History and Mission

The Philippine Forum is an independent, multi-issue organization based in New York City and founded in 1996. It seeks to arouse, organize and mobilize Filipinos in the United States to work for economic and social justice. It seeks to:

• Provide opportunities to deepen understanding of the Filipino diaspora and the Philippine situation;
• Engage in mass campaigns, political action, and cultural events to advocate for basic structural changes in the world order that will allow the Philippines to gain economic self-sufficiency and free the Filipino people from poverty;
• Organize Filipino youth, workers and other concerned citizens toward these goals.

Programs

Community Organizing Program

The Program aims to organize Filipino workers, youth and students and concerned citizens to address social and economic justice issues related to the Philippines and Filipinos in America.

The Program includes the Filipino Workers Center that organizes Filipino domestic workers, restaurant and dock workers, and the MAKABAYAN Youth Collective for Filipino youth and students.

Arts and Culture Program

The Program sponsors and produces theater, music, dance and visual arts events that aim to raise awareness on issues related to Philippine society and Filipinos in the United States.

Education Program

The Program includes the Philippine Studies and Language Institute, the Philippine-American War Documentation Project, and the Political Education Project.

Advocacy and Political Action Program

The Program works to mobilize political action and advocacy related to justice issues in the Philippines and the United States. Recent issues have included the Visiting Forces Agreement, US bombins of Iraq, APEC, the WTO, and the anniversary of Martial Law in the Philippines.

Solidarity and Community Building Program

The Program works to develop relationships with allied organizations in the United States and in the Philippines to build a movement to change oppressive structures and collectively build a just society.