San Jose State University Unveils Filipino American History Mural

San Jose State Unveils Four-Sided Filipino American History Mural

San Jose State University unveiled a four-sided Filipino American History Mural on Oct. 30, 2026, outside the Diaz Compean Student Union. The artwork, designed by SJSU alum and artist Francesca “ChiChai” Mateo, occupies a campus pillar to honor generations of Filipino laborers and community builders who were absent from earlier university memorials.

The project originated in 2023 when Kayla Taduran, chair of the Students for Filipino Farmworkers group, pitched the concept to university President Cynthia Teniente-Matson shortly after her arrival on campus. A community fundraising campaign spearheaded by the university’s Filipino Alumni Network raised $100,000 for the installation and its long-term preservation.

Honoring Farmworker Leaders and Regional Heritage

The mural panels feature pivotal figures of the agricultural labor movement, including Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, and Pete Velasco, who led the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee during the 1960s Delano grape strike. This visual inclusion addresses an omission in the university’s 2008 Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice, which honors the United Farm Workers movement but omitted the Filipino labor leaders who initiated the grape strike before Mexican American organizers joined.

Additional panels depict the Santa Clara Valley’s agricultural past as the “Valley of Heart’s Delight,” historic Pinoytown locations, and contributions to technology, public health, and civic engagement. Featured community members and alumni include aerospace engineer Robert Ragsac Sr., LEAD Filipino Executive Director Angelica Cortez, SJSU professor of interdisciplinary social sciences Estella Habal, journalist Lloyd LaCuesta, and Erwin Mina, executive board president of the Filipino American National Historical Society Museum.

Campus Landmark and Future Documentary Plans

The installation joins the Victory Salute statue and the Arch of Dignity as major cultural landmarks on the San Jose State campus. Alan Gouig, chair of the mural project and founder and president of the Filipino Alumni Network, said organizers are seeking an additional $30,000 to produce a documentary highlighting the advocacy which led to its creation.

President Teniente-Matson emphasized the broader impact of the artwork during the unveiling ceremony. “From today forward, I know that this mural will become more than a place to admire beautiful artwork,” she said. “I hope it also becomes a place where students will see themselves reflected in our university’s history.”