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Identifier
CacasBrothers_2011_CRP
Description
The Cacas brothers’ response to the interview was with a sense of family pride. They all three shared how their father came to Salinas. First passing by Hawaii and working in the sugar factories. Then he arrived to San Francisco in 1920 by ship. Their mother came later in 1930. Ron explained how his father started his “business career” in America by accident. Without even knowing he said, “He became a labor contractor by accident”. Ron the youngest brother of all three relates the story when his father first stepped into the San Francisco Harbor. “Land growers were looking for workers” he exclaims. He said there was a group of men behind his father, men that he hardly knew from his journey to San Francisco in the ship. The white land owner asked him if the men were with him. His father agreed and that was the beginning of his life as a labor contractor. Their mother was brought to America by a cousin who had four daughters. She, the mother, would help out with her daughters as a baby sitter and in exchange she would be able to go to school. She not only went to school, but managed to graduate from what back then was Hartnell College. She was involved in many clubs and was an active woman in her community. They, They both traveled giving conferences while leaving their children with “labor camp men” that became like family to them. The interview focused on their fathers’ natural leadership, he was born with. The Cacas brothers told many stories about the struggle their parents went through saving money to be able to succeed. Later they become owners of many labor camps. Their mother helped out also and was an important piece in the decision making but “behind the scenes” they said. “Team work” among them two was the secret to their success together bringing up their family. Next they remember how their father took them to work to the fields because; he wanted them to know what hard work was about. They all agreed with a pleasurable pride to this, and recall many other stories about how it was difficult to keep up with the “field workers”. Room and labor for the men, they said was how their father made his money. Between Salinas, Yuma and Tepi the Caca’s family spend their time making the land produce and at the same time teaching their four sons the value of their culture and the value of education. Stories about family dinners at China Town and in the labor camps, indoor games at their house camp and social events unfold a story about living the American Dream.
Interview Date
10-10-2011
Interviewer
Alma Perez
Geographic Coverage
Salinas (Calif.)
Subjects
Chinatown (Salinas, Calif.); Filipino American families; Agricultural laborers; Labor camps; Chinese restaurants; Filipino Americans--Employment
Type
Moving Image
Genre
Oral histories
Digital Format
video/mp4
Language
eng
Digital Collection
Chinatown Renewal Project
Repository
Archives & Special Collections of California State University, Monterey Bay
Disclaimer
These oral histories express the personal views, memories, and opinions of the interviewee. They do not represent the policy or views of California State University, Monterey Bay.
Recommended Citation
Cacas, Ben; Cacas, Eugene; Cacas, Ron; and California State University, Monterey Bay, "Interview with the Cacas Brothers" (2011). Chinatown Renewal Project. 48.
https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/ohcma_chinatown/48
Rights Statement
