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Pre 20th Century

Pre 20th Century 1500s - 1890s

Designed by Barbara Reyes, Herb Delute, and Judy Patacsil

From 1565-1815, Filipinos were instrumental to the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. Many jumped ships off the coast of California and Louisiana. In 1896 the Katipunan leaders revolted against Spain. The first Philippine Republic was formed with President Emilio Aguinaldo. The independence was short lived. U.S. claimed the Philippines leading to the Philippine-American War. 

Filipino Resistance to Spanish Conquerors

Filipinos resisted the Spanish conquerors from the beginning. Early in the Spanish colonization, Magellan was killed by a Filipino native, Lapu-Lapu.

Courtesy of Felix Tuyay
Carlos V. Francisco’s Mural
Filipino Struggles Through History

Filipinos in the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade

From 1565 to 1815, Filipinos were instrumental to the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. Along the trade route of the sailing expeditions, many Filipinos jumped ship to escape the brutality of their Spanish masters.  These sailing expeditions included explorations of the California coast including the port of San Diego.
Courtesy of
Barbara Reyes

Courtesy of
Judy Patacsil

Filipino's in Early Louisiana

Filipino Cajuns

Manila Village, Bayou of Louisiana

Courtesy of Fred Cordova
Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans

Filipino Oppression Under Spanish Rule

As the Filipinos became increasingly oppressed under Spanish rule, a movement towards reformation was led by Jose Rízal, who was eventually executed by the Spaniards.
Courtesy of Felix Tuyay
Carlos V. Francisco’s Mural,
Filipino Struggles Through History

Courtesy of Judy Patacsil

Filipino Oppression Under Spanish Rule

It was not until 1896 that a national Filipino revolution began by Katipunan leaders including Andres Bonifacio.
Courtesy of Felix Tuyay
Carlos V. Francisco’s Mural,
Filipino Struggles Through History

Philippine American War

Courtesy of Barbara Reyes

The result was the establishment of the first Philippine Republic on June 12, 1898, headed by Emilio Aquinaldo. However, Spain was reluctant to give up control of the Philippines and with additional conflicts with the US, Spain became engaged in the Spanish-American War. The independence of the first Philippine Republic was short lived. Instead of recognizing and supporting Philippine independence from Spain, the US decided to claim the islands as a territory. In 1898 after the Spanish-American War, Spain ceded the Philippines to the US for $20 million. What ensued was the bloody and violent Philippine-American War, known to Americans as the Philippine Insurrection. Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos died under brutal and inhumane conditions.  The Filipinos were unable to sustain their fight for freedom against the military might of the US.

Pre 20th Century Niche

Title

  1. Poster with 8 pictures
    1. Track of the Manila Galleons 
    2. Manila-Acapulco Galleon 
    3. Morro Bay, CA
    4. Bayou of Louisiana
    5. Filipino Cajuns
    6. Emilio Aguinaldo
    7. Philippine American War
    8. Racist Depiction of Filipinos on a US Magazine
  2. National Geographic, 1990, “Track of the Manila Galleons.”
  3. Nole Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)
  4. Cross
  5. Spices
  6. Chalice

Courtesy of:

  1. Barbara Reyes, FANHS
    1. National Geographic, 1990, “Track of the Manila Galleons.”
    2. National Geographic, 1990, “Track of the Manila Galleons.”
    3. Barbara Reyes, FANHS
    4. Marina Espina Collection, Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans
    5. Marina Espina Collection, Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans
    6. Barbara Reyes, FANHS
    7. Barbara Reyes, FANHS
    8. The Forbidden Book: The Philippine American War in Political Cartoons
  2. Barbara Reyes, FANHS
  3. Dr. Rose Rizal, Judy Patacsil

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