How important is it to become a U.S. citizen? The right to live and work in this country? The right to vote? Back in the post-World War II era, Filipino immigrants, mostly veterans, were given the opportunity to become citizens. The Japanese would not have that opportunity until 1953.

Leo Escalante Jr. (whose father operated the first Filipino business in San Jose Japantown) tells a story about Filipino immigrants anxious to become citizens. Listening in are Filipino Americans who grew up in San Jose Japantown: Isidoro “Izzy” Arevalo, Sally Regala, Ben Villarruz, Helen Ragsac Sanchez, and Albert “Corky” Bueno.