Filipino American heritage exhibit to open at Lompoc Public Library April 1 | Local News

The exhibit, “Manongs on the Central Coast: Forming Communities Across Generations,” is presented by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation and will be shown in the library’s Grossman Gallery.

Organizers said the exhibit explores the history and experiences of Filipino Americans on the Central Coast through photographs, oral histories, family documents and multigenerational narratives.

It highlights the contributions and resilience of the “Manong” generation — Filipino men who immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century and helped shape the region’s agricultural, hospitality and retail industries.

“This exhibit builds on the oral histories and materials that have been donated by trusting and generous community members,” said Dez Alaniz, director of the Presidio Research Center at the organization.

A related public program is scheduled for April 3, featuring a presentation by Bing Aradanas titled “Filipinos’ Contributions to Once Making Lompoc the ‘Flower Capital of the World’ (and other forgotten history).” The event begins at 5 p.m., with the lecture starting at 6 p.m.

The exhibit will be open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The exhibit was first presented last year with a panel of contributors and reflects ongoing efforts to document multigenerational stories of Filipino Americans on the Central Coast.

“This is a story of how the Manongs made a place for themselves on California’s Central Coast where they built lasting communities amidst persistent discrimination,” said Shannon Toribio, a doctoral student at UC Santa Barbara who contributed to the project.