Fil-Am labor leaders inducted into US Labor Department’s Hall of Honor

From left: Filipino American labor leaders Peter Gines Velasco, Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz. FILE PHOTOS

WASHINGTON – Filipino American labor leaders Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and Peter Gines Velasco have been inducted into the US Department of Labor’s Hall of Honor for their courage and perseverance in fighting for labor rights.

Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su said she was honored to induct the Fil-Am labor leaders into the Department’s Hall of Honor, “where they take their rightful place among giants in the labor movement who have shaped the fabric of American history.”

From left: Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su with Larry Itliong’s daughters Sandra Itliong Bowman and Patty Itliong Serda, and Deborah Vollmer. CONTRIBUTED

“Itliong, Vera Cruz and Velasco rallied farmworkers – who endured prejudice, low wages and poor working conditions – to courageously organize for fairer wages and humane treatment, all while providing food for families across the country,” Su said during the induction ceremony this week.

“These three leaders instilled and inspired change for those who valiantly labor in the fields.”

Itliong, Vera Cruz and Velasco were recognized for their service to Filipino farmworkers, starting in 1959 with the organization of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee at the Filipino Hall in Delano, California.

Fil-Am community leaders attend the induction ceremony. CONTRIBUTED

In 1965, the AWOC led the Delano Grape Strike, where more than 800 Filipino farmworkers in the grape fields went on strike against powerful grape industry growers.

In addition to the victories they achieved for farmworkers, their work is a reminder of what can be achieved when workers of all backgrounds come together to advocate for higher wages and better working conditions.

“Together we stand on the shoulders of those who struggled, labored, and organized before us, and in doing so, blazed a trail for us,” said former Cerritos Mayor Mark Pulido, one of the Fil-Am leaders who attended the induction ceremony. “We have a shared commitment to keeping their legacies alive.”

The cast of “Larry the Musical” performed during the ceremony. The musical is based on the book “Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong” by Dawn Bohulano Mabalon and Gayle Romasanta.

Acting Secretary Su presented medals commemorating the ceremony to the family members of Itliong, Vera Cruz and Velasco.

The cast of “Larry the Musical” performs during the induction ceremony. CONTRIBUTED

Gayle Romasanta, Larry the Musical writer and producer, introduced a song performed by the cast about “when over 1500 Filipinos walked off the grape fields on Sept. 8, ultimately changing the course of their lives and our lives today by starting the Delano Grape Strike.” pic.twitter.com/vOGXI5wmIj

— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) November 20, 2024

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Established in 1988, the Hall of Honor recognizes the accomplishments and impact of dozens of groups and individuals on the nation’s workforce and workplaces. The hall is located inside the north plaza of the department’s headquarters in the Frances Perkins Building.

From left: Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, Consul General Donna Rodriguez, Labor Attache Saul De Vries, Bing Branigin and Philippine Nurses Association of America National Board Member Carol Manilay-Robles. CONTRIBUTED

US Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) applauded Acting Secretary Su for commemorating “the tremendous contributions that these Filipino labor leaders made to our country and the labor movement.”

“Their leadership, determination and courage in fighting for better wages and improved working conditions continues to inspire me, and 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,” Meng said.