Manila Men in the New World

Some 60,000 Filipinos sailed on the galleons from Manila to Acapulco over two and half centuries mostly as crews. Many escaped upon reaching Mexico never to return to the Philippines. Most of the Filipino sailors were natives “Indios-Tagalogs.” There were also many who belonged to the Mestizo class, who traveled as merchants, technicians or functionaries. Filipinos had been in the New World much longer than any Asians but the term "Filipino” or "insulares-creoles" during Spanish colonial time are referred to Spaniards born in the Philippines. In Nueva España (Mexico), natives from the Philippines were known as “Luzon Indios, “Manila Men” or “Chinos” simply because they were in Manila Galleon loaded with Chinese scented spices, luxurious silk and multitude of Oriental goods. There’s a big probability that most Chinese in Mexico are actually Filipino back then.

In another part of the New World when "Manila Men" were discovered in the state of Louisiana, their villages were already established, show that they have been living there longer than 1763 though no known documents that may proof that they have arrived earlier and possibly way earlier than the Mayflower just like the ones who established themselves at Morro Bay, California in 1587 that preceded the landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1620 at Plymouth, Massachusetts. They were called “Manila Men” because they said to be mariners who escaped from the ships of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade and they found their way into the harsh and unforgiving bayous that’s an ideal place to hide. These people who settled in the bayous were called "Manilamen," "Manillians" and "Tagalas” established their community at St. Malo, located southeast of New Orleans. St. Malo is named after the leader of a group of maroons group of enslaved Africans led by Jean Saint Malo escaped Lake Borgne, with weapons obtained from plantation slaves, Jean Saint Malo was captured by Spanish forces and was hanged in front of St. Louis Cathedral in what is now called Jackson Square, New Orleans.

On January 8, 1815, the Battle of New Orleans became the final major battle of the War of 1812. Outnumbered American forces commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired from the Louisiana Purchase. Many Manila Men joined the U.S. Army and fought against the British, later on some would participate in the American Civil War. Most became fishermen and introduced the process of dried shrimp which is still popular in the area. Since most if not all were men, rarely women live in the village, those fishermen who did have families had them live in New Orleans or in other localities. The reason for this can be attributed to the isolated and harsh conditions of the surroundings. Since there were no Filipino women, the Manila Men often courted and married local Cajun, Creole, Indian, Black women and others. Some of them enrolled their children in schools in New Orleans.

St. Malo was destroyed by a hurricane in 1915. In 1965, Manila Men’s Village, the last of the settlement was destroyed by Hurricane Betsy. No physical remains of any of these dwellings exist today. Between the late 1980s until early 2005, there was extensive and promising documentation of this part of Filipino history. Unfortunately, by August 2005, all were completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
- ka tony
11th of September, '18