Oral History Collaborations

In this interview, originally recorded in person, Lorraine "Rain" Sipin Bongolan speaks with Watsonville is in the Heart team member, Una Lynch. Rain talks about her father, Felix Hidalgo Bongolan's immigration from Santiago, Ilocos Sur, Philippines to Oahu, Hawai'i where he worked as a foreman for Dole pineapple plantations during the 1940s. She shares how Felix met Irene "Inning" Sipin. They communicated via letters until Felix was able to travel back to the Philippines to marry Irene in 1951. Rain also talks about her mother, Irene's life growing up in the Philippines during Japanese occupation. Rain explains how her parents eventually settled in Watsonville, where Irene's brothers were already living. She describes Felix's work as a camp cook at a Filipino labor camp on Lee Road in Watsonville and Irene's involvement with Filipino community events. Rain also elaborates on how notions of assimilation and the American nuclear family impacted her experience growing up in Watsonville.