Aklanons spur Kalibo’s declaration as Alaskan capital’s 5th sister city

Kalibo, Akla has been named the fifth sister city of Alaska's capital Juneau, owing to the number of Aklanons who have immigrated to the US state over the years.

Alaska Public Media wrote on Tuesday that at least 800 out of 3,000 Filipinos living in Juneau came from Aklan, and due to intermarriages and migrants' bringing their relatives over, the number is expected to keep growing.

Dr. Makarius Dela Cruz, Kalibo's municipal health officer, also asked the Alaskan local government to help "provide medicines, equipments and also promote nutrition" in Kalibo.

Philippine honorary consul to Alaska Jenny Gomez Strickler asked Alaska Airlines for direct flights to Manila to increase trade between the two cities.

Educational exchanges may also be forthcoming, after University of Alaska Southeast chancellor John Pugh said an agreement with Aklan University "would be a real benefit" for the sister cities.

According to the Alaska Humanities Forum, Filipinos first arrived in Alaska in the 18th century as crew of exploratory and fur-trading vessels and were known as "Manilla men."

Digital newspaper The Northern Light wrote in 2012 that there were roughly 19,394 Filipinos in Alaska.

EJ David, a University of Alaska Anchorage assistant psychology professor, told the newspaper that by 2025, "one in four people in Alaska will be Filipino." — Rie Takumi/BM, GMA News

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