US Dept. of Labor’s Hall of Honor Welcomes Fil-Am Heroes
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These three men–Larry, Philip and Peter–were the leaders of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) that led the 1,500 Filipinos in the historic 1965 Delano Grape Strike. The workers bravely joined the strike despite knowing that they might lose their homes and livelihood if the action failed. AWOC and Latinos of the National Farm Workers Association led by Cesar Chavez merged to become the United Farm Workers (UFW). In 1970, the UFW successfully negotiated a contract that provided farm workers with higher hourly wages, better working conditions including protection from pesticides used in the fields, and a union health plan that included growers’ contribution.
The Hall of Honor hails their work in elevating “working conditions, wages, and the overall quality of life of America’s working families.” Previously named the “Hall of Fame,” it became the “Hall of Honor” in 2013, focused on honoring groups of people who influenced the way Americans work. Groups that were honored include the Essential Workers of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the El Monte Thai Garment Workers, and the Bostock Paintiffs who pushed for LGBTQ rights in the workplace.
Guests from all over the country attended the event. “The Great Hall will be full,” said a staffer, with more than 300 people who RSVPd. Many of the guests, mostly Filipino Americans, flew from California, where the three labor heroes worked and lived. Wilmar Suan, NaFFAA Great Lakes Region President, flew in from Michigan, stating that the award was “long overdue.” Mark Paredes, Regional Manager of the United Domestic Workers Organization made the special trip from California, expressing amazement that Filipino leaders are “finally being recognized for their contribution to the labor movement.”
Acting US Secretary of Labor Julie Su (third from left) hosts the induction ceremony for the Filipino Farmworkers - Larry Dulay Itliong, Philip Villamin Vera Cruz, and Peter Gines Velasco - into the Hall of Honor at the US Department of Labor. The ceremony featured remarks from Herb Delute - FANHS, Gayle Romasanta, Danny Pasquil, Jennifer Sta.Ana and a performance from members of Larry the Musical (Photo by Alyson Fligg)
Local business owner, Rona Jobe, CEO of LVL-UP Strategies said, “Filipino leaders made really significant changes to the landscape, not just in California but in the United States as far as labor rights” are concerned. Arturo Rodríguez representing the Larry Itliong Resource Center and the Central Valley Empowerment Alliance stressed that the fight for worker rights continues, and that the example of Larry, Pete, and Philip embodying “solidarity and unity,” serves as inspiration to uplift marginalized groups such as farm workers and people of color. Jon Melegrito, executive secretary of The Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project said the event was a “testament to the contributions of Filipino Americans to this country, especially the farm workers,” and the contributions they made “to America's cultural, social and economic development.” Joshua Carandang gave a powerful rendition of the Philippine national anthem.
Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su warmly noted the presence of the highest ranking Filipino American in the government, Nani Coloretti, who serves as Deputy Director of the Office of Management, as well as Erika L. Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Senior Liaison, and Giev Kashkooli, VP of United Farm Workers.
Su, who was the California labor commissioner and a director of the Asian American Advancing Justice-Los Angeles, enjoys close ties with the Filipino community in California. She was also commended by US Rep Grace Meng (D-Queens) for commemorating the contributions of these men and recognizing “their leadership, determination, and courage [which continue] to inspire me. This well-deserved tribute to them is an outstanding way to ensure that our nation and future generations always remember the crucial work they did and the legacies they left behind.”
Former Cerritos mayor Mark Pulido acting as the emcee, had to pause for a moment, struggling with his emotions, as he told the audience that “future generations can learn from the struggle,” and how the achievement of Larry, Philip, and Peter is a “reminder of what we can do.”
Cerritos mayor Mark Pulido (Photo by Alyson Fligg)
US Department of Labor employees, Jennifer Sta. Ana and Danny Pasquil were instrumental in having Larry, Philip, and Peter inducted to the Hall of Honor. Jennifer Sta. Ana said that the story of these men was pivotal in her decision in becoming an attorney so she could enforce labor laws to protect workers. For Danny Pasquil, it was easy to identify with the manongs since his own grandparents arrived in the 1920s, and had a similar experience. For him, the three men receiving the award, “represent all the manongs.”
Heriberto Delute, president of the Filipino American Historical National Society (FAHNS), Delano chapter, spoke from the lens of a historian, recognizing that the story does not end with Larry, Philip and Pete, and that the stories should continue to be told.
In a video message, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said, “these men saw injustices in the world,” and tried to fix them. This brought to mind Larry’s words from a 1975 recording, “In that Constitution, it said that everybody has equal rights and justice. You've got to make that come about. They are not going to give it to you.” Bonta hailed them as “pivotal in shaping what California is today,” calling Larry, Philip, and Pete “unsung heroes.”
Gayle Romasanta, the writer and producer of Larry the Musical spoke of the power of the arts and how joy, humor, and good music can be used in acts of resistance against the marginalization of communities. She also declared that “child care is real labor.” The cast of Larry the Musical, in possibly the first musical performance at an awards ceremony at the Great Hall, sang excerpts from the show, enthralling and moving the audience with their strong voices inviting them to “Follow the ancestors, listen to their voice.”
Gayle Romasanta (Photo by Alyson Fligg)
The induction ceremony also honored the women who were part of their lives. Larry’s two daughters accepted the awards and spoke of the legacy the three men left behind. Patty Itliong Serda accepted the award for Larry, while Sandra Itliong Bowman accepted for Pete Velasco. Lawyer Deborah Vollmer, the longtime partner of Philip Vera Cruz, accepted the award for him. Vollmer shared anecdotes about Philip, mentioning his tasty chicken adobo. She also revealed one of the reasons for Philip resigning from UFW. Philip was very much against Martial Law in the Philippines and had a disagreement with Cesar Chavez when the latter visited the Philippines as an honored guest of dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the time.
The Hall of Honor hails their work in elevating “working conditions, wages, and the overall quality of life of America’s working families.”
Gem Daus, a faculty member who has taught Filipino American studies for the past 15 years at the University of Maryland Asian American Studies Program, observed that the forgotten history of Filipino Americans is slowly coming to light. Daus cited the Bonta Bill requiring public schools to teach the contributions of Filipino Americans to the farm labor movement in California, the proclamation of Larry Itliong Day in California, the film on Delano Manongs, and now the induction ceremony of Larry, Phil, and Pete. For Daus, “there’s been a recovery of this history,” adding that “there’s an arc here that is really, really fulfilling.” This sentiment was shared by Nica Derequito, a student and a member of FAHNS DMV: “I think it's important for the younger generation to see and learn more from that, to move forward and hopefully continue the fight that we've been doing to make things better.”
Despite the uncertain future of immigrants under the new administration, Su delivered this message of hope: “America has always been a place that people come to seek a better life and to make America better. That's the story of Philip and Larry and Peter. And so we're going to continue to tell those stories, and the work of the Department of Labor will have to continue.”
Titchie Carandang is a freelance writer. Her articles have been published in the White House Quarterly, Northern Virginia Magazine, Metro Style, Connection Newspapers and other publications. She is the co-founder and was co-director of the Philippines on the Potomac Project (POPDC), where she researched Philippine American history in Washington, D.C. She has received awards from the Philippine American Press Club, the Mama Sita Foundation, and the Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Award for her writing.
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