Three years ago, anthropologist, video producer and queer Filipina-Irish American storyteller Elenita O’Malley embarked on a personal quest to learn more about her Filipino roots in Oakland by interviewing her grandmother, Marie Rivera Yip. The project was self-funded and supported by grants and community donations. Three years of footage have now been culled into the documentary short “Oakland Ilokana” that will premiere at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center on Saturday, Oct. 4.

“Initially, I was just documenting her story for myself. At a certain point, I realized it was a story that should be made public,” O’Malley said. “I realized where her history fits into the bigger picture of Filipino immigration, Filipinos in the Bay Area. And I realized her story was one that is not widely tol

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