As celebrate Filipino American History Month, I’d like to take a look at some interesting aspects of the Filipinos history in the U.S. beginning with one point raised in my Filipino American websites.  Did the Filipinos really arrive in the U.S. earlier than the pilgrims?

The reason why this question is compelling is because the pilgrims are regarded as among the shapers of American history - or rather America as we know it.

The Pilgrims were from the Humber region of England. Before heading to the New World, they migrated to Holland to avoid persecution. Although they were allowed some religious liberties in Holland, the liberalism and openness of the Dutch to all styles of life horrified them. Once their children grew up Dutch and began adopting the local culture, the Pilgrims decided to leave for the New World.

They originally landed at what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts. In 1620, they established their settlement at Plymouth after scouting the coastline, arriving on the Mayflower. One of their first tasks was to form a new government to foster their hopes for a better life in their new home. The small communities that inhabited what is now Metro Boston created the Mayflower compact. They also suffered grievously from smallpox, but they were assisted in their time of trouble by the Pokanokets under chief Massasoit. In 1621 they celebrated their first Thanksgiving Day together to thank God for their survival. About half survived the first year.[source

So did Filipinos arrive first in the U.S.? Technically, YES.

While the pilgrims arrived on the east coast in 1620, the Filipinos set foot on Morro Bay, California in 1587 on board the Spanish galleon ship Nuestra Senora de Esperanza. This was on the other side of present-day United States and was then controlled by Spain. A mark now stands on Morro Bay to mark the landing of Filipinos in the continental United States.

Text translates:

During the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade era from 1565 to 1815 Spanish galleons crossed the pacific between the Philippines and Mexico.

On October 18, 1587, the Manila Galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza commanded by Pedro de Unamuno entered Morro Bay near here. A landing party was sent to shore which included Luzon Indios, marking the first landing of Filipinos in the continental United States. The landing party took official possession of the area for Spain by putting up a cross made of branches. The group was attacked by native Indians two days later, and one of the Filipinos was killed. Unamuno and his crew gave up further exploration of this part of the coast.