Agbayani Village Dedication

Mack Lyons and people attending the Agbayani Village dedication, Delano, California. June 15, 1974. Photo by John Kouns.

On June 15, 1974, Agbayani Village was opened by the United Farm Workers (UFW) as a retirement center for farm workers in Delano, California. The Filipino farm workers who immigrated during the 20s and 30s, known as the Manongs, were unable to establish families in the United States because of anti-miscegenation laws and racial discrimination and didn’t have much support as they entered their later years. Agbayani Village would ensure that these farm workers were taken care of.

El Malcriado Issue 6, June 24, 1974

Headline reading “Agbayani Village Dedicated” on the cover of El Malcriado Issue 6, June 24, 1974

Candido Taclibon embraces César Chávez at Agbayani Village, El Malcriado Issue 6, June 24, 1974

“Candido Taclibon embraces César Chávez at the dedication of Agbayani Village in Delano June 15. Taclibon is one of more than fifty elderly Filipino farm workers who will live at the Village. The Paolo Agbayani retirement center itself joins the Rodrigo Terronez Clinic, the Tomasa Zapata gas station, and the Walter Reuther Service Center at the UFW complex called Forty Acres outside Delano as a landmark to the struggles of farm workers for justice and dignity.” El Malcriado Issue 6, June 24, 1974.

Group of Manongs who will live at Agbayani Village. El Malcriado Issue 6, June 24, 1974

“A group of the Manongs who will live at the Agbayani Village are shown here at the Schenley labor camp where they have been living, awaiting the completion of the Village. These Pilipino men were in the forefront of farm worker strikes for many years, including the Delano Grape Strike of 1965 which led to the formation of the United Farm Workers of America.” El Malcriado Issue 6, June 24, 1974

Mack Lyons and people attending the Agbayani Village dedication, Delano, CA, 1974

Mack Lyons (wearing a patterned shirt) and people attend the Agbayani Village dedication at Forty Acres in Delano, California on June 15, 1974. Photo by John Kouns.

Agbayani Village construction crew, El Malcriado Issue 6, June 24, 1974

“Men and women of many different backgrounds and experiences made up the anchor construction crew at the Village. They came largely unskilled, learning from the work they did on the construction site.” El Malcriado Issue 6, June 24, 1974. Photo attributed to Cris Sánchez.

Members of Painters Union Local 1348, El Malcriado Issue 6, June 24, 1974

“Members of Painters Union Local 1348 of Los Angeles, AFL-CIO, came to the Village three weekends in a row this spring to work on the interiors of the rooms at the retirement center. More than 1,000 volunteers helped build the Village.” El Malcriado Issue 6, June 24, 1974. Photo attributed to Sebastian.

Article from El Malcriado Issue 24, May 1, 1970

The retirement complex was named after Paulo Agbayani, a UFW member who died of a heart attack on the picket line against Perelli-Minetti Winery in 1967. The UFW National Executive Board hosted the dedication of Agbayani Village. The UFW National Executive Board consisted of: César Chávez, President; Dolores Huerta, First Vice-President; Philip Vera Cruz, Second Vice-President; Pete Velasco, Third Vice-President; Gilbert Padilla, Secretary-Treasurer; Eliseo Medina, Mack Lyons, Marshall Ganz, and Richard Chávez.

Filipino American Delano Tour

Roger Gadiano and Alex Edillor, members of the Filipino American National Historical Society/Delano Chapter, give a tour of Filipino Hall, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Agbayani Village, Forty Acres, and the cemetery that is Larry Itliong’s resting place.

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