Filipino American History Month (FAHM) has been celebrated since 1982, when the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) first declared it to commemorate the first Filipinos to land in Morro Bay, California, on October 18, 1587. In 2009, the U.S. Senate passed U.S. House Resolution 780, which recognized October as Filipino American History Month across the United States. In 2010, the governor of New York and the mayor of New York City also proclaimed FAHM in October. In 2015 and 2016, President Obama hosted FAHM Celebrations in the White House.

In 2018, FANHS Metro New York hosted and supported multiple events throughout New York City.