Eva Alminiana Monroe interviewed by Christina Ayson Plank Part 2 of 2

In this follow up interview conducted in person, Eva Alminiana Monroe speaks with Christina Ayson Plank, a member of the Watsonville is in the Heart project team. Monroe details her mother's work organizing the Filipino Women's Club and important annual events that she organized. This included community picnics at Bolado Park and the Fourth of July parade. She revisits memories of her uncle, his work in the agricultural fields, and his hobbies. She also discusses growing up speaking English in her household and her desire to learn Tagalog. Monroe discusses the class divisions in Watsonville as well. In addition, she discusses the family trips they took and the importance of the beach.

Eva Alminiana Monroe and Christina Ayson Plank

May 22, 2021

Watsonville is in the Heart (WIITH) is a community-driven public history initiative to preserve and uplift stories of Filipino migration and labor in the city of Watsonville and greater Pajaro Valley. All oral history interviews are donated to WIITH by the narrators. Copyright is held by WIITH. Oral history interview recordings and transcripts are available for unrestricted use and reproduction by educators and researchers. Please note that the recordings on this website are provided via Soundcloud. For access to oral history audio files, please contact the project director at wiith@ucsc.edu. If you are an oral history narrator and would like to remove your interview from the archive website, please contact the project director.

English

Oral History

EAM.2021.53

Christina Ayson Plank

Eva Alminiana Monroe

San Francisco, CA

.mp3

44:28

[2:09] Mother, Rosario “Nena” Nieva Alminiana’s experiences founding the Filipino Women’s Club of Watsonville

[5:00] Filipino Women’s Club of Watsonville events and programs

[11:50] Memories of Watsonville Fourth of July parades
[18:44] Eva’s experiences at a predominantly white school and interracial interactions

[25:07] Nena’s establishment of the Filipino Catholic Association

[28:39] Uncle, Juan “Johnny” Alminiana’s manong story and experiences working in the fields

[31:00] Alminiana family’s love of gardening and flowers

[33:55] Differences between business owners and field workers in the Filipino community

[35:00] Family beach days and fishing

[40:00] Visiting Family in San Francisco