Most of these Filipinos were in America for a quite long time. In fact after nearly 375 years of being colonized by the Spanish Empire America colonized Philippines and helped the pre war country have a US type of government. This is why CA/HI/NV have the more higher percentage of Fil Ams in America. Saint Malo was in fact the first Asian American settlement in the country.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/17/us/filipino-american-history-louisiana-climate/index.html
Most of today’s Filipino Americans (at least the ones I’ve met IRL) are post-1965 immigrants or the children of said immigrants. I know a lot of Filipinos were able to let their families immigrate to the US after serving in the Navy.
I see. Interesting enough Bobby Scott a congressman is half black half Filipino. Jay Z is unconfirmed to have Filipino ancestry as well.
