Tag Archives: Farmworkers

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“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

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Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) blog, blog, diversity, LISTEN to Emil's PODCASTS, news, race

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