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Ever wonder about those “Manila Galleons”? You know, the ships that sailed from the Philippines to Mexico for centuries? Did you ever stop to think about the Filipinos who were on them? I did. And trust me, their story is wilder than any history book lets on.
See, most folks think Filipinos just started showing up in America around the 1900s. And while it’s true that massive migration didn’t happen until after America took over the Philippines in 1898, there were Filipinos here way before that. We’re talking centuries earlier.
Think about it – those Manila Galleons weren’t just hauling silk and spices. They were carrying Filipinos, too. Some were sailors, some were slaves, some jumped ship seeking a new life. They landed on the shores of California, Mexico, even Louisiana, long before the Mayflower even set sail.
Here’s the thing: digging up their history is like searching for buried treasure.
- There aren’t many records in English.
- You need to dig into Spanish archives.
- And even then, the stories are fragmented, whispers from the past.
But what we do know paints a fascinating picture.
Take the story of the “Manilamen” of Louisiana. These weren’t just a few guys who got lost at sea. We’re talking about a whole community of Filipino fishermen who settled down in the bayous around the 1760s.
They built their homes on stilts, just like they did back in the Philippines. They fished those waters for shrimp and oysters, using techniques passed down for generations. They even had their own version of gumbo, spiced with that distinct Filipino flair.
Imagine that – a taste of the Philippines, right there in the heart of Cajun country!
Then there’s the story of the Filipinos in Morro Bay, California. In 1587, a Spanish explorer named Pedro de Unamuno landed there with a crew that included Filipinos. They were searching for a safe harbor for the Manila Galleons, and some historians believe that Filipinos might have been part of the first permanent Spanish settlement in California.
These early Filipino pioneers weren’t just laborers or sailors. Some even held positions of authority.
Take for instance, Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra. Born in Peru to a Spanish father and a Filipina mother, he became a renowned explorer and eventually the governor of California! His story is a testament to the complex history of Spanish colonialism and the significant role Filipinos played in it.
But here’s the thing about history – it’s not always pretty.
While some Filipinos found freedom and opportunity in early America, others faced hardship and discrimination. Many were forced into labor, working on Spanish ranches or serving as servants in wealthy households. They faced prejudice because of their race and religion, often lumped together with other “Indios” by the Spanish colonizers.
Their stories are often lost in the shadows, silenced by time and prejudice. But that doesn’t mean they’re gone. Their legacy lives on in the faces of Filipino Americans today, in the food we eat, the music we listen to, and the stories we tell.
So the next time someone asks you about Filipino American history, remember the Manila Men of Louisiana. Remember the Filipinos who landed on the shores of California centuries ago. Remember that our story in this land began long before textbooks say it did.
We’re not just a footnote in American history – we’re a vital thread woven into the very fabric of this nation.