Vera Cruz, Philip, 1904-

Philip Vera Cruz Papers

drice — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:07:32 -0400

Philip Vera Cruz (Dec 25, 1904 – June 12, 1994) was born in Saoag, Ilocos Sur,
Philippines. He worked on farms in the Philippines before traveling to the United States
in 1926. Vera Cruz worked several odd jobs around the Midwest, but was not active in
any union before moving to California in 1943 and becoming a farm worker. He joined
the Agricultural Worker Organizing Committee (AWOC) and soon became a leader in
farm workers rights. In 1965 he was an active force in the AWOC decision to strike
against grape growers in Delano, CA. The strike and boycott soon won the support of
Cesar Chavez and the National Farm Workers of America, and led to the eventual
merging of the two groups to form the United Farm Workers. Vera Cruz was elected a
vice president of the union, a position he held until he left the union in protest of Chavez
in 1977, though he continued to be active in his retirement. Cruz also formed the Farm
Workers Credit Union and created Agbayani Village, a retirement community for older
farm workers. Throughout his career Vera Cruz worked for migrant and farm worker
rights, and was very active in the Asian American, especially Filipino, rights movement
and community. In 1987 he received the Ninoy M Aquino Award in the Philippines, and
in 1992 he was honored by the AFL-CIO’s Asian Pacific American Labor Committee.

The papers of Philip Vera Cruz focus on his active years as a California labor leader. It
includes his correspondence, writings and notes, as well as his activity in the UFW and
other organizations and his work in boycotts. Cruz’s research, negotiations, and
collective bargaining work are also included as well as a number of ALRB cases and
resources he collected for farm workers and Filipinos.

United Farm Workers Agbayani Village: Retirement Living for Filipino Farm Workers

Public Relations Team — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:18:29 -0400

In the Winter 2013 semester, the Reuther Library worked with students in the Graduate Certificate in Archival Administration program at the Wayne State School of Library and Information Science to produce a series of student-written, guest blog posts.

Julia Teran is in the process of earning an MLIS, an MA in History, and an Archival Administration Certificate. A few of her research interests include digital preservation, historical interpretation, local history, and American women’s history.

In 1974, the United Farm Workers Union (UFW), led by Cesar Chavez, opened Agbayani Village, a retirement complex for Filipino farm workers who had immigrated from the Philippines to California during the 1920s and 1930s. read more »

(186) Dolores Huerta, Delano, California, 1974

eclemens — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:22:25 -0400

Dolores Huerta, at podium, speaks during an unidentified meeting in Delano, California. Also pictured are Philip Vera Cruz (second from right) and Pete Velasco (far right).

(245) Agbayani Village, Construction, Delano, California, 1972

eclemens — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:07:25 -0400

Filipino Farm Workers gather to plan the construction of Agbayani Village, Delano, California. The Paolo Agbayani Village was created to house retired Filipino farm workers who had no family in the United States.

Back row, 5th from right: Phillip Vera Cruz.

(252) United Farm Workers Officials, 1976

eclemens — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:10:52 -0400

United Farm Workers officials.

Standing, left to right: Marshall Ganz, Phillip Vera Cruz, Richard Chavez, Pete Velasco
Sitting, left to right: Mack Lyons, Cesar Chavez, Gilbert Padilla, Eliseo Medina, Dolores Huerta.

(262) UAW donates to UFW executive board

eclemens — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:53:30 -0400

Jerry Whipple (center), regional director for UAW Region 6, presents a $100,000 check to the UFW executive board at a ceremony in Los Angeles.

Left to right: Marshall Ganz, Eliseo Medina, Pete Velasco, Mack Lyons, Jeyy Whipple, Richard Chavez, Cesar Chavez, Gil Padilla, Phillip Vera Cruz, Dolores Huerta.

(3361) Philip Vera Cruz, boycott meeting, c. 1970s

eclemens — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:29:05 -0400

Philip Vera Cruz (center), Vice President of the United Farm Workers (UFW), and unidentified men at a boycott meeting, c. 1970s

(7454) Philip Vera Cruz attends a meeting

eclemens — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:22:19 -0400

Philip Vera Cruz attends a meeting.

(28209) Caesar Chavez, UFW officials

pneirink — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:31:58 -0500

Image of UFW official taken in 1977. Dolores Huerta, Richard Chavez, Mack Lyons, Philip Vera Cruz, Marshall Ganz, Cesar Chavez, Gil Padilla, and Pete Velasco

Agbayani Village dedication speakers, June 1974.

drice — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 14:43:07 -0400

Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta speak to each other on stage at the Agbayani Village dedication. Standing with them are (l to r): Eliseo Medina, Philip Vera Cruz, Pete Velasco, Mack Lyons, Richard Chavez, and unknown.