Filipinos in the San Fernando Valley

If you grew up Filipino in the San Fernando Valley (or honestly, anywhere in the American suburbs), this one’s gonna feel real familiar.

Our homey Dr. Joseph Bernardo just dropped his new book Filipinos in the San Fernando Valley with Arcadia Publishing. Joe’s a Valley native, a fellow UCSB alum (we were there at different times), and someone I’ve always respected for the way he documents our stories. We actually met in Manila through Roland Ros, but I’d been aware of Joe’s work for years... This Filipino American Life podcast, his writing, and his research always represent the culture in a genuine way.

The book offers a visual and narrative look at how Filipinos shaped “America’s Suburb,” from the early days of farm labor in the 1920s to the post-1965 immigrant wave that transformed the SFV into one of the country's largest Filipino hubs. It’s packed with photos and stories; the garage karaoke nights, the church fundraisers, the block parties, the Valley kids rocking Jordans at school while still knowing every verse of “Harana.” It’s the stuff a lot of us lived through, but no one bothered to put in a history book… until now.

What I love about Joe’s work is that it’s not just dates and facts. It’s lived experience. It’s our parents hustling for a better life, our titos making the backyard lechon, and our friends figuring out who they are between two cultures. And it’s not just about the SFV; if you grew up Filipino in Daly City, Jersey City, Carson, or any suburb where our community set roots, you’re gonna see yourself in these pages.

📚 Buy this book. Support the homey.
We’ll be tabling together at FPAC in San Pedro on Sept 13, so if you’re pulling up, come by, say hi, and grab your copy in person.

Order Filipinos in the San Fernando Valley from Arcadia Publishing → – $24.99