Looking Back
/With everything coming out lately about Cesar Chavez, we’re starting this month by looking back at a major moment in labor history—the Delano Grape Strike (1965–1970). It’s often called the most successful farm labor strike in U.S. history, and it was led in large part by Filipino American organizers like Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz, alongside others.
The five-year strike led to better wages and health benefits for over 10,000 Filipino and Mexican farmworkers in California—and created the United Farm Workers (UFW). But beyond the headlines and hero narratives, it’s important to remember the real cost: workers gave up their income, stability, and daily survival just to keep the movement alive.
Fil-Am historian Alex Fabros Jr. honors those sacrifices in his piece, “The Historic Delano Grape Strike’s Sacrifices and Rewards.”
As conversations around Cesar Chavez continue to evolve, authors Craig Scharlin and Lilia V. Villanueva of the book Philip Vera Cruz: A Personal History of Filipino Immigrants and the Farmworkers Movement revisit their extensive interviews with the revered labor leader. Their reflections—shared in “On Cesar Chavez: We Need the Truth More Than We Need Heroes”—offer a more personal and nuanced look at Chavez through Vera Cruz’s eyes.
Also in this issue: Lilia V. Villanueva shares her experience visiting Margaha Beach in Old Sagay, Negros Occidental, where a laid-back mix of sun, food, and community came together with a local short film festival.
And if you’ve been online lately, you probably saw the buzz: the first trailer for “The Forgotten Island,” an upcoming DreamWorks Animation film, just dropped—and it’s already blowing up among Filipinos around the world. PF correspondent Anthony Maddela breaks down why this film has everyone talking.
[Read It Again]
Images of Semana Santa by Contributing Photographers
Marinduque's Mesmerizing Moriones by Wilma B. Consul
[Video of the Week] This Changed How I See Being Filipino Forever - Ink and Identity
In the Know
The Philippines fuel emergency is a textbook case of a warning hiding in official statistics
Community pantry returns, this time for drivers hit by oil price hikes
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/community-pantry-returns-drivers-oil-price-hike/
Meet the stunning Fil-Ams competing for Miss Universe Philippines crown
Philippines scores poorly on work-life balance. Filipinos are not surprised
Filipino farmworkers & LA County confront Chavez allegations
https://asamnews.com/2026/03/25/la-county-reviews-chavez-legacy-filipino-farmworkers-larry-itliong/?
Virtual Visita Iglesia Pilgrimage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vTocaN1U0I
MARILOU DIAZ-ABAYA: FILMMAKER ON A VOYAGE
In celebration of the life of Marilou Diaz-Abaya (b. Mar.30, 1955-d. Oct.8, 2012), National Artist of the Philippines for Film and Broadcast Arts, the full-length documentary on her life will be available on Youtube for a limited viewing playdate starting today on the occasion of her 71st birth anniversary. This documentary was produced, written and directed by Mona Lisa Yuchengco.
