The First Filipinos in America: Long Before the Pilgrims!

Uncover the untold history of the first Filipinos in America. Join us as we delve into forgotten stories that link the Philippines and the Americas, revealing narratives often overlooked in mainstream history.

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Video Chapters
00:00 Intro: Who Were The First Filipinos in America?
01:14 Defining 'Filipino' and 'America'
02:51 The Luzones Indios and Morro Bay, California (1587)
05:43 The Manila Galleon Trade and California’s History (1565-1815)
07:57 The Manilamen of Louisiana (1763–1800s)
10:17 The Exiled Luzones Datus to Mexico (1587)
11:54 Rethinking 'Filipino' Identity
13:22 Precolonial Austronesian Connections
13:53 Uplifting Hidden Histories: Building Solidarity Across Continents

About the Video
Filipinos have been shaping American history for over 400 years—long before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. This video dives into the journeys of the Luzones Indios, who arrived at Morro Bay in 1587, the Manila Galleon Trade connecting Asia and the Americas, and the Manilamen who founded the first Asian-American settlement in Louisiana. Explore how Filipinos contributed to the cultural and historical fabric of America through maritime expertise and community-building efforts. Join Kirby Araullo as he uncovers these stories in honor of Filipino American History Month. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more on Filipino history and culture.

About Kirby Araullo
Kirby Pábalan-Táyag Aráullo is a Filipino American historian, content creator, and renowned culture bearer based in California. He is also the author of the groundbreaking book “Black Lives & Brown Freedom: Untold Histories of War, Solidarity, & Genocide,” and the Co-Founder and former Director of Operations for the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at the University of California, Davis.

Kirby is a direct descendant of the last indigenous Paramount Kings of Luzon (of both Lakandúlâ of Tondo and Rája Matandá of Maynílâ), of the anti-colonial revolutionary Katipuneros, and of World War II Guerilyeras who fought for the liberation of the islands we now call the Philippines.

Born in Angeles City, Philippines, Kirby spent his childhood amidst the rebuilding of his homeland in the aftermath of Mt. Pinatubo’s cataclysmic eruption. His childhood beneath the shadows of the city’s red-light district, slum neighborhoods, and Clark Air Base (a former U.S. military installation) sparked his lifelong passion in advocating for the rights and the well-being of marginalized and disenfranchised communities. As a direct descendant of revolutionaries, politicos, and activists, Kirby’s upbringing was molded by productively engaging and navigating the realms of advocacy, traditional politics, and grassroots activism.

With a keen interest in varying fields (such as history, public affairs, and filmmaking) and a strong commitment to serving the community, Kirby studied at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, such as Harvard University, the University of California, Davis, and the Université catholique de Louvain (one of Europe’s oldest universities). He has been teaching Filipino people’s history through writing in indigenous Philippine scripts (Kulitan & Baybayin) for over a decade.

Today, Kirby is well-known for his educationally engaging YouTube channel where you can find videos about history, culture, and everything in between! He is also currently working on his next big book “Luzones & the New World: Forgotten Histories from Southeast Asia to the Americas” along with an easy-to-read book and zine series known as “Know Our Roots,” and an educational coloring book series called “Color Our Roots.”

Kirby is an educator who is well-rooted in his culture and passionate about his colorful heritage (Kapampángan, Tagálog, Indigenous Áytá, Pangasinan, and Spanish-Basque-Portuguese-Irish Mestizo); he strives to decolonize Philippine history and democratize Ethnic Studies through knowledge and creativity. Kirby is a Dátû and Lakan by blood but an Artist-Scholar-Activist at heart.