Maniolas

Assemblymember Rob Bonta (Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Delano Grape Strike of 1965 this week on the floor of the Assembly, describing the critical collaboration between Filipino and Latino farm workers and leaders during the genesis of the California farm labor movement. “Fifty years ago, on the evening of September 7th, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), led by Filipino leaders Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and others, met in the Filipino Community Hall in Delano, California, to make the brave decision to strike for improved wages and working conditions,” Bonta explained.  “AWOC successfully invited the mostly Latino farm workers union, the National Farm Workers Association, to join the strike—ushering in one of the most significant events and collaborations in California history, launching the California farm labor movement, and leading to the creation of the now world-renowned United Farm Workers of America, and ending decisively, growers’ historical attempts to pit them against each other.” As the first and only Filipino American elected to the California State Assembly in the history of the state, Bonta is committed to accurately reflecting the Filipino American experience in California history. One of his first acts as an Assemblymember was to introduce AB 123 to provide students with a more complete account of the Filipino American contributions to California’s farm labor movement. And this year, Bonta authored AB 7 to establish a state day of recognition for Larry Itliong every October 25, commemorating the date of his birth. “With Read More …

By Mits San Jose UBLA PRO Bishop Wilkerson LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Most Reverend Gerald Eugene Wilkerson, D.D., V.G., Bishop of the San Fernando Valley Pastoral Region until his retirement two months ago at age 75, will preside over a concelebrated High Mass to highlight the Kaaldawan (Feast Day) of the 41st Annual Peñafrancia  Fiesta in this city, 10 o’clock in the morning, Saturday, September 19, under the auspices of the United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA). The Bicolanos are inviting all Marian devotees, Filipinos and other Catholics regardless of ethnicity, to join them in the whole-day fiesta in honor of their regional patroness, Our Lady of Peñafrancia , in the open air of Lincoln Park and Lake, 3529 N. Mission Road, Los Angeles, CA 90031 (corner E. Valley Blvd.).near the downtown area. The eucharistic mass, set to the music of the Saint Anthony Claret Holy Rosary Choir and attended by thousands of the faithful, is the most solemn part of the fiesta.  The rest of the activities is socialization among old friends and new acquaintances, including strangers and visitors. The kaaldawan schedule, approved by the UBLA board chaired by Tony Martires, was announced last week by the 2015 overall Peñafrancia Executive Committee Chairman Serry Sabocor, as follows: 8 a.m. – 9th day novena, a continuation of the daily novenas of the previous 8 days. 9 a.m. – Fluvial parade, the aquatic event during which the Virgin’s image is placed onboard a pagoda (improvised gaily decorated barge) that is rowed around Read More …