Joanne de los Reyes-Hilario interviewed by Meleia Simon-Reynolds Part 1 of 2

In this interview conducted in person, Joanne de los Reyes-Hilario speaks with Meleia Simon-Reynolds, a member of the Watsonville is in the Heart project team. De los Reyes details her family history arriving in the United States from the Philippines. In particular, she discusses the relationship between the Ibao and de los Reyes family and the history that led up to her adoption. In addition, she discusses the way her parents petitioned their family to come to the United States and how they housed them on their property. She also discusses her mother's participation in various cultural and social clubs including the Filipino Visayans, Filipino Community, and Filipino Women's Club. De los Reyes also discusses her mother's collection of Maria Clara dresses.

Joanne de los Reyes-Hilario and Meleia Simon-Reynolds

June 5, 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 escholarship. 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

JDLR.2021.44

Meleia Simon-Reynolds

Joanne de los Reyes-Hilario

Royal Oaks, CA

.mp3

36:53

[3:43] Biological father, Serbolo Tulay Ibao’s and adoptive father, Juan “Johnny” de los Reyes’ migration stories

[6:52] Serbolo’s and Johnny’s experiences as migrant field laborers

[11:00] Johnny’s and adoptive mother, Luisa Irao de los Reyes’ courtship and marriage

[14:20] Serbolo and biological mother, Bernabella Gomez Irao’s courtship and marriage

[16:35] Purchasing the Ibao-Irao-de los Reyes family home on Elkhorn Road
[18:00] Elkhorn Drive house as a hub for family and community

[20:00] Luisa’s role supporting her family members’ migrations to the United States

[23:00] Joanne’s profound connection to her family home on Elkhorn Road
[24:41] Memories of family gatherings on Elkhorn Road

[26:00] Family involvement in the Filipino Community, Filipino Catholic Association, Filipino Visayans, and Filipino Women’s Club of Watsonville

[30:00] Luisa’s collection of Maria Clara dresses that she wore to Filipino Women’s Club of Watsonville and other community organization events