Philip Vera Cruz

The Delano Grape Strike began on September 8, 1965 when over 800 Filipino farmworkers went on strike against 10 grape growers in Delano, California, demanding higher pay. The farm workers in the Central Valley worked long hours under intense heat with low wages and primitive living conditions, and without healthcare and other benefits.

The UFW was formed by combining two groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), led by Philip, Larry Itliong, and others and representing primarily Filipino American workers, and the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), composed mostly of Mexican American workers led by Cesar Chavez. Filipino workers voted to strike on September 8, 1965, launching the Delano Grape Strike. The NFWA joined the strike, which ended after 5 years, and resulted in contracts for improved working conditions and wages for over 10,000 workers. ✊

Philip was born in the Philippines and moved to the U.S. when he was in his early twenties. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 but was released due to his older age and sent to Delano to help with food production during the war. In 1948, he participated in his first strike, which involved asparagus field workers. It won some concessions and showed him and other Filipino American workers the power of strikes. The farmworkers in Delano went on to make history. Philip later remarked, “After all, it was the Filipinos who started this phase of the farmworkers movement when they alone sat down in Delano grape fields back in 1965.”

For grades 1-6. This lesson includes a video excerpt from the PBS documentary Asain Americans about Larry Itliong and the Delano Grape strike started on September 8, 1965. This lesson addresses Asian American activism, collaboration with other minority groups for fair treatment and wages for the farm workers. 

P is for Philip Vera Cruz, by PBS LearningMedia

For grades 6-8, 9-12. This lesson plan is about Philip Vera Cruz and his civil rights activism. 

Philip Vera Cruz at the Smithsonian Learning Lab, by Asian Pacific American Center

For grades 6-8, 9-12

New Asian American Voices (NAAV) In the Classroom – A Student submission for 1990 Instagram Channel

A 1990 Institute sponsored project to spotlight Asian American Heroes. Submit a student project, digital posters stories, poetry, song, etc about Philip Vera Cruz

Read:

Philip Vera Cruz, A short biography, The National Park Service

United Farm Workers (UFW) Movement: Philip Vera Cruz, Unsung Hero, by Kent Wong

Philip Vera Cruz Unlimited: Short interview on Vimeo 

Philip Vera Cruz Oral History Transcript, Interview 1, March 21, 1978, by Linda Mabalot, Welga Digital Archive, Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies

Philip Vera Cruz – 1990 Institute New Asian American Voices Instagram post.

How Cesar Chavez Joined Larry Itliong to Demand Farm Workers’ Rights, by Adam Janos, published on May 7, 2019 and updated April 23, 2024, The History Channel

Chasing the American Dream: A Brief History of Filipino Immigration, Welga Digital Archive, Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies

Oct. 18, 1587: Arrival of Filipinos in North America, Zinn Education Project

Videos:

The Delano Grape Strike, by See Us Unite, May 23, 2021

Delano Grape Strike – Lorraine Agtang Reflects 50 Years Later, September 8, 2015, by UAW

Filipinos Sparked Farm Workers Movement, PBS Lost LA Series 6 Ep2

Waves of Immigrants: The Asian American Journey, January 13, 2023, a 15 minute overview of Asian American immigration history by the 1990 Institute

Exclusion; a shared Asian American Experience, 2023, by The 1990 Institute by the 1990 institute 

Asian Americans | Full Film, A five-hour (5 episodes) documentary about Asian Americans, PBS LearningMedia

Asian American 2021, Last week tonight with John Oliver

(Link to online bookseller)

Philip Vera Cruz: A Personal History of Filipino Immigrants and the Farmworkers Movement, by Craig Scharlin, Lilia V. Villanueva;, January 1, 1997 

Made in Asian America: A History for Young People, by Erika Lee and Christina Soontornvat, April 30, 2024

The Good Immigrants: How the Yellow Peril Became the Model Minority, by Madeline Y. Hsu, April 11, 2017