San Diego's Asian-American History 1880s-1900s: Host Elsa Sevilla, looks into San Diego's history as Chinese and Japanese immigrants arrived in San Diego during the 1880s. Some came to work on the Transcontinental Railroad, the farming fields, fishing and other labor jobs. At the turn of the 20th Century, Filipino students came to San Diego State University under an education program. Join us for detailed accounts on how San Diego's Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Filipino immigrants moved to the region.