Manuel Rustia

Manuel Sison Rustia (May 28, 1902-April 8, 1987) was an important early Filipino immigrant to the United States. Born in Baliwag, Bulacan, Philippines, he participated in the pensionado program to the United States. There he attended the University of Washington. Being in this program was an important honor. Only AbOUT 100 or so students from the Philippines were allowed to go to the United States to study each year in this program. The idea being that afterwards he would return to the Philippines to serve there as an administrator or other holder of public office.

After graduating he went on to become a Professor there and was influential in the Seattle area. He was widely traveled in the Pacific World having visited Japan and other areas during the 1950s. He is highly regarded by notable members of the Filipino community of Seattle to this day.

Sources: The Yearbook of the University of Washington, 1941.

Several Ancestry.com databases.