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.
Erlinda Urquico in front of Niagara Falls when
she first arrived in the United States
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
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.
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.
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
Segment
2
Reasons for Immigration (1:24)
Erlinda reminisces of the reasons for her abrupt departure from her
beloved homeland.
Erlinda with her husband, sisters and in-laws.
From Left to Right: Mariano and Erlinda
Urquico, Nelia dela Cruz and Corazon and Cezar
Garcia
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.
Erlinda and her children playing at old school Serramonte mall
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.
Erlinda with her sisters and relatives at the dela
Cruz family house warming party.
Segment
5
The United States vs. The Philippines (1:54)
Erlinda compares and contrasts the vast differences between the
United States and the Philippines.
Erlinda with her sisters at the dela Cruz
family home.
From Left to Right: Erlinda,
Corazon, Leonora and Sonia dela Cruz
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
Segment
6
"Ingit"
and Eventually Coming Home (1:30)
Erlinda shares her eventual dreams of returning home to her mother
land.
Erlinda embracing a hug from her mother.
From Left to Right: Nelia, Elena,
Leonora, Cezar Garcia and Erlinda
dela Cruz
Segment
7
No Regrets (1:54)
Despite the hardships that Erlinda
encountered, Erlinda talks about why she doesn’t
regret a thing.
Mommy and me (M.E.)
From Left to Right: Jade and Raquel Campos and Erlinda and M.E. Urquico
Mommy and me deux
From Left to Right: Erlinda and
M.E. Urquico
*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
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