The farm labor movement and the birth of the United Farm Workers (UFW) is often associated with Cesar Chavez. Although Cesar Chavez did play a role, many do not know that it was Filipino farm workers who started the 1965 Delano Grapes Strike, which gave birth to the United Farm Workers.

The contributions of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the United States have historically been unvoiced and overlooked in public school curriculums. Assemblymember Rob Bonta of District 18, the first Filipino American elected to the California State Assembly, has authored Assembly Bill No. 123, which would require social science curriculums to teach students about the contributions Filipino Americans had to the farm labor movement.

Assemblymember Bonta was inspired to write AB 123 because of his own personal history and involvement in the farm labor movement.

I was raised at the United Farm Workers headquarters in La Paz, California, where my parents organized farm workers alongside the leadership of the movement. My parents raised me to value public service and encouraged me to give back to the community.

While the contributions of Manongs such as Philip Vera Cruz, Larry Itliong, Pete Velasco, and other Filipinos have been voiced in other settings, AB 123 would ensure that these names and stories will be formally taught--and never forgotten.

For more information: Teach California Students About the Important Contributions of Filipinos by Supporting AB 123

Actual Document of AB 123: Assembly Bill No. 123

To support AB 123: https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov