Fil-Am History Month Celebrations in Carson City Culminate with the Larry Itliong Day

Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz delivers his remarks during the ninth Larry Itliong Day celebrations at the Veterans Park in Carson City. (Los Angeles PCG photo)

LOS ANGELES 12 November 2018 – The Filipino-American History Month celebrations in Carson City culminated with the ninth Larry Itliong Day at the Veterans Park on 27 October 2018.

The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, led by Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, participated in the celebrations, which commenced with a parade of Carson City elected officials, partner Fil-Am Community organizations, and volunteers.  

A program that followed after the parade included speeches from Consul General Cruz, Carson City officials, Mr. Itliong’s son Johnny Itliong, and Mexican labor leader Cesar Chavez’ son Fernando Chavez. War veteran and former grape field crew supervisor Roger Gadiano also shared his experiences during the Delano Grape Strike.

Mr. Itliong, known as one of the fathers of the West Coast labor movement, was a Filipino-American union leader who led a walkout of 1,500 Filipino grape pickers and began the Great Delano Grape Strike in September 1965 to protest low wages and miserable working conditions, and to ask for basic needs like water and portable toilets.

The strike finally ended in July 1970, which resulted in wage increases, medical plan for farm workers, and establishment of clinics, day-care center, and a school for their families.

Carson City is the first city to recognize the contributions of Mr. Itliong in the United States through a resolution introduced in 2010 by then Mayor Pro Tempore Elito M. Santarina.

In April 2018, the city also became the first city to declare 25 October, Mr. Itliong’s birthday, a paid city holiday. END

Group photo of the event’s guest speakers, (from left) Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, Atty. Fernando Chavez, Council member Elito Santarina, Mr. Johnny Itliong, and Mr. Roger Gadiano. (Los Angeles PCG photo)

For more information, visit www.philippineconsulatela.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLA.