Interesting Facts About the Philippines

1. The Philippines was a British colony for one year 1762-1763. During Europe's Seven Years War, the British decided to send an expedition to the Philippines and take over the colony from Spain. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris was signed which provided for the evacuation of the Philippines by the British.

2. Filipinos are the first Asian Americans. From 1565-1815 during the galleon trade from Manila to Mexico, a number of seamen jumped ship and settled in Louisiana.

3. Filipino workers and students during the US occupation in the Philippines were considered American nationals but did not have the same rights as citizens.

4. "Ma-yi" is the term used by ancient Chinese traders to refer to a group of islands that is known today as the Philippines. A document written sometime around 1318 and titled Wen Shiann Tung Kuo (A General Investigation of the Chinese Cultural Sources), contains a stray reference to the Philippines that dates back to 982 AD. (If you are in New York City, check out the Obie Award winning Ma-Yi Theater Company.