Donor Information: Caroline Cabading was a board member for the Manilatown Heritage Foundation. She played a role in developing the programming of the Manilatown I-Hotel center before it opened. She is also part of Malaya Productions, which helped to produce the Rise of the I-Hotel. The first G5 computer, made possible by a grant, helped to produce the Rise of the I-Hotel.
Scope and Content of Collection: The film Rise of the I-Hotel contains raw footage of the I-Hotel struggle in San Francisco in the 1970s to the opening of the new I-Hotel and Manilatown Center in 2002. This documentary features new footage that add to Curtis Choy's Fall of the I-Hotel.
Physical Location of the Collection: Freedom Archives and Manilatown Copyright Information: Educational purposes OK.
Donor Information: Emil de Guzman was the president of the International Hotel Tenants Association and one of the leading activists of the International Hotel anti-eviction struggle. He started his activism as a student at UC Berkeley, through his Sociology class.
Scope and Content: This collection includes a video documentary and photographs.
The video is called"The Fall of the I-Hotel." It documents the story of a broad-based movement of senior citizens, churches, labor groups, and community activists who sought to preserve the I-Hotel as low-cost housing for the elderly and a Filipino American/Asian American community center. It is a blend of cultural history and personal vignettes which dramatically portrays the conflicts between individuals, corporations; and those who must enforce the law. Originally released in 1983, this film was revised in 1993.
IH 032 is photographs taken before, during and after the August 4, 1977 tenant evictions from the International Hotel. Before the eviction photos depict demonstrations. One sign said “To Hell with Their Profits! To Hell with Relocation! No Evictions! We Won’t Move!” “Youth In Action says: Fight Evictions- People United Will Never be Defeated – Workers Committee to Fight For International Hotel & Victory Building.”
There are dramatic photos of the police in full riot gear, imposing figures at their police car getting ready. The demonstrators formed a human barricade, standing arm-in-arm, at least six rows deep. You could see fear on some people’s faces as the police prepare to move through the front door.
Then the photos change to the morning after the eviction, people moving mattresses out, solo photos of different people who look tired. Some are talking amongst themselves or with police officers. There are pictures of the Transamerica building towering behind the I-Hotel.
IH 033 includes photographs taken during a San Francisco City Hall protest concerning the I-Hotel eviction. Photographs include the Reverend Cecil Williams speaking at a hearing held in the legislative chambers. Other photos appear to have images of Black, White, Chinese, elderly, adult, peoples during a mobilization. These pictures reveal the multiracial and multi-class character during the International Hotel demonstrations.
Physical Location of the Collection: Manilatown and Freedom Archives Copyright Information: Educational purposes OK. To use, please contact ellenrae [at] manilatown [dot] org or call 415-399-9581.
Donor Information: Curtis Choy used his film making skills and equipment to document the people and stories within San Francisco's Manilatown and the International Hotel. He worked with Al Robles in documenting the stories of the elderly manongs, and he also documented the I-Hotel anti-eviction movement. Choy continues to make films. His website where his films can be found and purchased is at www.chonkmoonhunter.com. Scope and Content: This collection includes two documentaries called "Fall of the I-Hotel" and "The Manilatown Series."
“Fall of the I-Hotel” documents the story of a broad-based movement of senior citizens, churches, labor groups, and community activists to preserve the I-Hotel as low-cost housing for the elderly and as [a Filipino American or] Asian American community center. It is a blend of cultural history and personal vignettes which dramatically portrays the conflicts between individuals, corporations; and those who must enforce the law. Originally released in 1983, this film was revised in 1993 and released in 2005.
The “Fall of the I-Hotel” was also part of a film showing at panel discussion at UC Berkeley, with Harvey Dong, Estella Habal and Bill Lee, where they discussed issues and topics relevant to the International Hotel protest. The "Fall of the I-Hotel" is exclusively available to be purchased at Chonk Moonhunter (www.chonkmoonhunter.com), Manilatown Center and a few selected bookstores. (58 minutes.)
“The Manilatown Series” is a compilation of documentary vignettes of life and history of manongs and individuals who lived in Manilatown and the I-Hotel spanning from 1972 to 2003. Titles in the compilation are: “Tino’s Barbershop Quartet in Action” (1972); “Manongs” (1979); “Manilatown Lives!” (1985); “The Rise of the I-Hotel” (2003). “The Manilatown Series” was donated to MHF for the use of the Manilatown California Project on February 5, 2006. (52 minutes).
Physical Location of the Archives: Manilatown and Freedom Archives. Copyright Information: Please contact Curtis Choy at chonkmoonhunter [at] yahoo [dot] com, or write 1824 South Cordova St. Alhambra, CA 91801.
Donor Information: Chris Fujimoto was a part of Kearny Street Workshop (KSW). He was interested in getting political by engaging the local. He met Al Robles and knew him as a go between with the manongs. Al inspired him to be more community based. Al took Fujimoto around to the hotels, to keep the history alive. KSW focused on documenting Chinese/Asian America to breakdown stereotypes.
Fujimoto shot his photography in 1971, influenced by the social documentary style of Jim Dong, Bob Hsiang, Leland Wong and Chris Huie.
After the I-Hotel eviction, Fujimoto stopped his photography and became an electrician. But, he went back to photography in the 1980s.
Scope and Content of Collection: This collection is composed of images pre-eviction, eviction and post-eviction. Images include rallies front of the International Hotel, some with Wahat Tampao one of manongs of Manilatown, marches through Chinatown, fundraising events, the party before the closing of the St. Paul Hotel, party before the closing of the Luck “M” Pool Hall, and Al Robles with Manong Ted Daluyot at St. Paul Hotel. There are also in front of the demonstrators locked arm-in-arm and six layers deep in front of the Kearny Street Workshop. In addition, there are solo portraits of Manilatown's Manongs.
IH-044 There's a picture of an angry man. His name is Yip Man. He was a tenant of the I-Hotel and vocal against the eviction. He helped to organize rallies, and was also a speaker at City Hall. He was there at the purchase of the I-Hotel by the city, when the I-Hotel was declared a historical monument, and when Four Seas was suing International Hotel Tenant's Association.
There are also pictures of the Red Guard. In front of the old I-Hotel, there were storefront shops, like Everybody's Bookstore, and the Asian American Community Center. The Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) also had a presence in this area. CPA was a Socialist Progressive Group that had Maoist leanings. Chinese Americans had a transnational consciousness of what was happening in China. In the 1980s, Den Xioping was the head of China. The news was pro Den Xioping. But many in the CPA were critical of Den Xioping because of his acquiescence to capitalism.
Some of San Francisco Chinatown's Chinese American born youth were part of "gangs." There were the Bai Chings versus the Joes. They would hang out at soda fountain shops like Leways, where hot rods would run their engines. Many of these gangs would try to recruit the younger kids. But people like Steve Dung wanted to give the youth something different. KSW was one place where youth got involved in radical, community politics.
In the set, there is a photo of a charismatic Chinese American, whose name is Alex. He was part of the Red Guard. The Red Guard was a radical Chinese American street youth organization. Alex had "mao mao," an eloquent voice that could capture the attention of people.
IH-045 These are portraits of Al Robles with Ted Daluyot at St. Paul Hotel during the mid 1970s. Ted was taking a lot of medication. Al was like a social worker, asking about his family. Ted was a lonely guy. Tony Remington also took pictures of Ted.
IH-046 are photos during the closing of Lucky "M" Pool Hall. The event was a potluck with taxi dancing of the 1920s. Back in the day, manongs would frequent the taxi dances to meet women and be entertained. In this set of photos, the Lucky "M" Pool Hall was shutting down because the rent was increasing.
IH-047 includes images from inside the Lucky "M" Pool Hall. Lucky M Pool Hall/barbershop were "anything happened." Lucky M stood for Margaret Moyko, who was the wife of Manong Mile. Inside the pool hall were benches. It was a center for the manongs. In order to celebrate their claim of the pool hall, they had a squid adobo buffet.
Manongs playing pool and Manongs sitting on benches along the wall looking on at the players. The room is a bit smoky. Manongs dressed in jackets (suit, work, or plaid flannel), trousers, shiny street shoes and most are sporting brim hats. You can see that there were at least three pool tables and a set of pinball machines. Al Robles is seen playing pinball.
IH 048 These are photos from the day after the nighttime police raid on the I-Hotel and the eviction. The tenants had to sign in to prove they were a tenant. Social workers were there to help tenants to get stuff. It took tenants a whole week to get back their things. The IHTA had to arrange buses to take tenants to different hotels in SOMA.
IH 049 These are mixed photos of I-Hotel and Manilatown folks. There are people like Gordon Chin, who advocated for low-cost housing for senior citizens at the I-Hotel. He is currently working for Chinatown Community Development Corporation. There are also photos of Bill and Pam of the Asian American Community Center doing their human barricade demonstration practices. There are also photos of Manong Benny Gallo, who was a tenant of the I-Hotel.
IH 050 These are pictures of a rally. People like Pete Yamamoto, Estella Habal, Benny Gallo, Wahat Tampao, Doug Yamamoto, Lou Syquia, as well as activists from Chinese Progressive Association and Everybody's Bookstore are in these photos.
There are pictures of people doing a human barricade formations by locking arms.This was after the tenants received eviction notices. A bulldozer came by and the tenants and young students utilized a phonetree warning system. The Chinese Progressive Association and the Asian American Center called everybody out to encircle the building.
IH-001 KPFA International Hotel Broadcast April 1977 1Hour
April 1977 pre-eviction broadcast of the International Hotel struggle (KPFA). Program contains narration, music, interviews and recorded speeches with detailed chronological account of the events leading to the eviction. Discusses the involvement of the Milton Meyer Company, Walter Shorenstein, Sheriff Richard Hongisto, Mayor George Moscone, The Four Seas Investment Corporation, and Judge Ira Brown. Audio documentation of tenants Emil de Guzman, Nita Rader, Wahat Tampao, Felix Ayson, and city officials Moscone and Hongisto. Topics of the affordable housing struggle are explained, such as the “Buy-Back” plan that was proposed to the tenants, the Power of Eminent Domain to prevent eviction, Hongisto’s contempt of court, and the progressive community joining to created a human barricade around the building. Program ends asking listeners to support the struggle of the I-Hotel tenants.
IH-002 International Hotel Actuality August 3, 1977 2 Minutes, 30 Seconds On the night of the 1977 International Hotel eviction, a reporter following Sheriff Richard Hongisto made recordings documenting the breaking down of doors. As a sledgehammer is used to break doors down, the reporter comments on the sheriff’s refusal to warn tenants to vacate their rooms. Field recording includes verbal exchanges between the sheriff, the reporter, and Estella Habal.
IH-003 Art Sato Jazz International Hotel Announcement EH Week August 2, 1997 KPFA 94.1 4 Minutes A recording of Estella Habal’s radio announcement of events that commemorate the 20th anniversary celebration. As she commemorates the 1977 International Hotel eviction, Estella Habal provides historical background of the International Hotel eviction.
IH-004 Manilatown Heritage: Ben, Fred, Me [Estella Habal] 1930s-[19]40s June 1, 1997
Panel discussion on issues pertaining to Manilatown and the Filipino Community during the 1977 International Hotel Eviction. As Emil deGuzman moderates the Manilatown Heritage Foundation, Estella Habal, and Manilatown residents Fred Basconcillio & Ben Abarca speak. Ben Abarca explains I Hotel's 10-block Kearny Street area and past lives of the many family oriented Filipinos living in the district (1930s to present). Next, Fred Basconcillio explains his childhood as being the son of the New Luneta Café owner. Living amongst severe discrimination, Fred witnessed the exploitation of runaway farm workers. Abarca adds that he witnessed a Filipino lynching incident in San Francisco that was a result of a Filipino man dating a white woman. In result of discrimination, Filipinos got involved in creating the Agricultural Workers Union of America (Larry Itliong) . Next, Estella Habal explains the I-Hotel Eviction era's youth and compares them to past and present generations. For the first generation Manongs it was a crime to be Filipino, the second generation was extremely conservative, the third generation was radical and today’s fourth generation is still looking for their identity. Fred Basconcillio ends with recalling personal discrimination in the Ironworkers Union. Eventually, he became the first Filipino President of the Ironworkers Union.
IH-005 Who’s Who in Asia America: The I-Hotel Tenants Sunday, August 13, 1978, 11:30 p.m. KFRC 5 Minutes
Edited radio retrospective of the 1977 International Hotel Eviction in San Francisco. Three former tenants, Alfredo de la Cruz, Etta Lai, and Mr. Yip reflect on their eviction night experiences and speak of their continuing affordable housing struggle, now in its 10th year. Ends with a male, accompanied by music, reading a poem about the I-Hotel Eviction.
IH-006 Manila Bay & Alfredo 15 Minutes
Unedited recordings of a musical performance and interview, possibly happening at separate times. Musicians perform a song about the first generation Filipino immigration experience. The song may be called, “Profits Enslave the World.” This is followed by an interview with a tenant of the International Hotel “Alfredo”. He discusses how he came to live at the hotel in March 15, 1969 and is now protesting the eviction of the International Hotel residents. Alfredo is being interviewed by Estella Habal (pre-eviction).
IH-007 Conversation about Liz del Sol’s experiences with I-Hotel and ManilaTown. 30 Minutes 10/30/1996
In Estella Hablal's interview with Liz del Sol, Liz explains her experiences with the movement. Being third generation Filipina, her roots go back to her Grandparents living in Oakland. Liz’s grandpa even worked on building the bay bridge. She explains how she joined as a UC Berkeley student in the late 60s and eventually moved into the hotel. However, her parents were disappointed because her father was once part of the wild crowd of Manila Town, he knew of the seediness and didn’t want her around those men. Due to her being in and around the area as a little girl, Liz had an organic link with the old men. Liz has memories of Tino the barber and a well-known manong named Joaquin Legaspi. Educated and stylish, many looked up to him. Being part of the beatnik generation, Legaspi had published work. The interview ends with the reminiscing about differences of activism and politics.
IH-008 I-Hotel Commemoration [at] CHS-SF [cosponsored by Chinese Historical Society and Manilatown Heritage Foundation] 90 Minutes 07/18/1997
Symposium of speakers Etta Chung, Estella Habal, and Harvey Dong (40 min of speakers; 50 min of open discussion), delving into the basic struggle formed from the I-Hotel: private property over human rights. The struggle was to prove that dignity and decency takes higher precedence. The Vietnam War, Anti-colonial struggle, and the strong movement to search for one’s identity were touched upon as influences for the large community support. The open discussion has several comments from the audience. Comments such as the trueness of the I-Hotel’s legacy changing reality through the merging of generations to fight for one cause. The discussion ends with the need to push this information into schools.
IH-009 Estella one 60 Minutes 08/02/97
KNBR radiobroadcast interview of Estella Habal (former vice president of the Manilatown Heritage foundation) and Linda Wang, then chair of the International Hotel Citizens Advisory Committee and president of the Kearny Street Housing Corporation. Radio host Kimmy Park Lai interviews both Estella and Linda on past and present issues relating to the International Hotel. Issues such as Estella's experience during the night of the eviction, International Hotel's effect on issues such as low income housing for the elderly, community versus private development, and views on urban planning from the 1970s to the late 1990s. Estella and Linda discuss development plans of the I-Hotel site such as the inclusion Manilatown museum and cultural center, the low income housing units for the elderly and an elementary school. Estella also announces the upcoming events for that week as part of the 20th commemoration of the International Hotel eviction.
A WILD 94.9 radiobroadcast of Estella Habal appearing on the station’s Youth Radio program hosted by Alex Savage and Noah Nelson. In the brief interview, Estella Habal gives a brief description of the event or march that took place on August 3, 1997 as part of the 20th commemoration of the International Hotel eviction. She also describes the significance of the International Hotel site and the current development plans for the site such as the inclusion of the Manilatown museum and cultural center. Estella concludes the interview with an announcement of events that are part of the 20th commemoration. Side B has no recordings.
IH-011 KQED 88.5 Keevin Gillory IH Interview Aug 4, 1997 1 Minute 08/04/97
National Public Radio (NPR) Radio News broadcast by Keevin Gillory (KQED). The brief recording includes sound clips of former San Francisco sheriff, Richard Hongisto and Emil Deguzman. Hongisto states that he spent 5 days in the San Mateo prison for delaying the eviction on January 10th 1977. Emil Deguzman comments on the significance of the commemoration. Aired during the 20th commemoration of the International Hotel. Side B contains no recordings.
IH-012 “Growing Up on Kearny Street” Tape 1 45 minutes 08/04/97
The first part of a symposium titled, “Growing Up on Kearny Street”. Three elderly speakers recount their experiences growing up on Kearny Street. The first speaker talks about how the Filipino American community was like an extended family. He remembers different bars, clubs, and restaurants in the neighborhood, including Tino’s Barbershop and Arabian Nights nightclub. Ocampo, the second male, similarly recounts his childhood experience in the neighborhood, such as witnessing many different dialects of Tagalog being spoken and Kearny being home to Filipino businesses and job-seeking Filipinos. Ocampo is a member of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation board as of 2005. The third speaker Joe San Felipe, explains that Kearny street was a bachelor community, with few women and few families. San Felipe ends with explaining the discrimination against Filipinos and other Asian Americans.
IH-013 “Growing Up on Kearny Street” Tape 2 35 minutes 08/04/97
Second part of a symposium named “Growing Up on Kearny Street”. Contains an unidentified man recollecting his experiences on Kearney Street and his history in the army (WWII). He briefly reflects on the racial climate in the armed forces. Tony Robles, the nephew of Al Robles, recites poetry and reminisces about his experience growing up in San Francisco. To conclude the symposium, a unidentified woman tells of her family history and their journey to America throughout the 1920s and 1940s. Also sheds light on the social ills such as conditions of Kearny Street and surrounding areas during her years as a child and teenager. The biggest social ill was women not being allowed to live on Kearny street and the dangers women and children face.
IH-014 “Eastwind Books” 14 minutes 08/05/97
At a poetry reading in Eastwind Books, Al Robles reads a piece that begins, “Coming Home to this Place Called Manilatown”.
IH-015 “KPFA talk with Emil Deguzman, Norman Jayo, and Shiree Tang” 22 minutes 08/07/97
Two radio hosts talk with Emil Deguzman, Norman Jayo and Shiree Tang (on the phone) about the I-Hotel. Issues relate to housing struggles, and gentrification in San Francisco. Emil explains about the hotel previously being a community for bachelor Filipinos unable to marry. Due to immigration laws disallowing Filipina women from entering the country, anti-miscegenation laws disallowed interracial couples. Shiree Tang talks about how the I-hotel was also a home to Asian American leftist organizations such as Kearny Street Workshop and Chinese Progressive Association. The struggle over the I-Hotel was a fight for the community’s entitlement to that land. “Paving new roads", the energy of that moment remains through the people, old and young. Norman and Emil explain how gentrification destroyed communities such as Yerba Buena, Tenderloin, and the Filmore. With no city plan, tenants had no choice but to stay in the hotel and resist all they could. For everyone involved in the struggle, the mission eventually was not to save the hotel, but to show the world that the city was evicting the elderly from their homes.
IH-016 “Luisa Castro” 8 minutes 10/08/97
Short, informal interview of writer/journalist/activist Luisa Castro conducted by Estella Habal. Luisa explains her background as a mixed Black and Filipina woman who grew up in Portland, Oregon with her mother. Growing up, she never belonged in the white community and knew from an early age that she had no place in the white race. She identifies Lloyd Wake and Ron Takaki as two professors who actively supported the third world strike.
IH-017 “Frank Celada” [Part 1] 60 minutes 12/1/97
Estella Habal and Harvey Dong have an informal discussion with Frank Celada over a meal in a restaurant. Celada’s family came to United States from the Philippines in 1953. Growing up in the projects of Alameda, his father supported the family as a cook. With the Filipino American community being divided by class, Kearny Street was often looked at as a “rowdy area” that was not for respectable people. Celada got involved in the I-Hotel through his involvement in student activism at Berkeley. The student activist energy at Berkeley was strong and a lot of people wanted to fight for the I-Hotel. Celada reminisces about his activism at Berkeley, and how it led him to become a part of UFA in 1969-70. Celada was the community liaison for UFA. Talks a lot about group dynamics within the UFA, identifying key players (Mark Batista, Ness Aquino, Tony Ubaldi), and the groups relationship to I-Hotel tenants.
Discussion between Estella Habal, Frank Celada, and Harvey Dong about various student groups that were involved with the I-Hotel. One of which eventually created the Asian studies department at Berkeley. They explain the AAPA organization. This student organization had connections with the anti-war movement, SNCC and the farm worker movement. All three participants concluded that they got involved with activism due to the third world strike and the I-hotel.
IH-019 “Mrs. de la Cruz (1)” [Part 1] 90 minutes 03/08/93
Informal oral history interview of Mrs. de la Cruz conducted by Estella Habal. During the interview, Mrs. de la Cruz recalls her family history and her experience living in the I-Hotel. Part 1 of the interview contains Mrs. de la Cruz recollecting her family history, which includes their experience during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. Mrs. de la Cruz also recalls how she became involved with the I-Hotel and the relations amongst the tenants and the volunteers or activists of the I-Hotel. One highlight of the interview is her recollection of the fire that broke out at the I-Hotel.
IH-020 “Mrs. de la Cruz (2)” [Part 2] 80 minutes 03/08/93
Estella Habal's interview of Mrs. de la Cruz covers the tenants and volunteers of the International Hotel. Issues such as their past and current status of the tenants and activists are raised.
IH-021 “Emil de Guzman” 40 minutes 05-02-89
Estella Habal and Emil de Guzman discuss politics and social dynamics of activism around the I-Hotel. [D]e Guzman explains how he first got involved through a sociology community fieldwork class (SF State ’69). In order to assist the struggle, his class would go to work at the I-Hotel every day of the semester. Bringing the Asian American community together, it fostering a deep sense of political identity. With few Filipino Americans involved in the struggle, de Guzman makes a connection to class background. Unlike the Chinese, Filipinos didn’t have as much community resources to fund community events. There were also generational gaps within the Filipino community between first, second, and third “waves”. Emil explains the working relationship between the young students and elder manongs. In result, the media falsely assumed that the young activists were manipulating the old. Finally he and Estella explore various political aspects that divided the movement and the support alliances that were formed from it.
Estella Habal interviewes Jeanette Lazam on her background, development as an activist, and involvement with the I-Hotel. Once living in Manhattan, she experienced living in a predominantly Black and Puerto Rican neighborhood. Growing up as a product of the civil rights movement, she developed her social consciousness as a person of color and gained a anti-racist framework. It wasn’t until she moved to California she began to identify proudly as Filipino. She learned in college that there was more to being Asian than just food and dance. They discussed the generation gap of political awareness. While the third generation was more working class, greater economic hardships surpassed the second. Consequently, the third generation tended to have a greater class-consciousness, which tended to aspire towards assimilation and economic mobility. In result of the I-hotel’s history and struggle, generations were brought together, even though there were language barriers. As Jeanette worked with the UFA, she provided social services and companionship to the tenants.
Interview between Estella Habal and Jeanette Lazam begins with the internal dynamics of the I-Hotel struggle. Lazam started with the UFA, which got her involved with the IH. Still a student at SF state, Lazan participated in a program that connected students with social service agencies. At that time, the UFA represented the tenants of IH as well as all housing issues in Manilatown. After spending a year Philippines, Lazan returned to San Francisco with a greater sense of cultural sensitivity. With motivation to continue activist work, she joined the KDP in ’74. As her work became more politicized, Lazam moved into the hotel and befriended many of the tenants. With age and gender differences between her and the tenants, Lazan and the tenents still shared a working class identity that provided unity. Lazam describes the Roosevelt Hotel plan to pressure Moscone’s declaration for eminent domain, and the plan for a buyback. Lazam ends with saying Cultural nationalism and its role in the movement creates tension between seeing the goal of saving the ethnic community of Manilatown and protecting all people’s right to obtain housing.
Interview between Estella Habal and Jeanette Lazam on external social-political forces. As a self-examination of the struggle is made, identification of different group involvement are examined. An example is groups such as whites with weak political ties (Anarchists, Maoists). However, whites joined the movement with prevalent ideologies, which were politically tumultuous of the time. There were also artists, the white working class and farm workers who wanted affordable housing as well. Within the left sphere, Lazam analyzes the political spectrum from the range of “radical/ultra-extreme left” to liberal. These groups often clashed and made it difficult to work together. Finally, she looks into the city forces, specifically Hongisto. She believes that a lot of the activists’ weaknesses had to do with lack of experience and lack of coalition work with others. The struggle came from all sides.
IH-025 "Bruce Occena" [Tape 1] 11/16/90 90 min.
Estella Habal interviews Bruce Occena, a former U.C. Berkeley student activist and volunteer of the International Hotel (60s-70s). Bruce Occena comments on three prominent figures in the International Hotel movement, Legaspi, Ness Aquino, and Joe. Occena describes differences, role, significance, and the character attacks that came from activists later. Occena also describes the issues facing the Filipino American student activists of UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University. Issues such as the inter-ethnic tension between activists groups such as Filipino Americans, Chinese Americans, and Japanese American activists. Occena also comments on the affects and issues of Filipino student activists coming from the Philippines and joining the International Hotel movement. Occena also describes the lease between the Shorenstein corporation and United Filipino Association (UFA) appointing a UFA as property manager. This boosted much needed student support.
Continuation of an informal discussion between Estella Habal and Bruce Occena. They talk about the political climate and its influence on the I-Hotel struggle. At first, the students helping the I-Hotel were not “more left” than other members in the community. When the KDP joined the struggle, the organization began being looked at as anti-capitalist. Attracting the attention of other progressive young people, the political meaning rose to a revolutionary level. The political climate at that time was described as “urban populism”. With a mixture of urban decay, white flight, civil rights movements, and 3rd world movements created a revolutionary consciousness for people of color in urban areas.
Video recordings of two separate news broadcasts covering the 20th year anniversary of the International Hotel eviction. The first recording is a 3 minute Fox channel 2 broadcast. Field correspondent, John Sasaki covers the story. He names former sheriff Richard Hongisto as one of the prominent protestors. Footage includes appearance and comments by I-Hotel activists Gunvant Shah, Al Robles and Bill Soro. Footage includes old colored film clips of police breaking through barricades and dragging protestors. The second recording is a 2 minute KTVU channel 5 broadcast anchored by Babara Rodgers. Field correspondent, Roz Plater covers the 20th anniversary march of the International Hotel protest. Footage includes an interview with Estella Habal. In her interview, Estella describes some of the tenants who lived in the I-Hotel. Recording includes black and white film clips of the eviction night. Video is recorded on VHS.
IH-028 “I-Hotel ABC Ch. 7” 1 minute 08/03/97
An ABC channel 7 news broadcast of the 20th anniversary of the International Hotel protest. Video captures Emil Deguzman, chairperson of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation, and Lloyd Wake, a United Methodist Minister, speaking at the event. Footage includes film clips of the human barricade formed by protestors. Video is recorded on VHS.
A video recording of a film viewing and panel discussion of Curtis Choy’s documentary, Fall of the I-Hotel. The event takes place in a UC Berkeley classroom. Carlos Munoz hosts the event. Speakers on the panel are Harvey Dong, Estella Habal and Bill Lee. The panelists cover various issues and topics related to the International Hotel protest. Topics such as tenants, experiences, and the involvement of various organizations are explained in detail. Video is recorded on VHS.
IH-030 “Pearl Ubungan Dancers 1997 on Kearny street, Jackson 20 year anniversary I Hotel eviction” 1 hour and 4 minutes [August 4], 1997
A video recording of a street performance by the Pearl Ubungan Dancers at the 20th year commemoration of the International Hotel Eviction. The performance includes live dancing accompanied by live music, and poetry. Event takes place on Kearny and Jackson street by the vacant lot where the International Hotel once stood. The video is recorded on VHS.
Donor Information: This collection was created when Al Robles worked with the artists at Kearny Street Workshop (KSW) to document the stories of the manongs who lived in Manilatown, San Francisco. Al Robles was very connected with the manongs. He would hang out with them, create spaces for them to celebrate and have fun, ask them questions about their lives and make sure they took care of themselves. Al would carry around a recorder, documenting conversations he had with manongs. Al Robles was born in the Fillmore District of San Francisco. He was a poet and musician, intertwined with Asian American struggles.
Scope and Content: The collection includes oral histories and photographs from the manongs.
Oral histories come from manongs named Henry Hipolito, Manong Pacifico, Maurice Passion, Manong Cortes, Joaquin Legaspi, Simeon Amon, Manong Benny and Manong Velasco. These oral histories include their reflections as laborers, recollections of Philippines, articulations of world views, and descriptions of culture.
IH-051 “Henry Hipolito: Life of the manong, Portsmouth Square." Manong Henry Hipolito talks with Al Robles about the old days in Manilatown. Henry speaks of the Manilatown area from Market to Broadway being the section symbolizing the common poor Filipino. Although the I-hotel area was run down during the interview (late 70s), it used to be a nice area bustling with streetcars and horse drawn wagons. When speaking of the area in the late 70s, the I-Hotel and its few old timers represent the last of Manilatown. Some of Henry’s experiences of the old days were that there were no pinays in America till 1948 and local job discrimination forced him to travel to Alaska for seasonal fishing jobs. He reminisces about Pinoy town in Alaska and how he survived the depression. Ending the interview, Henry gives advice to new Filipino immigrants such as get more education, get more independence, make more progress against poverty and discrimination, and don’t be corrupt.
Listen to Manong Hipolito Here:
IH-052 Manong Pacifico Mr. Pacifico begins explaining his experiences with America and how he fit into society. Pacifico explains fraternal organizations that brought pinoys together. Helio Mucado a five star WWII general started one of the most popular groups. Being treated as a martyr, he started an organization that combined men from all islands and was similar to the free masons. Pacifico also describes how Spanish influence changed the Philippines by conflicted ideals and the raping of resources. As the locals got smart to the Spanish and fought back, US were there to claim the land unlawfully. Pacifico then explains America?s presence as being a blessing and a curse. Pacifico then goes into describing the social hierarchy in Philippines vs. America. Differences of mestizos to peasants are not as present in the US. Pacifico speaks of the manong voice not being heard because of the money promised after WWII not being given. He then delves into his first encounters with the US. Pacifico ends with him explaining the old days back in the islands and how he is Marcos?s 3rd cousin.
Listen to Manong Pacifico here:
IH-053 “Maurice Passion.” 5/10/85, 2 minutes
Maurice Passion talks of many subjects that a usual Manilatown manong has gone through in his life. Maurice begins with telling Al Robles about how when he was young there were no Filipino women in San Francisco. Maurice explained his experience dating white women and how white men were suspicious of him and often threaten to beat him up. He also described Filipino men of the time having big hearts and they would buy and offer many presents to their women. This often attracted many white women of San Francisco. Maurice says love was dangerous and worth the gamble. He then goes into explaining love in the Islands. Maurice explains arranged marriages and trends of infidelity with Filipino men. Towards the end of the interview, Maurice describes vanishing Filipino businesses in Manilatown and the hardship after the eviction. Seven years after the eviction it is still a hole in the ground.
Listen to Manong Passion here:
IH-054 “Manong Cortes.” 8/20/80, 2 minutes
Manong Cortes tells Al Robles how life in the Philippines was in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Manong Cortes grew up in an agricultural town in the Muncada area of Luzan. In a family of him and his parents, their income mainly came from selling water buffalo and small farming. Next Cortes explains different techniques in growing rice such as: planting time, seasons, cutting, and harvest times. While living in a nepa hut, they slept on floor mats (Banigs) with no electricity. Their kitchen had no metal just homemade clay stoves and pots. Cortes ends the interview with his memories of the Spanish-Philippine War and the Philippine-American war. Cortes explains that his family went into hiding during both wars. Looking for revolutionaries, Spanish and Americans alike killed many innocent people. The men of his family fought for independence by using knives, out of date rifles, and homemade bamboo muskets. (how old was Manong Cortes in 1980?)
Listen to Manong Cortes here:
IH-055 “Joaquin Legaspi.” 1973, 2 minutes
Joaquin Legaspi and Al Robles philosophize about life and its different aspects. Joaquin Legaspi an artist, poet, and an intellectual was one of the most popular manongs among the I-Hotel’s activists crowd. Legaspi begins his viewpoint on explaining that night and day is not that much different from each other. The earth revolves constantly; light is constant and on another side of the world. By comparing this to people’s thoughts, the mind is taught this through a learning process that uses labels, fractions, divisions, and sanity is only taught through separation. With this premise, he compares race to being left or right handed. Primitive people have a more natural connection with the world versus the one sided thinking of most people. The five senses around the world are the same all around yet can create ignorance, such as racism. With senses being abused, clashes cultures help to separate (i.e. western world vs. Filipino world).
Listen to Manong Legaspi here:
IH-056 “Lucky ‘M’ Pool Hall.” 1973, 2 minutes
Tape begins with Al Robles reciting a spoken word comparing music, poetry, art, and life. Next Al Robles interviews a group of manongs in the famed Lucky M pool hall. The interview begins with a group of manongs complaining that people are ignorant who think that the I-Hotel should be demolished. If this historical landmark is gone, many have no place to go. During the interview Al mainly talks to manong Duvera. Coming to America in 1917. Duvera got a Job as an apprentice barber in the famed Tino’s barbershop. He explains the vibrant culture and music that was in the barbershop. This was during the time few cars roamed the streets just horse drawn buggies and cable cars. During the recording he was currently working at the Lucky M. Duvera was very reminiscent of the good old days because lucky M was closing March 1st. Along with other vanishing businesses, Lucky M was the last Pilipino pool hall in Manilatown. Duvera ends his interview with him bantering with other manongs about women, gambling, and where to go after the eviction.
Listen to group of manongs in Lucky M Pool Hall here:
IH-057 “Simeon Amon.” 7/6/77, 2 minutes
Simeon Amon talks about women and his life as a child in the islands. He begins by explaining social gatherings called “Taxi Dances”. These gatherings were for lonely manongs who could dance with young women for a small fee. Due to Pinays not being let into the US at the same rate as the men and anti-miscegenation laws which did not allow Filipinos to marry white women in California, not that many suitable Pinays of there age and generation exist in the states. In result, Taxi dances allowed manongs to dance with young women and it also gave girls opportunities for extra income. Simeon said he attended many dances in farming towns such as Stockton. There were also taxi dances in San Francisco. With many of these girls being white, some looked down upon these events. A Filipino man dating a white woman sometimes resulted in him being shot and her being beat up. Simeon then goes into explaining the virtues of city pinays versus country pinays. With too much temptation of the city, country pianys from the islands are better. Manong Amon ends the interview with him explaining his childhood life on a farm in Luzon.
Listen to Manong Simeon here:
IH-58 “Manong Benny” 1974, 2 minutes
Summary not yet available because in Tagalog and we need assistance in its translation to English.
Listen to Manong Benny here:
IH-059 “Manong Velasco.” 6/3/75, 2 minutes
Manong Velasco talks with Al Robles about various subjects. He talks of his health, diet, food, love life, and his past jobs. Velasco begins speaking of all his favorite Filipino restaurants (what are the names of the restaurants) that are now closed. Since many of his restaurants are closed, Velasco eats mostly at Chinese and Italian restaurants. With many complaints, Velasco thinks Italian food is too expensive and Chinese restaurants don’t give him what he wants (language/cultural barrier). Velasco also says if you don’t know the right restaurant you could get food poisoning like another manong who was in the hospital for a month. Although he goes through this anguish, Velasco luckily has an Italian girlfriend that cooks for him. In the I-hotel many manongs have no refrigerators, resulting in them leaving food out for them to eat and get sick. Velasco is aware of this problem and prides his health first. With monthly visits to the doctor, Velasco is told that he should not eat pork and fried foods. While other manongs can’t afford doctors and don’t believe them, Velasco luckily has money to see a doctor. Velasco also explains his past jobs in places such as Fresno, San Jose, and Santa Clara.
Listen to Manong Velasco here:
Pictures are from San Francisco's Manilatown, such as I-Hotel and Lucky M. Pool Hall located on Kearny St. It also includes pictures of Manongs who lived in Manilatown.
