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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-23/saint-malo-louisiana-2.avif" alt="Saint Malo, Louisiana: The First Filipino Settlement in the United States" loading="lazy" />
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(Saint Malo, as drawn by Charles Graham from sketches by J.O. Davidson, depicted in an 1883 report by Harper's Weekly correspondent Lafcadio Hearn. Library of Congress)
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<h4>
The Manilamen of Saint Malo
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<p>
The settlers of Saint Malo were known as the Manilamen, named after Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. These pioneers were among the earliest Asian immigrants to North America, arriving as early as 1763 when both the Philippines and Louisiana were under the Spanish colonial government in Mexico. 
However, the oldest known documentation of Saint Malo as a Filipino settlement only dates back to the 19th century, when in 1883, writer Lafcadio Hearn wrote about his journey to Saint Malo in an article for Harper's Weekly magazine. 
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The Manilamen built their homes on stilts over the marshlands, creating a unique community that thrived on fishing and shrimp drying.
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<h4>
Cultural Contributions
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The Manilamen introduced the practice of drying shrimp, which became an essential part of Louisiana's seafood industry. This method involved boiling, brining, and sun-drying shrimp to preserve and concentrate their flavor. The dried shrimp were then transported globally, laying the foundation for Louisiana's modern shrimp industry.
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