Search Results
![WILD 94.9 Aug.03 1997 EH [Estella Habal] interview IH week (EH)](images/fileicons/nodigital.png)
WILD 94.9 Aug.03 1997 EH [Estella Habal] interview IH week (EH)
Date: 8/3/1997Call Number: IH 010Format: CassetteProducers: WILD 94.9Collection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
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.
Growing Up on Kearny Street" Tape 1 (EH)
Date: 8/4/1997Call Number: IH 012AFormat: Cass ACollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
The first part recording of a symposium titled, "Growing Up on Kearny Street" hosted by unknown woman. Three elderly speakers recount their experiences growing up on Kearny Street. The first speaker, an unidentified male, talks about how the Filipino American community was like an extended family where everyone knew each other and helped each other out. 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. He remembers many different dialects of Tagalong spoken everywhere. Kearny street was home to many Filipino businesses, and a place where unemployed Filipinos could go to find work. The third speaker is Joe San Felipe. He explains that Kearny street was a bachelor community, with few women and thus few families. Briefly talks about discrimination against Filipinos and other Asian Americans. The fourth speaker, an unidentified man, is cut off very shortly after he begins talking. Ocampo is member of the Board of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation as of 2005. This recording is only on side A, and is fairly clear sounding.
Jeanette Lazan Interview [part 2] (EH)
Date: 11/13/1990Call Number: IH 023Format: Cass A & BCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Part 2 of 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 tenants 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.
Jeanette Lazan Interview [part 3] (EH)
Date: 11/13/1990Call Number: IH 024Format: CassetteCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Interview between Estella Habal and Jeanette Lazam on social-political forces relating to the I-Hotel. Lazan examines white solidarity with the I-Hotel struggle as well as coalitions with artists, working class folks and farm workers, all of whom united around affordable housing. Within the left, Lazam analyzes the political spectrum which ranged from "radical/ultra-extreme left" to liberal. These groups often clashed and made it difficult to work together. Lack of movement and coalition building experience was a major weakness of activists supporting the I-Hotel struggle. Finally, she looks into the city forces, specifically Sheriff Hongisto.
Conversation about Liz DelSol's experiences with I-Hotel and ManilaTown (EH)
Date: 10/30/1996Call Number: IH 007Format: Cass A & BCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Estella Habal interviews Liz Delsol about her experiences with the movement. She explains how she joined as a UC Berkeley student in the late 60s. Being third generation Filipina, her roots go back to her Grandparents living in Oakland. Liz's grandpa even worked on building the bay bridge. When Liz became involved and moved into the hotel, her parents looked down upon her because Manila Town was considered the "red-light district". Because her father was once part of the wild crowd of Manila Town, he knew of the seediness and didn't want his daughter around those men. However, Liz had an organic link with the old men due to her being in and around the area as a little girl. Liz has memories of Tino the barber and visiting many businesses. Liz reminiscences about a well-known manong named Lugasby. He was educated, stylish and many looked up to him. Being part of the beatnik generation, Lugasby had published work. Manila Town used to be ten blocks long down Kearny Street, but by the time of the International Hotel struggle it shrunk to just one block. The interview ends with the two reminiscing about differences of activism and politics.
Manilatown Heritage: Ben, Fred, Estella Habal. 1930s-1940s
Call Number: IH 004Format: CassetteCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Panel discussion on issues pertaining to Manilatown and the Filipino Community during the 1977 International Hotel Eviction. As Emil de Guzman 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.
The Manilatown Series (CC)
Call Number: IH 035Format: DVDProducers: Chonk MoonhunterCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
A compilation of documentary vignettes of life and history of 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). DVD format.
Life of the Manong: Henry Hipolito in Portsmouth Square
Date: 6/8/1977Call Number: IH 051Producers: Al RoblesCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
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 the importance of education, independence, poverty and discrimination reduction, and resist corruption.
Life of a Manilatown Manong: Mr. Pacifico, 1976.
Call Number: IH 052Producers: Al RoblesCollection: The International Hotel struggle and the Filipino community
Mr. Pacifico begins explaining his experiences with America. 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.
