Alaska has the largest concentration of Filipinos of any state. As Alaska’s capital city, Juneau’s history has been shaped by its Filipino community, but their stories are rarely highlighted by the community they help form – not in schools, not in museums, not in the media.
Named after Thelma Buchholdt’s unprecedented historical anthology, “Filipinos in Alaska”, this webpage is our archive of Alaska’s countless, diverse Filipino stories. Learn more about Filipino history in Juneau by listening to KTOO’s podcast, Mga Kuwento, at ktoo.org/mgakuwento.
Most Recent Stories
Philippine consulate visits Kodiak for the first time since before the pandemic
Tongass Voices: George Gress, Joseph Galgano and Bryan Bolaños on musical craftsmanship
Juneau Afternoon: National Breastfeeding Month, Harvest Fair, and Chef Pati Jinich
Tongass Voices: Diosdado Valdez on finding family away from home
Videos
When the pandemic threatened to shut down their popular Filipino restaurant in the cruise ship destination of Skagway, Arlene Diente and Albert Efergan took the leap and moved to Juneau. The Gold Digger tells the story of how they’ve built a home for themselves and discovered community through their restaurant.
Since the 1990s, the Philippines has been the most common country of origin among Alaska’s foreign-born population. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Alaska’s Filipino population at more than 26,000, one of the state’s largest ethnic groups. Prominent Filipino-Alaskans Loy Maturan, Dante Reyes, and Raffy Castanos share their stories and experiences.
Culture & Food
People
Filipino Community Inc.
Filipinos in Alaska
“Filipinos in Alaska” is produced for Mga Kuwento, an archival history project by KTOO, Juneau-Douglas City Museum, and Filipino Community Inc. led by the project’s executive producer Tasha Elizarde.