Florante Ibanez
Florante Peter Ibanez, 62, of Carson, was in 2014 appointed to the California Library Services Board by Governor Jerry Brown. Ibanez has served in several positions at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles since 1992, including manager of library computer services and computer resources center assistant. He was an adjunct professor for the Loyola Marymount University, Asian Pacific American Studies Program from 2007 to 2014 and was a communications and hardware support specialist at Ashton Tate – Borland International from 1990 to 1992. Ibanez was a personal computer support specialist at Citizen American Inc. from 1988 to 1990 and project staff at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees from 1982 to 1984. He was assistant director of the early outreach program at the University of California, Irvine Educational Opportunity Program from 1979 to 1982 and a coordinator of resource development and publication at the University of California, Los Angeles Asian American Studies Center from 1971 to 1972.
Ibanez is a member of the Filipino American Library Board of Directors, the L.A. as Subject board, the California Library Association, American Library Association and was a member of the 2nd National Joint Conference of Librarians of Color Steering Committee in 2012. He is a member of the City of Carson Historical Committee, the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, where he was president from 2010 to 2011, and the University of California, Irvine Alumni Association.[1]
Activism
Florante Ibanez worked at the UCLA Asian American Studies Center in the early 1970’s, helped co-found UCLA Samahang Pilipino and later graduated from UC Irvine where he also co-founded UCI Kababayan and pushed for the creation of the UCI Cross Cultural Center. While a student he also became an activist of the Union of Democratic Filipinos (KDP) who opposed the Marcos Dictatorship in the Philippines and called for social change in the U.S. He has been a labor organizer, Lions Club president, father, hula dancer, computer technician and graduated (2006) from the UCLA Joint MLIS / MA Program in Information Studies and Asian American Studies to emerge as a Librarian with a specialization in archival studies. His passion is to help develop a Filipino American Museum and Research Library.
He is currently a librarian at Loyala Law School. He has taught Filipino American studies at Loyola Marymount College and Pasadena City College. He is also a co-author of Filipinos in Carson and the South Bay (Aracadia Press).
His life partner is Roselyn Estepa Ibanez, whom he met at the 1973 Filipino People’s Far West Convention in San Jose, CA.[2]
Education
Ibanez earned a Master of Arts degree in Asian American studies and a Master of Library Science degree in information and library science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Ibanez is a Democrat.[3]
Activism
Florente Ibanez was encouraged to return to school and co-founded the UC Irvine's Kababayan where he also pushed for creation of the Cross Cultural Center as part of the Third World Students Coalition. He received his BA with the Comparative Cultures Program from UC Irvine in 1977. While a student he also became an activist of the Union of Democratic Filipinos (KDP) who opposed the Marcos Dictatorship in the Philippines and called for social change in the U.S. He has been a AFSCME labor organizer, Kayumanggi Lions Club president, Hula Halau 'O Lilinoe - kane hula dancer, computer technician, and musician at Light and Life Christian Fellowship-West in Long Beach.[4]
Peoples Wedding
“We had a ‘people’s wedding’ in the ‘70s said Rose Ibanez who, with spouse Florante Ibanez, was part of the leadership of the Katipunan ng mga Demokratikong Pilipino (Union of Democratic Filipinos) in LA. “A people’s wedding is when all your friends help,” Rose reminisced. Rose is a longtime city manager and Florante manages the library computer services at Loyola Law School and teaches Filipino American history
Filipino People's Far West Convention
In 1977 , Carlos Linayo, Aida Lucero, Len Monzon, Barbara Monzon, Florante Ibanez and Pete Estepa gathered in San Diego to organize the Filipino People's Far West Convention.
FWC 1978
Florante Ibanez was San Diego contact for the Far West Convention at UCLA in 1978.[5]
Call for a Conference on Racism and National Oppression
Call for a Conference on Racism and National Oppression was a 1980 call by Marxist-Leninists of The Trend, most of whom were Line of March activists, for a national conference on "Racism and National Oppression" to be held in the summer of 1981 in New York or the Bay Area.
Signers from Los Angeles were;
- Michael Downing
- Danny Estrada
- Florante Ibanez
- Cyrus Keller
- Dan Lund
- Laurie Mayeno
- Jeff Schatz
- Karen Bass
- Jaime Geaga
Coalition Against the Marcos Dictatorship
Florante Ibanez was a member of the Coalition Against the Marcos Dictatorship.[6]
APALA
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance President Florante Ibanez (2010-2011).[7]
Grassroots Fundraiser to elect Karen Bass to Congress
Friday, May 28, 2010 359 S. Westmoreland, Los Angeles, CA;
- Help Elect Assembly Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass to Congress. Come join us in an afternoon of music, food and lively discussions on how we can help send Karen Bass to Washington, D.C. This is a grassroots fundraiser - everyone is welcome.
Host Committee: Gerry Villero & Ani Villero, Florente Ibanez & Rose Ibanez, David Kimbrough & Carol Ojeda-Kimbrough, Martha Matsuoka, Khader Hamide, and Robin Potash.
Sponsors: Rosa Arcadia, Prosy DelaCruz, Paul Estuar, Rachel Cometa Estuar, Lee Lipinski, Adrienne Hament, John Mina, Cecile Ochoa, Grace Yao, Dr. Anthony Saidy, and Thomas Szymanek.