Landing of the First Filipinos – Historical Landmark

I love history, so many thing to learn. So much insight to be gained. This tiny tidbit is a plaque on a rock in Coleman Park. Another monument that will be walked past by many. This is an interesting part of local history, but other may just pass. Your call.

If you’re Filipino, you MUST stop here!!! it’s a piece of our legacy and we wanted to see history. The fiancée is a history buff, so this was a given on our trip up the coast.
Have to admit, it was a little challenging for us to find and we drove back and forth before we decided to park and walk around. Once you do find it, take a deep breath and absorb the fresh salty water.
The plaque is there and the view is beautiful overlooking Morro Bay. It’s cool there is a historical marker that was put in the area in 1995.
FILIPINO PRIDE!

Being a Filipina and proud lol… I had to check this out… nah, in all seriousness, its always fun and educational to check out a historical landmark… filipino’s, non filipinos… come check it out… EDUCATE YOURSELF… =)

I was just there at the plaque today. Great part of Morro Bay. After some window shopping and lunch along Embarcadero, we strolled the sidewalk heading towards Morro Rock. You have to pass Tognazzini’s restaurant, pass the coast guard office on your left and steam towers on your right. Finally along the brick-​paved path leading to Morro Rock you will see a wooden sign to the right «Coleman Park». Locals were casting their fishing lines into the bay. On the right side near a white building with blue roof is the plaque rock underneath a tree. After some pictures at the plaque we walked towards the beach to watch the surf. Eventually we toured Morro Rock.
The location of the plaque makes it easy and fun to share this memorial with friends and family. Make a day of it at Morro Bay.

It’s always awesome to check out a piece of US history… and it’s even more awesome if it’s from the motherland.
The landmark is not to hard to find. If you set your GPS to Coleman Park and look for the rock underneath the tree (to your left), you’re there. Don’t make the mistake of going up the road, past Coleman Park and mistaking another rock (to the right) for it. And if you reach the HUGE rock formation, you’ve gone too far.
I’ve known about the landmark for a while, so it was pretty neat to see this in person.

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RJR — ISSUE #27 — Excellent Adventure Edition
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«MANILA, TRANQUILITY BASE HERE. THE FILIPINO EAGLE HAS LANDED…»
On October 18, 1587, 33 years before the pilgrims arrived in New England and 20 years before the founding of Jamestown in Virginia, Filipinos were a part of the Spanish Unamuno’s Expedition that landed on the coast of California.
From what I understand, there has been some debate as to the exact spot of their landing location, but there is no debating that they were here.
Filipinos landed in Morro Bay in 1587 — — and 420 years later — — my girlfriend and I landed in the exact same spot.
And why did we come here? — To leave our own footprints too. =p
Because in 1995, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), California Central Coast Chapter, sought the creation and installation of a Filipino American Landmark in Coleman Park at Morro Bay. And they succeeded.
This historical marker commemorates the «first recorded arrival of Filipinos to what is now part of the continental United States.»
So after spending time in San Luis Obispo — we decided to venture out to Morro Bay to find this Filipino America Landmark — before we made our way down the coast to Pismo Beach for dinner.
And we found embedded in a rock at Coleman Park a plaque that read:
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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 Señora 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.
Historical Landmark Declared by the
Filipino American National Historical Society
California Central Coast Chapter
Dedicated October 21, 1995
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(CHECK OUT MY UPLOADED PHOTOS)
FIVE STARS for the Filipino American National Historical Society (California Central Coast Chapter) in establishing this historical site.
Thank you in helping the future to always remember our past…
*TAKE NOTE*
— The Morro Bay plaque is mid-​way between the Morro Rock and Embarcadero Road, in the waterfront area of Morro Bay. At this mid-​way point along this land bridge, you will come upon a small grassy area, which is Coleman Park. When you are at this park, look right by the roadway and you will see a large angular rock. And there you are!
— If you ever venture out to this site, be sure to stop by the Tognazzini’s Dockside and get some Fresh BBQ’ed Oysters — They’re Swimming in Garlic Butter. It’s just down the way!