Little Manila

Little Manila (also known as Manilatowns or Filipinotowns) is term that refers to a community with a large Filipino immigrant and descendant population.

Philippine Center in New York City

United States

California

The Golden State is host to the largest Filipino constituency of any of the United States. About 2 million residents are of Filipino background and it is the primary destination for Filipino immigrants and tourists. Filipinos are also the largest Asian American group in the state and one of the largest ethnic groups, making up 6% of the entire Californian population.

Los Angeles County

According to the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, there are more than 1 million Filipino Americans in the sprawling Southern California Area.^[1] There are several Little Manilas in the Los Angeles area, including major ones in Historic Filipinotown, Eagle Rock, Panorama City, Artesia, West Hollywood, Anaheim, Carson, Cerritos, Long Beach, Glendale, Diamond Bar, and Covina near Los Angeles, where these areas contain middle-upper, middle-middle and middle-lower class Filipino American populations.

West Covina

West Covina contains a small smatter of strip malls on Azusa Avenue and Amar Road, filled with tiny Filipino immigrant-owned shops and anchored by two Filipino American supermarket chains — Seafood City and Island Pacific Supermarket. Some Philippine fast food chains operate there such as Chowking (offers Filipinized Chinese food), Jollibee, Goldilocks Bakeshop, Red Ribbon and Pinoy Pinay. There is a short street called Manila Way, which connects two plazas together.

Eagle Rock

Eagle Rock is known for its large Filipino community. Many Filipino businesses and organizations are present in Eagle Rock. Several of those businesses are located in a mainstream mall called Eagle Rock Plaza. Filipino food chains such as Goldilock's, Jollibee, Chowking proliferate the area, while Seafood City, Bench a popular Filipino clothing store, Fil-Mart, remittance offices, Filipino travel agencies, and locally-owned Filipino stores are also present to cater to the thriving Eagle Rock Filipino community. The Los Angeles City Council also approved a Philippine Village Community Center, not far from the mall.^[2]

Cerritos

Cerritos is made up of almost 55% Asian Americans, primarily of Filipino descent. A Little Manila exists in South Street, while another is by Norwalk Boulevard. Many Filipino American-owned businesses are to be found around Cerritos due to its home to a large Filipino-American population.

Glendale

Carson

Panorama City

The Panorama City neighborhood of Los Angeles is home to many people of Filipino descent, many of whom work at the Kaiser Medical Center. It has two main strips of Filipino businesses: on Woodman at Roscoe and on Roscoe at Van Nuys Boulevard, which feature Filipino businesses such as Seafood City, Chowking, Island Pacific Market, Red Ribbon Bakery, Good Ah!!, and Jollibee.

West Hollywood

Long Beach

Filipinos are the largest Asian population of Long Beach, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. [1] The 4% figure, recognized as grossly undercounted, includes only those reporting one race. Therefore, the total number often cited does not include mixed race Filipinos, of which there are many. There have been Long Beach residents of Filipino descent as early as 1910, with Isidro Canlas [2]. The city's Filipino Neighborhood was designated in a proclamation by the Long Beach City Council in 1992, it is located in West Long Beach (centered along Santa Fe Avenue from 20th Street to Spring Street). [3]

Santa Clarita

Historic Filipinotown

Main article: Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles, California

Historic Filipinotown, also known as Hi-Fi or P-Town colloquially, is a district of Los Angeles, California, located between Westlake and Echo Park. Specifically, the district is bounded by the 101 Freeway to the north, Beverly Boulevard to the south, Hoover Street to the west, and Glendale Boulevard to the east, northwest of Downtown Los Angeles. It was created by a resolution proposed by city councilmember Eric Garcetti on August 2, 2002. The crosswalks in Filipinotown have been decorated with traditional Filipino basket weaving patterns.

Historic Filipinotown is historically one of the few areas where Filipinos first settled in Los Angeles during the early part of the 20th century. Many Filipino-American families began purchasing homes and establishing businesses in the area beginning from the 1940s, shifting away from the Little Tokyo area in the 1920s and the Bunker Hill area later.

In modern times, Historic Filipinotown reflects the polyglot nature of Los Angeles. While the district still has a sizable Filipino population, they are in the minority, overshadowed by a sizable Mexican and Central American population. Nevertheless, the area still has one of the highest concentrations of Filipino Americans in Southern California and still remains the cultural heart of Filipinos throughout Los Angeles. Of the 100,000 Filipinos that reside in the City of Los Angeles, an estimated 6,900 are within Historic Filipinotown.

The Historic Filipinotown Chamber of Commerce leads the effort for commercial expansion in the area. Many Filipino service organizations and institutions, such as the Remy's on Temple Art Gallery, Tribal Cafe, Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA), People's CORE, Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), and the Filipino American Library (FAL) are located in Historic Filipinotown. The area is also host to many Filipino restaurants, medical clinics and churches, including St. Columban Filipino Church, the first Filipino Catholic church in the United States (founded in 1946).

Inland Empire

Moreno Valley, located in Riverside County has a sizeable Filipino population and numerous Filipino establishments (mostly located around Alessandro Avenue). The bigger chains are represented by Salo-Salo Grill, Red Ribbon (bakeshop), PNB Remittance office, and Jollibee. Some of the smaller establishments are Banig Restaurant, Mabuhay Filipino Fast Food, P. I. Grill, Super V 2, Manila Ranch Market, and Phil-Am Market. Nearby in the city of Riverside, California is Fiesta Food Market which is a Filipino supermarket in the style of 99 Ranch Market, which also has a small cafeteria. All around the Inland Empire are several Casinos that feature, on occasion, Filipino performers.

San Diego

Additionally, National City near San Diego has many Filipino residents, as does the Mira Mesa neighborhood of San Diego, often referred to as "Manila Mesa," and Rancho Penasquitos, referred to as "Pinoysquitos." Henceforth, Filipino-Americans form the largest Asian-American subgroup, at almost 10% of the entire San Diego population. Seafood City, Jollibee, and Goldilocks Bakeshop are just among the Filipino businesses that proliferate in the San Diego area. Furthermore, California State Route 54 that traverses through the heavily Filipino populated areas of its western terminus to the California State Route 125 has been aptly named the "Filipino-American Highway."^[3]

Central California

The central portion of California has a significant amount of Filipinos living in cities and towns all over the Central Valley. This area pertains cities from northernmost Sacramento to southernmost Bakersfield. Cities where a large amount of Filipinos reside are large cities such as Sacramento, Fresno, Visalia, and Bakersfield. They can also be found in places like Stockton, Merced, Modesto, Clovis, Reedley, Tulare, Hanford, Lemoore and a small farming town in Orosi. Many of these cities have Filipino stores all over town and a numerous amount own establishments such as Filipino restaurants, grocery stores, money transfer, etc.

Sacramento

In Sacramento, Seafood City, a Filipino grocery store, is the center of the Filipino Community. Filipino fastfood chains have also been established in Seafood City for convenience; just recently, Jollibee has spawned another location in there, as well as Chowking and Max's of Manila.

Other Filipino stores have also scattered around Sacramento, especially in the Natomas region. Divine Mercy Parish, a Catholic church, has been established in North Natomas area by a Filipino priest with support from his mostly-Filipino congregation.

Fresno

Serving as the largest city in the central valley, the city of Fresno has a large amount of Filipino-Americans. There are several Filipino stores and restaurants throughout the city and various Filipino organizations that call Fresno their home.

Bakersfield

Northern California

Hercules, a city in the Eastern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, also has a large percentage of Filipinos, 25% of the total population of the city. San Jose has one of the largest Filipino communities in Northern California. Milpitas, a city northeast of San Jose, has a sizable Filipino population. Lathrop, California, has a Filipino population and make up at least 10% of the city's population. Union City, a city east of San Francisco, also has a large Filipino community and boasts many Filipino-owned businesses on all corners of the intersection of Dyer St. and Alvarado Blvd. Most of these areas are served by Filipino chains such as Island Pacific Supermarket, Seafood City, Goldilocks Bakeshop, Chowking, Jollibee, and Red Ribbon.

Daly City

Daly City, a neighboring city of San Francisco, boasts a large Filipino constituency, 33% of the city's population.

Stockton

Main article: Little Manila, Stockton, California

Historic Little Manilas exist in San Francisco's South of Market and Excelsior districts, and in Stockton.

Vallejo

Vallejo, a city north of San Francisco, also boasts having a large Filipino population, roughly 25% of the population.

New York

New York State's cumulative Filipino population is at 200,000, mostly within the New York City area. Within New York City, Queens contains the most number of Filipinos in the Empire State. To a greater extent, Filipino communities are also present in Nassau, Suffolk, and Rockland counties.

Queens

In the borough of Queens, many Filipino businesses have sprung up in the past decade. Queens is home to 85,000 Filipinos and Filipino-Americans and has the largest Filipino population among the five boroughs. The Filipino-American community is also the fourth largest Asian-American subgroup in the borough and makes up about 4.2% of the entire population of Queens. Tagalog is also one of the ten most spoken languages in the borough.

Woodside

Krystal's Cafe and Johnny Air Cargo shops on Roosevelt Avenue, Woodside, Queens, New York.

The Phil-Am grocery store in Woodside, Queens, New York.

Woodside is known for its concentration of Filipinos. Of the 85,000 residents of Woodside, about 13,000 are of Filipino background, or 15% of Woodside's population.

Along the 7 line, known colloquially as the "International Express," the 69th Street station serves as the gateway to Queens' very own Little Manila. This area attracts many local Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike and from neighboring places of Long Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The coverage of Little Manila is along Roosevelt Avenue, from 63rd Street-71st Street.

Filipino restaurants dominate the area, as well as several freight and remittance centers scattered throughout the neighborhood. Other Filipino-owned businesses including professional services (medical, dental, optical), driving schools, beauty salons, immigration services, and video rental places providing the latest movies from the Philippines dot the community.

Restaurants such as Ihawan, Perlas ng Silangan, BarYo, Renee's Kitchenette, and Krystal's Cafe, are the most popular ones, while Philippine remittance and shipping centers such as Johnny Air Cargo, FRS, Edwards Travel, Apholo Shippers, Macro, Philippine National Bank, and Metrobank are present in the area.

Establishments such as Eyellusion, Jefelli Photo and Video, Manila Phil-Am Driving, Santos Medical Clinic, Luz-Vi-Minda, Marlyn's Beauty Salon, Marry Indo Beauty Salon, Freddy Lucero Beauty Salon, Dimple Beauty Salon, Bambina Salon, Jan-Mar Technologies, Don's Professional Services, Casino Law Office, Kulay at Gupit, Phil-Am Foodmart, Stop N Save Filipino Store, and Nepa Q Mart are also there to serve the thriving Filipino American community.^[4]

Jollibee, a famous fast-food chain in the Philippines, opened its first branch in New York on February 2009, selecting Woodside, Queens.^[5] BPI, Getz Travel, Lucky Money Remittance, and an office of TFC have also recently opened up in Woodside's Little Manila.

In February 2008, the Bayanihan Filipino Community Center opened its doors in Woodside, a project spearheaded by the Philippine Forum.^[6]

Other Filipino businesses that exist in Woodside but are not within the Little Manila area are Engeline's, a Filipino restaurant at 59th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, Tito Rad's Restaurant at Queens Boulevard and 50th Street, and Lourdess Restaurant on 58th Street and 37th Avenue.

Fritzie's, a New Jersey-based bakeshop and Red Ribbon Bakeshop opened up respective branches in Woodside in January 2010.

Jamaica

Many Filipinos reside in Hollis, Richmond Hill, and Jamaica.

The Benigno Aquino, Jr. Triangle is located at 184th Place south of Hillside Avenue, is in Hollis. It is in commemoration of the assassinated Philippine oppositionist senator. The park also features a hoisted Philippine flag in commemoration of the large Filipino community in the area.

The Philippine-American Center that is hosted by the Filipino American Human Services, Inc. is located in Hillside Avenue. This area is now known to have a growing Filipino community and many Filipino businesses have started to open such as medical centers, Filipino stores and video rental places, remittance centers, beauty salons, restaurants, etc.

Other Filipino establishments are scattered throughout Hillside Avenue such as Palengke, Linamnam Filipino Restaurant, Philippine Padala, and Johnny Air Cargo. Cindee's, a Filipino bakeshop, can be found on Jamaica Avenue.

Orient Express, a Filipino grocery and restaurant, is located by Parsons Boulevard and is close to the Grand Central Parkway vicinity while Manny's Bakeshop and Taste of Asia are situated in Union Turnpike.

Queens Village

Queens Village is home to a large number of Filipinos. Queens Village is mostly a residential town. Although it does not have a designated Filipino enclave, there are many Filipino businesses in the area, particularly stores and restaurants. A large group of Filipino residents can be found on the strip of Springfield Boulevard.

Manhattan

The Philippine Consulate of New York has a multipurpose role, aside from its governmental duties and functions, it also caters to many events of the Filipino-American community and even has a school called Paaralan sa Konsulado (School at the Consulate), which teaches new-generation Filipino-Americans about their culture and language. It is known just as the Philippine Center instead of the consulate. The Philippine Center's newly-renovated large edifice is situated in Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and is open to the public on business days and closed on Philippine and American holidays. The building itself is considered as the largest foreign consulate on the strip of the avenue.

New York City also hosts the annual Philippine Independence Day Parade along Madison Avenue on the first Sunday of June. It is also said to be one of the largest parades of any kind in the city and the largest Philippine celebration in the United States. This celebration is a combination of a parade and a street fair. Madison Avenue bursts on this day with Filipino culture, colors and people and is attended by many important political figures, entertainers, civic groups, etc. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Senator Charles Schumer are devout attendees of this annual parade.

A Filipino restaurant to open in Manhattan is the Bayan Cafe around Midtown. (2006).^[7] Grill 21, is a popular Filipino restaurant located on the East Side of Manhattan.

In the East Village/Lower East Side, there was a significant Filipino migration in the late 1980s due to mass recruitment of Filipino medical professionals to area hospitals, notably New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, St. Vincent's Hospital, and Beth Israel Medical Center. Migration was spurred by the hospitals' offer of subsidized housing to employees, in the midst of ongoing rent strikes in the neighborhood. The burgeoning Little Manila centered around 1st Avenue and 14th Street, around which there were, at the peak, a number of grocery/video rental stores and Filipino restaurants within a few blocks of one another. Filipino American community relations were strengthened by local Roman Catholic churches in the East Village and Gramercy area. As rents increased, and properties were taken over by New York University, the number of Filipinos and Filipino businesses in East Village Little Manila waned. Elvie's Turo-Turo, the longest standing Filipino business in the area, closed in late 2009 after almost 20 years of operation. New Filipino business continue to sprout up.^[8]

The Archdiocese of New York designated a chapel named after the first Filipino Saint Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila for the Filipino Apostolate. Officially designated as the "Church of Filipinos," or the Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz is the second in the United States and only the third in the world dedicated as such.

Brooklyn

A Little Manila could be seen in Canarsie that has Filipino stores, rental places, and restaurants. This is located around Avenue L and its surrounding areas.

Many Filipinos are in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, consisting of Tagalog, Ilocano, and Visayan speakers. However, there are few edifices of Filipino culture in the Flatbush area.

Staten Island

Staten Island is home to 12,000 Filipinos and they are the third largest immigrant group to this borough. Despite the distinguishable population, there is no definite place for a Little Manila. Rather, these Filipino establishments, such as Phil Am Foodmart, are scattered all over the island, with concentration in the northern part of Staten Island.

Bronx

Although Bronx does not have a defined Filipino enclave, it is home to at least 10,000 Filipinos. Many of them work in the borough, mostly of medical profession, in local hospitals and medical offices. Several Filipino businesses have come about to serve Bronx's growing Filipino constituency.

Long Island

Long Island is home to some 20,000 Filipinos. They are mostly concentrated in the Nassau County area.

Nevada

Las Vegas

The surge of Filipino immigration to Nevada began later than any other states. It is home to some 90,000 Filipinos, mostly living in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. It has a Little Manila that is centered to serve the growing Filipino population and has even accommodated a Goldilock's, one of the Philippines' most popular bakeshops that also has many locations in the neighboring state of California. A mini mall-type Seafood City supermarket, opened in May 2007, also houses Jollibee, Chow King, Red Ribbon, Valerio's Tropical Bakery, a Philippine National Bank and a Bank of the Philippine Islands remittance and banking centers, and other stores. It is now a focal point of Filipino tourists and immigrants^{[citation needed]} and is served by Philippine Airlines, which provides easy access when traveling between the Philippines and Nevada.

Filipinos are also the largest Asian group in Las Vegas and in the state of Nevada.^{[citation needed]} Many Filipino businesses proliferate around the Las Vegas area, particularly locally-owned shops, restaurants, immigration and remittance offices.^{[citation needed]} Island Pacific Supermarket, a Filipino owned grocery chain, also has a branch in Las Vegas.

New Jersey

Philippine Grocery in Jersey City, NJ

New Jersey is home to a significant Overseas Filipino population, numbering at more than 100,000 statewide, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. This number may be closing in to the 200,000 level, in 2006, due to a high birth rate among Filipino-Americans and a significant amount of 8,000 Filipino immigrants annually. While Filipinos can be found across the state, the commercial districts catering to the Filipino community are found mostly in the state's urban areas. State and local governments in the Garden State have significant number of employees of Filipino background and they play a vital role in the state's affairs, issues, and commerce. Filipino enclaves exist in Jersey City, Bergenfield, Passaic, Union City and Elizabeth. The Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus hosts the annual Philippine Fiesta, a cultural event that draws Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike from across the New York metropolitan area. The event takes place on the weekend of the second week of August.

Jersey City

Seven per cent (7%) of Jersey City's population is Filipino.^[9] The Five Corners district has a thriving Filipino community, which is the largest Asian-American subgroup in the city. Newark Avenue's strip of Filipino culture and commerce dwarfs that of New York. A variety of Filipino restaurants, shippers and freighters, doctors' officers, bakeries, stores, and even an office of The Filipino Channel made Newark Avenue their home. The largest Filipino owned grocery store on the east coast Phil-Am Food has been there since 1973. An array of Filipino-owned businesses can also be found at the section of West Side where many of its residents are of Filipino descent. In 2006, a Red Ribbon pastry shop, one of the Philippines' most famous food chains, opened its first branch on the East Coast in the Garden State [4] Manila Avenue in Downtown Jersey City was named for the Philippine city because of the many Filipinos who built their homes on this street during the 1970s. A memorial, dedicated to the Filipino-American veterans of the Vietnam War, was built in a small square on Manila Avenue. A park and statue dedicated to Jose P. Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, exists in downtown Jersey City.^[10] Jersey City is the host of the annual Philippine-American Friendship Day Parade, an event that occurs yearly in June, on its last Sunday. The City Hall of Jersey City raises the Philippine flag in correlation to this event and as a tribute to the contributions of the Filipino community. The Santakrusan Procession along Manila Avenue has taken place since 1977.^[11]

Bergenfield

Bergenfield is informally known as the Little Manila of Bergen County.^[12] Of the 14,224 Filipino population in the county as a whole, 3,133 (22% of the county total) live in Bergenfield.^[13][14] It is home to many Filipino businesses, particularly restaurants and bakeshops. Red Ribbon, a popular bakeshop in the Philippines, will open its second branch in Bergenfield, after Jersey City.

Hawaii

Hawaii's known for its unique demographic structure, in which it does not have a specific majority group. The Filipino-American community make up about 23% of the state's entire population and is only second to their Japanese-American counterparts. Its geographic confines contain as many as 275,000 Filipinos (2000 Census) [5] and receives an annual amount of 4,000 new Filipino immigrants. The Filipino Americans are also responsible for making Hawaii the most dense Roman Catholic state in the Union.

The Filipino Community Center is the largest Filipino establishment of any kind in the United States. It is currently celebrating the Filipino Centennial, which commemorates 100 years of Filipino immigration and contributions to the state [6].

The census designated place of Waipahu, on the island of Oahu, has a majority Filipino population. Many of them are immigrants of the Philippines, and the streets of Waipahu have many small Filipino owned businesses. Waipahu could be considered as "Hawaii's Little Manila". 85% of the Filipino American population in Hawaii are of Ilocano descent.

Guam

Guam's Filipino community also has a large percentage in the population, which is said to compromise about 26 percent. Besides the indigenous Chamorro population, they are the 2nd largest ethnic group on the island. Large populations of the Filipino communities are concentrated mostly in the Dededo, Yigo and Agat villages.

Although Guam has no official Little Manila, the Dededo and Harmon location is outlined with Filipino restaurants, barbecue stands, swap meets, karaoke bars, lounges and other Filipino owned business establishments.

Guam has its share of Filipino lawmakers, whether they come of full blooded to half blooded, from the Espaldons to the Lamorenas, You will find a politician who has family ties to a Filipino. When election time comes around, politicians always try to get the Filipino vote in order to gain the upper hand as they are one of the largest voters on island.

Filipinos have been a major influence to Guam's history and culture. They have mixed with the indigenous population from the time of the Spanish occupation, Manila trade galleons, and up to this present day. Today, it is known through historical facts and studies that the majority of the native population (Chamorro) have Filipino ancestry somewhere along the line.

Washington

Washington's population is 4% Filipino, or 252,000, making the Filipino-American community the largest Asian-American subgroup and the sixth largest reported single ancestry in the state.

Seattle-Tacoma

Seattle has many Filipino enclaves, especially in the southern part of the city. The community even established its own Filipino Community Center that serves to a number of Filipino-American events and as well as creating its own civic organization. The city is also rich with Filipino-American culture, history, and commerce.

Filipino-Americans are active in the state's issues and affairs. Historically, Filipino-Americans have opposed unfairness and racial discrimination within the work force in the 1930s, also many of the Filipino American males were often punished harshly for courting or having sexual relations with White American women. When anti-miscegenation bills were introduced during this period, Filipino-Americans, along with African-American and labor communities mobilized to fight the measure. Velma Viloria, was the first Filipino-American to become a part of the state legislature. Alex Tizon and Byron Acohido of The Seattle Times won Pulitzer Prizes in 1996 for their reporting on fraud in Indian housing programs (Tizon) and on airplane safety (Acohido). Until today, Filipino-Americans in the state are well-respected due to their contributions that are remarked and renowned greatly by most of its residents.

Many of Washington's Filipino-American residents also travel to Vancouver in the neighboring country of Canada to visit their friends and relatives, while many Filipino-Canadians reciprocate this as well.

Illinois

Chicago

Chicago's population is 2% Filipino. Illinois is also home to more than 120,000 Filipinos. Filipinos are the largest Asian-American group in the city and the second largest in the state, short of only 1,000 people from its Asian Indian counterparts. Chicago also has its own version of Little Manilas. Many of these businesses and civic organizations are there to serve the large Filipino community.

Many Filipinos in Illinois date back when Filipino-Americans have begun moving up north from California in hopes of filling in professional occupations. Also, Chicago used to be a focus city of Philippine Airlines, that propelled Filipino immigration to Illinois. It halted its services to the Windy City during the early 90's. Nonetheless, Illinois still receives a large contingency of Filipino immigrants.

Florida

Since Florida is a primary destination for cruise ships, those who work in them are predominantly Filipino, thus making the Sunshine State as a primary destination for both Filipino tourists and migrants.

Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Wilton Manors, Jacksonville and Tampa also contain decent Filipino enclaves.

Virginia

Hampton Roads

Almost 100,000 of Virginia's residents are of Filipino descent. Filipinos in the state are mostly concentrated 45,000 within the Hampton Roads area. There are several Filipino-owned restaurants, stores, bakeshops, remittance centers, medical offices in Virginia Beach. Many Filipinos serving in the U.S. Navy who were stationed in the area decided to settle down in the area as well.

Northern Virginia

There is a sizable conceration of Filipino in Northern Virginia. Most of them and the businesses that serve the community are in Fairfax County.^{[citation needed]}

Other States

Other Little Manilas begin to pop up in other states. Many of these states and cities that have Little Manilas are:

• Alabama (Birmingham; Montgomery)
• Colorado (Denver)
• Georgia (Atlanta)
• Indiana (Fort Wayne)
• Louisiana (New Orleans; Shreveport; Baton Rouge)
• Maryland (Aspen Hill; Fort Washington)
• Massachusetts (Boston)
• Michigan (Metropolitan Detroit Area; Sterling Heights)
• Mississippi (Biloxi; Gulfport)
• Oregon (Portland)
• Texas (Houston; Dallas; San Antonio; Austin)

Canada

Toronto

Toronto, in the province of Ontario, is home to the largest Filipino contingency in Canada with over 250,000 living in Toronto and its suburbs. Toronto's population is 5% Filipino and are the fourth largest visible minority group. Toronto is the premier destination for Filipino immigrants and tourists with about 9,000 coming every year. Most Filipinos in Toronto tend to settle in Toronto's inner suburbs, Scarborough, North York, East York and Downtown Toronto. These areas within the City of Toronto house usually middle-upper, middle-middle, middle-lower and lower class Filipino Canadians. An increasing amount now tend to settle in the outer suburbs of Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Richmond Hill, Pickering and Vaughan.

Toronto is host to many Filipino events. These community events attract upwards to 100,000 visitors in a weekend. These events go on almost every weekend from June to August. Toronto is also host to The Philippine Consulate and a Philippine Overseas Labour Office, which serve all of Eastern Canada.

Mississauga

Mississauga, a city immediately west of Toronto and Canada's 6th largest city, is home to over 700,000 people of which 4.6% or just over 30,000 are of Filipino origin. Filipino Canadians constitute the third largest Asian Canadian subgroup and fourth largest visible minority group. Tagalog is the 7th most spoken language in the city. The growth of Mississauga's Filipino community is mostly due to its proximity to Toronto.

Mississauga has many Filipino establishments and professional offices scattered throughout the city. Some of the popular establishments are Something Sweet 4 U (2 branches), Ellen's Place, Minerva Studio and Restaurant, Aristokrat, Halo Halo World Cafe and a branch of FV Foods. There are several stores that specialize in Filipino goods and many Asian supermarkets carry Filipino products. The Philippine National Bank has an office in Mississauga. There are many professional offices, mainly dental and law offices.

Mississauga plays host to many Filipino cultural events. Mississauga has two Filipino community centres, Kalayaan Community Centre and The Fiesta Filipina Centre for the Arts. Mississauga Valley Park host many community events including Kalayaan Independence Day Picnic and the Philippine Colleges and Universities Alumni Associations Summerfest.

Scarborough

Scarborough, the eastern part of Toronto is home to about 600,000 people with about 7% or over 40,000 people are of Filipino origin. Filipino Canadians are the third largest Asian Canadian subgroup and fourth largest visible minority group in Scarborough.

Filipino establishments and offices dot the Scarborough landscape with almost every mall and plaza with at least one Filipino establishment. Some of the popular restaurants are Marcy Fine Foods, Remely's, Barrio Fiesta, Chef George, Sino Pino, Mayette's, Jesse Jr. (3 branches), Golden Valley Food Outlet, Cucina Manila, Bicol Express, Esperanza's Pancitan, Mami's, Coffee In and Fiesta Filipino. FV Foods (3 branches), Manila Bakery and Baker's Best all specialize in Filipino sweets and breads. Most of these establishments double as a store with imported Filipino products. Many remittance and door to door services have offices in Scarborough such as PNB, Forex, UMAC Express Cargo, Gemini Express, Mabini Express and RemitX. There are also many professional and medical offices around Scarborough.

North York

North York, the northern part of Toronto, is home to over 620,000 people of which about 4% or over 25,000 are of Filipino origin. North York's Filipino community is concentrated around Flemingdon Park and Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue.

Filipino establishments and professional offices are concentrated around the Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue area. Filipino businesses dominate the intersection of Bathurst and Wilson and the area surrounding it. Other businesses are located in Don Mills. Some of the most popular establishments include Aristokrat, Cusina, Bulakena, Jollytops, Fort Ilocandia, Happy Birthday Cakes, Manila by Night, Sampaguita, Casa Manila, Angel Kiss, LDV Express Inc. and a branch of FV Foods.

Plans are underway to transform the Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue area into Canada's first official "Little Philippines" due to the high concentration of Filipino owned businesses in the area. Owners of over 35 Filipino businesses in the area have petitioned the city of Toronto to transform the area into the "Filipino BIA (Business Improvement Area)". This will allow Filipino businesses to hold street festivals and control the appearance of the street.

Flemingdon Park

Across the Overlea Bridge from Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park is home to many Filipinos. Of the almost 20,000 residents of Flemingdon Park, about 2,500 are of Filipino descent. Like most high-rise communities in Toronto, Flemingdon Park witnessed the growth of their Filipino community during the 70s and 80s.

Filipinos make up the majority, or about 60%, of the congregation at Blessed John XXIII Parish. For many years, the Filipino Chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Toronto was housed at the church. Mass was said every Sunday in Tagalog, Simbang Gabi masses were held every year and devotions to Sto. Nino and the Black Nazarene were held while the Filipino Chaplaincy was active at Blessed John XXIII Parish. The Filipino Chaplaincy left the parish in the August of 2008 for Our Lady of Assumption Parish in the Bathurst Street area. The school adjacent to the parish, Blessed John XXIII Catholic School, is also attended by predominantly Filipino students.

The Flemingdon Park Plaza, houses a couple of Filipino establishments. A restaurant/store (Angel Kiss), Gemini Express Remittance and a TFC dealer.

Downtown Toronto

Old Toronto or Downtown Toronto is home to over 670,000 people of which 3% or over 20,000 are of Filipino origin. Most Filipinos living in Downtown Toronto live in the neighbourhoods of St. James Town, where Filipinos make the largest visible minority group accounting for 22% of the population, and Parkdale, particularly around Jameson Avenue.

Compared to other parts of Toronto, Downtown Toronto has a small number of Filipino businesses. In St. James Town and the surrounding neighbourhoods, there are a few businesses and offices scattered around the area. Some of these include a store (Philippine Variety Store), a take-out restaurant (Wow Philippines! Eat Bulaga!), a dental office (Dr. Victoria Santiago and Associates), a community centre (The Filipino Centre, Toronto) and an office of The Filipino Channel.

East York

East York a former borough of Toronto before amalgamation and just east of Toronto's downtown is home to over 5,000 Filipinos and Filipino Canadians. The Filipino-Canadian community is the third largest Asian Canadian subgroup and makes up about 4% of East York's population. Tagalog is also one of the most spoken languages.

Thorncliffe Park

Thorncliffe Park is home to about 20,000 people, which about 3,000 are of Filipino background. Filipinos came to live in the high rises of Thorncliffe Park beginning in the 1970s. During the 1980s and 1990s, Filipinos were the largest visible minority group in Thorncliffe Park. During these years, Thorncliffe Park was host to one of the largest Philippine Independence celebrations and parades in Toronto. During the 2000s more and more Filipinos left Thorncliffe Park for the suburbs and became outnumbered by the South Asian community. More new Filipino immigrants are coming to Thorncliffe Park and the community is growing once again.

Filipino establishments and offices are concentrated in the Overlea Mews and the East York Town Centre. Three Filipino family doctors (Dr. Matta, Dr. Pulido & Dr. Quirante-Flora) have offices in the East York Town Centre. Overlea Mews has a store (Asian Market Place), a take-out restaurant (Philippine-Caribbean Cuisine), a dentist office (Dr. Bernabe & Associates) and an optical store (i2i Optical), all Filipino owned.

Pape Avenue

Like Thorncliffe Park, Pape Avenue has a large Filipino contingency with about 1,500 Filipinos living around Pape Avenue. The Filipino community is concentrated around Pape Avenue from O'Connor Drive to Danforth Avenue. Filipinos moved into the apartments around Pape Avenue beginning in the 1970s. Filipino establishments are centered on Pape Avenue. Two Filipino stores (Atin Ito & Oriental Food Mart), a salon (Princess Nails), a travel agency (Travel Mart), a jewellers (Laguna Jewellers) and a restaurant/karaoke bar/banquet hall (Luneta) are all located along Pape Avenue between Cosburn Avenue and Danforth Avenue.

Vancouver

About 70,000 Filipinos consider Vancouver home. Many Filipino businesses, particularly Goldilocks, are in the Vancouver area to cater to the Filipino Canadian community. Philippine Airlines also has Vancouver as its focus city, providing easy access for both Filipinos and Philippine-made products.

United Kingdom

London

Earl's Court

Australia

Sydney

There are about 85,000 Filipino-Australians in the area controlled by Blacktown City Council. Philippine-born residents comprise 5.9% of the population in the City of Blacktown, and it is the largest directly-born ethnic group in Blacktown. More than fifty percent of Filipino-Australians are based in New South Wales.

Filipino food shops exist around Blacktown Cityrail station.

Melbourne

". . in different areas of Metropolitan Melbourne, with the greatest number settling down in the western suburbs."

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~filipino/ a website from Vicnet, a division of the State Library of Victoria - « Filipinos in Victoria » - Melbourne being the capital of Victoria.

Italy

See also: Filipino Italian

In Palermo, Italy, the predominantly Filipino quarter is called Little Tondo.^[15] Italy is home to 250,000 Filipinos.

South Korea

Seoul

A Little Manila exists in the city of Seoul where many Filipinos work and live.^[16] The main area where Filipinos congregate and mingle is in the Hyehwa (혜화동) area of Seoul near the Hyehwa Catholic Church on Sundays. Outside the church on the Hyehwa rotary before and after mass, there are many stalls selling various balikbayan goods from the Philippines as well as the United States and some stalls selling snacks and food.^[17]

United Arab Emirates

Dubai

The district of Karama in Dubai is home to thousands of Filipinos working in Dubai. St. Mary's Church is the focal meeting point of the Filipino community.

Hong Kong

World-Wide House

Saudi Arabia

There are many cities in the kingdom where Filipinos have made businesses in. For example in Al-Khobar in the eastern province, Filipinos do make the majority of the visitors in Al-Ramaniyah Mall. There are also a lot of Philippine eateries or restaurants in the city In Al-Khobar and Jubail, There are also these Filipino stores named "Kadiwa" where they sell Philippine products and vegetables such as kangkong and malunggay.

See also

• Overseas Filipino
• Filipino Americans
• Historic Filipinotown
• Filipino Community Center
• Ethnic enclave
• Balikbayan box

References

1. ^ Rene Villaroman (July 10, 2007). LA Consul General Throws Ceremonial First Pitch at Dodgers-Padres Pre-Game Event. Asian Journal Online. http://www.asianjournal.com/?c=124&a=21464. Retrieved 2007-12-11 
2. ^ Gorman, Anna (2007-08-22). "Mall anchors thriving Filipino community". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2007/aug/22/local/me-filipino22. Retrieved 2010-05-11. 
3. ^ "Assembly Concurent Resolution No.157". California Secretary of State. http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/asm/ab_0151-0200/acr_157_bill_20060912_chaptered.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-22. 
4. ^ Meehan, Peter. $25 and Under; Filipino Comfort Food in Woodside, The New York Times and NYTimes.com, January 5, 2005, retrieved on: 10 June 2005
5. ^ Foggin, Mark (2009-02-15). "Fast Food for the Filipino Soul". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/nyregion/thecity/15joll.html. Retrieved 2010-05-11. 
6. ^ Bayanihan Filipino Community Center
7. ^ Bayan Cafe Website, BayanCafe.com, retrieved on: 10 June 2007
8. ^ Bar goes mainstream Manhattan, PhilippineNews.com retrieved on February 26, 2010
9. ^ History of Filipinos in JC
10. ^ Rizal Plaza controversy
11. ^ http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/05/amid_delays_santacruzan_street.html
12. ^ Stevens, Jean. " Popular roast pig finds a following in North Jersey", Herald News, September 12, 2007. Accessed December 8, 2007. "One might find more lechon in Passaic these days. The city may be North Jersey's next so-called Little Manila, following Bergenfield, Bloomfield and Belleville."
13. ^ Filipino Population by County, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed April 10, 2006.
14. ^ Bergenfield 2000 Census Data, areaconnect.com. Accessed April 10, 2006.
15. ^ Official GMA TV Network, iGMA.tv, retrieved on: 12 June 2007
16. ^ http://maryeats.com/2006/10/06/little-manila/
17. ^ "Youthful vibes and artistic endeavors merge in an area that never sleeps". Seoul Metropolitan Government. http://english.seoul.go.kr/today/infocus/specialreport/1236752_5093.php. Retrieved 2009-05-06. ^{[dead link]}

External links

1. LittleManila.net, retrieved on: 12 June 2007 (dead link)
2. ManilaTown.org, retrieved on: 12 June 2007
3. Consulate General of the Philippines, New York, PCGNY.net, retrieved on: 12 June 2007
4. Philippine Tourism Office, New York, PhilippineTourism.us, retrieved on: 12 June 2007
5. Philippine National Bank, New York Branch, Netcom.com, retrieved on: 12 June 2007
6. Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, New York, PhilChamber.org, retrieved on: 12 June 2007
7. Philippine Center, San Francisco, California, PhilippineCenterSF.com, retrieved on: 12 June 2007