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Mid 20th Century

Mid 20th Century 1940s - 1965

Designed by Judy Patacsil and Barbara Reyes

Congress passed the War Brides Act in 1946. Filipinos who enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces and married during their service brought their brides from the Philippines. Filipinos who fought as Philippine Scouts were allowed to enter with their wives and children. As more women and families arrived, Filipino American communities grew. 

Next Wave of Filipino Immigrants

The next wave of Filipino immigrants included those Filipinos who were enlisted and fought in World War II and their war brides. This wave of immigration was 1945-1964. During World War II thousands of Filipinos residing in the United States and Filipinos in the Philippines joined forces with the United States to fight against the Japanese.

Filipino US Army WWII Veteran (1940’s)
Courtesy of Lily Villarin Baquial
Filipinos in San Diego

After Japan attacked the Philippines, subsequent to the bombing of Pearl Harbor 80,000 Filipinos rushed to the nearest military recruiting station to help defend their homeland. The thousands of Filipinos, including California, viewed the war as a way of emancipating them from prejudice and injustice. Filipinos that did not fight in the European and Pacific campaigns worked in jobs in the defense and fish canning industries, along with other ethnic and racial groups and women. They became the workforce that was once reserved for white males.

US Army 1st Filipino Infantry Soldier (1940’s)
Courtesy of Domingo Los Banos

Following the war, Congress passed the War Brides Act. This allowed Filipinos who enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces as residents of the United States and had married during their service in the Pacific to bring their brides from the Philippines.

Naval Training Center Graduating Class (1963) Courtesy of Reynila Calderon-Magbuhat,
Filipinos in San Diego

Downtown San Diego Restaurant (1954)
Courtesy of Tanya Caliente,
Filipinos in San Diego

US Navy sailors at Bataan Cafe (1954)
Courtesy of San Diego Historical Society,
Filipinos in San Diego

US Filipino sailors at the USO (1960’s)
Courtesy of Nancy Magpusao,
Filipinos in San Diego

The War Brides Act

The War Brides Act encouraged dependents of the Filipinos who had enlisted to immigrate to California. Filipinos who served in the armed forces as Philippines Scouts were allowed to enter with their wives and children. Many more women and families became a major part of this wave.

Arrival of WWII Brides (1953)
Courtesy of Patacsil Family,
Filipinos in San Diego

Filipino Family Integrations

These Filipino families integrated within the already existing Filipino community, which was comprised of many multicultural families. Given the shortage of Filipinas, Filipino men intermarried with Mexican, Panamanian, Black, American Indian, and ethnic white women. In San Diego, Mexican, Panamanian, and other Latinas were often the brides of choice.

Fleet Reserve Association with wives (1950’s)
Courtesy of Darlene Santos Tamayo,
Filipinos in San Diego

Formation of Filipino Communities

This contributed to the formation of growing Filipino American communities. The Filipino American population on the West Coast, more than doubled during this wave of immigration.

Baptism built communities with comrades,
Courtesy of Redondo Family,
Filipinos in San Diego

Mid 20th Century Niche

Title

  1. Poster with 9 pictures
    1. Filipino US Army WWII veteran (1940’s)
    2. Fleet Reserve Association with wives (1950’s)
    3. Arrival of WWII brides (1953)
    4. US Army 1st Filipino Infantry soldier (1940’s)
    5. US Navy sailors at Bataan Cafe (1954)
    6. US Filipino sailors at the USO (1960’s)
    7. Naval Training Center graduating class (1963)
    8. Baptism built communities with comrades and compadres (1950’s)
    9. Downtown San Diego Restaurant (1954)
  2. “The Fighting Filipinos” Poster, Manuel Rey Isip (1943)
  3. 1st Filipino Infantry Booklet
  4. Filipino Veteran American Legion Cap and 2 military shoulder patches

Courtesy of

  1. Barbara Reyes, FANHS
    1. Lily Villarin Baquial, Filipinos in San Diego
    2. Darlene Santos Tamayo, Filipinos in San Diego
    3. Patacsil Family, Filipinos in San Diego
    4. Domingo Los Banos
    5. San Diego Historical Society, Filipinos in San Diego
    6. Nancy Magpusao, Filipinos in San Diego
    7. Reynila Calderon-Magbuhat, Filipinos in San Diego
    8. Redondo Family, Filipinos in San Diego
    9. Tanya Caliente, Filipinos in San Diego
  2. Felix Tuyay
  3. Judy Patacsil
  4. Felix Tuyay

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