Exhibition Explores Filipino American History Through Personal Artifacts at Smithsonian

An exhibition titled 'How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories' is currently on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington DC. The show, presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, features artifacts discovered in 2005 when Antonio Somera found 26 steamer trunks in a Stockton, California basement. These trunks contained personal belongings of Filipino migrants who arrived in the United States beginning in the 1910s. The exhibition's name comes from a pillowcase embroidered with the phrase 'HOW CAN YOU FORGET ME' found among the items. Curator Sam Vong organized the display to provide insight into the lives of the Manong Generation—early Filipino laborers who worked in agricultural fields in California and Hawaii. The exhibition includes items such as three-piece suits, Stetson hats, and studio photographs that reveal how these migrants maintained dignity and presented themselves as successful despite facing racial exclusion laws. Additional objects on loan, including a beauty pageant dress, highlight community roles. Vong notes the exhibition focuses on human stories rather than just labor history, aiming to show the full humanity of these individuals. The display runs until November 28, 2027, and has drawn positive responses from visitors, particularly descendants of immigrants. The curator emphasizes that the narrative remains relevant amid contemporary political debates about immigration.