Ilokana grandma is among Oakland’s 1st U.S.-born Filipinas

Marie Veronica Mendoza Rivera Yip, 90, has six children, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

As the community celebrates Filipino American History Month, “Oakland Ilokana” shines a light on the extraordinary life of Marie Veronica Mendoza Rivera Yip, “Lola” to granddaughter and the film’s director, Bay Area filmmaker Elenita Makani O’Malley.

Set to premiere in February 2025, this film balances historical documentary with an intimate character portrait, capturing Marie’s unfiltered charm as she vividly recounts her life’s journey.

Born in Oakland in 1934, Marie is among the first American-born Filipinas, her life unfolding against the backdrop of pivotal historical events. Through her candid storytelling, “Oakland Ilokana” explores 100 years of Filipino immigration history, beginning with the Manong Generation in the 1920s and ’30s. The film details her experiences growing up in Oakland Chinatown, raising six children in Montclair, and witnessing the cultural evolution experienced by three generations of Bay Area-born Filipinas: Marie, her daughter Christine, and her granddaughter Elenita.

Even at 90 years old, Marie’s story resonates deeply. “Oakland Ilokana” captures not only the personal history of one family but also the broader Filipino American experience, shedding light on the ripple effects of history that continue to shape generations.

The film confronts the reclassification of Filipinos as “aliens” after the Philippine Independence Act of 1934—a shift that severed ties with their homeland and profoundly impacted Filipino American identity. This displacement not only affected those who lived through it but also set the stage for how future generations would navigate their identities and connections to their roots.

Three generations of Bay Area Filipinas: Lola Marie with daughter Christine and granddaughter Elenita

Director Elenita invites viewers to broaden their understanding of what it means to be Filipino American by contrasting the experiences of three distinct waves of immigration.

Her mother, producer Christine, summarizes it well: “Sometimes I’ve felt different from other FilAms because our journeys are so different. Yet my mom’s story, my story, and my daughter’s story are quintessentially Filipino American stories.”

Marie turns 90 on October 15th, halfway through Filipino American History Month! She has six children, five grandchildren, and now three great grandchildren.

“She spends most of her time enjoying the San Francisco Bay Area with her family, going to church every Sunday, playing mahjong with her friends, and participating in Filipino and Asian American cultural events / groups in the Bay Area,” Elenita shared with The FilAm how her grandmother is today. She’s a longtime member of the Filipino American National Historical Society East Bay chapter.

While she was primarily a homemaker, Elenita said she also worked for a very long time as an administrator in different government capacities.

The documentary is produced in collaboration with Balay Kreative, a SOMA-based arts organization. The film encourages audiences to reflect on their own cultural histories and underscores the importance of passing down stories across generations. For more information on the film, visit: www.elenitamakani.com/oaklandilokana



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