The arrival of the first Philippines was in what is in modern-day Morro Bay, California in the United States was October 18, 1587.
Since 2009, the U.S. Congress designated October as Filipino American History Month. It is a month of appreciation for the Filipino experience throughout American history.
According to the “Los Angeles Times,” there are 1.2 million Filipino residents in California.
Zip Atlas lists that Daly City has the highest population of Filipinos in Kern County with 32.20% of the county’s Filipino population living there.
History
When they arrived on what is now U.S. soil, Filipino-Americans were known as Luzenos Indios. They were primarily Filipino sailors who were enrolled in the Spanish navy as native laborers during the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade. From there, they arrived at the shores of Morro-Bay, California. And they worked as sailors on board.
In 1910, Filipino immigrants arrived at Angel Island, San Francisco. Most of the people who came were young single men. Filipinos became U.S. nationals and were allowed to live legally in the U.S. under the protection of its law.
In 1913, Filipino immigrants were serving in the U.S. armed forces. They also became eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. Filipinos started to migrate because a war between China and Japan was going on.
On Dec. 28, 1945, the War Brides Act was passed. This act allowed alien spouses, natural children, and adopted children of members of the United States Armed Forces, “if admissible,” to enter the U.S. as non-quota immigrants after World War II.
The board of trustees of the Filipino American National Historical Society declared October of 1992 as the first observance of Filipino American History Month.
In Delano, there are activities all month to celebrate Filipino American Heritage Month. There are beauty pageants, a grand parade, basketball and volleyball tournaments, a traditional food cookoff, dancing and singing competitions, religious activities, games, and more.
This is a celebration where the whole community gets involved, including the United Filipino Organization student club at Delano High School that promotes Filipino culture the “UFO” or United Filipino Organization.
Notable Filipino-Americans
A few very important Filipino-Americans in U.S. history include
- Philip Vera Cruz became an important labor leader who made significant contributions to the American labor movement.
- Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, was a Filipino American historian, writer, poet, and educator. She is also believed to be the first Filipina-American to earn a doctorate in American history
- Jose Calugas was a Filipino-American soldier who was recognized for his heroic actions during World War II.
- Vicky Draves became the first Filipina American to win an Olympic medal in the 1948 London Olympics.
- Pedro Edralin Flores was a Filipino-American entrepreneur and inventor who helped popularize the yo-yo in the United States.
