Reimagining Downtown SF: SOMA Pilipinas’ Filipino Art and Innovation Power a Cultural Comeback
Written by Jennifer Redondo
As San Francisco bounces back from the pandemic, SOMA Pilipinas is leading the charge in bringing fresh energy to downtown with a dynamic blend of Filipino art, culture, and innovation. With the unveiling of ten new murals, public art installations, and colorful crosswalks, SOMA Pilipinas is not just transforming the city's landscape but also reigniting its true cultural heart. Paired with the recent opening of three acclaimed Filipino-owned restaurants and the launch of the inaugural Mahal Jeepney tour, this district is crafting a new narrative of resilience and creativity that is drawing visitors back to the heart of San Francisco.
SOMA Pilipinas has been working to attract business owners such as The Sarap Shop, Mestiza,and Izzy and Wooks, to set up shop in the neighborhood. In conjunction, they’ve been diligently building an arts and cultural district funded by the city and partnering with local artists.
By the end of this year, there will be over 40 pieces of public art in the cultural district, including the latest Pagsasama-Sama and Ani - Harvested Hopes murals, making it a destination for Filipino arts and culture in the United States. Locals and city guests will soon be able to easily access these cultural markers with a live Google Map ideal for walking and weekly Jeepney tours, launching in August.
To date, there are over 30 murals and public arts by Fil-Am artists sprinkled throughout the district’s walls, crosswalks, and spaces:
1. Ani - Harvested Hopes by Venazir Martinez: Renaissance Entrepreneur Center at 275 5th Street.
2. Tayo Ay Pinagtagpi by Dre Sibayan: City College SF at 4th Street/Mission Street.
3. Our Home of Sampaguitas and Dahlias by Allison Hueman: SF Parks Alliance at 51 6th Street .
4. Banig Crosswalks: 6th Street Improvement Plan .
5. Art of Peace by Vivian Capulong: SOMA Pilipinas, United Playaz, West Bay, Robby Poblete Foundation at 531 Bryant.
6. Vanilla Sky by Cheyenne Randall: Mestiza at 124 Townsend.
7. Jeepney Mural by Cece Carpio: SOMA Pilipinas at 975 Bryant.
On June 26, 2024, the following two murals were unveiled during the Sining ng Mga Pinay event:
1. Carabao Mural by Franceska Gamez and Cece Carpio: SOMA West CBD at 1052 Folsom
2. Pagsasama-Sama by ChiCha Mateo: SOMA West CBD at 1048 Folsom.
During the unveiling event, we enjoyed Filipino snacks like turon and sorbetes, and we had the opportunity to talk with the Pagsasama-Sama (Joining Together) artist, ChiChai Mateo. Over the last six years, ChiChai has taught art in SOMA Pilipinas at Bessie Carmichael School. She is filled with joy because she knows that her “students and their parents pass by the murals everyday. I want the kids to feel represented, called to, and inspired about the things that they can contribute to our district”.
ChiChai’s mural celebrates SOMA Pilipinas’ legacy of community members coming together, and how Pinay/xys interweave like the solhiya rattan pattern, creating bursts of sun and breathing life into the neighborhood. ChiChai decided to incorporate the interwoven pattern because “when we weave together our strength, we create life.” When ChiChai applied to create this mural, one of the requirements included the need to represent the strong history of SOMA Pilipinas, especially the contributions of the Filipina women in the SOMA Pilipinas district – from organizers to sports figures like Victoria Manalo Draves who was born in SOMA Pilipinas and became the first Filipino American competitive diver, and Asian American, to win Olympic gold medals.
The community gathered to celebrate the new artwork gracing the neighborhood. It also gave them an opportunity to celebrate the women who are the glue of the community. Throughout the years, these women have worked hard to keep SOMA Pilipinas running. They are the spirit of this neighborhood which is apparent in the performances by the community seniors, West Bay Moms, and the young students of Galing Bata.
The West Bay Pilipino Multi Service Center is the oldest non-profit in Northern California. Since 1968, West Bay has formed six community service agencies including the Filipino Youth Coordinating Committee, Sandigan Newcomer Service, United Filipinos for Equal Employment, Pilipino Legal Defense and Education Fund, Services for Filipino Services, and the Liwanag Resources.
Galing Bata is a bilingual program originating from the Filipino Education Center, which was established to help newly arrived immigrant children adapt to their new environment. Galing Bata is an after school program at Bessie Carmichael, which provides academic, social, and emotional support. These are just a few of the support programs that the community has available. To learn more, head to the SOMA Pilipinas website.
If you’re in the neighborhood, take the time to hop on the Mahal Jeepney Tour. Last year, local musician, Toro y Moi donated the jeepney to SOMA Pilipinas. The Mahal Jeepney Tour takes riders through the cultural district to view the beautiful artwork and enjoy the delicious Filipino food in the neighborhood.
Ready to experience the vibrant pulse of SOMA Pilipinas? Take a stroll through the district, savor the flavors at new Filipino eateries, and immerse yourself in the art that’s redefining San Francisco’s cultural landscape. Discover it all and be part of the city’s comeback story—your adventure in SOMA Pilipinas starts now: here’s a map of the community landmarks, non-profit organizations, and businesses that call SOMA Pilipinas home.
Written by Jennifer Redondo
Co-Founder and Co-Author of In Her Purpose
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