Carson Proclaims October as Filipino American History Month
At the monthly Carson City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 30, the council officially recognized October as Filipino American History Month for the second year in a row.
Two Carson residents — Angela Perez Baraquio Grey and Johnny Itliong — accepted proclamations honoring their contributions to the Filipino American community. Councilmember Arleen Bocatija Rojas of District four issued the first proclamation to Perez Baraquio Greyand listed the significance of the event.
“Carson is a vibrant tapestry of cultures, and we take immense pride in the rich diversity of our residents, with the Filipino American community being a cornerstone of our shared identity and prosperity,” Bocatija Rojas said.
According to the Pew Research Center, Los Angeles is home to the largest Filipino population outside of the Philippians. Of the 4.2 million Filipinos living in the U.S. about 1.6 million live in California, with about 500,000 living in the greater Los Angeles area.
Bocatija Rojas shared Perez Baraquio Greys achievements. Perez Baraquio Grey was crowned Miss America in 2001— the first and only Filipina to hold the title — and is a published author, mother of five, wife for 23 years, and the principal of St. Anthony Padua Catholic Church school in Gardena. She also frequently emcees local Filipino American city events. Perez Baraquio Grey shared her experiences breaking barriers to represent her heritage.
“I remember being crowned the new Miss Hawaii and was interviewed by a Filipino journalist who said to me, ‘Angela, what makes you think you will win in Atlantic City? There's never been an Asian Miss America, let alone a Filipina.’ and I simply replied, ‘There's always room for a first,” Perez Baraquio Grey said.
Shortly after Perez Baraquio Grey received her proclamation, Johnny Itliong received his. His proclamation honored Filipino American History Month and his father — labor leader — Larry Itliong’s legacy.
The proclamation acknowledged Larry Itliong’s work as a labor reformer in America. He moved to the U.S. as a teenager and started his career working in fisheries and canaries. While there he worked to secure better working conditions and began his journey as a labor advocate.
Itliong later served in World War II and then later settled in Stockton, Calif. While in Stockton Itliong helped create the first major agricultural strike, known as the Asparagus Strike of 1948. By 1956 he founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union in Stockton.
Later in life, Itliong joined forces with César Chávez, Dolores Huerta and the National Farmworkers Association, beginning a nationwide boycott of grapes that led to the first farmworker union contracts. His son Johnny works to spread his life mission and remember the Manongs — the laborers who stood beside him.
Itliong said the Manongs were the single bachelors that were brought to the United States to work in the fields as cheap labor.
“The Chinese and Japanese could not come anymore. At the time there was a law that you could not bring wives or women to the United States,” Itliong said. “They didn't have any children, and so we were their kids, and they were all our uncles.”
Itliong said the hardest part of carrying on the Manongs legacy is that after the labor strikes, and the victories, he was the only one left to mourn them.
“I had to bury many of these Manongs and it's bittersweet, I'm here to speak for them because there was no one else to. I'm here to represent these men who had nobody, no names, no nothing,” Itliong said.
The proclamation also solidified Larry Itliong Day as a holiday in the city of Carson on Oct. 26, 2025. The city was among the first to honor Larry Itliong. This year’s ceremony will mark the 15th annual celebration. The event will be held at the Carson Event Center, and will feature live cultural performances, a Larry Itliong essay contest, and guest speakers.
For more information, visit the Carson City Council website at Carsonca.gov
