Oral History Collaborations

In this interview, originally conducted in-person, Anthony "Tony" Bernard Tapiz, Jr. speaks with Watsonville is in the Heart team member, Ian Hunt Doyle. Tony primarily talks about his grandfather, Arsenio "Archie" Soblechero Lopez, who immigrated from Villaris, Pangasinan, Philippines to California in 1929. Tony begins the interview by providing a description of Archie's barbershop, Manila Barbershop that was located on Mission Street in Santa Cruz. He explains that Filipino men would gather in the Ace Cardroom, which Archie operated behind the barbershop, to gamble. He also describes how the barbershop smelled of his grandfather's Ilokano cooking. Tony remembers attending Filipino community dances as a kid, where Archie's band, Archie and the Islanders, would perform. Tony also speaks about his grandmother, Margaret Yepez Lopez, and her involvement in the Filipino Women's Club of Watsonville. He touches on his grandparent's interracial marriage and the obstacles they had to overcome to marry. He also reflects on his experience being Filipino and Mexican or "mestizo." This interview took place at Upper Crust Pizza on Mission Street in Santa Cruz, California. This used to be the location of Archie Lopez's barbershop. In the interview, ambient noise and the voices of other customers can be heard.