Episode 19 : The Hidden History of Luzon Indians (Filipinos) in America

Luzon Indians, the ancestors of modern-day Filipinos, were a diverse group with a developed culture and society long before Spanish colonization. The sources offer limited details about their lives before colonization, but we know they inhabited specific regions of Luzon and were part of a larger group of "civilized Malayan peoples." They practiced agriculture, fishing, and trade and had contact with Hindu and Chinese cultures, suggesting a dynamic and interconnected society. While there is no evidence of Luzon Indians traveling to the Americas before Spanish colonization, their involvement in the Manila galleon trade, established after the Spanish founded Manila in 1571, brought them to the shores of America. Serving as skilled sailors, they played various crucial roles on these ships, potentially navigating, sailing, maintaining the vessels, and even guarding them. A key event in their history in America is the documented landing of at least eight "Yndios Luzones" at Morro Bay, California in 1587, part of Pedro De Unamuno's voyage from Manila to Acapulco. This landing highlights their early presence on the California coast, even if as part of the Spanish colonial system. Later, in 1763, a group of Filipinos established a settlement in St. Malo, Louisiana, demonstrating their desire for a new life free from Spanish control. While the sources offer limited information on Filipinos in Mexico, their presence is highly likely given Acapulco's role as the main destination for the Manila galleons. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Filipinos continued to arrive in the Americas, working as sailors, adventurers, and domestics, with some migrating to the West Coast, Hawaii, and Alaska. This complex history showcases the Luzon Indians' adaptation and resilience, transforming from pre-colonial islanders to integral participants in the transpacific voyages and settlements that shaped the early history of the Americas.