Philippine connection to New Orleans, Louisiana

September 29th, 2005

*Philippine connection to New Orleans, Louisiana ~ The earliest recorded Filipino settlers in the United States were the sailors from the Spanish Manila-Acapulco galleon trading ships during the Spanish colonization period from the mid 18th century to the early 19th century. While the galleon ships were docked in Acapulco, Mexico, some Filipino sailors jumped ship to escape the oppression of the Spaniards. While others chose to stay in Acapulco and in different parts of Mexico, some travelled east to Vera Cruz. From there, they travelled further by ship or land to Louisiana to settle in small fishing villages on the bayou, the oldest being Saint Malo, which was located near New Orleans, but is no longer in existence since Typhoon Betsy wiped it out in 1965. The Saint Malo settlement comprised of about a dozen or so small huts on stilts rising above the watery swamp. The largest and most popular setttlement was named Manila Village, later renamed Jefferson Parish, located on Barataria Bay. These Filipino men subsisted on fish and alligators, and they were reported to speak Spanish and Tagalog. They were referred to as “Manilamen” and “Tagalas” from the Philippine Islands.