October is Filipino-American Heritage Month…read more
I didn't know this place even existed until I started walking to Wifey's work on California St. from downtown to Presidio Heights for my exercise. During my walk, I would take photos of the beautiful Victorian houses along the way and this particular house stood out due to the sign on top of the door that reads: Filipino Community Of San Francisco, with the symbol of the sun from the Philippine flag used in lieu of the letter "O" from of.
I tried googling the place and nothing came up, and not much information was found. So I decided to add the business on Yelp and edit it later without even thinking the importance of it.
A couple of months later, my uncle, who was living in Canada, passed away and most of the relatives (including his siblings) were unable to make the trip up north for the funeral. My cousin, who is very active in the Filipino community in San Francisco, sent an invite for his remembrance at this address. At that time, I didn't put the two together until we physically arrived here and instantly recognized it as the house I kept stopping by to admire during my many walks.
Once I stepped inside, there were photos on the wall from founding members to current members. And....most of them are my uncles, aunts and relatives. How that heck did they not even mention this to us? All this time I passed by this place, I had a deep connection to it without even knowing the historical content, family ties and significance of it.
After the service, I decided to learn more about this place and started talking to the elders and care-takers. Founded in 1939, this house was established to help the Filipino Community during the early days to help the "Manongs and Manangs" (respectful way of saying older sibling) establish themselves and function as a support group. You have to pay a one-time initial fee, but you are a member for life that comes with many perks and benefits. One of these benefits is that every member contributes to a fund if someone passes on.
I got a tour of the house and most of the rooms are used as boarding houses for students, but the basement level primarily doubles as an event space. But the real gem was getting to know the people who have kept this going for as long as they have without much outside support. Everything is from the members, whose memberships have declined throughout the years as they have aged and the subsequent generations have opted not to join....or were never informed of such a group existed in the first place.
I shudder to think that maybe our elders were hiding something from us like secret parties or some hanky-panky that went on behind close doors. Of course I'm kidding, but looking at those pictures of my relatives made me think otherwise.
But talking to the elders made me realize that the second, third and subsequent generations have to keep this alive as the Filipino Community has been vital in the San Francisco, Bay Area, California and the United States of America. We have played and contributed to the success of this nation and this story must be told loud and clear....especially in these trying times when someone wants to divide us rather than unite.
We are a part of the diverse fabric that is intertwined and holds this nation together, and we must continue to celebrate our heritage while working collectively with other groups and ethnicities from different races and backgrounds to steer this nation that cares for other people, and not vilify them. That is the basic nature of what I was taught of being a Filipino.
Now, when does my secret ceremony start?
