LOS ANGELES – “Filipino youth in Southern California celebrated the signing of California Assembly Bill 123 into law by Governor Brown on October 2, 2013. Introduced by Assemblyman Rob Bonta, the bill requires the state curriculum to include the contributions of Filipino Americans to the farm labor movement in California. The signing of AB123 recognizes that the untold histories of Filipino farm workers should be taught to remember the solidarity between Filipino and Mexican farm workers and the contributions of Filipino labor leaders such as Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong.
“As Filipinos, there’s nothing said about our contributions to American history. This will give young Pinoys and Pinays something to be proud of, some sense of stature. We will not just be some Asian minority anymore,” said Roger Gadiano, a Filipino farm worker who worked alongside Itliong and Cruz. He continues to give tours to young Filipinos who visit Delano in hopes of learning more about their history.
In the spirit of the farm workers, Filipino youth began to organize to garner support for the bill soon after it was introduced. Samahang Pilipino at UCLA together with the Filipino Migrant Center and Anakbayan Los Angeles formed the AB 123 Southern California Coalition and were soon joined by other organizations. In collaboration with AB 123 Northern California, youth and student groups gathered support from dozens of organizations and hundreds of individuals from around the nation. Through workshops, educational discussions, and trips to Delano – the site of the famous grape strike and home to Agbayani Village, Filipino youth initiated community discussions about the legacy of the Filipino farm workers and their important contributions to the California labor movement.
“Growing up in Delano, I never heard about Larry Itliong or the other manongs. Even in my US History class I took in high school, my teacher told my peers and I that there were Filipinos in farm labor movements, but nothing more. He didn’t tell us that the Filipinos of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee started the farm labor movement with the Grape Strike of 1965 or that Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz were the vice presidents of the UFW during the movement. It wasn’t until I took a class, History of Asian Americans, at UCLA that I learned more about the contributions of the manongs in the farm labor movement. After my class in UCLA, I personally felt that students especially the ones back in Delano should be able to learn the complete history of the farm labor movement because I didn’t have the chance to,” shared Kevin Riambon, a UCLA student and member of Anakbayan Los Angeles and the AB123 Southern California Coalition.
Inspired by the history of the farm workers, youth around the nation organized to remember and continue the legacy of Filipino farm workers in California’s classrooms, playing a significant role in the passing of AB 123 and ensuring their history will be remembered for generations.
As Filipino youth, we celebrate the passing of AB 123. We are looking forward to the changes in curriculum in California classrooms. We hope the curriculum not only highlights the contributions of Filipinos to the farm labor movement, but also draw strong connections to conditions that have led to forced migration of Filipinos and the current issues facing Filipino migrant workers today.
“Learning our history is a right. Not only does AB123 give Filipino-Americans a sense of belonging, but more importantly it allows them to draw connections to the ongoing issues Filipino Migrant workers face today. AB123 is more than an educational bill; it’s an opportunity for youth and students to take what they learn in the classroom, and begin creating their own history by getting involved in their community,” states Jewelle Dela Cruz of the AB123 Southern California Coalition and also a member of Anakbayan Los Angeles.
Working alongside community leaders and educators, we will have a strong voice in the creation and implementation of this important curriculum. As we celebrate Filipino American History Month, we will continue to share the important stories of the Filipino farm workers through community education and contribute to build a relevant and engaging curriculum that teaches about Filipino contributions to the California labor movement.
