Baniaga Family Collection

The Baniaga family originates from the municipality of Vintar, in the province of Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. In 1927, Calixto Baniaga migrated to Hawai‘i to pursue work in the sugar cane industry. Eventually, several members of Calixto’s extended family followed him to Hawai’i, including Macrina Magarin and his son Eusibio “Chevy” Magarin Baniaga (b. 1910). After arriving in Hawai‘i in 1928, Eusibio joined his father working in the Hawaiian sugar cane fields. In the 1930s, Eusibio migrated to the continental United States where he became a farm worker and followed seasonal crop harvests throughout the West Coast. After 1942, Eusibio enlisted in the US military and served in the Filipino Infantry Regiment in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the war, likely in 1947, Eusibio met and married Maxima “Sima” Vea (b. unknown), a Filipina who was also from Vintar, Ilocos Norte. Eusibio returned to the US after their wedding and Maxima followed in 1948. Eusibio and Maxima settled in Watsonville where they both worked at various Pajaro Valley farms. Maxima also worked at Watsonville Canning Company. They had three children: Anthony “Tony” Magarin Baniaga Sr. (1948), Lolita Baniaga (b. 1949 d. 2016), and Erlinda Baniaga Soto (b. 1952).

Other members of the Baniaga extended family also migrated to Watsonville. This included Macrina Magarin, who migrated from Hawai‘i to the US in 1960 to join her husband, Francisco Baniaga who was working in California’s Central Valley. In 1962, their daughter, Jobita “Betty” Magarin (b. 1944) migrated to the Central Valley. Eventually, Betty moved to Watsonville to live with her relatives Eusibio and Maxima. In 1969, Betty traveled back to Vintar where she met and married Romeo Vea Baniaga Sr. (b. 1930). Betty and Romeo returned to Watsonville where they both worked in Pajaro Valley’s agricultural, industrial, and domestic sectors. Betty and Romeo Sr. had two children: Ruby “Ruthy” Baniaga Kalidonis (b. 1970) and Romeo “Junior” Magarin Baniaga Jr. (b. 1971).

The Baniaga Family Collection was donated to Watsonville is in the Heart in 2022. It contains two oral history interviews conducted with Anthony “Tony” Magarin Baniaga and Ruby “Ruthy” Baniaga Kalidonis.

Anthony “Tony” Magarin Baniaga

Ruby “Ruthy” Baniaga Kalidonis