Book Review: 'Shadows on Main Street'

Joanna Brauer | For The Salinas Californian

"Shadows on Main Street", Memoirs, Vol. 1., by The Filipino National Historical Society, Monterey Bay Chapter, Edited by Jean Vengua, published by My Express Printer, Salinas, available through F.N.H.S. 831-751-3024.

This slim publication is an appealing selection of vignettes describing the Filipino experience in Monterey County communities dating back 100 years.

The ten contributors present some family histories of the "forgotten Asian Americans."

There's a brief history of the Filipinos becoming American nationals after the U.S. won the Spanish-American War and The Philippines became an American territory. The multitudes of (usually) young bachelors known as "manongs" escaped the chronic poverty of their homeland ..."unskilled, uneducated, and unsophisticated"... nevertheless with great determination and a strong work ethic, setting off to find a better life.

Hawaii needed laborers for its sugar and pineapple crops. It was hard, backbreaking work. Then in 1924, with the Japanese Exclusionary Act, the agribusinesses of California were desperate for field workers. Filipinos came in their thousands to fill the need. They endured not only the hard, backbreaking work but also poor working conditions, wage discrimination and xenophobia.

They had to strike for wage parity with the Mexican workers and for union recognition. They congregated in Salinas' Chinatown, where they had their own stores, restaurants and social clubs and could gamble in the Chinese dens.

They served in WWI with several local regiments. After the war, many settled in the Salinas and Fort Ord areas with Filipina brides brought over from the Old Country. They ran labor camps for the Ag industry, opened businesses, contributed to their growing communities, and raised large families. Filipino newspapers flourished up until the 1980s.

Today, few Filipinos are found in the fields or packing sheds. Parents made certain their children were educated and able to become professionals. There are family photos in this little book and many references to local landmarks.

These are affectionate, mostly cheerful memories of esteemed ancestors whose devotion to family, community and patriotism will give pleasure to anyone interested in local history.

Joanna Brauer lives in Salinas and is an avid reader of many genres. If you wish to submit a book for review, send a copy to: Joe Truskot/The Salinas Californian, 1093 S. Main Street, Suite 101, Salinas, CA 93901.