Tag Archives: Filipino Americans

“Delano Manongs” gets CAAMFest 2014 screening in SF; Tells true story of Filipino American role as the original instigators in the UFW labor struggle unlike typical stories that delete the Filipino and glorify Cesar Chavez

Marissa Aroy’s “Delano Manongs” gets a sold-out screening at CAAMFest2014 in San Francsico Sunday night. Just saw a preview of the documentary and it fills in the blanks in the Filipino-less, UFW/Cesar Chavez story.

It clearly shows how the Filipinos and the Mexican workers forged a union to fight for fairness.

Aroy’s documentary (which will be making the festival circuit and shown on PBS station KVIE-Sacramento) is  in stark contrast to the new narrative feature film on Cesar Chavez opening up in your nearest 12-plex. But the multi-million dollar feature film very conveniently streamlines the UFW saga to make it seem like Chavez did it all.

Oh, a Filipino actor is seen, but it’s almost like an extra.

Accuracy is not a strong point.

In one historical scene, the feature film leaves out Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong entirely.

I asked Arroy if the filmmakers should have made Larry a more prominent part in the new commercial picture opening next week.

“It was a conscious omission,” said Arroy in a phone interview just. “And I……(long pause) ….I think it’s unfortunate not to have Larry there at the table.”

See my post on Itliong:

http://www.aaldef.org/blog/restoring-larry-itliong-to-his-rightful-place-during-filipino-american-history-month.html

CHECK OUT THE NEW HOME FOR THE AMOK COLUMN: www.aaldef.org/blog

LIKE  and FOLLOW us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/emilguillermo.media

And FOLLOW  on  Twitter     http://www.twitter.com/emilamok

 

 


PODCAST: She taped Larry Itliong at her Filipino American student seminar in 1976; Debbie Panganiban Louie interviewed by Emil Guillermo about a rare recording of Itliong

The Larry Itliong Symposium on Saturday celebrated the 100th birthday of the labor leader with the  unveiling of tapes of an Itliong lecture never before played in public.  The Little Manila Foundation and the Stockton Chapter of FANHS sponsored the event in Itliong’s hometown of Stockton, Calif.

Itliong talked about the importance of fighting for your rights and speaking out as Filipino Americans. He also revealed that he had been offered hundreds of thousands of dollars by unions and corporations to do their bidding. But Itliong saw that as a “selling out” of Filipino Americans. In fact, with over 300,000 Filipinos in America at the time, he said an offer he had on the table of about $200,000 was less than a dollar a Filipino, and certainly not worth it. (See the story at www.aaldef.org/blog on what Itliong called offers to “buy him off.” He also mentions Cesar Chavez on the tape.

San Joaquin Delta College’s Debbie Louie was a student in 1976 at UC Santa Cruz and taped Itliong as he talked to a group of 20 students. The tapes reveal the tough unionist side of Itliong, as well as a softer grandfatherly side. Itliong died a year later in February 1977 at age 63.

For Louie, the memory of Itliong speaking to the class had her on the verge of tears as we talked.

“His courage and wisdom fighting for equality and justice for Filipinos and workers everywhere should be acknowledged widely and revered for all time,” Louie said.

Debbie Panganiban Louie, San Joaquin Delta College in conversation with Emil Guillermo, Oct.26, 2013.

[powerpress]http://www.amok.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/She-taped-Larry-Itliong-.m4a[/powerpress]

She taped Larry Itliong

PODCAST: Labor Leader Larry Itliong,Filipino American Icon, Remembered By Fred Basconcillo,former national president of the Iron workers Union. (Interviewed by Emil Guillermo)

Oct. 25 is the 100th birthday of Larry Itliong, the iconic Filipino American farm worker labor leader overshadowed by Cesar Chavez.  On this podcast, I interview Fred Basconcillo, a former national president of the Iron Workers Union.

Basconcillo, 76, knew Itliong and was mentored by him. Basconcillo says why Itliong was important and why he may have been overlooked by historians. He also shares stories of Itliong, including an episode that may have led to a split between Itliong and Chavez. Basconcillo says Itliong was upset Chavez treated Filipino workers differently at one site in the Coachella Valley where goonies were called in to beat up Filipino workers.

The podcast is about 13 minutes long, and was recorded on 10/22/2013 at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco after  a Filipino American History month program honoring the 69th anniversary of the Leyte Landing.( Leyte was a turning point in World War II where U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, accompanied by Sergio Osmena and Carlos Romulo, returned to liberate the Philippines).

 

[powerpress]http://www.amok.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Labor-Leader-Larry-ItliongFilipino-American-Icon-Remembered-By-Fred-Basconcilloformer-national-president-of-the-Iron-workers-Union.-Interviewed-By-Emil-Guillermo.m4a[/powerpress]

 

Read more: http://aaldef.org/blog/restoring-larry-itliong-to-his-rightful-place-during-filipino-american-history-month.html

 

 

Fred Basconcillo, one of the few first generation Filipino Americans born and raised in America, at a Filipino History Month celebration of the Alvarado Project at the San Francisco Philippine Consulate.

 

Labor Leader Larry Itliong,Filipino American Icon, Remembered By Fred Basconcillo,former national president of the Iron workers Union. (Interviewed By Emil Guillermo)

Podcast: Almost Live At The Book Launch Of “Little Manila Is In The Heart”

I talk with Little Manila Foundation’s Dillon Delvo about Dawn Mabalon’s new book, “Little Manila Is In The Heart”. The event took place in Stockton,Ca. on 7/13/13.  Dawn’s research breaks new ground, and even uncovered an important personal revelation for Dillon, who learned about his father’s association with the under-appreciated Filipino American labor leader, Larry Itliong.  Everyone seems to be discovering Itliong finally, with a growing movement to acknowledge history and place him next to iconic labor leader Cesar Chavez.

 

[powerpress]http://www.amok.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Podcast-Almost-Live-At-The-Book-Launch-Of-Little-Manila-Is-In-The-Heart.m4a[/powerpress]

Don’t forget to check out my columns at www.aaldef.org/blog

Podcast: A talk with Little Manila Foundation’s Dillon Delvo about Dawn Mabalon’s new book “Little Manila is in the heart”

Podcast: Almost Live At The Book Launch Of "Little Manila Is In The Heart"