Published May 13 2016
Daughter to share story in Cultural Conversations meeting
With its orderly rows and bountiful harvest, the Mercer Slough Blueberry Farm offers an inviting escape from our urban bustle. But what do we know of the people who cleared, tilled and planted the land?
At this month's Cultural Conversations meeting, Joy Page of Bellevue will share the story of her father and uncle, Andrew and Marc Balatico, Filipino immigrants who overcame a host of challenges, including extreme prejudice and the Great Depression, to establish the produce farm where families now pick berries for fun.
The meeting, free and open to women of all backgrounds, will be May 17, 1-2:30 p.m., at the Crossroads Community Center, 16000 NE 10th St.
The Balaticos were resourceful, learning a new culture and employing farming techniques Japanese immigrants here adapted to the Pacific Northwest to "Andrew's Farm," which included a popular vegetable stand on Bellevue Way for many years. Key to the Balaticos' survival was a close-knit, immigrant farming community. When the Japanese farmers on the Eastside and south into the Kent Valley were interned during World War II, the Filipinos who worked with and learned from them took care of their farms.
What parts of the Balaticos' story might be relevant today? Staff from the Eastside Heritage Center will be at the meeting, connecting stories from Bellevue’s past to new stories created every day in Bellevue.
Following the presentation, we will share our own stories. This is the last Cultural Conversations meeting of the season, and will include tea and refreshments. Please RSVP with Carol Ross (cross@bellevuewa.gov or 425-452-7917).
Cultural Conversations is a women's group sponsored by the city to enhance knowledge and understanding among Bellevue’s diverse families. To fully participate in the sharing, attendees are encouraged to make arrangements for child care.