In 1924 there were 48,000 Filipinos working in Hawaii. Most were Visayans from south-central Philippines, while the rest were Ilocanos from the north.
Pablo led the Visayans on a strike to increase wages, because as the last immigrant group to arrive Filipinos received the lowest wage.
Unfortunately the Filipinos were divided but Cayetano Ligot, an Ilocano labor commissioner from the Philippines, persuaded Ilocano workers not to strike.
Out of thousands of plantation workers on Kaua‘i, about 600 participated, including women and children.
Soon the police arrived and the strike turned into a bloody massare.
“When I heard the shooting, I began to run . . . I didn’t even have a knife. I had nothing to defend myself with. There were others who had guns, but they only had two bullets. They were courageous, they were acting tough . . . They’re the ones who died. I’m a coward. Those who ran away, they didn’t die” (Agapito Bakiano)
About sixteen Filipino strikers and four policemen died. The strike was unsuccessful and it was a major blow to Filipino civil rights as it took them decades to even gain the courage to propose another strike.
Pablo led the Visayans on a strike to increase wages, because as the last immigrant group to arrive Filipinos received the lowest wage.
Unfortunately the Filipinos were divided but Cayetano Ligot, an Ilocano labor commissioner from the Philippines, persuaded Ilocano workers not to strike.
Out of thousands of plantation workers on Kaua‘i, about 600 participated, including women and children.
Soon the police arrived and the strike turned into a bloody massare.
“When I heard the shooting, I began to run . . . I didn’t even have a knife. I had nothing to defend myself with. There were others who had guns, but they only had two bullets. They were courageous, they were acting tough . . . They’re the ones who died. I’m a coward. Those who ran away, they didn’t die” (Agapito Bakiano)
About sixteen Filipino strikers and four policemen died. The strike was unsuccessful and it was a major blow to Filipino civil rights as it took them decades to even gain the courage to propose another strike.