The Filipino community comes together to celebrate Larry Itliong Day in Historic Filipinotown on October 23, 2021 at 2 pm PST at Unidad Park, Los Angeles. This year’s theme is “Makiisa Sa Pagtulong at Sulong.” The celebration is put together by The Pilipino Workers Center and it aims to connect the community to programs, services, and resources that would help them during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Through the use of visual and performing arts, the Larry Itliong Day event also seeks to educate and entertain attendees about the Filipino culture, the history of the Filipino labor movement in the United States, and its impact on workers today. The event’s well-curated program, art installations, and activities bridge social justice with music, arts, and cultural appreciation. Attendees will enjoy a variety of activities such as musical performances by various artists, an educational art exhibit, a short stage adaptation of the book, “Journey for Justice”, jeepney, tricycle, kariton, and bahay kubo selfie stations, and many more.
WHAT: Larry Itliong Day Festival 2021 – a celebration of art, music, and culture in honor of Larry Itliong
WHEN: October 23, 2021, 2:00pm PST
WHERE: In person – Unidad Park, 1644 Beverly Blvd., Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles, CA 90026,
Online: www.facebook.com/PWCSC
Performers: Kiana V, Mica Javier, Jay R, Ancestral Vision Movement, Felson Palad, Gingee, Steady, the cast of
Journey for Justice: Maya Valenciano, Shalimar Malimban, Rommel Rojas, Jose Infante and more.
Speakers: Deputy Hoang Nguyen (Deputy Supervisor to Hilda Solis, LA County First District), Councilmember
Mitch O’Farrel (Los Angeles City District 13), Commissioner Jessica Caloza (Los Angeles City Department of
Public Works), Assemblywoman Wendy Carillo (California State Assembly, District 51) and Consul General
Edgar B. Badajos (Philippine Consulate, Los Angeles).
Organizations: FilAm Arts, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), Filipino American Service
Group Inc (FASGI), Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA), Philippine Nurses Association, Historic
Filipinotown businesses, Filipino American Community leaders and allies.
Brava Theater is organizing a new musical based on our friend, Larry Itliong. Songs from Larry: A New Musical is about the life and legacy of Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong. Also known as “Seven Fingers,” in the 1930s, he began organizing agricultural workers in the West Coast then in 1965, him along with Philip Vera Cruz, Benjamin Gines, and Pete Velasco demanded equal wages from the farms of area table-grape growers to match the federal minimum wage. This became known as the Delano grape strike.
The musical is an online event and includes a free virtual workshop reading and panel discussion. Catch it on October 2, 2021 starting at 6:00PM. The musical and content is based on the research by the late historian Dr. Dawn Mabalon. This event is supported by the San Francisco Arts Commission and CA$H | Theatre, a grants program of Theatre Bay Area. Register now on Eventbrite!
Does the name Larry Itliong sound familiar? You may have heard it when AJ Rafael released the song, Our Friend, Larry Itliong during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. AJ aimed to help tell Manong Larry’s story of an aspiring lawyer, who became a storied Filipino-American labor leader and organizer.
Cover Photo Credit: Dr. Kevin Nadal Facebook
Just as we start Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, AJ Rafael recently released the song, Our Friend, Larry Itliong. Larry Itliong had a huge impact Delano Grape strike of 1965. Unfortunately, it didn’t make the history books. AJ Rafael helps tells Manong Larry’s story of an aspiring lawyer, who became a storied Filipino-American labor leader and organizer. Check it out here!
According to NBC News, “Itliong was 16 when he arrived in the U.S. from the Philippines with a 6th grade education. He went on to lead the farm worker movement that many believed changed the world.” He’s considered the heart and soul of the strike wile Cesar Chavez may be the face we all recognized.
Cover Photo Credit: AJ Rafael Twitter
