Today, the Filipinos and Americans with Filipino
descent are among the most active people of
California and compose one of the biggest ethnic
groups in the state. This is not a wonder because the first
documented arrival of Filipinos in Morro Bay was recorded
on October 18, 1587 aboard the Nuestra Senora de Buena
Esperanza during the fascinating era of the Manila-Acapulco
galleon trade from 1570 to 1815.
It is not surprising that California almost became a
Philippine colony. The idea of farmers from the Philippines
setting up a colony in California, then a virgin territory, was
broached by Pedro Enriquez Calderon, a judge who had
served in the Audiencia in Manila. The Philippine "colonizers"
was to protect Spanish interest in the Americas and build,
maintain and protect a port for the Spanish galleon ships
and produce food for the sailors after the gruelling voyages
across the vast Pacific Ocean in five to six months. The plan
was also made amid the inroad of Russians in Alaska and
fears that the British were intensely eyeing California as a
base. This is one of the subjects of a column of the author
published in a Filipino newspaper in San Francisco and is a
centerpiece of this book aptly titled "California: A Philippine
Colony - Almost."
I first met the author at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng
Maynila (University of the City of Manila) when then Manila
Mayor Jose L. Atienza Jr. appointed him as a Member of the
Board of Regents of the university and an active journalist
in the Philippines and United States. As Secretary of the
Board of Regents and University Secretary then, I witnessed
his dedication to his job, participating in discussions and
sometimes engaging our Chairman, Dr. Alejandro R. Roces,
a former Secretary of Education during the administration
of President Diosdado Macapagal, the signatory to the PLM
University Charter (Republic Act No. 4186), our second
Chairman, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Justo P.
Torres, and Regent Raul I. Goco, a former law school dean,
Solicitor General and Philippine Ambassador to Canada, to
hearty deliberations. As a proud product of the university,
the author had always the good of "Pamantasang Mahal" on
top of his mind.
I am sure that this book, a compendium of articles by
Regent Alfredo G. Gabot published in the United States,
will be an interesting reading in California where he has
been an active journalist for 35 years and Manila as well as
it captures the scintillating achievements of Filipinos in the
Philippines and America like Supreme Court Chief Justice
Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Attorney General Robert Bonta,
sports greats Victoria Manalo Draves and Natalie Coughlin,
celebrity Vanessa Hudgens, among others.
Moreover, the book discusses the contribution and
relevance of famous Filipino novelist, essayist, poet andiii
short story writer and pioneer labor union activist Carlos S.
Bulosan who happens to be an uncle of Regent Gabot.
To the ever active Filipino community in America and
Filipinos in the Philippines and elsewhere, Mabuhay!
ATTY. MARITES A. BARRIOS-TARAN,
CPA, MGM, LLM
Director General
Commission on the Filipino Language
(Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino)
Malacanang Palace, Manila
