Campaign launched for a US postal stamp honoring Larry Itliong

What a Larry Itliong stamp might look like.

A former postal worker is spearheading an effort to have labor leader Larry Itliong on a U.S. postal stamp. 

Alfonso Salazar, a retired postal service employee, created an online form for people to indicate their support.

Ssalazar was inspired to launch his campaign last October when Itliong was inducted into the California Hall of Fame and Gov. Gavin Newsom declared Oct. 25, Itliong's birthday, be observed as Larry Itliong Day in the state.

He first learned about Itliong in 2014 when the motion picture Cesar Chavez hit the theaters. The movie created a controversy because in the final cut, the role of Itliong and Filipinos were relegated to the background.

Even though he is a Mexican American, he believes Itliong deserves to be on par with Cesar Chavez. The two men were instrumental in the 1965 Grape Strike that led to formation of the United Farm Workers by joining the Filipino farm workers with the Mexican workers. Chavez was granted a stamp in 2003. 

It was Itliong who convinced Chavez to join the grape strike started by the Filipino farm workers.

“I know (about Itliong), but I don’t know if the nation knows about him,” he said. “This is a good way for people to learn about him.”

“His actions and beliefs taught me to stand up for what I believe in even when it seems impossible or too difficult. It should never be about me. It should always be about 'We,'” said Itliong's daughter Patty Itliong Serda from an interview introducing the book about her father, “The Journey for Justice.”

In his 34 years working for USPS as a graphic artist, Salazar said he never saw a stamp honoring a Filipino.

The online petition as well as a letter proposing the Itliong stamp will be sent to Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations for new stamps. The approval process may take years.

Cesar Chavez, left, and Larry Itliong, right, founded the United Farm Workers.

Salazar hopes the online petition will generate community support, which the committee takes into consideration in evaluating a new stamp. It helps to have wide support not only from Filipino community leaders but from activists in the labor movement, allies from all races and politicians. When Chavez's stamp was approved, it had the support of then-California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the U.S. and State Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, and the Hispanic Caucus. 

“You learn the history for each stamp that comes out, and during the 34 years I’ve been [at USPS], I’ve gotten to learn a lot about our history here,” Salazar told the Inquirer. “It’s almost like, if stamps were like a quilt that represented the United States, then you have to include Filipino Americans as part of that quilt. Otherwise, there’s a piece missing.”

To learn more and to add your name to keep up to date on this USPS commemorative stamp effort for Larry Itliong, visit: www.realitymaniacs.com/larry-itliong

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