The Asian Journal reports that U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama signed a certificate recognizing the Historic Filipinotown neighborhood of Los Angeles as a Preserve America Community. According to the report, the certificate was presented to community leaders and officials by Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), on January 28.

The reprt noted: "The heritage assets that helped Historic Filipinotown gain Preserve America Community status include the annual Historic Filipinotown Festival; tours in a restored jeepney (a traditional taxi made from a WWII jeep, which give visitors and residents a better understanding of the cultural history of the neighborhood); the nation’s only Filipino-American World War II Veterans Memorial; and and programs involving youth in preserving local history and culture."

The reprt quoted Dennis G. Arguelles—director of Program Development for the Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA)—who said, "Achieving Preserve America Community status is a tremendous accomplishment and source of much pride for our community. It recognizes the contributions of Filipino-Americans to not just Los Angeles, but the nation as a whole. It also represents a broad range of Historic Filipinotown residents, businesses, organizations, elected officials, and other stakeholders coming together to make the designation possible."

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