121587 -

: Two Filipinos, armed with swords and shields, were the first to step ashore as part of a scout formation.

: On the third day (October 20), tensions rose, and a violent encounter occurred between the expedition and the native Californians, resulting in the death of one Spaniard and one Filipino. Commemoration 121587

In October 1587, history was made on the shores of California when the first Filipinos landed at Morro Bay. The Expedition of the Esperanza : Two Filipinos, armed with swords and shields,

The voyage reached the California coast on October 18, 1587, at a latitude of 35.5 degrees North. The Expedition of the Esperanza The voyage reached

: They encountered local indigenous groups and offered food and clothing as peace offerings.

Today, this event is recognized as the earliest documented presence of Filipinos in what is now the continental United States. A monument at Morro Bay marks the spot of the landing, predating the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock by 33 years.