More Than a Cultural District
SOMA Pilipinas is Community-in-Action
and a Cultural Movement
The cultural heritage district spanning 1.5 square miles honors 120+ history of Filipinos
in San Francisco, and celebrates the community’s living legacy of making home,
celebrating culture, building community and fighting for economic and racial justice
in the rapidly gentrifying South of Market neighborhood.
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The cultural heritage district spanning 1.5 square miles honors 120+ history of Filipinos in San Francisco, and celebrates the community’s living legacy of making home, celebrating culture, building community and fighting for economic and racial justice in the rapidly gentrifying South of Market neighborhood.
In 2016, the City of San Francisco officially recognized SOMA Pilipinas as SF’s Filipino Cultural Heritage District, under the leadership of the Filipino-American Development Foundation.
In 2017, SOMA Pilipinas was one of the first selected cultural districts for state designation by the California Arts Council and in 2018 received the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant for creative place-keeping.
Since then SOMA Pilipinas has gone on to earn numerous accolades and honors for their work in the South of Market neighborhood from 2020 YBCA 100 Honoree, and Architects International Association SF for revitalization.
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CULTURAL CELEBRATION
To increase the visibility and celebrate the contributions of the Filipino community in SOMA, San Francisco, California and the Diaspora, and to sustain our legacy cultural institutions and events, and develop our cultural arts, assets, and creative place-keeping and place-making.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
To prevent the displacement of Filipino residents, protect our historic and cultural assets, and sustain our legacy institutions and community organizations.
ECONOMIC AND RACIAL JUSTICE
To develop initiatives for the Filipino community to thrive, and to support our community’s struggle for dignity, equity, rightful recognition and racial justice.
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SOMA Pilipinas is a celebration of where we come from, and where we are going.
Our Cultural Heritage District is a product of its people, who are resilient, creative, and determined.
We live, work, play and gather here as a community.SOMA Pilipinas is a movement that is anchored in the neighborhood, our history and our people.
It is a place that connects the broader community to our narrative and stories as Filipinos in America. It is a living culture — a community that's conscious of history, yet embraces progress, working together to move forward in unity and vision.
Our Community
Our district is bounded by Market, Brannan, Second, and Eleventh. Alive within those 1.5 square miles is over 100 years of Filipino history:
organizations, places, and people that tell the story of our struggles, aspirations, and achievements.
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Victoria Manalo Draves Park
Kapwa Mural
Gran Oriente Masonic Temple
Bindlestiff Studios
Bill Sorro Building
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Mint Mall Residents Association
Tenderloin Filipino-American Community Association
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Aeroskin Worldwide - 953 Mission St
Arkipelago Bookstore
Abaca - 2700 Jones St.
Irma's Pampanga - 2901 16th St.
JT Restaurant - 953 Mission St
Kababayan - 2706 Mission St
Kultivate Labs
Make it Mariko
Manila Bowl - 1355 Market
Ox + Tiger - 552 Jones St
Plinth Agency
Senor Sisig, Ferry Building
Sentro Filipino - 814 Mission St.
You by Hu - 76 6th St
Victory Hall - 360 Ritch St.
SOMA Pilipinas Reports
SOMA PILIPINAS RESOLUTION
4/4/16
The official resolution voted on unanimously by the Board of Supervisors that created the cultural district.
SOMA Pilipinas CHHESS Report 9/7/22
A report detailing strategies developed with community, in partnership with the city, and unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors.
DESIGN CHARRETTE
2/4/17
Urban design concepts developed by residents, designers, and community stakeholders.
SOMA Pilipinas is in the Heart 2020
Conceptual and Ethical Guidelines for Public Art and Commissioned Concept Proposals for potential future public art
BRANDING GUIDELINES
SOMA Pilipinas Brand Vocabulary and Brand Identity.
ILLUMINATING
YERBA BUENA GARDENS
2024
Light Installation + Filipino Cultural Marker Findings Summary
SOMA PILIPINAS
DESIGN TOOLKIT
A Visual Guide to Design Elements in Celebration of the Filipino Cultural Heritage District of San Francisco