Joseph Hidalgo Jones (Historical Figure)

During the early 1900s, in a time of American unrest towards immigration reaching a boiling point, the lawyer Joseph Hidalgo-Jones fought and won on behalf of over 80 individuals for entry into Los Templos when they were unlawfully ejected or turned away at the the port and borders.

He’s credited with drastically changing the cultural attitude of the city towards immigrants to become a “proud place of sanctuary and grace,” like its name suggests. As of our story, Los Templos is largely comprised of first to third generation immigrants, largely Hispanic (everything from Latin America all the way to Spain) and Filipino, our main characters included.

That being said, there’s a growing wealth gap in Los Templos as (typically upper-middle class) transplants move onto the East Side of the Temple Hill and force locals towards the west side and the El Primero district, which is largely working class and below. Which makes the placement of the Hidalgo-Jones statue a little ironic, as it stands facing East towards the sea, on the other side of the hill and looking away from the descendants (literal and spiritual) of the people he fought for.

His Statue
A statue commemorating Joseph Hidalgo-Jones is set up in El Cara Este, the district on the East Side of the Hill. It had originally been set up in a park in El Primero, but was moved to a more 'accessible' area. It is a tourist destination, and people often leave gifts, votive candles, wishes, and flowers at the base of the statue.

There is a plaque, and its inscription is as follows: "'Joseph Hidalgo-Jones, known as the 'Keeper of the Temple' for his tireless fight on the behalf of immigrants, refugees, and the Spirit of Generosity and Sanctuary that Los Templos was built upon. This statue commemorates his famous remarks against the turning away of those seeking refuge within the city, cited as the moment Los Templos became the melting pot it is proudly known as today.'"