Saint Malo ( ) was a small fishing village that existed along the shore of Lake Borgne in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana as early as the mid-eighteenth century until it was destroyed by the 1915 New Orleans hurricane.
The exact date of the establishment of Saint Malo is disputed. The members of the community were commonly referred to as Manila men, or Manilamen, and later Tagalas.
Oral tradition states that the fisherman of Saint Malo witnessed the British invasion of Louisiana leading up to the Battle of New Orleans and joined the Baratarians under Jean Lafitte in the defense of New Orleans. The settlement of Saint Malo was established, by some accounts, as early as 1763 by Filipinos who deserted Spanish ships during the Manila galleon trade. It is also possible that the community was established later into the early nineteenth century. The Manilamen settled in the marshlands of Louisiana where no Spanish officials could reach them. Reasons for their desertion varied; however their desire to escape brutalities dealt by the Spanish is generally regarded as the main reason.
Beginning in 1784, Juan San Maló () led a group of maroons () below New Orleans and in St. Bernard Parish which stole livestock, destroyed property, and seeded other chaos. In May of that year, the Spanish government began preparing for an expedition to capture San Maló and his maroons after a group of Americans were murdered.
The same area that San Maló and his group found refuge became known by his name. It wasn't until March 31, 1883 that the journalist Lafcadio Hearn published an article in Harper's Weekly which documented the community firsthand. The article is the first published article about the Filipinos in the United States.
The 1893 Cheniere Caminada hurricane damaged the community. Saint Malo was completely destroyed, along with much of the region, by the New Orleans hurricane of 1915 and consequently the remnants of the community assimilated into New Orleans.
Role in the War of 1812
According to oral tradition, the Manilamen of Saint Malo took part in the Battle of New Orleans by joining privateer Jean Lafitte to assist Major General Andrew Jackson. Historian Marina Espina states that the defending American force under Jackson consisted of "regular army troops, state militia, western sharpshooters, two regiments and pirates from the Delta Swamps." However, historian Randy Gonzales alleges that possibly only a single Manilaman fought in the battle, and that a lot of this history is intertwined with local legends and myths. The mattresses were laid upon a series of shelves mounted against the walls. According to Hearn, the fishermen slept at night “among barrels of flour and folded sails and smoked fish.” Fish was also smoked and hung for later consumption. The reason for this can be attributed to the isolated and harsh conditions of the settlement. Manilamen often courted and married Isleño, Cajun, and Indigenous women.
Government
Due to the isolation of Saint Malo, the Manilamen paid no taxes and the community lacked law enforcement officials. The village had never been visited by any official from St. Bernard Parish, the state of Louisiana, or the United States government. Priests rarely went to visit the settlement due to its isolation. A number of Isleños and their descendants possess Filipino ancestry, so much so that Los Isleños Heritage and Cultural Society of St. Bernard lists "Filipino" as a significant community that developed the Isleño identity.
In November 2019, a historical marker for the settlement was installed at Los Isleños Museum Complex.
Notable Filipino settlements in Louisiana
- Alombro Canal (Plaquemines Parish)
- Camp Dewey (Plaquemines Parish)
- Bayou Cholas (Jefferson Parish)
- Bassa Bassa (Jefferson Parish)
- Leon Rojas (Jefferson Parish)
- Manila Village (Jefferson Parish)
See also
- Filipino Americans
- Jean Lafitte, Louisiana
- Isleños
- List of fishing villages
- Manila galleon