Book Launching To Honor Fil-Am Writer, Labor Activist Set On September 20

LOS ANGELES–Veteran journalist, author and professor Alfredo G. Gabot will launch a book, “California: A Philippine Territory Almost and Other Stories”, on September 20, 2025 at the Echo Park Library in Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles, to pay tribute to Filipino-American novelist, journalist and labor union activist Carlos Bulosan.

Bulosan, known for his poignant writing that depicted the struggles of Filipino immigrants in the United States in pursuit of the American Dream, is commemorating his death anniversary this month. He immigrated to America in July 1, 1930 at the age of 17. He died of lingering illness due to tuberculosis in Seattle, Washington in September 11, 1956. 

Coinciding Gabot’s book launch will be the proposed renaming of the Echo Park Library to Carlos Bulosan Library. The proposal is being supported by Carlos Bulosan Book Club led by East Los Angeles Area Planning Commissioner Jaime Geaga and its mother organization the Friends of Echo Park Library; the Philippine Global Media Group led by Val Abelgas and Dan Nino; the Asian Journal Publications Inc. headed by Roger Oriel; the Philippine News Today; the Philippine Post; the Manila-based Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) headed by Chairman Maritess Barrios-Taran; and Filipinos in the United States from Pangasinan, Bulosan’s home province. 

Another highlight of the book launch will be the reading of the first Filipino translation of Bulosan’s famous poem, “I Want the Wide American Earth,” contained in the preface of Gabot’s book. The poem was translated in Filipino by journalist-author- educator Jose Lad. Santos, former Chairman of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) and former Commissioner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). 

During the event, a copy of the hand-written Filipino version of Bulosan’s poem, “Gusto Ko ang Malawak na Lupaing Amerika”, will also be presented to Commissioner Geaga and the Echo Park Library. 

In 2013, Bulosan’s greatest poem became the centerpiece and theme of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebration under US President Barack Obama, who issued a Presidential Proclamation highlighting the importance of the month in reflecting upon the history and contributions of AAPIs.

Copies of the Ilocano translation of Bulosan’s historic book, “America is in the Heart” will also be presented. The Ilocano version, “Adda Iti Pusok Ti Amerika,” was written by Pangasinense writer Manuel Diaz and serialized in the Bannawag magazine. It was published into book by NCAA and launched with then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Binalonan Airport, a commercial airport owned by the family of current  Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III and Congressman Ramon Guico Jr. in the hometown of Bulosan and the late First Lady Evangelina Macaraeg Macapagal, wife of the late President Diosdado Macapagal and mother of former President Macapagal-Arroyo.

For the past years, there were initiatives done to continuously honor the contributions of Bulosan to the Filipino American history.

In 2018, the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies Initiative was established at the University of California-Davis to carry on his legacy of activism through research and advocacy of the Filipino and Filipino-American community. 

The initiative backs the creation of a physical Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies to support research, education and advocacy. The center aims to continue Bulosan's legacy by uplifting the voices of the most marginalized in the Filipino community in the United States and the diaspora through community-engaged research and broadly disseminating knowledge about Filipinos for the purpose of advancing their rights and welfare.

Cover image: Prof. Alfred Gabot is formerly a University Regent of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Chairman of Board of Directors of the Philippine Postal Office with cover of his book; Alfred Gabot Facebook