The First Filipinos In America

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 3):

October 18, 1587

The first Filipinos arrived in America on October 18, 1587. Called the "Luzon Indios" by the Spaniards, these Filipino sailors came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza that landed at Morro Bay, California. 

The ship was commanded by Pedro de Unamuno. They put up a cross made of branches to officially take possession of the area for Spain. They were attacked by the Chumash people or native indians, who killed one of the Filipinos and a Spaniard. 

After the deaths of his crew, Unamuno decided to leave and proceeded to Acapulco, their intended destination. No other Filipino landed in California until 1595. 

In 1995, a monument was dedicated to commemorate the events of 1587. At present, Filipino Americans are the second-largest Asian American group in the United States, and the third-largest ethnic group in California. In 2023, there are more than four million Filipino-Americans in the U.S. 

In 2009, the United States Congress recognized October as Filipino American History Month in commemoration of the arrival of the "Luzon Indios." 

Various states, counties, and cities in the U.S. established proclamations and resolutions declaring the observance of Filipino American History Month. President Barack Obama celebrated the first FAHM at the White House in 2015. 

The White House honored the contributions of Filipino-Americans to their country in time for the celebration of the Filipino American History Month. 

On October 2, 2023, through a post in X (twitter), the White House shared that “This Filipino American History Month, the Biden-Harris Administration is proud to honor generations of Filipino Americans who have ensured our nation remains a land of hope, opportunity, and optimism.” 

Dr. Fred Cordova, along with his wife, Dr. Dorothy Laigo Cordova, founder of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), first introduced October as Filipino American History Month in 1992 with a resolution from the FANHS National Board of Trustees. 

Since then, across the nation, FANHS Chapters, colleges and universities, museums, and community groups commemorated Filipino American History Month with various activities and events to bring awareness of the significant role Filipinos have played in American history.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org