Click on “store” to pre-order your 2009 Filipino American History Calendar at the pre-sale price of $12, extended to next Monday, November 17!

The nationally televised PBS documentary “Little Manila: Filipinos in California’s Heartland” is now available in our online store for just $20. The DVD is a great Filipino American history resource for your family, class or organization. Click here to purchase.

From the DVD:
Filled with chop suey houses, gambling dens, and dance halls, Little Manila was the area in Stockton notoriously called, Skid Row, but it was also the closest thing Filipinos had to a hometown. In its heyday in the 30s, this lively area had the largest population of Filipinos outside of the Philippines. We tell the story of Jimmy Ente, Jr., a longtime Stockton resident recruited to work in the asparagus fields. Jimmy, and many others like him, faced backbreaking work, low wages, and at times extreme racism to fulfill their dreams. Narrated by famed Filipino-American producer, Dean Devlin (Independence Day, The Patriot) this documentary tells the story as Filipinos experienced it. DVD includes Producer’s Comments.

Available now in the Little Manila Online Store. Click here to purchase.

Tickets will go on sale in late July at http://www.bobhopetheatre.com. Ticket prices will range between $25-45, with $5 discounts for seniors, youth, students and groups. Please check back daily to this site and/or join our mailing list to be notified of the exact day the tickets will go on sale.
The entire NYC cast of the Obie-award winning Off-Broadway play, THE ROMANCE OF MAGNO RUBIO, will come to downtown Stockton in two LMF benefit performances, 8pm, Saturday October 4th and 2pm Sunday, Oct. 5th, at downtown Stockton’s spectacular historic Bob Hope Theatre (formerly the Fox). The play, which is set in the 1930s, is about five Filipino farmworkers struggling to achieve the American Dream as they eke out an existence working in the fields and living in a San Joaquin Delta bunkhouse. This incredible play has been performed all over the world in cities such as Honolulu, NYC, Manila, New Haven and LA — even in Romania — and now, the Little Manila Foundation will bring the play home to Stockton!

Cast members include legendary Filipino actor Bernardo Bernardo, Paolo Montalban, Arthur Acuna, Ramon de Ocampo and Jojo Gonzales as “Magno.”

THE ROMANCE OF MAGNO RUBIO, written by Lonnie Carter and directed by Loy Arcenas, and produced by the reknowned Ma-Yi Theatre Company of NYC, is based on a short story written by Carlos Bulosan. Bulosan, author of the classic _America Is In the Heart_ (1946), lived in Stockton’s Little Manila periodically from the 1930s until his death in 1956. The play centers around the experiences of five Pinoys who yearn for love, friendship, and hope as they follow crops and work tirelessly in the fields around Stockton and the South Bay Area. And what better month to come to Stockton (the historic heart of Filipino America!) and watch this play but October: Filipino American History Month!
Interested in sponsoring the play or advertising in the souvenir program? Email us at email@littlemanila.net.

In the upcoming weeks, this site will give you more information about free events surrounding the performances such as special tours of the Little Manila Historic Site, and more information about the play. Save the date and spread the word to ALL of your friends and family! It’s a theatrical experience EVERYONE should see — not only Filipino Americans.

Learn more about the play here: Article 1, Article 2

Please spread the word to all of your Bay Area folks that Dawn Mabalon and Rico Reyes will be discussing the book Filipinos in Stockton and signing at the SF Booklaunch, 4-6pm, Saturday, May 3, Latino Room B, SF Public Library, Larkin at Grove in downtown SF.

The book will be for sale at the event for $19.99, all proceeds to the Little Manila Foundation. A full merchandise and info booth will have LM Tees, the last few of our 2008 Calendars at a discount, posters, and flyers.