Al Robles

Who was Al Robles?

Alfred A. Robles was a Filipino American poet and community activist in San Francisco. Born in 1930, he was the second eldest in a family of ten brothers and sisters, and grew up in the Fillmore district of San Francisco. A community character, he was instrumental in the political fight against the city to stop the demolition of the International Hotel on Kearny Street.

Al Robles combined heritage with experience. His poetry and community work honored Filipino elders and also inspired and encouraged the young students, activists, writers and artists to connect to their Filipino heritage. Verses about traditional Filipino foods, his experiences in Hawaii, New Mexico, and community personalities in San Francisco resulted in countless poems, and two published works: "Looking for Ifugao Mountain: Paghahanap Sa Bundok Ng Ifugao 1977 by Children's Book Press,'and'Rappin' with Ten Thousand Carabaos in the Dark, published in 1996 by UCLA Asian American Studies Center.

In 2008, Filmmaker Curtis Choy released a documentary about Al Robles, Manilatown in the Heart, Time Travel with Al Robles focusing on his many personalities and community roles. It has been shown at countless film festivals, including the 2009 DisOrient Film Festival, in Eugene, OR, Asian Pacific Heritage Month 2009 in Los Altos Hills, and the 2009 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, where it was a Finalist for the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary.