Filipino American History Month commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinxs in the continental United States, occurring when “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California. In 2009, U.S. Congress recognized October as Filipino American History Month in the United States.

Across the United States, Filipino American National Historical Society chapters, colleges and universities, museums, and community groups commemorate Filipino American History Month with various activities and events to bring awareness of the significant role Filipinos have played in American history.

Portland State University students can learn about Filipinx culture through a PSU Student Organization, Kaibigan, and PSU general community can learn more about more opportunities to engage in the local/state Filipino and PIAA communities by checking out The Division of Global Diversity & Inclusion’s past community convening event for Pacific Islanders, Nativie Hawaiians, Asians, and Asian Americans.

PSU social work students can also join the Filipinx Social Work Collective to connect, build kapwa, and amplify the lived experiences of Filipinx social workers! We are hosting a social gathering at CSWE. Please email Dr. Lalaine Sevillano for more details!

Below are resources and scholarship from the School of Social Work's Filipinx faculty: Alma M. Ouanesisouk Trinidad, Antonia R.G. Alvarez, and Lalaine Sevillano.


Alma M. Ouanesisouk Trinidad, PhD, MSW

Dr. Trinidad will be one of three keynote speakers at the upcoming International Multidisciplinary Research Conference on Languages, Histories, & Culture: Celebrating Diversity & Empowering Indigenous Peoples & Communities hosted by Kalinga State University, Philippines next month. 

On November 24-25, Kalinga State University will host an International Multidisciplinary Research Conference on Languages, Histories, and Cultures. This conference is the university’s contribution to the commencement of the Decade of Indigenous Peoples, a celebration initiated by the United Nations. As a university serving multiple people from various ethnolinguistic backgrounds, they are committed to the thrust of the United Nations as well as the mandate of the Philippine government in advancing the cause of indigenous peoples in the country. It is on this note that they have identified scholars, cultural workers, and academics whose background is in these areas of advocacy work that they want to sustain for all our peoples.

Here are other resources for social work practitioners and scholars which Dr. Trinidad has co-authored:


Antonia R.G. Alvarez, PhD, LMSW

Here are a few examples of Dr. Alvarez’s work emphasizing Filipino, Asian-American, and queer scholar of color health and well-being! We also featured Dr. Alvarez’s work on stories of resistance in a recent news post.  


Lalaine Sevillano, PhD, MSW

Dr. Sevillano has presented on Pilipinx American and Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American issues in the past and will be presenting next week at CSWE about Pilipinx Americans.

Awards

  • 2022 Asian, Pacific Islander Social Work Education Association (APISWEA) Doctoral Fellowship for my dissertation on internalized oppression and its impact on the well-being of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi Americans, while considering the role of critical consciousness. This three-paper dissertation includes a study about the relationship between colonial mentality and bio-psycho-social-spiritual health among Pilipinx Americans.

Peer-reviewed

Presentations/Invited Presentations

Other Media

  • Sevillano, L. (2020, June). Mapping my role as a disruptor in the social change ecosystem. Guest on Soul-cial Work Summer podcast.
     
  • Smith-Maddox, R., Sevillano, L., & Padilla, Y. (2020). Equity-minded competence in higher education. Published in Educator Resource on Council on Social Work Education’s Center for Diversity and Social & Economic Justice website.