Experiencing Interruptions?

Reclaiming Humanity: Saving Seattle's First Filipinx American US History Course

For 50 years, the Filipino American community of Seattle has been tirelessly advocating for the inclusion of our history in Seattle Public Schools.

In 2022, we had our first Filipinx American US History course in Seattle Public Schools and that same year they threatened to cut it.

Follow the students, teachers, and community members in their fight to preserve cross community liberatory ethnic studies and watch them reclaim their humanity along the way.

  • Tianna Mae Andresen
    Director
  • Edmundo Aguilar
    Director
  • Tianna Mae Andresen
    Producer
  • Lillian Collet
    Key Cast
  • Jacob Orquia
    Key Cast
  • Isa Alcantara-Warren
    Key Cast
  • Vince Reyes
    Key Cast
  • Dorothy Laigo Cordova
    Key Cast
  • Third Andresen
    Key Cast
  • Annabel Garcia-Andresen
    Key Cast
  • Tianna Mae Andresen
    Writer
  • Edmundo Aguilar
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    31 minutes 4 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 23, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Film Debut Community Screening
    Seattle, WA
    United States
    November 23, 2024
Director Biography - Tianna Mae Andresen, Edmundo Aguilar

Tianna Mae (she/they) is a queer filipinx american academic, artist/fashion designer, liberatory educator, and new documentarian. Tianna is originally from Duwamish Land (Seattle, WA) but currently resides on Ohlone Land (San Francisco, CA). A lot of their work focuses on community based ethnic studies, queer stories, and archival histories. Tianna was the first teacher for the Filipinx American US History Course and is also a member of the Filipino American National Historical Society.

Edmundo Aguilar (He/Him) is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the College of Education at the University of Washington. Edmundo earned his Ph.D. in the Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education program at Washington State University. His non-traditional dissertation includes a documentary grounded in decolonial Chicana Feminism titled, Between Worlds: A Personal Journey of Self Reflection while on the Path of Conocimiento. Before joining UW, he received the 2019/2020 Eastern Washington University College of Social Sciences Teaching Excellence Award.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This historic course was the first to complete the US History Requirement in WA state and had been a product of over 50+ years of community work and fight. The last two years was transformative and reinforced my dedication to Ethnic Studies, and most importantly, to the next generation of critical thinkers, learners, and organizers.

But as systems of oppression do, they tried to stifle the liberatory work we were doing at SPS. They didn’t see the value of bringing community into the classroom, and bringing the classroom out to the community. They didn’t see the value of cross cultural solidarity building, of students (and not just marginalized students) actually feeling empowered in their identities. They refused to prioritize Ethnic studies and tried to cut them.

But as our ancestors did, time and time again, the students resisted. They organized a campaign, they mobilized with community, they saved the course for another year. They set the tone for how we fight for our futures, and set an precedent for others nationwide.

This documentary, in collaboration with Dr. Edmundo Aguilar, is the story of a peoples who refuse to be forgotten. We hope you find yourself in our story, and find those around you in the fight as well✊

-Tianna Mae Andresen
Check out @filamushistory206 to stay updated with our course!