Between 2021-2023, members of Watsonville is in the Heart conducted oral history interviews with descendants of the first generation of Filipino settlers in the Pajaro Valley. During these interviews, the descendants shared recollections of their parents’ working under the hot sun as they picked strawberries, thinned lettuce, and collected apples. They also remembered tales of their parents’ favorite pastimes such as sitting at the counter of Philippine Gardens, eating chicken adobo, and gossiping with friends. These stories are the foundation of Sowing Seeds: Filipino American Stories from the Pajaro Valley.
We created this audio guide so visitors can hear these important stories directly from the individuals who inspired us. We have paired thirteen oral history interview clips with sections and objects featured in Sowing Seeds: Filipino American Stories from the Pajaro Valley. Although the audio guide was created to be experienced in the gallery, we have recreated that in-person experience for those who cannot visit the physical exhibition. With this guide, we invite you to reflect on the multiple perspectives and memories of the Pajaro Valley Filipino American community. We hope that it will spark conversations and inspire you to research your family and local histories.
These clips offer a window into the diverse Filipino American oral history interviews preserved in the Watsonville is in the Heart Digital Archive. You may access additional interviews here.
Credits:
- Curator: Christina Ayson-Plank with Dr. Kathleen Cruz Gutierrez
- Narrator: Dr. Kathleen Cruz Gutierrez
- Audio Guide Directors: Ben Goldstein and Daniel Story
- Sound Engineer: Phoebe Rettberg
- Musician: Ryan Pate
- Designers: Mia Perez, Derrick Valencia-Murillo, and Victoria May
Community Voices Audio Guide is supported by the University Library Center for Digital Scholarship and the Everett Program