Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Regions

?The month of May has been designated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in appreciation for the historical contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States and its associated territories. Inside, we proudly recognize the native languages and unique experiences from 8 regions represented by the more than 30 ethnic groups from Asia and the Pacific Islands found in the United States.

	Vietnam Language: Vietnamese, English, French, Chinese, Khmer, and local tribal languages. Well Known Fact: The Vietnamese countryside is a landscape of rural rice paddies, mountainous terrain and beautiful rain forests. Little Known Fact: Vietnamese society practices many different religions including Mahayana Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Hinduism and Animism.
	Philippines Language: Filipino is widely spoken, but the sole national language is English. Well Known Fact: The country lies within the typhoon belt of the Western Pacific and is stricken with about 19 typhoons per year. Little Known Fact: The most commonly played sport in the Philippines is basketball.
	South Korea Language: Korean Well Known Fact: Taekwondo, a popular martial art that became an official Olympic sport in 2000, originated in Korea. Little Known Fact: South Korea’s entertainment industry has exploded since the 1990s, producing many successes in music, television and film in a phenomenon called “Hallyu” or the “Korean Wave.”
	Japan Language: Japanese, with an emphasis on English as a second language. Well Known Fact: Japan is the home of the samurai, an elite military warrior class. Little Known Fact: Japan is a country of islands – four larger islands surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller islands.
	Laos Language: Lao (French is decreasing while English is increasing.) Well Known Fact: Theravada Buddhism is a dominant influence in Lao culture and is reflected in its language, temple, art, literature, and performing arts. Little Known Fact: The government has set aside 21% of the nation’s land in hopes of developing the most comprehensive national park system in Southeast Asia.
	India Language: Hindi, English and 21 other official languages. Well Known Fact: With an estimated population of 1.1 billion, India is the world’s second most populous country. Little Known Fact: In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act, which led to over 500 wildlife sanctuaries, 14 biosphere reserves and 25 protected wetlands.
	China Language: Mandarin Chinese Well Known Fact: China’s population is well over 1 billion. Little Known Fact: China lies in two of the world’s major zoographic regions, which results in a very diverse animal population that includes hamsters, camels, gibbons, apes, antelope and the giant panda, to name just a few.
	Hawaii Language: 2 official languages are English and Hawaiian. Well Known Fact: All the Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanoes arising from the sea floor from a magma source described as a “hotspot.” Little Known Fact: Throughout its history, Hawaii has boasted many dominating industries such as whaling, sugarcane, pineapple, education and, since statehood was achieved in 1959, tourism.