Philip V. Vera Cruz (1904-1994)

Philip V. Vera Cruz came to the United States in 1926. Like many young persons traveling from the Philippines, Vera Cruz, dreamt of receiving a good education in the United States and becoming a lawyer.  Others hoped to study religion, history and literature. While a few did, many others had to set aside their plans to find work. Vera Cruz’s first job was as a laborer in a Washington state box factory. He moved to Chicago and Cincinnati where he worked in restaurants. The draft and army brought him to California and its agricultural industry. In 1948, he was an organizer in a key strike by Filipino asparagus workers. He continued to organize farm workers and was instrumental in the start of the United Farm Workers, serving as the highest-ranking Filipino American officer from 1971 to 1977.”

Quoted from “Philip Vera Cruz,” in Why America? (San Jose: Asian Americans for Community Involvement, 1978), p. 2.