‘Through My Father’s Eyes’: The Filipino-American experience in the Bay Area
SAN JOSÉ, California—San José, in partnership with the Filipino American National Historical Society’s (FANHS) Santa Clara Valley Chapter, presents “Through My Father’s Eyes”, a photographic experience documenting Filipino American life in San Francisco during the 1940’s and 1950’s.
The photo exhibit opens July 11 at the Gallery in the Pacific Hotel at History Park.
“Through My Father’s Eyes: The Filipino American Photographs of Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado (1914 – 1976)” is a collection of 50 photographics chosen from more than 3,000 discovered by his daughter, Janet Alvarado after his death. This exhibit offers a rare view into the daily life of the Filipino-American community in the post-World War II era in the Bay Area.
“It is such an honor for History San José to offer the South Bay premiere of this photography exhibit, Through My Father’s Eyes,” said Alida Bray, CEO of History San José. “Mr. Alvarado’s creativity has kept alive the Filipino-American life in mid-century San Francisco and surrounding communities.”
Ricardo Alvarado emigrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1928, part of the early 20th-century wave of immigrants known as the ‘Manong Generation,’ meaning ‘older brother’ in the Ilocano language. He served in the Pacific Theater with the US Army’s First Filipino regiment during World War II.
When the war ended, Alvarado supported his passion for photography by working as a civilian cook at Letterman Hospital at the Presidio Army base in San Francisco. For more than 20 years following the war, Alvarado documented postwar Filipino American life. His poignant photographs capture every aspect of day-to-day activities, public and private.
“We are proud to partner with History San Jose,” said Janet Alvarado. “My father would be pleased to know that his life’s work is being shared with members of all communities.”
Alvarado’s photography was more than a hobby. He photographed weddings, funerals, baptisms, and parties. His ‘view camera,’ a Speed Graphic, documented street scenes, beauty pageants, cock fights, agricultural workers tending crops, and entrepreneurs on the job.
His daughter Janet, now the Executive Director of The Alvarado Project, created the nationally recognized nonprofit devoted to her father’s photos and demonstrating the Filipino-American cultural history. Her decades-long research uncovered the people in the photos, and she learned about curating an exhibit.
“My father’s collection tells a million stories,” added Alvarado.
“I am excited that a new audience and generation will have the opportunity to view a beautiful exhibit of photos that truly captures the Filipino American experience,” states Ron P. Muriera, Adminsitrator for the FANHS Santa Clara Valley Chapter.
The exhibit will be open to the public beginning July 12 at the Gallery in the Pacific Hotel at History Park in Kelley Park. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the Museum Store and O’Brien’s Café are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: Tuesday through Friday is free; Saturday and Sunday: Free for HSJ members, Adults $8, Seniors and Students $5, Children under 6 are free.
For more information visit www.historysanjose.org or www.thealvaradoproject.com
