Little Manila Foundation worked on the historic preservation and the cultural preservation of the Filipino heritage in Stockton. This included the preservation of the physical location of the buildings where the largest Filipino farmers converged to go to work, come back at night to dance and socialize in the years 1926 to 1970 . Beside it was the Rizal Social Club, buit in 1938 as a taxi dance hall where the Filipinos paid to dance with the white women.
The group led by Dawn Mabalon and Dillon Delvo studied the life and sacrifices of the first Filipino farmers in Stockton while taking US history focused on the Filipino American community and the issue of saving Little Manila became their passion.
Their astute desire to preserve the historic value of the site and their untiring representation with government, the press together with other elderly Manongs still living in Stockton paved the way to the declaration of four blocks as a historic site.
During these meetings many brought out photos, letters, clothes, farm tools and other personal belongings of the people who lived in Stockton. In the early years. The compilation and documentation are contained in the book printed by the Little Manila Foundation. To educate the young and old Filams, they issue yearly calendars containing the pictures of old the the historic events through the days and months.
• Organizations shall be based on a project completed through a communal effort in the bayanihan spirit.
• The project should have a measurable impact in a local community and/or in the Philippines.
CRITERIA:
1. Measurable impact: scope and number of benificiaries with known effective results.
2. Highlight the value of unity/pagkakaisa (effective elimination of selosan (jealousy), inggita (envy), siraan (badmouthing), etc. or has effectively dealt with these either through interventions or through innovative methods.
3. Focused on service and/or issue (poverty, health, education, etc) as felt either in the US or in the Philippines.
4. Transcend regionalism/parochialism.
5. Participatory/people oriented leadership (as shown in the manner of how they choose their leaders and their acceptance thereof).
6. Promotes Filipino values and culture; Filipino heritage.
