We are developing strategies to create our community’s permanent imprint on the visual landscape of the district including public art, cultural markers, wayfinding, and signage, that promotes
the Cultural District, our history and community. 

Go on an ARTventure!

Explore the vibrant stories of the Filipino diaspora through this interactive map of murals across SOMA Pilipinas. Each piece is a landmark of resilience, culture, and community—ready for you to discover!

Jeepney Mural

This project connects the Philippine jeepney and San Francisco’s Muni as cultural symbols of movement, resilience, and identity. Featuring intergenerational Filipino figures at a bus stop, it reflects the diaspora’s journey of navigating both worlds.

Pagsasama-sama

This mural honors SOMA Pilipinas’ spirit of unity, weaving waves, solihiya patterns, and wood-carving motifs to tell stories of community, activism, and joy. Centered on two diwatas, the mural reflects the deep ties between the Philippines and its diaspora, inspiring connection and pride.

Ani - Harvested Hopes

“Ani” (Harvest) celebrates the Filipino migration journey, weaving stories of resilience, hope, and community. Through symbols like the red thread, poso, and California poppies, the mural honors heritage, labor, and the dreams that take root across generations.

Ang Lipi ni Lapu Lapu

The restoration of Ang Lipi ni Lapulapu brings new additions honoring WWII comfort women, veterans, and the enduring fight for justice. Originally painted in 1984, this monumental mural remains a powerful visual timeline of Filipino migration, resistance, and resilience in the Americas.

“Our community was hit hard by the pandemic. A disproportionate number of Filipino nurses lost their lives and many of us lost loved ones. In SOMA, many residents lost their jobs and small businesses closed down. On top of all this, our elderly fear for their safety amidst the anti-Asian assaults in our City” says Raquel Redondiez, Director of SOMA Pilipinas. “This Filipino-American History Month, we wanted to recognize our community heroes-- residents, artists, and small businesses who continued to shine with the bayanihan (mutual support) spirit despite so many challenges. The banners are a declaration that we’re still here, and we will continue to build our cultural district towards an equitable economic recovery for all City.”

The banners feature a collage of residents, artists, and small businesses framed by the iconic sun of the SOMA Pilipinas logo and brand. “SOMA Pilipinas is not defined by bounding streets, but by a sense of place that radiates a resilient joy and shared determination. It is a district where the sun continues to rise, a living celebration of community, its people, and their stories. SOMA Pilipinas shines in its own light,” says Julie Munsayac, Otherwise Graphic Design Lead for the Banners who also designed the first set of SOMA Pilipinas banners back in 2018.

Original photography on the banners are by Nix Guirre, SOMA Pilipinas’ Program and Communications Coordinator.  

The banners are supported by cultural district grants generated from the City’s Hotel Tax through the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development.  While the hotel tax suffered an unprecedented decline with the pandemic, one-time grants were made available to help address COVID-specific impacts and to support economic recovery especially within the hardest-hit communities of color as represented by the City’s nine cultural districts.