The History of the Filipino Community in Jersey City

First in Community Series, Sponsored with the Journal Square Community Association, Funded by Hudson County

Join us as we explore the rich history and vibrant journey of the Filipino community in Jersey City, from its early roots to its lasting impact today with speaker Nestor Palugod Enriquez..

This event is available IN PERSON or VIA ZOOM. Please RSVP here for the event so that we may have an accurate count of attendees.

Nestor Palugod Enriquez spent his childhood skipping stones in the humble mountains of Nueva Vizcaya. As a young adult, he took the uniquely Filipino opportunity to join the United States Navy. At the time when the US was building up its nuclear technology to become a naval superpower, Nestor explored the world’s oceans and became a Submarine Chief Petty Officer. Amongst many Filipino brethren, he settled down in Jersey City, NJ became the Assistant City Controller, and quickly built up a reputation as a computer and internet wizard. Now retired and still a stone’s throw away from the greatest city in the world, New York City, he has been connecting Filipino-Americans to their past for over ten years through various bulletin boards, magazine contributions, and his own website, Filipinohome.com. His research has been referenced in various Filipino American history books and presented to the Filipino American Historical Society where he is a proud member and just recently elected Trustee (2004).

His most recent research project includes the tracking of Filipino sailors who came to Liverpool in 1880 and Ellis Island ship’s crew who settled in New Jersey in 1920s. He studied the works of Lafcadio Hearn and led his research about the Filipino settlement of the early generation of Filipino Americans in New Orleans. His database of the Filipinos in the US Navy extended beyond his Naval Service from 1958-1978. He reviewed the Filipino veterans who served in the Civil War on board the USS Monitor and various warships engaged in the conflict.si

He is currently engaged with the Jersey City Public Library and various local community groups in developing history of Filipinos coming to New Jersey focusing Jersey City. The stories are based on personal experience, oral history, and hard extensive research. It was personally gratifying however like when he found out that Pancho Villa first fight was in Jersey City in 1922. As an avid Rizal reader, he was overwhelmed when he discovered that the first Filipinos in New Jersey founded the Knight of Rizal in 1928.

Nestor and his wife Hermelina Cotaco from Bocaue, Bulacan, lived together for many years in Jersey City before she passed away in 2016. He has 2 daughters, Nheeda, an Industrial Design graduate of Georgia Tech and Melissa, graduate of the University of Chicago and the University of Medical & Dentistry of New Jersey. His interest in world history is part his “romantic” ancestral claim of his great great grandfather, Enrique who sailed with Magellan in 1521 to become the first man to circumnavigate the world.

Nestor Palugod Enriquez www.filipinohome.wordpress Coming to America Yesterday's history, tomorrow's a mystery. Today is a gift,and that's why we call it the present.