Filipino-American organizations and officials in Delano, California are celebrating a unanimous City Council decision to name a park after Fil-Am labor rights activist Larry Itliong, a significant, yet often forgotten leader in the American labor movement. 

On Monday, June 21, the Delano City Council decided to name a proposed park after the labor hero, called “The Larry Itliong Unity Park,” which is located next to the Eleventh Avenue Community Center. 

This city-sanctioned tribute is the result of efforts by civic planner Max Bacerra, who collaborated with city developers and the Filipino-American National Historic Society (FANHS)- Delano Chapter and contacted councilmembers to set the naming in motion.

In an interview with Asian Journal, Alex Edillor, president of the Delano chapter of FANHS, commented on the commemoration of Itliong, saying “it’s about time.” 

The naming also comes from a large number of community requests to honor the historic leader. 

“Imagine the excitement of the Filipino community who have known about Larry Itliong to see a park name in his honor,” Mayor Bryan Osorio told KGET. “That’s the vision we’re leading with today by supporting this.”

Itliong was a labor rights activist and organizer for farmworkers. He immigrated to the United States in 1929, settling in Stockton, California. 

In September 1965, Itliong mobilized over 2,000 Filpino farm workers to stage a strike to demand better wages and working conditions as well as the right to unionize. The movement became known as the Delano Grape Strike, which lasted five years. 

Itliong later reached out to Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta of the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) to encourage Mexican farm workers to join the cause. 

Together, the manongs — the Ilocano term for “older brother” used to describe the Filipino farm workers — and the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee merged with the NFWA to become the United Farm Workers (UFW). 

Many people are still unaware of Itliong’s contributions to the UFW and his work is often forgotten, but his bravery and perseverance made an impact.

Despite Itliong not being a household name, more Americans have paid attention to his story after the release of AJ Rafael’s music video titled Our Friend, Larry Itliong. 

The video describes Itliong as a Filipino immigrant who came to the states at only 15 years old to study law. He could not afford his education, so he became a farm worker. In a cannery accident in Alaska, he lost three of his fingers, giving him the nickname, ‘Seven Fingers.’ 

Rafael wanted to make sure that elementary and middle school students knew the story of Itliong. The music video, and now the honorable naming of the Delano park are small steps towards that goal. 

For Filipino-Americans, the park naming represents an acknowledgement of the organizer who has consistently been missing from American history and public school curriculums. 

“It’s a little concerning that it’s not part of the historical narratives, especially in Delano where these movements were born,” Delano Mayor Pro Tem Joe Alindajao told Asian Journal. 

Delano City Council took just two months to come to a decision, which is faster than community organizers expected. Bacerra and Edillor were considering the possibility of lobbying, but there was no need because it was approved so quickly. 

City leaders like Alindajado said there was no debate on the proposal. 

“It makes sense,” Alindajao said. “Especially given the contributions that Larry Itliiong made to the community, especially the working-class Filipinos, in the 60s and 70s.”

According to community groups such as FANHS, the park’s naming is not only to pay respect to Itliong’s work, but also to educate Filipino-American youth on the contributions he made to the community. 

“My whole purpose is to make sure that later generations recognize and understand [Filipino American history],” Edillor told Asian Journal. 

Edillor’s parents were a part of the labor strike, and he said that even when he was witnessing his parents work at 10-years-old, he could see the significance in what they were doing. 

As he grew up and realized that Itliong and people like him were absent from history books, he was inspired to form FANHS. 

“You cannot forget the sacrifices that everybody made in front of us,” Edillor said.

To honor these ancestors, the Larry Itliong Unity Park’s amphitheater will be named “The Generation of Manongs,” and will include the names of individuals from that time period. 

The park will also have a mural paying tribute to Itliong’s daughter, set to unveil on Oct. 25, which is Larry Itliong Day in California. 

Delano has more plans for making their city more inclusive, safe and welcoming for its Asian-American population, including a potential new school or community center.