EARLY FILIPINO IMMIGRANTS

In 1920, the first generation Filipinos came to the United States; they worked at sugar plantations in Hawaii.  Pioneering Filipinos had little education so they found menial jobs such as apple pickers and agricultural workers in vegetable farms, house cleaners, helpers, dishwashers, bellboys and domestive helpers.  Camps provided by owners of the plantations were their homes.  They rarely went out to have fun.

Also in 1920, first generation Filipinos came to the United States as Merchant Marines, U. S. Navy men and relatives of others who had migrated before; some became businessmen.

The second wave of Filipino immigrants came in 1946 under Exchange Student programs.  Many settled in the East Coast and became doctors, engineers, and nurses.

The third and latest influx of Filipino immigrants came to the United States in the early 70's and late 80's.  Many immigrants were professionals and relatives of families who had been here for quite a while.  Some were U. S. Navy men or had worked for the U. S. Navy in the Philippines.  Union City, Fremont, Hayward, Newark and outlying areas attracted many of these immigrants.

In the 1920's, the population in Union City was already diverse.  Aside from those with Japanese, Chinese and Hawaiian ancestry, there wrere also Filipinos in the area.