Oral History Collaborations

In this interview, originally recorded over Zoom, Frank Madalora speaks with Watsonville is in the Heart team member, Olivia Sawi. Frank discusses his parents, Santiago Madalora and Apolonia Sagaysay and both of their families' origins in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. He describes Santiago's immigration to Hawai'i to work in the plantations followed by his migration to Watsonville, California where he worked as a migrant agricultural laborer. Frank discusses how his parents' met while Santiago was serving in the army during World War II. Frank also describes his own experiences as a young child in Bacarra before immigrating to the United States with his mother in 1957. Throughout the interview, Frank provides memories of leisure and labor he and his family participated in while living in Pajaro, CA; his family's dynamic including the challenges that his parents faced in their marriage; and his own experiences navigating class and racial stratification in the Pajaro Valley region. Finally, Frank speaks about his educational journey and his various careers.