Vanessa Vergara
Homeland Memories

Interviewee	Vanessa Vergara
Interviewer(s)
Location(s)	Field Museum of Natural History
Date(s)	12 Aug 2017

Personal Statement / Transcription:

Vanessa Vergara

Vergara participated in the second Homeland Memories Event on August 12, 2017.

Photo of Virgilio Vergara, Vanessa Vergara's father, June 1972Vergara learned about photo in 2012 from aunt who had the photo hanging on her wall in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. The photo was taken at the Manila airport and shows Vergara’s father leaving for the US via the Northwest Orient. Pictured: Vergara’s father (Virgilio), “alldressed to the nines”. Vergara’s paternal grandfather was a tailor at his shop, called Philippines Bazaar, therefore her father had a strong fashion sense. Vergara’s father is wearing a tie and coat and has a small piece of hand-carry luggage (containing his paperworkfor emigration- all he brought with him.) He has a flat top haircut which was “in vogue at the time.” She said he has a nice smile and looks confident but a bit uneasy. In 1972, Vergara’s father was the oldest of six and as such had a responsibility to help hisfamily. Vergara said he emigrated for financial opportunities. Vergara’s father planned to enter the US at Port of Maine but, at the last minute, it was changed to Chicago. There, Vergara’s father met his future boss and future father-in-law. In 1970, Vergara’s motherwas petitioned by her father, who was Virgilio’s boss. Vergara said she is very proud of how her father worked hard to come to the USA and encouraged his children to get the best education. Vergara wants to keep stories alive as was as heritage. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this story do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.