Skyline College/North San Mateo County Oral History Archives, Skyline College Library
Student project for LSCI 110 – Digital Oral Research Project, Skyline College

Sofronio “Ron” Pega

 

Click here to read the research essay, “No Regret. No Sorrow. No Return,” by David Fernandez

 

 

Click on the video boxes below to hear the audio segments

from the April 2010 interview by David Fernandez with Sofronio Pega.

 

 

Sofronio “Ron” Pega is the loving husband and father of his family

and has committed his entire life to making sure they receive what they need.

 

 

While his story is uncommon and doesn’t quite fit neatly into the realms of the Philippines’
political, economic, and social historical highlights, it is still rife with the struggles, goals, and beliefs
many Filipinos may have experienced before and after immigrating to the United States of America.

 

 

Coastline of the Pangasinan province of Luzon, Philippines

 

 

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge as seen from the edge of Baker Beach

 

 

(Hometown Pride)

Some of Daly City’s famous “Pill Box” houses, located near Southgate Ave.

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

Segment 1

 A Day in the Life: Home, Family, and Death

 

Segment 2
Work in the Philippines

 

Segment 3

The Dream Job and the Unfortunate Reality

 

Segment 4

 The American Dream in the Philippines

 

Segment 5

Work in America

 

Segment 6

The Dream on Hold: A Hard Day’s Night

 

Segment 7

Settling In, Moving Out

 

Segment 8

The Peaceful Fog: Moving from San Francisco to Daly City

 

Segment 9

A Filipino in America: Keeping Tradition under Unpleasant Circumstances

 

Segment 10

Another Day, No Regrets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment 1
A Day in the Life: Home, Family, and Death (2:46)

Born and raised in Luzon, Ron is just another member of the large, region wide, Pega family.
When one of the most important people in his life dies, Ron’s world is turned upside down.

 

 

 

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 2
Work in the Philippines (4:44)

Ron discusses the work he did on his grandfather’s farm and the need to earn money

and help support his family after his father’s passing.

 

 

 

 

Video jQuery by VideoLightBox.com v1.8

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 3
The Dream Job and the Unfortunate Reality (4:43)

Despite finishing his secondary education, Ron had to abandon his hopes and dreams

of becoming an auto mechanic because of he was petitioned to go to America.

 

 


    

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 4
The American Dream in the Philippines (2:25)

Ron believed that as long as he’s working, making money and not being lazy,

he can basically get anything he wants.

 

 

 

 

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Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 5
Work in America (3:14)

There was no struggle to find a job when he came to America.

 

 

 

 



 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 6
The Dream on Hold: A Hard Day’s Night (3:27)

His main purpose in coming to America was to work and to help his mom support his sisters back home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 7
Settling In, Moving Out (0:54)

When Ron first came to America he had an apartment with his mom and sisters in San Francisco.

 



Video jQuery by VideoLightBox.com v1.8

 

 

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 8
The Peaceful Fog: Moving from San Francisco to Daly City (1:13)

Ron’s decision to move to Daly City had some upsides and downsides.

 

 

Video jQuery by VideoLightBox.com v1.8

 

 

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 9
A Filipino in America: Keeping Tradition under Unpleasant Circumstances (4:09)

Ron was able to maintain many of the customs and practices he had at home with new friends.

Upon moving to Daly City, he found the perfect place to live.

 

 

Video jQuery by VideoLightBox.com v1.8

 

 

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 10
Another Day, No Regrets (0:53)

While many immigrant Filipinos may feel the need to return to the homeland,

such an act was not, and will not, be conceived by Ron.

 

 

Video jQuery by VideoLightBox.com v1.8

Video jQuery by VideoLightBox.com v1.8

 

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

 

Image sources:


Pangasinan Coastline: http://www.philskies.net/images/RATS/First%20PPL%20flights/07%2005%2011-12%20Flying%20w%20Carlo%20in%20May/Pangasinan%20coastline.JPG

 

Golden Gate Bridge Baker Beach MC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GoldenGateBridge_BakerBeach_MC.jpg

 

Hometown Pride: http://governing.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341ca3bb53ef0105361594d8970c-800wi

 

 

 

 

 

last revised: 4-29-10
by Eric Brenner, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
These materials may be used for educational purposes.  North San Mateo County Oral History Archives, Skyline College Library.
All commercial rights are reserved. To contact the coordinator, or send comments or suggestions, email: Eric Brenner at brenner@smccd.edu