Albert "Bert" Nabor interviewed by Meleia Simon-Reynolds Part 1 of 2

In this interview, originally recorded in-person at University of California, Santa Cruz, Albert “Bert” Thomas Nabor speaks with Watsonville is in the Heart team member Meleia Simon-Reynolds. Bert discusses his father, Alberto Nabor’s background in La Union, Philippines; his migration to Hawai’i where he worked in the sugarcane fields and the pineapple plantations; and his migrant farm work throughout California and Arizona. Bert also speaks about vivid childhood memories of his whole family accompanying Alberto on the migrant trail. Additionally, Bert discusses Alberto’s and his own participation in a late 1970s strike at Carl Dobler and Sons in the Pajaro Valley as well as Alberto’s experiences as a member of the First Filipino Regiment during World War II. Throughout the interview, Bert reflects on his father’s work ethic and the values he passed on especially in regard to struggles with racism and discrimination.

Albert "Bert" Nabor and Meleia Simon-Reynolds

July 14, 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

NAB.2021.7

Meleia Simon-Reynolds

Albert "Bert" Nabor

UC Santa Cruz

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51:36

[0:00] Biographical information
[0:55] Father, Alberto Nabor’s background, migration, and labor history
[3:29] Alberto’s early labor, participation in strikes, and leisure activities in northern Santa Cruz County in Pescadero and Davenport
[5:47] Alberto’s love of gardening and Filipino foods that he prepared
[8:42] Alberto’s migrant circuit in California and Arizona
[10:23] Bert’s childhood memories of his whole family accompanying Alberto on the migrant circuit
[15:17] Description and memories of labor camps
[20:44] Alberto’s participation in labor strikes for higher wages
[22:54] Bert’s discussion of the late-1970s strike at Carl Dobler and Sons in the Pajaro Valley which both he and his father participated in
[26:13] Values, work ethnic, and advice passed from Alberto to Bert
[31:01] Stories of racial violence and discrimination that Bert felt growing up and in his future career as a Santa Cruz County Sheriff
[35:37] Feelings of exclusion from Filipino community due to mixed-race identity
[42:41] Alberto’s experience in the First Filipino Regiment
[44:36] Memories Alberto shared about the Battle of Leyte Gulf and wartime violence