IN THE MIX BY MIC DIAZ
Some interviews stay with you long after the cameras stop rolling. My conversation with Johnny Itliong for Chat With Mic was one of those. As the son of labor leader Larry Itliong, Johnny grew up in Delano, California, surrounded by the Filipino farmworkers known as the Manongs. Raised in a Filipino-Mexican household, he learned the values of hard work, self-reliance, and service. Those lessons helped shape him into a licensed electrician, accomplished chef, and community advocate.
Johnny’s childhood was also shaped by witnessing the struggles of immigrant farmworkers who labored long hours in the fields for low wages and difficult living conditions. He saw firsthand the sacrifices made by his father and the Manongs, whose efforts helped launch the historic Delano Grape Strike of 1965 and unite Filipino, Mexican, and other farmworkers in the fight for dignity and fairness. Listening to Johnny, I could hear both pride and purpose in his commitment to preserving this important history.
As I listened, I reflected on my own childhood in the Philippines. I remember hearing my parents talk about how scarce and expensive grapes had become. Grapes were a luxury, often brought home as pasalubong by relatives returning from the United States. Only years later did I realize that even families thousands of miles away felt the ripple effects of the grape boycott.
Today, Johnny continues to share the stories of the Manongs and ensure that future generations understand the role Filipino-Americans played in labor history. Our conversation reminded me that history lives in people, memories, and stories. Thanks to Johnny Itliong, the voices of the Manongs continue to be heard.
Originally published in In the Mix Magazine – Issue Zero: Founder’s Edition. June 2026.
Watch new conversations every week on Chat With Mic Talk Show at Mic Diaz Presents Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSjtu1sskOTz3H-jKAlWoxd5o27Vd3bme&si=loKT6mm8FZA8dLtF
