PH Consulate General in Houston Attends Unveiling of St. Malo Marker

Right photo from left: St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis, Honorary Consul Robert Romero, Philippine Consul General to Houston Jerril G. Santos, Consul Gilbert Segarra, and St. Bernard Parish Council member Howard Luna unveil the Louisiana Historical Marker for St. Malo. (Houston PCG photo)

HOUSTON 13 December 2019 –– Philippine Consul General to Houston Jerril G. Santos joined Honorary Consul Robert Romero of the Philippine Consulate in Louisiana and officials of St. Bernard Parish during the “Unveiling of the Louisiana Historical Marker for St. Malo – the earliest permanent Filipino settlement in the United States” on 09 November 2019 at the grounds of Los Isleños Museum Complex in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana.

The small fishing village of St. Malo, located in what is now St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana, was recognized as the first permanent Filipino settlement in the United States by Filipino seafarers who arrived there at the onset of the Spanish colonial administration of Louisiana in 1763. St. Malo flourished to become a prosperous community of over 150 Filipino fishermen who lived in dwellings over the wetlands.

During the ceremony, Consul General Santos commended everyone who has collaborated to make the project a success which has raised the profile of the Filipino in the United States. “I hope that this appreciation of the deep historical ties between Filipinos and Americans will lead to a more meaningful relationship, especially for the descendants of those early Filipino settlers.” 

Also present during the unveiling ceremony are the descendants of the Filipino settlers in St. Malo who gave testimonies on the stories handed down to them by their ancestors.

Later that day, the Philippine-Louisiana Historical Society, Inc. and the Philippine Consulate in Louisiana hosted a gala reception to commemorate said milestone. The event was also an opportunity to acknowledge all those who have collaborated in organizing the event, including government officials of St. Bernard Parish led by President Guy McInnis, Mr. William Hyland, St. Bernard Parish Historian and Director of Los Isleños Museum Complex, Councilmember Howard Luna, who is of Filipino descent, performers like Mr. Enrico Saboren and all the sponsors, volunteers and supporters. END

Philippine Consul General to Houston Jerril G. Santos (left) and the Honorable President of St. Bernard Parish Guy McInnis (right), deliver their messages during the unveiling ceremony. (Houston PCG photo)

From left: Philippine Consul General to Houston Jerril G. Santos, President of St. Bernard Parish Guy McInnis, and Honorary Consul Robert Romero deliver their messages during the gala reception. (Houston PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHinHouston/.