The Filipino-American Highway is a seven-mile stretch of the State Highway Route 54 that connects the I-5, I-805 and CA-125 freeways in San Diego, California. Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 157, drafted by former Assemblyman Juan Vargas, proposed that a portion of the CA-54 highway, formerly called the South Bay Freeway, be renamed as the Filipino-American Highway. The Council of Philippine American Organizations (COPAO) funded the cost of creating and putting up the signs. On October 6, 2007, California State and local officials, including Philippine Consul General Mary Jo Aragon, unveiled the signs marking the first designated Filipino-American Highway in the U.S.
The Filipino-American Highway passes through National City, Paradise Valley, Paradise Hills, and Chula Vista, communities with significant Filipino-American populations. Filipino-Americans make up 4.7% of the total population of San Diego County. ACR 157 acknowledges the contributions of Filipino-American pioneers, such as Carlos Bulosan and Philip Veracruz, as well as the service of Filipino-American teachers, medical professionals, and business leaders. The Filipino-American Highway is the first public highway that has been renamed to recognize the contributions that Filipinos and Filipino-Americans have made to the state and the nation. It also serves as a reminder of the struggles and successes that Filipino-Americans experienced to establish these communities.
Reference: http://www.bakitwhy.com/articles/first-filipino-american-highway-us#
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