[2] New York City has a shorter settlement history compared to historically more common locations for Filipinos to immigrate to, such as the West Coast.

[9] Filipinos in the New York City metropolitan area also did not enjoy the early advantage of their counterparts on the West Coast of the United States in terms of perceived geographic proximity to the Philippines by marine and air routes.

The burgeoning Little Manila centered on 1st Avenue and 14th Street, around which there were, at the peak, a number of grocery and video-rental stores and Filipino restaurants within a few blocks of one another.

Filipino American community relations were strengthened by local Roman Catholic churches in the East Village and Gramercy Park areas.

[18] By the 2010 Census, within the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA MSA, there were 217,349 Filipino Americans,[19] with an additional 15,631 in the greater New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA.

[20] In 2013, 4,098 Filipinos legally immigrated to the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA core based statistical area;[21] in 2012, this number was 4,879;[22] 4,177 in 2011;[23] 4,047 in 2010,[24] 4,400 in 2009,[25] and 5,985 in 2005.

The IRT Flushing Line (7 train), known colloquially as the Orient Express,[33] the 69th Street station serves as the gateway to Queens' largest Little Manila, along with other public transportation such as the Long Island Railroad and buses.

[35] In February 2008, the Bayanihan Filipino Community Center opened its doors in Woodside, a project spearheaded by the Philippine Forum.

[36] The Philippine Forum also hosts the annual Bayanihan Cultural Festival at the Hart Playground in September to commemorate Filipino American History Month.

[37] On June 12, 2022, a sign-unveiling ceremony and celebration were held at the intersection of 70th Street and Roosevelt Avenue to commemorate the Filipino community’s growing presence and contributions in Queens.

Officially designated as the "Church of Filipinos," the Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Lower Manhattan is only the third in the world and the first in the United States dedicated as such.

[44] The Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus hosts the annual Philippine Fiesta, a cultural festival that draws Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike from across the New York metropolitan area.

Within Bergen County, Bergenfield, along with Paramus, Hackensack,[47] New Milford, Dumont,[48] Fair Lawn, and Teaneck,[49] have developed growing Filipino populations.

[59] Bergen County's vibrant and culturally active Filipino community repatriated significant financial assistance to victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which ravaged the Philippines in November 2013.

An array of Filipino-owned businesses can also be found in Jersey City's West Side section, which is home to many locals of Filipino descent.

A memorial dedicated to the Filipino American veterans of the Vietnam War was built in a small square on Manila Avenue.

Additionally, a park and statue dedicated to José Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, exist in downtown Jersey City.

Furthermore, Jersey City is the host of the annual Philippine-American Friendship Day Parade, an event that occurs yearly on the last Sunday of June.

[44] A significant number of Filipinos in Middlesex County work in the burgeoning healthcare and other life-science disciplines at Central Jersey's numerous medical and pharmaceutical institutions.

The annual Philippine Independence Day Parade in New York City, the world’s largest outside Manila, is traditionally held on the first Sunday of June on Madison Avenue in Manhattan.

Madison Avenue is replete on this day with Filipino culture, colors, and people and is attended by many significant political figures, entertainers, civic groups, etc.

[75] In 2014, Here Lies Love, a bio-musical play about the personal and political dynamics between former Philippine first couple Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, opened off-Broadway.

Spanish is also often learned due to Filipinos' cultural proximity to the local community in New York, as well as being commonly taught as a second language in public schools through the NYC Department of Education's bilingual programs.