Lily and Pedro Aradanas Collection

Pedro Aradanas was born in the town Binalonan in the province of Pangasinan in the Ilocos region in Luzon in 1905. He immigrated to American in 1925, at age 20. He worked as a laborer in farms, canneries, construction, and as a houseboy along the West coast, from Alaska to Southern California. Pedro was part of foundational experiences to the manong generation, such as events covered in Carlos Bulosan's America is in the Heart, his military experience, and his efforts in supporting his Fiipino community in Lompoc, CA. Pedro worked as a clerk in the Philippine Islands Market (P.I. Market) in the Chinatown of Salinas and maintained close ties to the P.I. Market in Pismo, CA. In 1953, Pedro and Lily marry and build their family in Lompoc upon Lily's successful immigration in 1958.

Lily was born in the village Tigao in the provinence Surigao del Sur in the Caraga region of Mindanao. Lily and Pedro raised four children in Lompoc. Lily was very active in the Catholic church, starting the first Santo Nino mass, a Catholic practice which originated from the Philippines after Catholic introduction by the Spanish. Lily was relied on to prepare children for the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion and led adult choir. She also worked as an elementary schoool teacher and bilingual educator from 1964-94. Lily obtained her bachelor's degree in social work from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) while working full time after conducting research on social, cultural, political, and religious changes expereinced by the indiginous peoples of the Philippines, specifically from her home region of Tigao.