NEW YORK, New York (The Adobo Chronicles, Washington Bureau) – On the eve of the first presidential debate, Republican candidate Donald Trump is appealing to Filipino Americans to come out in the open and manifest their support for his candidacy.

Trump gathered a few Asian Americans  for a historic group photo yesterday to show that he has the support of the community.  He, however, could not bring on Filipino Americans, except for Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes who has gone public as a Trump supporter.  (Most of those who posed for the photo were Chinese Americans.)

“I know I have a lot of Filipino American supporters who will vote for me,” Trump said, “so I really need you all to come out in the open to show that I am the candidate who will fight for the cause of diversity.”

In one of his campaign speeches, Trump lumped the Philippines with other countries which he identified as harboring terrorists.

That statement didn’t sit well with Filipino American Republicans, but they are still committed to vote for him as the next president of the United Sates.