SOMA Pilipinas
About SOMA Pilipinas
SOMA Pilipinas represents more than a cultural district—it is a living movement and community-in-action rooted in the resilience and struggle of generations of Filipinos in San Francisco, California. Born from the displacement and resistance movements of Manilatown in the 1970s, SOMA Pilipinas carries forward the legacy of Filipino activists, workers, and families who fought for recognition, housing rights, and racial equity in the face of urban redevelopment and gentrification. The organization's work is grounded in the history of Filipino immigration to California, from the early Manila Men of Louisiana to the manongs and manangs who built agricultural communities across the state, through the vibrant cultural and political movements of the twentieth century. Today, SOMA Pilipinas honors this living legacy by centering the voices, art, and organizing of elders, mothers, tenants, workers, artists, and youth who continue to shape San Francisco through survival and the labor of building culture, kinship, and home. The district celebrates Filipino contributions to the city while actively resisting displacement and fighting for economic and racial justice in South of Market. Through public art installations, cultural events, intergenerational programming, and community partnerships, SOMA Pilipinas embodies the spirit of makibaka—to struggle, resist, and defy erasure. The organization stands as a testament to the power of collective action and the determination of the Filipino-American community to remain visible, valued, and rooted in the city they have helped build.