Kahayágan:
Storytelling and Creative Expression in California’s
SOMA Pilipinas – Filipino Cultural Heritage District
Tina Alejo
Cristina “Tina” Alejo is a parent, community advocate and educator for over 20 years whose children attended Bessie Carmichael School/Filipino Education Center in San Francisco’s South of Market area. She is a co-founder of Galing Bata (the well-rounded child), a Filipino bilingual-bicultural after school and summer program based at the Bessie Carmichael School/Filipino Education Center Pre-K to 8. She served as program director and member of its collective leadership team from 2001-2011.
A staunch advocate of Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino Psychology) and bilingual education, she collaborated with parent, school and community advocates in preserving the site of the Filipino Education Center in San Francisco, leading to the link-up with Bessie Carmichael School and its expansion to 8th grade in order to strengthen and expand the school’s flagship Filipino language pathway program.
Currently, she is a Pre-Kindergarten Lead teacher at Bessie Carmichael School/Filipino Education Center, helping children build strong emergent literacy skills and a solid social-emotional foundation in learning through culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy. She has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of the Philippines-Diliman and earned her teaching credential in elementary education from San Francisco State University.
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Glesaree Valdez
Glesaree Valdez is a first-generation college student at UC Berkeley and an active community member at SOMA Pilipinas. In the community, she served different programs/internships as a Health Ambassador, working with YOHANA (Youth Organizing Home and Neighborhood Action), and participating with Bindlestiff Studio. SOMA Pilipinas has given her the opportunity to engage with issues that directly affect my community, involve herself in political advocacy/public policy, and further connect with her Filipino culture. This community involvement has deeply impacted her identity and has pushed her to become a leader in spaces outside of SOMA Pilipinas. During her time as a high school student, Gelsaree co-founded and was elected as Co-Vice President of the Asian Pacific Islander Club at Mission High School. She helped create a platform for AAPI-identifying students, an under-represented demographic at her high school, to share space with one another and build community. As a team, Glesaree helped bridge solidarity between more established cultural clubs on campus, shared the rich culture and diversity of the API community, and advocated for student voices. Now, as a UC Berkeley undergraduate student, she continues to serve her community despite being away from home. She volunteers with Pilipinx Academic Student Services (PASS), a recruitment and retention center for first-generation, low income, Filipinx-identifying students on campus. Glesaree hopes to continue growing as a leader and being more involved in the Filipino community at Berkeley, just as she is with SOMA Pilipinas in San Francisco.
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Romerico “Rico” Riemedio
Migrated to the United State from the Philippines on February 19, 1973. His mom and six siblings came together to join his father in the USA to start a new life. They have lived in the SOMA neighborhood since then. SOMA was like Hillsborough compared to the part of the Philippines where his working class family came from. His father worked as a dishwasher and his mother worked as a babysitter to help provide for their family. Rico went to Bessie Carmichael Elementary School, Everret Junior High, and attended for two semesters at Galileo High. In January 1976, after he turned 16 years old, Rico’s parents sent him to Kodiak Alaska to work at the cannery to help his family for financial support. He worked as an unloader of seafood from the fishing boat. Due to fishermen strikes and because the living costs were expensive, Rico went back to SOMA in April 1980. He started hanging out with the kids in the neighborhood and joined the gang. On January 1, 1981, Rico went away and came back to SOMA on July 5, 2005. Since then he became involved in the community. Rico worked for United Playaz as a care manager for truant and at-risk youth for 10 years, and volunteered at Bayanihan Community Center and other non-profit organizations. Currently, he works for Community Youth Center as a senior outreach worker since April 2020. To this day, Rico and his family still live in SOMA. He truly appreciates this neighborhood and is happy to serve the community. SOMA is his HOME!
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Bernadette Herrera
Bernadette Herrera is a mother, a worker, and a community activist.
She was a working student when she became active in the social justice movement during her college years in Pampanga, Philippines. As University Student Council Chairperson, she helped lead a successful boycott campaign in her college to decrease tuition fees. As a young activist, she also became involved in various peasant, worker, and women’s issues in Central Luzon. She eventually served as a local public official from1992 to 1998.
In 2000, she immigrated to the United States to provide a better future for her three children. She was undocumented for four years while working as a domestic worker and caregiver in San Francisco. She became a staff member at the Filipino Community Center from 2008-2019, where she helped build community among Filipino mothers and other Filipino women in the Excelsior neighborhood, provide various services to low-income immigrant communities and lead campaigns against wage theft and worker abuse in the San Francisco Bay Area.
During Women’s History Month in March 2010, the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco honored and recognized Bernadette for her commitment to improving the lives of working women and for her contributions to community organizing and advocacy in San Francisco. In 2014, Bernadette helped advocate for the city of San Francisco to certify Tagalog as the third additional language that city services must be translated to, expanding accessibility for Tagalog speakers in the community.
From 2011-2014, Bernadette served as the Vice President of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), contributing to humanitarian efforts to provide relief and rehabilitation for disaster victims in the Philippines. She also served in the Council of Leaders of Migrante Northern California, an alliance of Filipino immigrants and migrant workers groups in the Bay Area, from 2013-2018 .From September 2018 – 2022, Bernadette also served as Chairperson of Migrante USA, an alliance of 16 Filipino worker organizations throughout the US.
In 2020, Bernadette worked for the California Nurses Association as a union organizer. She currently works as a personal care attendant in various care homes in the Bay Area.
Christopher Cara
A long time East Bay resident, Chris Cara has been on staff with Filipino Advocates for Justice since 2001. For over 20 years, he has worked on institutionalizing FAJ’s in-school prevention education programs in Union City and Fremont. He was also responsible for overseeing our after-school leadership development project that provides prevention education while engaging young people in community organizing efforts which increased resources towards violence prevention and strengthened tenant protections. Chris is now Filipino Advocates for Justice’s Prevention Services Director and supervises FAJ’s mental health and substance use prevention and early intervention programs, including school-based and leadership development for youth, support for transition-aged young adults and support for elder caregivers. He has certifications from the Center for Substance Use Prevention and Mental Health First Aid.
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Andrea Almario
Andrea Almario, a Bay Area native, immigrated to Hayward, California, in 1991. Overcoming challenges as an undocumented individual, she experienced the struggle to access routine dental care and faced the pain of untreated tooth decay. Determined, Andrea pursued a path in dental hygiene, co-founding the nonprofit “Magic Tooth Bus” in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dedicated to providing dental care in low-income neighborhoods, the organization, now equipped with an actual bus, offers oral health education, free goody bags, teeth screenings, and preventative services in schools.
Aside from her impactful work, Andrea holds a background in theater and performance studies from UC Berkeley. She showcases her creative side through the musical “Chasing Papeles,” which delves into the challenges of an undocumented caregiver. Incorporating hip hop and movement, Andrea’s storytelling reflects the influences of her upbringing.
Andrea Almario’s journey into theater and performance began with Bindlestiff Studio in San Francisco, where she explored writing, sketch comedy, directing, and acting through various workshops. Her passion for the arts led her to pursue a degree in theater and performance studies at UC Berkeley. As a testament to her versatile talents, Andrea is also a member of the Granny Cart Gangstas, a comedy troupe that adds a humorous touch to her creative repertoire. This diverse background enriches her storytelling, evident in both her dental care advocacy and the musical “Chasing Papeles.”
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Gayle Romasanta
Gayle Romasanta is a writer, executive director and artist whose work focuses on the Filipino American experience. She received a BA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and an MFA, Writing from California College of the Arts. Her work has appeared on television, radio, online, magazines, and books, such as the New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Harvard University’s Education Next Journal, KQED’s The Forum, ABS-CBN and more. Gayle is also the former artistic director of San Francisco’s Bindlestiff Studio, the only theater space in the U.S. devoted to Filipino American storytelling. As a violinist, she co-composed the first Google Philippines campaign commercial and has performed widely such as at the San Francisco Asian American Jazz Festival 20th Anniversary and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. She also co-wrote the book, Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong, with the late and great historian Dr. Dawn Mabalon. She authored the musical, “Larry: The Musical” about the life of Larry Itliong, which received a National Endowment for the Arts grant award. Its successful April 2024 run saw 23 sold out shows and 23 standing ovations. As a community organizer, Gayle founded Kappa Psi Epsilon, a Filipino American cultural sorority, celebrating its 28th year, with university recognized chapters at University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Davis, California State University, Long Beach, California State University, Sacramento, and San Francisco State University. She is currently the executive director of the Filipino-American Development Foundation, supporting Filipino American organizations and programs throughout San Francisco, including the South of Market Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District. She is also a Filipino American National Historical Society National Trustee, and is on the Board of Directors of the Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy in San Francisco.
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Kali Diwa Lebon Ildefonzo Redondiez
Kali Diwa Lebon was born January 18, 2002 to Raquel Redondiez and Jasen Ildefonzo and grew up with his older sister Amihan who gave him his nickname “Ube” and his younger sister Malaya. Since birth, he has been smart, funny, artistic, fearless, and mischievous.
Kali grew up in the Excelsior, in the Mission where his Lola and Papa lived and the South of Market. He attended Bessie Carmichael / Filipino Education Center, Galing Bata, and SF Community School where he was respected by his classmates and teachers alike for his leadership, critical thinking, questioning of authority and creatively bending the rules. At Balboa High School, Kali was in PEP, Law Academy pathway and the football team’s defensive and offensive line. He loved growing up as a City kid and was a youth funder with the Youth Empowerment Fund.
Kali also volunteered at SOMCAN and helped with the design, selection, and painting of the first “S/heroes in Our Windows” mural at the Bayanihan Community Center. Kali grew up to be a loyal, loving, and kind young man who had a strong work ethic and was a deep thinker. In March 2023, after turning 21, he died in a tragic accident, devastating his family and whole community.
Kali is dearly loved and will always be remembered by his family, friends, and kasamas who helped raise him and continue to revere him. He is now our guardian angel watching over us and continuing to inspire us. Mabuhay Kali Diwa! We miss you earth-side.
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Helen Serafino-Agar
Helen Linda Reyes Serafino-Agar was born in San Francisco and raised in the San Francisco-Daly City border.
Helen has been teaching 2nd grade since 1997. She teaches at Longfellow Elementary School where she graduated from. She attended San Francisco State University for her Bachelor’s of Arts, Elementary Teaching Credentials, and Master’s of Arts. In her college years, she learned more about herself as a Filipino through Ethnic Studies and dance.
She started dancing when her parents enrolled her and her sister in dance classes through Daly City Park and Rec. She continued to dance until she was in middle school. In college, Helen rediscovered her love of dance through her dance electives, Polynesian dance, and Filipino folk dancing. She danced with Spirit of Polynesia and Barangay Dance Company for 10+ years. She paused dancing after she traveled with Alleluia Panis in KULART’s Tribal Tour in 2004 after witnessing and participating in their dance, music, and rituals in the different cultures of Mindanao. Later, she was a dancer for Alleluia Panis Dance Theatre. Currently, Helen is dancing with Parangal Dance Company and practicing martial arts with Legacy Martial Arts. She continues to learn about her Filipino culture through movement.
As a Filipino World Language in the Elementary School (WLES) teacher, Helen shares her knowledge to her 2nd graders. She considers herself lucky to live in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also passes on to her own children, Kadean and Kalia, as 3rd generation Filipino-Lebanese-Europeans, their Filipino pride through their Lola Linda, Sama Sama Cooperative, Filipino WLES students, Tagalog Kids, Legacy Filipino Martial Arts, and Agos.
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Herna Cruz-Louie
Herna Cruz-Louie (she/siya) is KULARTS’ Executive and Agos Program Director. Herna’s Philippine dance and music journey started at age 5, when she learned cultural dances to perform at local fiestas in San Diego, CA where she spent her childhood. In 1995, she began performing with the PASACAT Philippine Performing Arts Company in San Diego and became their Rondalla music instructor by age 18. After moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2000, Herna performed with LIKHA-Pilipino Folk Ensemble and became their Executive Director from 2005-2008, and was the co-founder and Executive Director of the American Center of Philippine Arts (ACPA) from 2009-2020. For 27 years, Herna has taught Filipino dance, music and its origins to provide safe spaces and engagement opportunities for people who identify with the Pilipino/a/x American experience. Herna approaches cultural arts work with indigenous belief systems and cultural practices to highlight the history of colonialism, immigration, cultural and racial equity issues impacting the Piilpino/a/x community. She intertwines art and history to expand ideas around healing generational trauma and belonging. Herna is the Vice President of Operations at Equity In The Center, is the Vice Chair of World Arts West, was awarded one of Filipina Womens Network’s 100 Most Influential Filipinas in 2011, and became a recipient of Filipino American Arts Exposition’s Pamana Heritage Award in 2023. She holds a BA in Asian American Studies from San Francisco State University, an MS in HR Management from Golden Gate University, received her Community Mediation certification from Community Boards of San Francisco, and obtained her Diversity & Inclusion certification from Cornell University. She has lived and provided Pilipino/a/x cultural arts programs in Oakland and the East Bay since 2005.
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Alexis David
Alexis A. David (she/her/siya) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) working as a Clinical Supervisor in San Francisco Unified School District. She has a private practice in clinical consultation supporting BIPOC clinicians working towards licensure. She is a daughter of immigrants from Tarlac and Batangas, Philippines. Alexis was born and raised in Yelamu, Ramaytush Ohlone Territory. She is a mother to three brilliant beings. She is an alumni of San Francisco State University for both her Masters in Social Work (MSW) and undergraduate studies in Asian American Studies and Criminal Justice. She has worked in various capacities in Education through school social work, clinical supervision and training, crisis and mental health consultation, teaching Ethnic Studies and Filipinx/a/o Studies, working with youth and families in foster care and youth impacted in the juvenile justice system, youth substance abuse treatment and prevention, youth development, and community organizing.
Alexis is one of the founding members of the Filipino Mental Health Initiative-San Francisco (FMHI-SF) launched in 2012 and leading therapeutic and wellness programming to the community in the SF Bay Area. She believes that providing mental health and wellness services in the Filipinx community creates access points to collective healing, sustainability, and lays pathways of compassion for ourselves and one another.
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Joyce Juan-Manalo
On July 17, 2023, the Bindlestiff Family lost one of our brightest stars. Joyce Juan-Manalo will forever be remembered as one of the linchpins of our community. She – along with her husband, Allan Samson Manalo – took over the reigns of Bindlestiff in 1998, transforming it into an epicenter of Pilipin@ performing arts. In the process, she helped link Bay Area artists with the rich performing arts traditions of the ground-breaking theater of the people – PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association), the influential Teatro ng Tanan (Theater for Everyone), and legendary theater troupe tongue in A mood, whose members laid part of the foundation for Bindlestiff’s current ethos and culture.
A talented costume designer, Joyce lent a playful yet refined flair always rooted in her strong Pilipina identity to numerous productions, most notably Lorna Chui Velasco’s adaptation, “A Pinoy Midsummer.” Her careful attention to detail brought each character to life; by sourcing cultural garments, hand making costumes, and utilizing fresh produce for accessories (sitaw for string bean bracelets).
Her proudest achievement was Tagalog Fest, co-created with Lorna, which features works written and performed entirely in Tagalog (with one performed in Cebuano), selected from the Virgin Lab Fest, curated by Rodi Vera of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Thanks to Lorna and Joyce’s taste and vision, Tagalog Fest regularly brings to our shores some of the best plays in modern day Philippine theater. For Aureen Almario, artistic director of Bindlestiff, “Tagalog Fest was special for those of us behind the scenes because for the first time we were able to do theater in our mother tongue. As immigrants who had to grapple with assimilation, it provided solace and a deep sense of pride.”
Throughout her life, Joyce shunned the spotlight, choosing instead to empower others to shine. Through her decades of work in the SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District, including at FADF (the Filipino-American Development Foundation), Kearny Street Workshop (where she co-created the body-positive fashion show, Celebrate Your Body), and Bindlestiff, Joyce always championed her community – to fight for our place here, to tell our own compelling stories, and to do it well. Her influence will be felt for generations to come through those she has nurtured, encouraged, and uplifted.
Joyce is survived by Allan, her husband of 28 years, along with her brother Boni and his wife Elnora, her brother Gerry and his wife Malu, her niece Abigail, her nephew Mikey, her brother Roberto and his wife Wena, her niece Janice, her brother-in-law, Manuel Fermin and her niece Ayenne and nephew Jose aka “Boogs”.
– Oliver Saria, Managing Director, Bindlestiff Studio
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Kevin Nadal
Dr. Kevin Leo Yabut Nadal is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at both John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Graduate Center at the City University of New York. He received his doctorate in counseling psychology from Columbia University in New York City and is one of the leading researchers in understanding the impacts of microaggressions, or subtle forms of discrimination, on the mental and physical health of people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people; and other marginalized groups. He has published over 100 works on multicultural issues in the fields of psychology and education. A California-bred New Yorker, he was named one of People Magazine’s hottest bachelors in 2006 and one of NBC’s Pride 30 in 2018. He once won an argument with Bill O’Reilly on Fox News Channel’s “The O’Reilly Factor”; and he was even once a Hot Topic on ABC’s “The View”. He has been featured in the New York Times, Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, the Weather Channel, the History Channel, HGTV, Philippine News, and The Filipino Channel. He is the author of 14 books including Filipino American Psychology (2011, Wiley); Microaggressions and Traumatic Stress (2018, APA); and Queering Law and Order (2020, Lexington). He was the first openly gay President of the Asian American Psychological Association and the first person of color to serve as the Executive Director of the Center for LGBTQ Studies. He is a National Trustee of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) and a co-founder of the LGBTQ Scholars of Color National Network. He has delivered hundreds of lectures across the United States, including the White House and the U.S. Capitol. He has won numerous awards, including the American Psychological Association 2017 Early Career Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest; the 2019 Richard Tewksbury Award from the Western Society of Criminology, and the Thought Leadership Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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Maria Luz Torre
Maria Luz Torre graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law with a Bachelor of Laws and an undergraduate degree in Social Science from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas.
She received a Shining Star Award for Child Care Advocacy. In 2005, US EPA awarded her an Environmental Award for her work with Parent Voices’ Asthma Relief for Kids and in 2008, a Building Parent Movement Award from the Bay Area Parent Leadership Network. Their Team of Parent Voices leaders and organizers made it as finalists to the Leadership for a Changing World.
Maria Luz’ experiences as a full-time mother, newly arrived from the Philippines in 1992 and feeling isolated, contributed to her deep concern for families with young children. When she applied for Parent Voices organizer position in 1996, her best qualification was being a “parent desperately in need of child care” because this job was to “organize parents to advocate for child care.” She became the President of the Board of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth about 10 years later and has seen its advocacy model evolving into a base building community organizing model.
She recruited and worked with many parent leaders in building the base for a new generation of parent advocates who will articulate the need for quality child care, and other services for children and their families. As a parent herself, she knows parents cannot do it alone but as an organized group working together, Parent Voices have built very credible voices for all our young children in California.
In her work over the past few years, Maria Luz realized just how important it is to highlight to policy makers how much it costs to raise a young family, the need for quality early care and education, and for a safe and healthy environment to grow up in that helps children get a good start in life. Parents cannot do it alone regardless of their income, and even more so if they are low-income. She believes in putting parents in the position where they can articulate their needs directly to the policy makers who are impacting their lives.
Maria Luz is strongly inspired and challenged by the parents that she works with. Hearing the stories of parents struggling to make ends meet, fearful of losing their jobs, and making difficult choices, and then helping those parents turn their stories into public action, has given her the passion to continue the fight and help build the capacity of parents to advocate for their children and to improve their lives.
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Maya Masagca
Maya Masagca was raised in the SoMa. She attended Bessie Carmichael FEC, from Kindergarten to graduating middle school. Maya also attended Galing Bata after school program, starting from 2nd grade to 8th grade. During her education there, she fought for the Filipino World Language (WLES) program by attending the Board of Education meetings and speaking out for the preservation of the WLES program. Maya was part of the Associated Student Body (ASB) in middle school. As ASB president, she planned many events and ensured every Bessie student had a positive experience. Maya loved interacting with students of all grades as the president, so now she is the Business Vice President of the Freshman ASB cabinet at her high school. There, she plans numerous fundraisers and school events from a financial perspective. Now that Maya has graduated from Bessie and is attending high school, she still gives back to her community by participating in the Mayor Youth Employment And Education Program (MYEEP) and interning at Galing Bata.
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Arlene Daus-Magbual
Dr. Arlene Daus-Magbual is an Assistant Professor in Asian American Studies in the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University (SFSU) and the Organizational Director for Pin@y Educational Partnership (PEP). She is a community-engaged mother scholar, and her experiences include community-based organizing with youth and students, non-profit leadership development, and higher education administration. Her research focuses on Ethnic Studies, Race, Anti- Asian Violence, Critical Leadership Praxis, Critical Pedagogy, Critical Race Parenting, and Barangay Pedagogy. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from UC Riverside, her masters in Asian American Studies, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Francisco State University.
Since 2017, Arlene has served on the Daly City Arts and Culture Commission as Chair and Vice Chair and was awarded Mayors Commissioner of the Year in 2018. Her projects with the city include creating partnerships with artists and schools, 12 electric box murals that highlight the culture of each neighborhood with Skyline College, quarterly art exhibits featuring a diverse range of visual artists, and virtual artists dialogues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Necolasa Tuthill-Delute
Nickie grew up in Delano, CA, her father a manong and mom a war bride, and moved to San Francisco in 1973 to attend San Francisco State College. She earned her BA in Fine Arts.
She has worked in the Marketing/Advertising world for over 30 years as a Project Manager. In 2014, she attended the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Conference in San Diego as a volunteer. The next year, she helped create the FANHS Delano Chapter and helped launch the event, Bold Step: A Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Delano Grape Strike. She has then been involved with The City of San Jose Delano Manongs Park Planning Committee, Bulosan Center, The City of Delano Larry Itliong Unity Park Committee, and joined FANHS San Francisco. With FANHS Delano, she assisted their Congressional Gold Medal Delano Celebration, “Journey for Justice, The Life of Larry Itliong” book launch tour, and consulted with “Larry: The Musical” production crew.
These days, you will find Nickie clearing and sorting out her family collection of pictures and personal records – researching her Filipino American herstory.
Rogelio “Roger” Gadiano
Rogelio “Roger” Gadiano was born in Hindang, Leyte, Philippines on August 4, 1947. His father was a US Army Philippine Scout for 26 years and survivor of the WWII Bataan Corregidor Death March in 1942. Their family of six immigrated to the US in 1954.
They eventually settled in Delano, California because his uncle lived there.
Roger went to elementary and high school in Delano. He started working in the grape fields at 13 earning 90 cents per hour in 1962. While in college, he was drafted by the US Army in 1969 and is a Vietnam War veteran.
Roger was co-founder of the Philippine Weekend Festival in Delano in 1975. He is involved with Filipino community activities and currently gives tours of historical Filipino American sites in Delano, such as The Forty Acres and Agbayani Village, and tells stories and his experience of Filipino American History.
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Teresa Dulalas
Teresa Lee Baclay Dulalas is a mother of three; Marti, Hiul, and Daynelita Hipolito.
Born in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, she grew up in SOMA Pilipinas, Filipino Cultural Heritage District in San Francisco.
Currently, she is a part-time Tenant Outreach and Educator for the South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN), and is a housing, seniors, education, and community advocate.
Teresa is the co-founder of FEC (Filipino Education Center) Galing Bata After School and Summer Program. She fought and protected, and is still protecting to this day (1997 – Present), the only Filipino Bilingual Program, which is now called the Filipino WLES program taught in Bessie Carmichael/Filipino Education Center PreK-8th School, Longfellow Elementary School, and High School Filipino at Balboa High School.
Teresa won four Eviction Cases (2001-2016) with the help, guidance and support of Dean Preston, Racquel Fox, Tenderloin Housing Clinic Law Office, Angelica Cabande and Team at SOMCAN, Fred Sherburn-Zimmer of Eviction-Free SF and Team, Anti-Eviction Agencies in San Francisco, San Francisco Community Land Trust, Bayanihan Community Center, FEC Galing Bata After School and Summer School Program, Canon Kip Senior Center, FormerDistrict 6 Supv. John Daly, Raquel Raquel Redondiez, SOMA Stabilization Fund, Friends and Community, and more.
She serves as a Volunteer Facilities and Events Manager at the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center.
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Evangeline Naredo
Evangeline Naredo began her Filipino American journey in her teens when her family immigrated to Santa Clara, California. After graduating from San Jose State University and her father’s passing, she moved to San Francisco with her husband and lived in the South of Market neighborhood. That was her exposure to the vibrant and thriving Filipino community in SF.
Evangeline obtained nursing education and training in the Philippines while raising her first child, a first-generation Filipino American. Fondly called their “Little Finay” because of her Finnish and Filipino ethnic background, Evangeline’s family made a conscious effort for their first-generation Finay to have a deep connection to her multilingual heritage. Evangeline finished her nursing program and was among the Top Ten placers in the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination.
Evengeline’s career in the United States was punctuated by what she believed was a discriminatory practice by the California BRN. She was one of the many Filipino foreign-graduate nurses who were denied to become Registered Nurse (RN) in California unless she retook some nursing courses. The Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) learned about their plight and desperation and collaborated with a nursing program to establish classes for a cohort of affected Filipino nurses. After one year, she finally became an RN in California. She is a school nurse for the San Francisco School District. She also joined the PNAA Northern California chapter and is a member of the Executive Board to give back to her profession and ensure the welfare of her fellow Filipino nurses.
Her family’s desire to provide their children with a deep connection to their multilingual heritage—Filipino and Finnish—led them to the Bessie Carmichael / Filipino Education Center in SOMA Pilipinas. Her children attended the Filipino Language Program – Filipino World Language in Elementary School (Filipino – WLES) and were part of Galing Bata and WestBay for their after-school and summer programs. They participated in many cultural celebrations and practices and protested at the SFUSD Board of Education among other things.
Evangeline is deeply inspired by those brave leaders whose shoulders she is standing on and those intrepid trailblazers whose path she traverses. Their stories compelled her to lean in and continue the spirit of Bayanihan and Pakikibaka! She is one of the parent advocates for the Filipino-WLES and chairs the Bessie Carmichael Enrollment Collaborative Committee for the Filipino-WLES.
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Tim Figueras
Tim Figueras was born as Teotimo Rempillo Figueras Jr. on March 18, 1957 at Gubat in the province of Sorsogon in the Philippines. He passed away peacefully at 66 years of age on September 30, 2023.
During his first year of his life, Tim and his parents moved from the Philippines to San Francisco, California. He also has two younger sisters. Tim attended public schools and graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School. He attended San Francisco City College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreation from San Francisco State University.
Tim began his work for San Francisco Recreation and Parks in 1979, and he worked at various parks and recreation centers throughout the city. He also was a paraprofessional working with students with disabilities for the San Francisco Unified School District. Tim established his South of Market (SoMa) roots by first working at Bessie Carmichael Elementary School playground. In 1990, Tim became a recreation director and coach at SoMa Recreation Center now known as Gene Friend at SoMa Recreation Center. He worked with children and adults from the SoMa neighborhood as well as those from throughout San Francisco. As a director he also helped to create programs for people with disabilities, for people who were homeless, and for children from Bessie Carmichael Elementary School for their P.E. classes. Before becoming the facility coordinator of the recreation center, Tim had a stint at Kezar Pavilion where he was the city-wide youth sports coordinator. He helped to implement youth athletic programs and leagues throughout the city. It was important to him to make sure that all youth had access to sports and recreation opportunities. Tim retired in 2017 as a facility coordinator, but he maintained his ties to the SoMa community by being a board member at Bayanihan Equity Center, SoMa West Community Benefits District, and the San Francisco Arts Commission. At Victoria Manalo Graves Park, there is a batting cage named after him. The Tim Figueras Batting Cage celebrates his time and work with the youth and community members of his beloved SoMa community.
After his retirement, Tim enjoyed his many hobbies (including collecting sports cards). He loved to travel locally and abroad despite his health issues during his later years. Tim was a devoted husband for 35 years to his wife as well as a loving father to his two sons. He enjoyed spending time with his sisters and their families as well as his many friends. Tim was proud of being a member of the SoMa community, and he showed all of us how to strive for a life well-lived.
Ruby Turalba
Ruby N. Turalba-Khalil is a second-generation Pinay with ancestral roots in La Union, Philippines. She grew up on Luiseno and Kumeyaay lands and spent her entire adulthood residing on Ohlone territory. Her two kids were raised by the SOMA community: Bessie Carmichael Filipino Education Center, West Bay, and United Playaz. Partnering with other parents and community members, Ruby has advocated to preserve, strengthen, and sustain SFUSD’s Filipino language programs. She has taught public health at San Francisco State University since 2010, and in this role, Ruby has supported community-based research initiatives to improve the health and well-being of Filipinos in San Francisco. In all of her personal and professional commitments, Ruby works for community, health, and justice!
Click on this hero’s portrait to see their project interview.
Another project funded by the Specified General Fund for the Museum Grant Program under the California Cultural and Historical Endowment
GAVIN NEWSOM, GOVERNOR
Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources
Tina Alejo
Si Cristina “Tina” Alejo ay isang magulang, tagapagtanggol ng komunidad, at guro sa loob ng mahigit dalawang dekada, na ang mga anak ay nag-aral sa Bessie Carmichael School/Sentrong Pang-edukasyon ng mga Pilipino sa South of Market, San Francisco. Siya ay co-founder ng Galing Bata (ang well-rounded na bata), isang Filipino bilingual-bikultural na programa para sa mga mag-aaral pagkatapos ng klase at tuwing tag-init, na nakabase sa Bessie Carmichael School/Filipino Education Center Pre – K to 8. Naglingkod siya bilang direktor ng programa at miyembro ng kanyang kolektibong koponan ng pamumuno mula 2001 -2011.
Bilang isang matatag na tagapagtaguyod ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino Psychology) at bilingual na edukasyon, nakipagtulungan siya sa mga magulang, guro, at tagapagtanggol ng komunidad upang mapanatili ang lugar ng Filipino Education Center sa San Francisco. Ang pagsisikap na ito ay nagbunga ng pagkakaugnay sa Bessie Carmichael School at ng paglawak nito hanggang ika-8 baitang, upang higit pang mapalakas at mapalawak ang pangunahing programa ng paaralan para sa paglinang ng wikang Filipino.
Sa kasalukuyan, siya ay isang Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher sa Bessie Carmichael School/Filipino Education Center, na tumutulong sa mga bata na mahubog ang matatag na kasanayan sa pagbasa at pagsulat at magkaroon ng matibay na pundasyong panlipunan at emosyonal sa pagkatuto sa pamamagitan ng pamamaraang tumutugon sa kultura at wika ng mga mag-aaral. Mayroon siyang BA sa Psychology mula sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas – Diliman at nakuha ang kanyang kredensyal sa pagtuturo sa elementarya mula sa San Francisco State University.
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Glesaree Valdez
Si Glesaree Valdez ay isang unang henerasyong mag-aaral sa kolehiyo sa UC Berkeley at isang aktibong kasapi ng komunidad sa SOMA Pilipinas. Sa komunidad, siya ay naglingkod sa iba’t ibang programa at internship bilang isang Health Ambassador, na nakipagtulungan sa YOHANA (Youth Organizing Home and Neighborhood Action), at nakikilahok rin sa mga gawain ng Bindlestiff Studio. Ang SOMA Pilipinas ay nagbigay sa kanya ng pagkakataong makibahagi sa mga isyung direktang nakaaapekto sa kanyang komunidad, lumahok sa mga gawaing pang-adbokasiya at pampublikong polisiya, at mas mapalalim pa ang kanyang ugnayan sa kulturang Pilipino.
Ang pakikilahok niya sa komunidad na ito ay malalim na nakaapekto sa kanyang pagkakakilanlan at nag-udyok sa kanya na maging isang lider sa mga lugar at organisasyong labas sa SOMA Pilipinas. Noong siya ay nasa high school, si Gelsaree ay co-founder at nahalal bilang Co-Vice President ng Asian Pacific Islander Club sa Mission High School. Tumulong siya sa paglikha ng isang plataporma para sa mga mag-aaral na kabilang sa AAPI, isang pangkat na kulang sa kinatawan sa kanilang paaralan, upang magkaroon sila ng puwang para magbahaginan at bumuo ng samahan.
Bilang bahagi ng kanilang pangkat, tumulong si Glesaree sa pagpapalakas ng pagkakaisa sa pagitan ng mga matagal nang naitatag na mga kultural na samahan sa paaralan, at sa pagpapakilala ng mayamang kultura at pagkakaiba-iba ng komunidad ng API, at nagtaguyod para sa mga boses ng mag-aaral. Ngayon, bilang isang undergraduate na mag-aaral ng UC Berkeley, patuloy siyang naglilingkod sa kanyang komunidad sa kabila ng pagiging malayo sa bahay.
Siya ay nagboluntaryo sa Pilipinx Academic Student Services (PASS), isang recruitment at retention center para sa unang henerasyon, may mababang kita, at mga Filipinx na mag-aaral sa paaralan. Umaasa si Glesaree na patuloy na lalago bilang isang lider at maging mas aktibong kalahok sa komunidad ng mga Pilipino sa Berkeley, tulad ng kanyang pakikilahok sa SOMA Pilipinas sa San Francisco.
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Romerico “Rico” Riemedio
Lumipat sa Estados Unidos mula sa Pilipinas noong Pebrero 19, 1973. Kasama ang kanyang ina at anim na magkakapatid, nagtungo sila sa Estados Unidos upang makapiling ang kanilang ama at magsimula ng bagong buhay. Simula noon ay nakatira sila sa kapitbahayan ng SOMA.
Ang SOMA noon ay maihahalintulad sa Hillsborough kung ihahambing sa lugar sa Pilipinas na pinagmulan ng kanyang pamilyang manggagawa. Ang kanyang ama ay nagtrabaho bilang tagahugas ng pinggan, at ang kanyang ina naman ay nag-alaga ng mga bata upang makatulong sa pagtaguyod ng kanilang pamilya.
Nag-aral si Rico sa Bessie Carmichael Elementary School, Everett Junior High, at dalawang semestre sa Galileo High School. Noong Enero 1976, matapos niyang mag-16 taong gulang, ipinadala si Rico ng kanyang mga magulang sa Kodiak, Alaska upang magtrabaho sa pabrika ng de-latang isda at tumulong sa pinansyal na pangangailangan ng kanyang pamilya. Siya ay nagtrabaho bilang tagapagbaba ng mga huling isda at lamang-dagat mula sa mga bangkang pangisda.
Dahil sa welga ng mga mangingisda at sa mahal na gastusin sa pamumuhay, bumalik si Rico sa SOMA noong Abril 1980. Nagsimula siyang makisalamuha sa mga kabataan sa kanilang lugar at kalaunan ay sumali sa isang gang. Noong Enero 1, 1981, umalis si Rico at bumalik sa SOMA noong Hulyo 5, 2005. Mula noon, naging aktibo na siya sa mga gawaing pangkomunidad.
Si Rico ay nagtrabaho sa United Playaz bilang Tagapamahala ng Pangangalaga para sa mga kabataang madalas lumiban sa klase at nasa panganib sa loob ng 10 taon, at nagboluntaryo rin sa Bayanihan Community Center at iba pang non-profit na mga organisasyon. Sa kasalukuyan, siya ay nagtatrabaho sa Community Youth Center bilang isang senior outreach worker mula pa noong Abril 2020.
Hanggang ngayon, nakatira pa rin si Rico at ang kanyang pamilya sa SOMA. Lubos niyang pinahahalagahan ang kanilang komunidad at maligaya siyang makapaglingkod dito. Ang SOMA ay ang TAHANAN niya!
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Bernadette Herrera
Si Bernadette Herrera ay isang ina, manggagawa, at aktibista sa komunidad.
Siya ay isang working student nang maging aktibo sa kilusang panlipunang katarungan noong siya ay nasa kolehiyo sa Pampanga, Pilipinas. Bilang Chairperson ng University Student Council, pinamunuan niya ang isang matagumpay na boycott campaign sa kanilang kolehiyo upang ibaba ang halaga ng matrikula. Bilang isang kabataang aktibista, nakibahagi rin siya sa iba’t ibang isyu ng mga magsasaka, manggagawa, at kababaihan sa Gitnang Luzon. Sa huli siya ay nagsilbi bilang isang lokal na pampublikong opisyal mula 1992 hanggang 1998.
Noong 2000, siya ay lumipat sa Estados Unidos upang magbigay ng isang mas mahusay na kinabukasan para sa kanyang tatlong anak. Siya ay nananatiling walang dokumento sa loob ng apat na taon habang nagtatrabaho bilang kasambahay at tagapag-alaga (caregiver) sa San Francisco. Mula 2008 hanggang 2019, naging kawani siya ng Filipino Community Center, kung saan nagtaguyod siya ng pagkakaisa sa pagitan ng mga Pilipinang ina at iba pang kababaihang Pilipino sa Excelsior neighborhood. Nagbigay rin siya ng iba’t ibang serbisyo para sa mga komunidad ng imigranteng mababa ang kita at pinamunuan ang mga kampanya laban sa pagnanakaw ng sahod at pang-aabuso sa mga manggagawa sa San Francisco Bay Area.
Noong Buwan ng Kasaysayan ng mga Kababaihan noong Marso 2010, pinarangalan at kinilala ng Board of Supervisors ng Lungsod at County ng San Francisco si Bernadette para sa kanyang pagsisikap na mapabuti ang buhay ng mga kababaihang manggagawa at sa kanyang mga ambag sa pag-oorganisa ng komunidad at adbokasiya sa San Francisco.
Sa 2014, nakatulong si Bernadette sa pagtataguyod para sa lungsod ng San Francisco upang patunayan ang Tagalog bilang ikatlong karagdagang wika na dapat isalin ang mga serbisyo ng lungsod, pagpapalawak ng accessibility para sa mga nagsasalita ng Tagalog sa komunidad.
Mula 2011 hanggang 2014, nagsilbi si Bernadette bilang Pangalawang Pangulo ng National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), kung saan siya ay nakibahagi sa mga makataong gawain para sa pagbibigay-tulong at rehabilitasyon sa mga biktima ng kalamidad sa Pilipinas. Naglingkod din siya sa Konseho ng mga Lider ng Migrante Northern California, isang alyansa ng mga imigranteng Pilipino at mga grupo ng mga migranteng manggagawa sa Bay Area, mula 2013–2018. Mula Setyembre 2018–2022, nagsilbi rin si Bernadette bilang Tagapangulo ng Migrante USA, isang alyansa ng 16 na samahan ng manggagawang Pilipino sa buong US.
Noong 2020, nagtrabaho si Bernadette para sa California Nurses Association bilang isang union organizer o tagapag-ugnay ng unyon. Sa kasalukuyan, siya ay nagtatrabaho bilang personal care attendant sa iba’t ibang mga care home sa Bay Area.
Christopher Cara
Bilang isang matagal nang residente ng East Bay, si Chris Cara ay naging kawani ng Filipino Advocates for Justice mula pa noong 2001. Sa loob ng mahigit 20 taon, nagtrabaho siya upang maisakatuparan at maitatag nang pangmatagalan ang mga programa ng FAJ para sa edukasyong pang-prebensiyon sa mga paaralan sa Union City at Fremont.
Siya rin ang nangasiwa sa aming proyektong pangpagpapaunlad ng pamumuno pagkatapos ng klase, na nagbibigay ng edukasyong pangpag-iwas habang hinihikayat ang mga kabataan na makilahok sa mga gawaing pangkomunidad, na nagresulta sa pagdami ng mga mapagkukunan para sa pagpigil ng karahasan at pagtataguyod ng kapayapaan sa komunidad at pagpapatibay ng mga karapatan at proteksyon ng mga nangungupahan.
Si Chris ay kasalukuyang Direktor ng mga Serbisyo sa Pag-iwas ng Filipino Advocates for Justice at namumuno sa mga programa ng FAJ tungkol sa kalusugang pangkaisipan at pag-iwas sa paggamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot, pati na rin sa maagang interbensiyon. Kabilang dito ang mga programang isinasagawa sa mga paaralan, pagpapaunlad ng pamumuno ng kabataan, suporta para sa mga kabataang nasa yugto ng paglipat tungo sa hustong gulang, at tulong para sa mga matatandang tagapag-alaga.
Siya ay may mga sertipikasyon mula sa Sentro para sa Pag-iwas sa Paggamit ng Ipinagbabawal na Gamot at sa Unang Tulong para sa Kalusugang Pangkaisipan.
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Andrea Almario
Si Andrea Almario, na ipinanganak at lumaki sa Bay Area, ay lumipat sa Hayward, California noong 1991. Sa kabila ng mga hamon bilang isang indibidwal na walang dokumento, naranasan niya ang hirap sa pagkuha ng regular na pangangalagang dental at ang sakit dulot ng hindi nagamot na pagkabulok ng ngipin. Dahil sa kanyang pagsisikap at determinasyon, tinahak ni Andrea ang landas ng dental hygiene at itinatag kasama ang iba pa ang non-profit na organisasyong “Magic Tooth Bus” sa San Francisco Bay Area. Nakatuon sa pagbibigay ng serbisyong dental sa mga komunidad na mababa ang kita, ang organisasyon, na ngayon ay may tunay na bus, ay nagdadala ng edukasyon tungkol sa kalusugan ng ngipin, namimigay ng mga libreng goody bag, nagsasagawa ng pagsusuri ng ngipin, at nagbibigay ng mga serbisyong pang-iwas sa mga paaralan.
Bukod sa kanyang makabuluhang gawain, si Andrea ay may pinag-aralan sa teatro at performance studies mula sa UC Berkeley. Ipinapamalas niya ang kanyang pagiging malikhain sa musikal na “Chasing Papeles,” na tumatalakay sa mga hamon ng isang tagapag-alagang walang dokumento. Sa pagsasama ng hip hop at galaw, ang pagkukuwento ni Andrea ay sumasalamin sa mga impluwensiya ng kanyang pagpapalaki at pinagmulan.
Nagsimula ang paglalakbay ni Andrea Almario sa teatro at performance sa Bindlestiff Studio sa San Francisco, kung saan niya tinalakay at sinaliksik ang pagsusulat, sketch comedy, pagdidirek, at pag-arte sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang mga workshop. Ang kanyang pagmamahal sa sining ang nagtulak sa kanya na mag-aral ng teatro at performance studies sa UC Berkeley. Bilang patunay ng kanyang maraming talento, si Andrea ay kasapi rin ng Granny Cart Gangstas, isang grupo ng mga komedyante na nagbibigay ng nakakatawang kulay sa kanyang malikhaing kakayahan.
Ang kanyang iba’t-ibang background ay nagpapayaman sa kanyang paraan ng pagkukuwento, na makikita sa kanyang adbokasiya para sa pangangalaga ng ngipin at sa musikal na “Chasing Papeles.”
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Gayle Romasanta
Si Gayle Romasanta ay isang manunulat, ehekutibong direktor at artist na ang trabaho ay nakatuon sa karanasan ng Pilipino Amerikano. Nakatanggap siya ng BA sa Creative Writing mula sa San Francisco State University at isang MFA, Pagsusulat mula sa California College of the Arts. Ang kanyang mga gawa ay naipalabas na sa telebisyon, radyo, online, magasin, at mga aklat, kabilang ang New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Education Next Journal ng Harvard University, KQED’s The Forum, ABS-CBN, at marami pang iba.
Si Gayle ay dating artistic director ng Bindlestiff Studio sa San Francisco, ang tanging teatro sa Estados Unidos na nakatuon sa pagsasalaysay ng mga kuwentong Pilipino-Amerikano. Bilang isang biyolinista, siya ay nakipagtulungan sa paglikha ng unang patalastas ng Google Philippines campaign at malawakan nang nakapagtanghal, kabilang ang sa Ika-20 Anibersaryo ng San Francisco Asian American Jazz Festival at sa Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Kasama din siya sa sumulat ng aklat na “Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong” kasama ang yumaong dakilang historyador na si Dr. Dawn Mabalon. Siya ang may-akda ng musikal na “Larry: The Musical,” na tumatalakay sa buhay ni Larry Itliong at pinarangalan ng National Endowment for the Arts grant award. Ang matagumpay na pagtatanghal nito noong Abril 2024 ay nagkaroon ng 23 sold-out shows at 23 standing ovations.
Bilang isang organisador ng komunidad, itinatag ni Gayle ang Kappa Psi Epsilon, isang sorority na pangkulturang Pilipino-Amerikano na ngayon ay nagdiwang na ng ika-28 taon, at may mga kinikilalang sangay sa mga unibersidad tulad ng University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Davis; California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Sacramento; at San Francisco State University.
Sa kasalukuyan, siya ang executive director ng Filipino-American Development Foundation, na sumusuporta sa mga organisasyon at programang Pilipino-Amerikano sa buong San Francisco, kabilang ang South of Market Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District. Siya rin ay isang Pambansang Katiwala ng Filipino American National Historical Society at kasapi ng Lupon ng mga Direktor ng Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy sa San Francisco.
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Kali Diwa Lebon Ildefonzo Redondiez
Si Kali Diwa Lebon ay ipinanganak noong Enero 18, 2002 nina Raquel Redondiez at Jasen Ildefonzo, at lumaki kasama ang kanyang nakatatandang kapatid na si Amihan, na siyang nagbigay sa kanya ng palayaw na “Ube,” at ang kanyang nakababatang kapatid na si Malaya. Mula pagkasilang, siya ay matalino, palabiro, malikhain, matapang, at may kaunting kakulitan.
Lumaki si Kali sa Excelsior, sa Mission kung saan nanirahan ang kanyang Lola at Papa sa South of Market. Sumali siya sa Bessie Carmichael / Filipino Education Center, Galing Bata, at SF Community School, kung saan siya ay hinangaan at iginagalang ng kanyang mga kamag-aral at mga guro dahil sa kanyang pamumuno, mapanuring pag-iisip, kakayahang magtanong at hamunin ang awtoridad, at sa kanyang malikhain ngunit mapanlikhang paraan ng paglabag sa mga patakaran.
Sa Balboa High School, si Kali ay nasa PEP. Kasapi siya sa Landas ng Law Academy at miyembro ng koponan ng football, kung saan siya ay kabilang sa panig ng depensa at opensa. Gustung-gusto niya ang paglaki bilang isang bata sa Lungsod at isang funder ng kabataan sa Youth Empowerment Fund.
Nagboluntaryo din si Kali sa SOMCAN at tumulong sa pagdisenyo, pagpili, at pagpipinta ng unang “S/heroes in Our Windows” mural sa Bayanihan Community Center. Lumaki si Kali bilang isang tapat, mapagmahal, at mabait na binata na may malakas na disiplina sa paggawa at isang malalim na tagapag-isip.
Noong Marso 2023, matapos niyang magdiwang ng ika-21 kaarawan, siya ay pumanaw sa isang malagim na aksidente na lubos na nagdulot ng dalamhati sa kanyang pamilya at buong komunidad. Si Kali ay labis na minamahal at mananatiling alala at tinitingala ng kanyang pamilya, mga kaibigan, at mga kasamang tumulong sa kanyang pagpapalaki at patuloy na nagbibigay-galang sa kanya.
Siya ngayon ang ating guardian angel na nagbabantay sa atin at patuloy na nagbibigay inspirasyon sa atin. Mabuhay Kali Diwa! Namiss ka na namin dito sa mundo.
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Helen Serafino-Agar
Si Helen Linda Reyes Serafino-Agar ay ipinanganak sa San Francisco at lumaki sa hangganan ng San Francisco–Daly City.
Si Helen ay nagtuturo ng ika-2 baitang mula noong 1997. Nagtuturo siya sa Longfellow Elementary School kung saan siya nagtapos. Nag-aral siya sa San Francisco State University kung saan niya tinamo ang kanyang Bachelor of Arts, katibayan sa pagtuturo sa elementarya, at Master of Arts. Sa kanyang mga taon sa kolehiyo, natutunan niya ang higit pa tungkol sa kanyang sarili bilang isang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng Etnikong Pag-aaral at sayaw.
Nagsimula siyang sumayaw nang ipatala siya ng kanyang mga magulang sa mga klase sa sayaw sa pamamagitan ng Daly City Park at Rec. Nagpatuloy siya sa pagsayaw hanggang sa siya ay nasa middle school. Sa kolehiyo, muling natuklasan ni Helen ang kanyang pag-ibig sa sayaw sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga elective sa sayaw, sayaw ng Polynesian, at sayaw ng katutubong Pilipino. Sumayaw siya kasama ang Spirit of Polynesia at Barangay Dance Company sa loob ng mahigit sampung taon.
Itinigil niya pansamantala ang pagsasayaw matapos niyang makasama si Alleluia Panis sa KULART’s Tribal Tour noong 2004, kung saan niya nasaksihan at naranasan ang mga sayaw, musika, at ritwal ng iba’t ibang kultura sa Mindanao. Nang maglaon, siya ay isang mananayaw para sa Alleluia Panis Dance Theatre. Sa kasalukuyan, si Helen ay sumasayaw sa Parangal Dance Company at nagsasanay ng martial arts sa Legacy Martial Arts. Patuloy siyang natututo tungkol sa kanyang kulturang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng paggalaw.
Bilang guro ng Filipino World Language sa Elementary School (WLES), ibinahagi ni Helen ang kanyang kaalaman sa kanyang 2nd graders. Itinuturing niya ang kanyang sarili na masuwerteng nakatira sa San Francisco Bay Area. Ipinapasa rin niya sa kanyang mga anak na sina Kadean at Kalia ang mga kaalaman at tradisyong kultural bilang ikatlong henerasyon bilang mga Filipino-Lebanese-Europeans, ipinapasa rin niya sa kanila ang pagmamalaking Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng kanilang Lola Linda, Sama Sama Cooperative, Filipino WLES students, Tagalog Kids, Legacy Filipino Martial Arts, at Agos.
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Herna Cruz-Louie
Si Herna Cruz-Louie ay ang Executive Director at Direktor ng Programa ng Agos ng KULARTS. Nagsimula ang paglalakbay ni Herna sa sayaw at musika ng Pilipinas noong siya ay limang taong gulang, nang matutunan niya ang mga sayaw na kultural upang ipalabas sa mga lokal na mga Pista sa San Diego, CA kung saan ginugol niya ang kanyang pagkabata.
Noong 1995, nagsimula siyang sumayaw at tumugtog kasama ang PASACAT Philippine Performing Arts Company sa San Diego, at pagsapit ng edad na 18, siya ay naging guro ng Rondalla music ng grupo. Matapos lumipat sa San Francisco Bay Area noong 2000, nagtanghal si Herna kasama ang LIKHA–Filipino Folk Ensemble at naging kanilang Executive Director mula 2005–2008, at naging co-founder at Executive Director ng American Center of Philippine Arts (ACPA) mula 2009–2020.
Sa loob ng 27 taon, nagturo si Herna ng sayaw, musika, at pinagmulan ng kulturang Pilipino upang makalikha ng ligtas na mga espasyo at mga pagkakataon para sa pakikilahok ng mga taong nakikilala ang kanilang sarili sa karanasang Pilipino/Amerikano. Nilalapitan ni Herna ang gawaing pangkulturang sining sa pamamagitan ng mga katutubong paniniwala at kultural na gawi, upang maipakita ang kasaysayan ng kolonyalismo, imigrasyon, at mga usapin ng pagkakapantay-pantay sa kultura at lahi na nakakaapekto sa komunidad ng Piilpino/a/x.
Pinag-ugnay ni Herna ang sining at kasaysayan upang palawakin ang pag-unawa hinggil sa paggaling mula sa mga sugat ng nakaraang henerasyon at sa paghanap ng tunay na pagkakaugnay at pag-aari sa isang komunidad. Si Herna ay Pangalawang Pangulo ng Operasyon sa Equity In The Center, Pangalawang Tagapangulo ng World Arts West, at noong 2011 ay kinilala bilang isa sa “100 Most Influential Filipinas” ng Filipina Women’s Network.
Noong 2023, siya rin ay pinarangalan ng Filipino American Arts Exposition bilang tatanggap ng Pamana Heritage Award. Siya ay nagtapos ng Bachelor of Arts sa Asian American Studies mula sa San Francisco State University, at may Master of Science sa Human Resource Management mula sa Golden Gate University. Nakamit niya ang kanyang sertipikasyon sa Community Mediation mula sa Community Boards of San Francisco at ang sertipikasyon sa Diversity & Inclusion mula sa Cornell University.
Siya ay nanirahan at nagbigay ng mga programang kultural na sining ng Pilipino/a/x sa Oakland at sa East Bay mula noong 2005.
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Alexis David
Si Alexis A. David (she/her/siya) ay isang Lisensyadong Clinical Social Worker na kasalukuyang nagtatrabaho bilang Clinical Supervisor sa San Francisco Unified School District. Mayroon siyang pribadong pagsasanay sa clinical consultation kung saan sinusuportahan niya ang mga BIPOC na clinician na naghahanda para sa kanilang lisensiya.
Siya ay isang anak na babae ng mga imigrante mula sa Tarlac at Batangas, Pilipinas. Si Alexis ay ipinanganak at lumaki sa Yelamu, Ramaytush Ohlone Territory. Siya ay isang ina ng tatlong matatalinong mga anak. Siya ay alumni ng San Francisco State University, kung saan niya tinapos ang parehong Master’s sa Social Work at ang kanyang undergraduate na pag-aaral sa Asian American Studies at Criminal Justice.
Nagtrabaho siya sa iba’t ibang larangan ng Edukasyon, kabilang ang school social work, clinical supervision at training, at krisis at konsultasyon sa kalusugang pangkaisipan. Nagturo rin siya ng Ethnic Studies at Filipinx/a/o Studies, at nakipagtulungan sa mga kabataan at pamilya sa foster care pati na rin sa mga kabataang apektado ng juvenile justice system. Kabilang din sa kanyang karanasan ang paggamot at pag-iwas sa paggamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot sa kabataan, pagpapaunlad ng kabataan, at pag-oorganisa ng komunidad.
Si Alexis ay isa sa mga nagtatag na kasapi ng Filipino Mental Health Initiative–San Francisco. Ang (FMHI-SF) ay itinatag noong 2012 at nangunguna sa mga programang pangterapiya at pangkalusugang pangkatawan at pangkaisipan para sa komunidad ng San Francisco Bay Area. Naniniwala siya na ang pagbibigay ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugang pangkaisipan at pangkabuuang kagalingan sa komunidad ng Filipinx ay lumilikha ng mga daan tungo sa sama-samang paggaling, pagpapanatili ng kabutihan, at pagtatatag ng mga landas ng malasakit para sa ating sarili at sa isa’t isa.
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Joyce Juan-Manalo
Noong Hulyo 17, 2023, nawala sa piling ng Bindlestiff Family ang isa sa kanilang pinakamakislap na bituin. Si Joyce Juan-Manalo ay habambuhay na aalalahanin bilang isa sa mga pinakapundasyon at pinakamatatag na haligi ng ating komunidad.
Kasama ang kanyang asawa na si Allan Samson Manalo, pinamunuan ni Joyce ang Bindlestiff noong 1998 at binago ito bilang sentro ng sining na pagtatanghal ng mga Pilipino. Sa proseso, tinulungan niya ang mga alagad ng sining sa Bay Area na maiuugnay sa mayamang tradisyon ng pagtatanghal ng mga Pilipino—ng mga makabuluhang grupong pangmasa tulad ng PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association), ang impluwensiyal na Teatro ng Tanan (Theater for Everyone), at ang maalamat na grupo ng teatro na tongue in A mood, na ang mga kasapi ay naglatag ng pundasyon ng kasalukuyang diwa at kultura ng Bindlestiff.
Bilang isang magaling na taga-disenyo ng kasuotan, nagbigay si Joyce ng masigla ngunit elegante at may angking Pilipinang tatak sa maraming pagtatanghal, kabilang na ang adaptasyon ni Lorna Chui Velasco na “A Pinoy Midsummer.”Ang kanyang maingat na atensyon sa bawat detalye ang nagbigay-buhay sa bawat karakter sa pamamagitan ng paghanap ng mga kasuotang may kulturang pinagmulan, paggawa ng mga kasuotan nang kamay, at paggamit ng mga sariwang gulay bilang palamuti (tulad ng sitaw bilang pulseras).
Ang kanyang pinakamalaking ipinagmamalaking tagumpay ay ang Tagalog Fest, na kanyang nilikha kasama si Lorna, na tampok ang mga dulaing isinulat at itinanghal nang buo sa Tagalog (at isang dula na itinanghal sa Cebuano), na pinili mula sa Virgin Lab Fest at inayos ni Rodi Vera ng Cultural Center of the Philippines. Salamat sa panlasa at pananaw nina Lorna at Joyce, ang Tagalog Fest ay patuloy na nagdadala sa atin ng ilan sa mga pinakamahusay na dula ng makabagong teatro sa Pilipinas.
Ayon kay Aureen Almario, artistic director ng Bindlestiff, “Ang Tagalog Fest ay espesyal para sa aming mga nasa likod ng entablado, dahil sa unang pagkakataon ay nagawa naming magteatro gamit ang aming sariling pangunahing wika. Bilang mga imigrante na kailangang makibagay sa ibang kultura, nagbigay ito sa amin ng ginhawa at malalim na damdamin na may pagmamalaki.”
Sa buong buhay niya, iniiwasan ni Joyce ang spotlight, pinili sa halip na bigyan ng kapangyarihan ang iba na sumikat. Sa loob ng mga dekada ng kanyang paglilingkod sa SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District—kabilang ang sa Filipino-American Development Foundation (FADF), Kearny Street Workshop (kung saan niya nilikha ang body-positive fashion show na “Celebrate Your Body”), at Bindlestiff—si Joyce ay palaging tagapagtanggol at tagapagtaguyod ng kanyang komunidad.
Palagi niyang isinusulong ang laban para sa ating lugar sa lipunan, ang pagsasalaysay ng sarili nating makabuluhang kuwento, at ang pagtatiyak na ginagawa natin ito nang buong husay at dangal. Ang kanyang impluwensiya ay mararamdaman pa rin sa mga susunod pang henerasyon sa pamamagitan ng mga taong kanyang inaruga, hinikayat, at itinaguyod.
Si Joyce ay kasama ng kanyang asawang si Allan, ang kanyang kabiyak sa loob ng 28 taon; ng kanyang mga kapatid na sina Boni, kasama ang asawa nitong si Elnora; Gerry, kasama ang asawa nitong si Malu; at Roberto; gayundin ng kanyang mga pamangkin na sina Abigail at Mikey, ang kanyang asawa na si Wena, ang kanyang pamangking si Janice, ang kanyang bayaw na si Manuel Fermin, at ang kanyang mga pamangking sina Ayenne at Jose “Boogs.”
– Oliver Saria, Punong Tagapamahala, Bindlestiff Studio
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Kevin Nadal
Si Dr. Kevin Leo Yabut Nadal ay isang Kinikilalang Propesor ng Sikolohiya sa parehong John Jay College of Criminal Justice at Graduate Center ng City University of New York. Natamo niya ang kanyang doktorate sa counseling psychology mula sa Columbia University sa New York City, at siya ay isa sa mga nangungunang mananaliksik sa pag-unawa sa epekto ng mga microaggression — o mga banayad na anyo ng diskriminasyon — sa kalusugang pangkaisipan at pisikal ng mga taong may kulay, mga lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, at queer (LGBTQ), at iba pang mga grupong nasa laylayan ng lipunan.
Nakapaglathala siya ng mahigit sa 100 akda hinggil sa mga usaping multikultural sa larangan ng sikolohiya at edukasyon. Isang New Yorker na nagmula sa California, siya ay kinikilala na isa sa People Magazine bilang isa sa mga “hottest bachelors” noong 2006 at kabilang sa NBC’s Pride 30 noong 2018. Minsan na siyang nanalo ng isang argumento laban kay Bill O’Reilly sa programa ng Fox News Channel na “The O’Reilly Factor”; at minsan pa nga siyang naging paksa sa “Pinakamainit na Paksa” na segment ng “The View” sa ABC.
Siya ay itinampok sa New York Times, Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, The Weather Channel, The History Channel, HGTV, Philippine News, at The Filipino Channel. Siya ang may-akda ng 14 na libro kabilang ang Filipino American Psychology (2011, Wiley); Microaggressions at Traumatic Stress (2018, APA); at Queering Law and Order (2020, Lexington).
Siya ang kauna-unahang hayagang bakla na Pangulo ng Asian American Psychological Association at ang unang taong may kulay na nagsilbi bilang Executive Director ng Center for LGBTQ Studies. Siya ay isang Pambansang Katiwala ng Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) at kasamang nagtatag ng LGBTQ Scholars of Color National Network.
Nakapagbigay siya ng daang-daang pagtuturo sa iba’t ibang panig ng Estados Unidos, kabilang ang sa White House at sa U.S. Capitol. Siya ay nanalo ng maraming mga parangal, kabilang ang American Psychological Association 2017 Early Career Award para sa Mga Natatanging Kontribusyon sa Sikolohiya sa Pampublikong Interes; ang 2019 Richard Tewksbury Award mula sa Western Society of Criminology; at ang Thought Leadership Award mula sa Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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Maria Luz Torre
Si Maria Luz Torre ay nagtapos sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas College of Law na may Bachelor of Laws at may undergraduate na degree sa Agham Panlipunan mula sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas sa Visayas.
Nakatanggap siya ng Shining Star Award para sa Child Care Advocacy. Noong 2005, ginawaran siya ng US EPA ng Gantimpalang Pangkapaligiran para sa kanyang gawain sa Parent Voices’ Asthma Relief for Kids, at noong 2008, tumanggap siya ng Building Parent Movement Award mula sa Bay Area Parent Leadership Network. Ang kanilang koponan ng mga lider at tagapag-ayos mula sa Parent Voices ay napabilang sa mga finalist ng Leadership for a Changing World.
Ang mga karanasan ni Maria Luz bilang isang full-time na ina na bagong dating mula sa Pilipinas noong 1992 at nakaramdam ng pag-iisa ay nag-ambag sa kanyang malalim na malasakit sa mga pamilyang may maliliit na anak. Noong 1996, nang siya ay nag-apply para sa posisyon bilang organizer sa Parent Voices, ang kanyang pinakamahusay na kwalipikasyon ay ang pagiging “magulang na labis na nangangailangan ng pag-aalaga ng bata,” dahil ang trabahong ito ay para sa “pag-oorganisa ng mga magulang upang manindigan para sa karapatan sa pag-aalaga sa bata.”
Siya ay naging Pangulo ng Lupon ng Adbokasiya ng Coleman para sa mga Bata at Kabataan mahigit 10 taon na ang nakalipas at nasaksihan niya kung paano umunlad ang modelo ng adbokasiya nito tungo sa isang modelo ng pagbuo ng batayang organisasyong pangkomunidad. Nag-recruit at nakipagtulungan siya sa maraming magulang na lider upang mabuo ang batayan para sa bagong henerasyon ng mga tagapagtaguyod na magulang na magpapahayag ng pangangailangan para sa de-kalidad na pangangalaga sa bata at iba pang serbisyo para sa mga bata at kanilang mga pamilya.
Bilang isang magulang mismo, alam niya na ang mga magulang ay hindi maaaring gawin ito nang mag-isa ngunit bilang isang organisadong grupo na nagtutulungan, ang Parent Voices ay nagtayo ng kapani-paniwalang mga tinig para sa lahat ng aming mga maliliit na anak sa California.
Sa mga nakaraang taon ng kanyang trabaho, napagtanto ni Maria Luz kung gaano kahalaga ang ipabatid sa mga gumagawa ng patakaran ang tunay na gastos ng pagpapalaki ng bagong pamilya, pati na rin ang pangangailangan ng de-kalidad na maagang pag-aalaga at edukasyon, at ng isang ligtas at malusog na kapaligiran na tumutulong sa mga bata na magkaroon ng magandang simula sa buhay. Ang mga magulang ay hindi kayang gawin ito nang mag-isa, anuman ang kanilang antas ng kita, lalo na kung sila ay may mababang kita. Naniniwala siyang sa paglalagay sa mga magulang sa posisyong kaya nilang ipahayag nang direkta ang kanilang mga pangangailangan sa mga gumagawa ng patakarang may direktang epekto sa kanilang buhay.
Si Maria Luz ay sobrang nabigyan ng inspirasyon at nahahamon ng mga magulang na kanyang katuwang sa trabaho. Ang pakikinig sa mga kuwento ng mga magulang na nahihirapan sa pagtataguyod ng pamilya, natatakot na mawalan ng trabaho, at napipilitang gumawa ng mahihirap na desisyon, at pagkatapos ay tulungan silang gawing pampublikong pagkilos ang kanilang mga karanasan, ay nagbigay sa kanya ng masidhing inspirasyon at sigasig upang ipagpatuloy ang laban at palakasin ang kakayahan ng mga magulang na ipaglaban ang karapatan ng kanilang mga anak at mapabuti ang kanilang pamumuhay.
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Maya Masagca
Lumaki si Maya Masagca sa SoMa. Nag-aral siya sa Bessie Carmichael FEC, mula Kindergarten hanggang sa pagtatapos ng middle school. Si Maya ay dumalo rin sa programang Galing Bata pagkatapos ng klase, mula ikalawang baitang hanggang ikawalong baitang.
Sa panahon ng kanyang pag-aaral doon, nakipaglaban siya para sa programa ng Filipino World Language (WLES) sa pamamagitan ng pagdalo sa mga pulong ng Lupon ng Edukasyon at pagsasalita para sa pagpapanatili ng programa ng WLES. Si Maya ay bahagi ng Associated Student Body (ASB) sa middle school. Bilang presidente ng ASB, pinlano niya ang maraming mga kaganapan at tinitiyak na ang bawat mag-aaral ng Bessie ay may positibong karanasan.
Mahilig si Maya makipag-ugnayan sa mga mag-aaral mula sa iba’t ibang baitang noong siya ang pangulo, kaya ngayon ay siya ang Business Vice President ng Freshman ASB cabinet noong siya ay nasa high school. Doon, siya ay naglulunsad at nagbabalak ng iba’t ibang fundraising na mga aktibidad at mga kaganapan sa paaralan mula sa pananaw na pinansyal.
Ngayong nagtapos na si Maya mula sa Bessie at siya ay nag-aaral sa high school, nagbibigay pa rin siya sa kanyang komunidad sa pamamagitan ng pakikilahok sa Mayor Youth Employment And Education Program (MYEEP) at interning sa Galing Bata.
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Arlene Daus-Magbual
Si Dr. Arlene Daus-Magbual ay isang Assistant Professor sa Asian American Studies sa College of Ethnic Studies ng San Francisco State University (SFSU) at Organizational Director ng Pin@y Educational Partnership (PEP). Siya ay isang ina at iskolar na aktibong nakikilahok sa komunidad, at ang kanyang mga karanasan ay kinabibilangan ng pag-oorganisa kasama ang mga kabataan at mag-aaral sa komunidad, pamumuno sa mga non-profit na organisasyon, at pangangasiwa sa mas mataas na edukasyon.
Ang kanyang pananaliksik ay nakatuon sa Etnikong Pag-aaral, Lahi, karahasang laban sa mga Asyano, Critical Leadership Praxis, Critical Pedagogy, Critical Race Parenting, at Barangay Pedagogy. Natanggap niya ang kanyang bachelor’s degree sa agham pampulitika mula sa UC Riverside, ang kanyang mga master sa Asian American Studies, at ang kanyang titulo ng doktor sa Educational Leadership mula sa San Francisco State University.
Mula noong 2017, nagsilbi si Arlene sa Daly City Arts and Culture Commission bilang Tagapangulo at Ikalawang Tagapangulo at ginawaran ng Mayors Commissioner ng Taon sa 2018. Kabilang sa kanyang mga proyekto sa pakikipagtulungan sa lungsod ang pagbuo ng mga ugnayan sa pagitan ng mga alagad ng sining at mga paaralan, 12 mural sa mga kahon ng kuryente na nagpapakita ng kultura ng bawat komunidad kasama ang Skyline College, at mga quarterly art exhibit na tampok ang iba’t ibang uri ng biswal na mga artist sa sining, at mga diyalogo ng mga virtual artist bilang tugon sa pandemyang COVID-19.
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Necolasa Tuthill-Delute
Lumaki si Nickie sa Delano, California, na ang kanyang ama ay isang manong at ang kanyang ina ay isang war bride, at lumipat siya sa San Francisco noong 1973 upang mag-aral sa San Francisco State College. Nakuha niya ang kanyang BA sa Fine Arts.
Nagtrabaho siya sa larangan ng Marketing at Advertising sa loob ng mahigit 30 taon bilang tagapamahala ng proyekto. Noong 2014, dumalo siya sa Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Conference sa San Diego bilang isang boluntaryo. Sa sumunod na taon, tumulong siya sa pagbuo ng FANHS Delano Chapter at sa paglulunsad ng kaganapang “Bold Step: A Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Delano Grape Strike.”
Pagkatapos, siya ay naging aktibong kasapi ng The City of San Jose Delano Manongs Park Planning Committee, Bulosan Center, Ang Lungsod ng Delano Larry Itliong Unity Park Committee, at sumali sa FANHS San Francisco. Sa tulong ng FANHS Delano, nakibahagi siya sa Congressional Gold Medal Delano Celebration, sa book launch tour ng “Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong,” at nagsilbing konsultant para sa “Larry: The Musical” production crew.
Sa kasalukuyan, madalas mong makita si Nickie na inaayos at pinagsasalin-salin ang koleksiyon ng mga larawan at personal na tala ng kanilang pamilya — bahagi ng kanyang pananaliksik sa kasaysayan ng mga Filipino American herstory.
Rogelio “Roger” Gadiano
Si Rogelio “Roger” Gadiano ay isinilang sa Hindang, Leyte, Pilipinas noong Agosto 4, 1947. Ang kanyang ama ay isang US Army Philippine Scout sa loob ng 26 taon at nakaligtas sa WWII Bataan Corregidor Death March noong 1942. Ang kanilang pamilyang may anim na miyembro ay lumipat sa Estados Unidos noong 1954. Sa huli ay nanirahan sila sa Delano, California dahil ang kanyang tiyuhin ay nakatira doon.
Si Roger ay nag-aral ng elementarya at high school sa Delano. Nagsimula siyang magtrabaho sa mga ubasan sa edad na 13 noong 1962, na kumikita ng 90 sentimo bawat oras. Habang nasa kolehiyo, siya ay na-recruit ng US Army noong 1969 at isa nang beterano ng Digmaang Vietnam.
Si Roger ay co-founder ng Philippine Weekend Festival sa Delano noong 1975. Siya ay aktibong kalahok sa mga gawaing pangkomunidad ng mga Pilipino at kasalukuyang nagbibigay ng mga tour sa makasaysayang pook ng mga Pilipinong Amerikano sa Delano, gaya ng The Forty Acres at Agbayani Village, kung saan ibinabahagi niya ang mga kuwento at sariling karanasan hinggil sa kasaysayan ng mga Pilipinong Amerikano.
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Teresa Dulalas
Si Teresa Lee Baclay Dulalas ay isang ina ng tatlo — sina Marti, Hiul, at Daynelita Hipolito. Ipinanganak sa Cebu City, Cebu, Pilipinas, lumaki siya sa SOMA Pilipinas, Filipino Cultural Heritage District sa San Francisco.
Sa kasalukuyan, siya ay isang part-time na Tenant Outreach and Educator para sa South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN), at isang tagapagtanggol para sa pabahay, nakatatanda, edukasyon, at komunidad.
Si Teresa ay kasamang nagtatag ng FEC (Filipino Education Center) Galing Bata After School and Summer Program.Ipinaglaban at patuloy pa ring ipinagtatanggol ni Teresa hanggang sa kasalukuyan (1997–kasalukuyan) ang tanging Filipino Bilingual Program, na ngayon ay kilala bilang Filipino WLES Program, na itinuturo sa Bessie Carmichael/Filipino Education Center PreK–8th School, Longfellow Elementary School, at High School Filipino sa Balboa High School.
Si Teresa ay nanalo sa apat na kaso ng pagpapaalis (mula 2001 hanggang 2016) sa tulong, paggabay, at suporta nina Dean Preston, Racquel Fox, Tenderloin Housing Clinic Law Office, Angelica Cabande at ang kanyang Team sa SOMCAN, Fred Sherburn-Zimmer ng Eviction-Free SF at ang kanyang grupo, pati na rin ng mga Anti-Eviction Agencies sa San Francisco, San Francisco Community Land Trust, Bayanihan Community Center, FEC Galing Bata After School and Summer Program, Canon Kip Senior Center, at ng dating District 6 Supervisor, John Daly, Raquel Raquel Redondiez, SOMA Stabilization Fund, Mga Kaibigan at Komunidad, at higit pa.
Siya ay naglilingkod bilang Volunteer Facilities and Events Manager sa San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center.
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Evangeline Naredo
Nagsimula ang paglalakbay ni Evangeline Naredo bilang Pilipinong Amerikano noong siya ay nasa kabataan, nang ang kanilang pamilya ay lumipat sa Santa Clara, California. Pagkatapos niyang magtapos sa San Jose State University at sa pagpanaw ng kanyang ama, lumipat siya sa San Francisco kasama ang kanyang asawa at nanirahan sa South of Market neighborhood. Doon niya naranasan at nasilayan ang makulay at masiglang komunidad ng mga Pilipino sa San Francisco.
Nakamit ni Evangeline ang kanyang edukasyon sa nursing sa Pilipinas habang inaaruga ang kanyang panganay na anak, na isang unang-henerasyong Pilipinong Amerikano. Dahil sa kanyang pinagsamang lahing Finnish at Pilipino, siya ay malambing na tinawag ng kanyang pamilya na “Little Finay.” Ginawa ng pamilya ni Evangeline ang lahat ng paraan upang mapanatili ang malalim na ugnayan ng kanilang anak sa kanyang multilingguwal na pamana at mapalago ang pagmamalaki sa parehong kulturang Pilipino at Finnish. Natapos ni Evangeline ang kanyang programa sa nursing at kabilang siya sa Sampung Nanguna sa Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination.
Si Evangeline ay nagtamo ng karera sa Estados Unidos na tinahak ang landas ng pag-narsing, ngunit nakaranas din siya ng diskriminasyon na pinaniniwalaang nagmula sa California BRN. Isa siya sa maraming Pilipinong nagtapos ng kursong nursing sa ibang bansa na hindi pinayagang maging Registered Nurse (RN) sa California, maliban kung muling kukuha ng ilang mga kurso sa narsing. Nalaman ng Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) ang tungkol sa kalagayan at paghihirap ng mga Pilipinong nurse, kaya nakipagtulungan ito sa isang programa sa nursing upang magtatag ng mga klase para sa isang pangkat ng mga apektadong Pilipinong nurse.
Pagkatapos ng isang taon, siya ay naging isang RN sa California. Siya ay isang nurse ng paaralan para sa Distrito ng Paaralan ng San Francisco. Sumali rin siya sa PNAA Northern California chapter at kasalukuyang kasapi ng Executive Board, bilang paraan ng pagbibigay-pugay at pagbabalik sa kanyang propesyon, at upang matiyak ang kapakanan ng kanyang kapwa mga Pilipinong nurse.
Ang pagnanais ng kanyang pamilya na bigyan ang kanilang mga anak ng malalim na koneksyon sa kanilang multilingual heritage — Filipino at Finnish — ang dahilan kaya nakarating sila sa Bessie Carmichael / Filipino Education Center sa SOMA Pilipinas. Ang kanyang mga anak ay nag-aral sa Filipino Language Program – Filipino World Language in Elementary School (Filipino–WLES) at naging bahagi ng mga programang Galing Bata at WestBay para sa kanilang mga programa pagkatapos ng klase at tuwing tag-init. Lumahok sila sa maraming kultural na pagdiriwang at kasanayan at nagprotesta sa SFUSD Board of Education bukod sa iba pang mga bagay.
Si Evangeline ay kumukuha ng malaking inspirasyon sa matatapang na lider na nagsilbing sandigan niya at ng mga walang takot na tagapagbukas ng landas na kanyang tinatahak sa kasalukuyan. Ang kanilang mga kuwento ang nag-udyok kay Evangeline na magpatuloy sa diwa ng Bayanihan at Pakikibaka! Isa siya sa mga magulang na tagapagtaguyod ng Filipino–WLES at siya rin ang tagapangulo ng Bessie Carmichael Enrollment Collaborative Committee para sa Filipino–WLES.
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Tim Figueras
Si Tim Figueras, na ipinanganak bilang Teotimo Rempillo Figueras Jr., ay isinilang noong Marso 18, 1957 sa Gubat, lalawigan ng Sorsogon, sa Pilipinas. Namatay siya nang mapayapa sa edad na 66 noong Setyembre 30, 2023.
Sa kanyang unang taon ng kanyang buhay, si Tim at ang kanyang mga magulang ay lumipat mula sa Pilipinas sa San Francisco, California. Mayroon din siyang dalawang nakababatang kapatid na babae. Nag-aral si Tim sa mga pampublikong paaralan at nagtapos sa Abraham Lincoln High School. Nag-aral siya sa San Francisco City College at nakatanggap ng Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreation mula sa San Francisco State University.
Sinimulan ni Tim ang kanyang trabaho para sa San Francisco Recreation and Parks noong 1979, at nagtrabaho siya sa iba’t ibang mga parke at sentro ng libangan sa buong lungsod. Isa rin siyang paraprofessional na nagtatrabaho sa mga mag-aaral na may kapansanan para sa Pinag-isang Distrito ng Paaralan ng San Francisco. Itinatag ni Tim ang kanyang pinagmulan sa South of Market (SoMa) nang siya ay unang nagtrabaho sa playground ng Bessie Carmichael Elementary School.
Noong 1990, si Tim ay naging recreation director at coach sa SoMa Recreation Center, na ngayon ay kilala bilang Gene Friend SoMa Recreation Center. Nakipagtulungan siya sa mga bata at matatanda mula sa kapitbahayan ng SoMa pati na rin sa mga tao mula sa buong San Francisco. Bilang direktor, tumulong din siya sa paglikha ng mga programa para sa mga taong may kapansanan, para sa mga walang tirahan, at para sa mga mag-aaral ng Bessie Carmichael Elementary Schoolupang magamit sa kanilang mga klase sa P.E.
Bago siya naging facility coordinator ng recreation center, nagtrabaho muna si Tim sa Kezar Pavilion, kung saan siya ang Tagapag-ugnay ng mga paligsahan sa isports ng kabataan sa buong lungsod. Siya ay nakatulong sa pagpapatupad ng mga programang pang-atletiko ng kabataan at mga liga sa buong lungsod. Mahalaga sa kanya na tiyakin na ang lahat ng kabataan ay may access sa mga oportunidad sa sports at libangan.
Nagretiro si Tim noong 2017 bilang isang coordinator ng pasilidad, ngunit pinananatili niya ang kanyang mga kaugnayan sa komunidad ng SoMa sa pamamagitan ng pagiging isang miyembro ng board sa Bayanihan Equity Center, SoMa West Community Benefits District, at ang San Francisco Arts Commission. Sa Victoria Manalo Draves Park, mayroong isang batting cage na ipinangalan sa kanya. Ang Tim Figueras Batting Cage ay itinatag upang parangalan ang kanyang panahon ng paglilingkod at dedikasyon sa kabataan at mga kasapi ng komunidad sa kanyang minamahal na komunidad ng SoMa.
Matapos ang kanyang pagreretiro, tinatangkilik ni Tim ang kanyang maraming libangan (kabilang ang pagkolekta ng mga sports card). Mahilig siyang maglakbay sa loob at labas ng bansa kahit na may mga karamdaman siya sa mga huling taon ng kanyang buhay. Si Tim ay isang tapat na asawa sa loob ng 35 taon at isang mapagmahal na ama sa kanyang dalawang anak na lalaki. Gustung-gusto niya ang paggugol ng oras kasama ang kanyang mga kapatid na babae at ang kanilang mga pamilya pati na rin ang kanyang maraming mga kaibigan.
Ipinagmamalaki ni Tim ang pagiging miyembro ng komunidad ng SoMa, at ipinakita niya sa amin lahat kung paano magsikap para sa isang mabuting pamumuhay.
Ruby Turalba
Si Ruby N. Turalba-Khalil ay isang pangalawang henerasyon na Pinay na may mga ninuno sa La Union, Pilipinas. Siya ay lumaki sa mga lupain ng Luiseno at Kumeyaay at ginugol ang buong pagtanda sa lupain ng Ohlone na teritoryo.
Ang kanyang dalawang anak ay pinalaki ng komunidad ng SOMA sa tulong ng Bessie Carmichael Filipino Education Center, West Bay, at United Playaz. Sa pakikipagtulungan sa mga kapwa magulang at miyembro ng komunidad, si Ruby ay nagsulong ng adbokasiya upang mapanatili, mapalakas, at maipagpatuloy ang mga programang pangwikang Filipino ng SFUSD.
Nagturo siya ng pampublikong kalusugan sa San Francisco State University mula noong 2010, at sa papel na ito, si Ruby ay sinusuportahan ang mga inisyatibong pananaliksik na nakabatay sa komunidad upang mapabuti ang kalusugan at kagalingan ng mga Pilipino sa San Francisco.
Sa lahat ng kanyang personal at propesyonal na mga pangako, nagtatrabaho si Ruby para sa komunidad, kalusugan, at katarungan!
I-click ang larawan ng bayani na ito upang mapanood ang kanyang panayam tungkol sa proyekto.
In partnership with South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN) and local artists Wilfred Galila and Ramon Bonifacio, the Children’s Creativity Museum (CCM) is proud to present Kahayágan – a public art installation that celebrates the histories and contributions of the Filipino American community.
Kahayágan (kah-hah-yáh-gahn) is from the Hiligaynon/Visayan language meaning clearness, lucidity, intelligible, visible, and manifest. This art project is a mixed media installation featuring stained glass portraits that highlight individuals who have championed progress and change through contributions to our community — from history, arts and culture, health and wellness, youth and families, safety, Filipino studies, language access, and workers and LGBTQ+ rights.
Kahayágan is part of SOMCAN's Reclaiming Our Space (ROSe) initiative, which combines art, design, and community to increase Filipino civic engagement in urban planning. Click on the hero portraits above to learn more and see their project interviews.
About the Artists
Wilfred Galila is a San Francisco Bay Area-based multimedia artist, filmmaker, photographer, and writer. Born and raised in the Philippines, Wilfred is a an artist and storyteller who explores postcolonial identity and culture through a transpacific-diasporic lens, framework, and experience.
His films and multimedia art installations were screened and exhibited at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, CAAMFest, APICC USAA Festival, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco Public Library, The Luggage Store Gallery, Manilatown Heritage Center, Bayanihan Community Center, Bindlestiff Studio, Little Roxie at Roxie Theater, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Yerba Buena Gardens, ODC Theater, and ACT Strand Theater.
Ramon Bonifacio was born in the Philippines and migrated to the United States in 2012. He joined SOMCAN's youth program in 2016 - focusing on pedestrian safety, advocating for Free Muni for Youth, supporting the cause of Free City College, and building a platform for young creatives to express their talent through Ignite Open Mic events. He also played a significant role in the creation of a vibrant mural at the Bayanihan Community Center and facilitated workshops on silk screening, mixed media, and other creative works.
Ramon currently works as the Tenant Counselor at SOMCAN, providing direct services to the Filipino community.
Activity Lesson Guides
Faux Stained Glass Mosaics
People tell stories in a variety of ways — with words, pictures, and even mosaics! In Kahayágan we celebrate Bay Area Filipino heroes through colorful mosaic portraits. Inspired by Galila and Bonifacio’s work, use your imagination to design your own colorful, faux-stained glass mosaic!
Imaginative Portraits
We all express ourselves and contribute to our communities in different ways. In this activity, let's explore the question, What makes you unique?
Oral History Comics/Zines
Stories help connect us to the people in our lives and communities! Interview someone in your life who you admire and create a comic about the stories they shared.
Role Model Tote Bags
Role models possess qualities that we admire. In this activity, decorate your tote bag as you explore the guiding question: What does a leader look like?
Visit at the Children's Creativity Museum!
Kahayágan is FREE to view outside of the Children's Creativity Museum on the public-facing windows in the Spiral Gallery. It is across from the LeRoy King Carousel on the corner of 4th and Howard.
