Makibaka: A Living Legacy Exhibit at YBCA Closes January 4, Marking a Milestone for Filipino Art and Activism in San Francisco
Celebrating Community, Resistance, and Cultural Impact Closing Event Details Announced
Courtesy Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco. Photos by Charlie Villyard
San Francisco, CA — December 19, 2025 — MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy, the groundbreaking exhibition presented by SOMA Pilipinas in collaboration with Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), will conclude its run on Sunday, January 4, 2026, with a closing reception and celebration on Saturday, January 3. Since opening on August 1, 2025, the exhibition has drawn widespread attention for its bold celebration of Filipino art, activism, and the enduring presence of the Filipino community in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood and the Bay Area.
Rooted in the Tagalog word makibaka — meaning to struggle, to resist, to defy — the exhibition has spotlighted intergenerational creative expression, paired contemporary artworks with community-held objects and histories, and honored a legacy of collective action that continues to shape the cultural fabric of San Francisco.
“MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy has been a remarkable and deeply meaningful exhibition, and we are proud to celebrate its success alongside our partners at SOMA Pilipinas," said Mari Robles, CEO of YBCA. "Together, we created a space that honored Filipino art, activism, and community with care and intention. This collaboration reflects the kind of community-centered, artist-driven work YBCA is committed to—uplifting artists, celebrating cultural legacy, and partnering with organizations to share powerful stories that resonate far beyond our walls.”
Impact and Reception
MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy has been recognized both regionally and nationally for its powerful fusion of art and activism. Critics and community voices alike have highlighted the exhibition’s role in reframing Filipino American history not as a static artifact but as a living, evolving legacy of resilience. Coverage in arts and cultural outlets emphasized the exhibition’s depth — from its inclusion of works by notable intergenerational artists to installations that connect visitors with stories of labor, community defense, and placekeeping.
Featured artists — including Erina Alejo, England Hidalgo, Johanna Poethig, Weston Teruya, Jenifer Wofford, Mark Baugh-Sasaki, and others — contributed to a vibrant narrative that spans personal memory, political struggle, and artistic innovation. Through multimedia installations, sculptural works, and archival materials, MAKIBAKA weaves together the complexities of Filipino American life and activism in the Bay Area, creating space for reflection, celebration, and solidarity.
The exhibition also intersected with dynamic community programming, drawing over 5,000 attendees to film screenings, “Makibeki” the first ever SOMA Pilipinas PRIDE event, ethnotours, and aligning with beloved seasonal events such as the Parol Lantern Festival, where the exhibition’s themes of hope and resistance extended into wider public celebration.
Closing Event Details
To commemorate the final days of the exhibition, YBCA and SOMA Pilipinas invite the public to a closing celebration:
Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: SOMA Pilipinas office, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA)
Highlights:
12-1pm Final Gallery Walkthrough — Experience the exhibition for the last time with special reflections from community leaders and curators.
Artist Reception — Celebrate participating artists and organizers of Makibaka: A Living Legacy
Admission: $10 gallery admission to see gallery exhibit / Reception open to the public inside the SOMA Pilipinas office
For more information on the closing event and related programming, visit ybca.org or somapilipinas.org.
About SOMA Pilipinas
SOMA Pilipinas is San Francisco’s designated Filipino Cultural Heritage District, dedicated to celebrating the historic and ongoing contributions of Filipino communities in SoMa through cultural preservation, advocacy, and artistic leadership.
About Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
Opened to the public in 1993, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) was founded as the cultural anchor of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens neighborhood. Our work spans the realms of contemporary art, performance, film, civic engagement, and public life. By centering artists as essential to social and cultural movement, YBCA is reimagining the role an arts institution can play in the communities it serves. For more information, visit ybca.org.
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