Planned mural at California university to honor Fil-Am farmworkers

Screencap from ABC7 News Bay Area/YouTube

An empty wall at San Jose State University (SJSU) holds endless possibilities for Filipino American students and alumni who are leading efforts to create a mural honoring the legacy of Fil-Am farmworkers. 

In 2008, SJSU unveiled on campus the “Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice.” This iconic archway commemorates the United Farm Workers Movement, specifically, the contributions of Mexican American labor leaders and civil rights activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. 

However, the arch omits any reference to the contributions of Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and other Filipino farmworkers in this movement. 

SJSU students have formed a coalition with various alumni, staff, faculty and community organizations to ensure that Filipino American history is properly represented on campus, most especially the history of Filipino farmworkers.

“The mission of this Coalition plans to unveil a new mural that will work to correct the painful omission of our history by finally commemorating the contributions and leadership Filipino Farmworkers made during the United Farm Workers Movement,” according to the group’s website.

“With this new art installation, SJSU’s community and visitors will be taught the valuable contributions Filipinos have made throughout American history.” 

Manong Robert Ragsac, a former farmworker and founder of Pinoytown San Jose, has bewailed the exclusion of Fil-Am farmworkers in the “Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice.”

“In the current arch, there’s no mention of the Filipinos themselves. And I think that is what I call an incomplete story of the United Farm Workers,” Ragsac told ABC7 News.

Echoing the same sentiment, Ariana Lacson, the Fil-Am president and CEO of SJSU’s Associated Students shared, “Right now, our part of history is left out. And I’m just grateful that our university recognizes that and is trying to make amends. It’s important to make sure we’re represented as Filipino students.”

Future SJSU mural to honor legacy of Filipino American farmworkers https://t.co/iQEc3y1CFy pic.twitter.com/qhaGIs3hoz

— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) September 5, 2024

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The perspective for the Fil-Am farmworkers’ mural

The coalition is planning to create a permanent mural across four panels located at the main entrance of the SJSU Student Union. 

“I think the possibilities are endless. We have the ability to uplift various parts of Filipino American history on each panel. Maybe we want to incorporate it into one cohesive design,” said Alan Gouig, founding co-chair of the Filipino Alumni Network at SJSU.

With support from the community and SJSU stakeholders, the coalition aims to complete this project and have Filipino farmworkers and Filipino American history finally represented on SJSU’s campus.

Those who want to support this project can visit the coalition’s fundraising page.