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

 Snapshot Portraits of Struggle:
A Moment with Erlinda Urquico

Click here to read the research essay, Snapshot Portraits of a True Reina: A Moment with Erlinda dela Cruz Urquico”, by Maria Elena Urquico

Click on the links below to hear audio segments from an March 20, 2011 interview by Maria Elena Urquico with Erlinda Urquico who took a moment to understand her mother’s plight of immigration as she  undergone several years of self sacrifice, struggle, assimilation and the financial, emotional and physical struggle that occurred to make her the women she is today. 

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Erlinda Urquico in front of Niagara Falls when

she first arrived in the United States

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Candid Photo of Erlinda with daughter and niece

From Left To Right: Czarina Garcia, Erlinda Urquico and Maria Elena Urquico

 

Table of Contents:
1. "An Easier Time"-Life of Affluence, luxury and stability within the Philippines
2. Reasons for Immigration

3. "Odd jobs and Outcomes"-Coming to the United States

4. Realities and Homesickness

5. The United States vs. The Philippines

6. "Ingit" and Eventually Coming Home

7. No Regrets

 

Segment 1
"An Easier Time"-Life of Affluence, luxury and stability within the Philippines
(1:11)
Erlinda Urquico shares her life in the Philippines before immigrating to the United States.

 

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Erlinda Urquico with her parents and siblings at the silver wedding anniversary of her mother and father.

From Left to Right : Sonia dela Cruz Vallero, Leanora dela Cruz Balatbat, Nelia dela Cruz, Corazon dela Cruz Garcia, Erlinda dela Cruz Urquico, Elena and Celso

dela Cruz, Edwardo dela Cruz, Reynaldo dela Cruz and Joseph dela Cruz.

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The dela Cruz sisters and their mother posing at their family home’s staircase.

From Left to Right: Erlinda, Nelia, Sonia, Leonora, Elena and Corazon dela Cruz

 

 

 

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 2
Reasons for Immigration
(1:24)
Erlinda reminisces of the reasons for her abrupt departure from her beloved homeland.

     


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Erlinda with her husband, sisters and in-laws.

From Left to Right: Mariano and Erlinda Urquico, Nelia dela Cruz and Corazon and Cezar Garcia



Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 3
Odd jobs and Outcomes-"Coming to the United States"
(1:35)
Erlinda Urquico talks about the hardships that she encountered while working and first arriving in the United States. 

 

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Erlinda and her children playing at old school Serramonte mall

 


    

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 4
Realities and Homesickness
(6:33)
Erlinda shares memories of the financial, emotional and physical struggles that she had to overcome, all the while coping with homesickness. 

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Erlinda with her sisters and relatives at the dela Cruz family house warming party.

 

 

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 5
The United States vs. The Philippines
(1:54)
Erlinda compares and contrasts the vast differences between the United States and the Philippines.

 

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Erlinda with her sisters at the dela Cruz family home.

From Left to Right: Erlinda, Corazon, Leonora and Sonia dela Cruz

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Erlinda with her family celebrating her niece’s birthday

From Left to Right: Erlinda, Archie, Mariano, Maria Elena Urquico, Nelia dela Cruz and Czarina Garcia

 



 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 6
"Ingit" and Eventually Coming Home
(1:30)
Erlinda shares her eventual dreams of returning home to her mother land.

 

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Erlinda embracing a hug from her mother.

From Left to Right: Nelia, Elena, Leonora, Cezar Garcia and Erlinda dela Cruz

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

Segment 7
No Regrets
(1:54)
Despite the hardships that Erlinda encountered, Erlinda talks about why she doesn’t regret a thing.

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Mommy and me (M.E.)

From Left to Right: Jade and Raquel Campos and Erlinda and M.E. Urquico

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Mommy and me deux

From Left to Right: Erlinda and M.E. Urquico

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*These audio files may be played with Windows Media Player or Real Player.
To download a free copy of Windows Media Player, click here.
To download a free copy of Real Player, click here.


last revised: 5-16-11
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