Filipino American National Historical Society: Delano Chapter

10/31/2026

🇵🇭 Before Filipino American History Month ends, we have just one more story we want to highlight!

☀️ Diving deep into the theme set by FANHS National of “Beyond the Margins: Centering Intersectional Filipino American Histories,” we went back and forth between ideas; however, there was one discussion point that we kept finding ourselves coming back to. The language we speak.

🍇 The story we are sharing today is that of the Ilocano (also spelled Ilokano) people in the United States. Speaking with members of our own team, some sentiment was shared about not entirely feeling aligned with the “Filipino” identity, since their “Ilocano” background did not align much with how Filipinos are currently represented in America. But why? How does the ethnolinguistic group who played a massive role in shaping the early agricultural and labor economies in America feel so overlooked? This is a multi-faceted discussion, but a crucial talk to answer the question: What does it mean to be Filipino American? From the early laborers in Hawaii, California, and Alaska to the tensions in the modern day diaspora, Ilocano people have been instrumental in the Filipino American development, and we hope you can learn much about them from this post!

10/28/2026

We mourn the passing of Dolores Huerta, whose decades of organizing and advocacy helped shape the history of farmworker rights and the broader struggle for social and economic justice.

As a Filipino American history organization, we recognize the interconnected histories of Filipino and Mexican farmworkers whose solidarity helped bring national attention to the struggles of agricultural workers, particularly during the Delano grape strike of 1965.

This moment also calls for thoughtful reflection on the complexities of our shared history and the importance of listening to survivors, honoring the dignity of all people, and preserving an honest historical record.

We extend our condolences to her family, loved ones, and all those mourning her passing. We remain committed to preserving the stories of the workers, organizers, and communities whose courage and collective action helped shape our history.

Thank you.

10/28/2026

Photos from 10/24/2026 of our collaboration event, "Rally Itliong", with Makina Drivers Club. Folks learned about the history of the grape strike, the Delano Manongs, and Agbayani Village, before enjoying an afternoon barbecue feast at the 40 Acres.

Thank you to everyone who showed up to support! We hope to have many more events like this in the future.

📷 Photo Credit: Bryan Avelar

10/27/2026

This past summer, FANHS Delano Chapter's Filipino American Youth Engagement group (FAYE) produced a documentary of our very own Filipino elders, right here in Delano, California. Think of it like a follow up to Marissa Aroy's "Delano Manongs", capturing the experiences of what it was like to be Filipino in the decades following the grape strike.

You can find the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs1Uish0Mjw

Please share this QR code with your friends and family to support our projects of the future! Help us make more projects like this happen 💞🎬🇵🇭

Want to support this work with a donation? Find information about how to become a member at our website: https://fanhsdelano.org/

Directed by: Bryan Avelar and Melanio "Jay" Retuta
Produced by: Mariel Muñoz
Interviewees: Dominador "Domi" Tomate,
Patricia "Patty" Itliong Serda,
Rogelio "Roger" Gadiano,
Josefina "Pin" Taruc
On set assistance: Lauren Cacholla, Wilfredo Francisco III, Albert Labasan, Christopher Ines.

10/25/2026

🇵🇭 It’s Larry Itliong Day!

🍇 Larry Itliong is known as one of the leaders of the farmworker’s movement and of the Filipino American laborers’ movements in the early 1900s. From the Alaska canneries in the 1930s to Coachella Valley and Delano in the 1960s, Larry Itliong actively engaged in community organizing with other workers to fight against corporations for better pay, better working conditions, and better treatment.

☀️ Although he never received a formal education in the United States like he hoped, he read every book he could, educated himself on American rules and policies, and used his knowledge to uplift the community, protect the community, and advocate for the community in Delano and beyond.

✊ May we continue to honor his legacy by caring for our own communities the way he always believed we should. Happy Larry Itliong Day!

10/25/2026

1st Annual Rally Itliong with Makina Drivers Club. Such an amazing and emotional day to celebrate our history and continue to help preserve a legacy. 🇸🇽 🇺🇸

08/03/2026

2026 Delano FANHS Summer Celebration: From Our Roots! Photo Album Part III
📸Additional snippets from our videographer and documentary co-director, Bryan Avelar

08/03/2026

2026 Delano FANHS Summer Celebration: From Our Roots! Photo Album Part II
📸 Photo Credits: Christopher Ines .pix on Instagram

An amazing group of dancers! We loved sharing Filipino history and culture with you all through dance and music, and we loved sharing the stage with you all at our summer celebration.

Special shoutout to our Materials Culture Team: Agnes Trzaska, Catherine Pablo, Terry Dela Cruz, and Auntie Pin! We couldn't have done this without you all and we appreciate all the mentorship, guidance, and work you've provided for our program.

08/03/2026

Thank you again to everyone who attended this very special event! Our 2026 Delano FANHS Summer Celebration was inspirational, enthusiastic, caring, and altogether a wonderful celebration of community.

From the bottom of our hearts, from both FANHS and our FAYE team, thank you for celebrating this summer with us!✨

📸From Our Roots! Photo Album Part I. Photo Credits to Christopher Ines .pix on Instagram

07/22/2026

Were you unable to purchase a program at our 2026 FANHS Summer Celebration: From Our Roots? This is your chance to potentially purchase one! The FAYE team is opening up a Program Booklet interest form, where you can indicate your interest in purchasing a physical program. **This is not the preorder form.** If enough people are interested in purchasing a program (or two. or three!), we will be able to open up preorders!

Programs will include:
- FAYE team member descriptions
- The order of performances
- Performance descriptions and pictures of the performers
- Our documentary's title and description
- And more!

This interest form will include sample photos of what is included in the program booklet.
**Each program will cost $10. **
This interest form closes on July 27th, and the preorder form will open on July 29th!

Let us know if you have any questions!

Interest form link is here: https://forms.gle/ymNKwupUo78DNNow9

Sincerely,

Mariel Muñoz
Filipino American Youth Engagement Committee (FAYE) with FANHS - Delano Chapter

Please fill out this form if you are interested in preordering a physical program from the 2026 FANHS Summer Celebration, which took place on July 18th, 2026. This is not a preorder form! This form is being used to gauge interest in a physical program before we collect preorders. We will send out a....