The Tobera Project Newsletter

2022 Year-End Review

-From the collection of the Manong Marcel C. Bosque Family

The Tobera Project's mission is to preserve and honor the Filipino American immigrant experience in the Pajaro Valley by documenting cultural arts and history to share with the broader community.

Join us for a Talk Story Webinar,

January 26th

Join us in honoring the history of Fermin Tobera and the Manongs of the Pajaro Valley.

This Talk Story will be facilitated by professor Steve Mckay and feature historian Olivia Labalan Sawi, poet Shirley Ancheta, and acclaimed author

Karen Tei Yamashita.

2022 Year-End Review

2022 was a banner year for our little grassroots, community-driven initiative. Out of all our accomplishments, the most important ones are those you do not see.

Such milestones are; Rita Tuzon’s son using the Watsonville is in the Heart digital archive and the Tobera Project website to research his university-level Civil Rights class presentation, or Judy Cabanban’s daughter observing the Mexipino Talk Story for her Cabrillo College report and Maurice Carillo’s granddaughter learning about her great-grandfather’s experiences for her high school report.

These are just some of the long-lasting and impactful milestones the Tobera project has achieved. Still, we must remember the other events that defined and propelled the Tobera Project to community prominence.

Raising over $25,000!

For the mosaic-tiled mural installation included in the Watsonville Brilliante Project as part of the transformation of the downtown city center’s parking garage. Our contribution will honor the Manong Generation of the Pajaro Valley and highlight Fermon Tobera.

Launch of WIITH Digital Archive

Last April we launched the Watsonville is in the Heart community digital archive with our partners at the University of California Santa Cruz. We greeted an overflowing crowd who observed the occasion at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. The archive is ever-expanding under chief investigators Dr. Kathelln Cruz Gutierrez and Dr. Steve McKay.

First-Ever Watsonville FAHM Festival

We partnered with the City of Watsonville to produce the first-ever Filipino American History Month festival in October. Fabulous food and cultural arts vendors provided a unique touch to the festivities to our 500 guests. Young inventor Kristopher Bayog served as the grand marshal, while Mayor Ari Parker and Congressman Jimmy Panetta shared some uplifting words to the crowd.

Tabasa Gardens 52-Unit Housing

Tabasa Gardens was chosen as the Name of a new 53-unit low-income dwelling to be constructed at the corner of Freedom Blvd. and Atkinson Lane in Watsonville. The Tobera Project worked with Eden Housing project manager Max Heninger to hatch the idea last November. The naming marks the first time a structure or street will named for a Filipino locally. The name was inspired by the legacy of Rita Tabasa and her son Jess, who both have upstanding ties and contributions to Watsonville. The grand opening is expected in early 2024.

In addition to these incredible milestones, we also produced successful Talk Stories. We partnered in many events and seminars to promote the Tobera Project to the broader community both in and outside Santa Cruz County.

We have made great strides in the past year, and we can do even more with your continued support and encouragement. The best is yet to come in 2023!

Purchase your annual

Tobera Project Calendar for 2023

Did you buy your Tobera Project 2023 Calendar yet? Don’t worry you still have time! You can do so locally at Kelly’s Books or Venmo @Tobera-Project!

Each month features a family history of struggle and vitality enhanced with vibrant and vintage photos from Filipino Families of the Pajaro Valley. All proceeds directly support our programs and activities for the upcoming year! Let us know if you have any questions.

" I am proud to be a half breed and learning more history of my father's life here in Watsonville", said 79- year old Phil Rojas, of Filipino and Mexican decent.

Interested in Connecting with us?

If you share our vision and feel inspired to make positive change in our community or would like to get involved in promoting and propelling our community-driven project, please let us know!

Email us at toberaproject@gmail.com

And if would like to make a donation to the project,

please Venmo @Tobera-Project.

Maraming Salamat!

-The Tobera Project Team

Tobera Project Website

Connect with us

Email: toberaproject@gmail.com Website: www.toberaproject.com