About Us

Our mission is to research and commemorate the historical imprints of Filipinos in Louisiana.

First Filipino Permanent Settlements in the USA.pdf

The Philippine Louisiana Historical Society, Inc. (PLHSI) is a 501c3 non-profit organization.

PLHS was primarily established with the goal of erecting a historical marker to commemorate the Filipinos who lived and worked in the Barataria Bay region. The society erected its first historical marker in 2012 to commemorate Manila Village, the largest platform village in Barataria Bay. In 2013, the organization erected another marker to commemorate Clark Cheniere. Dr. Carmelo Astilla, retired professor of history at Southern University in New Orleans and a founding member of PLHS, was the primary researcher and writer for the Manila Village and Clark Cheniere markers. You can see the markers at Manila Village Plaza in front of the Jean Lafitte Town Hall at 2654 Jean Lafitte Blvd in Jean Lafitte, La. 

Philippine Honorary Consul to Louisiana Robert Romero has presided over the PLHS as president since its establishment. He has been joined on the board by community leaders with a range of backgrounds.