Our District

More Than a Cultural District: SOMA Pilipinas is Community-in-Action and a Cultural Movement

The cultural heritage district spanning 1.5 square miles honors 120+ history of Filipinos in San Francisco, and celebrates the  community’s living legacy of making home, celebrating culture, building community and fighting for economic and racial justice in the rapidly gentrifying South of Market neighborhood.

In 2016, the City of San Francisco officially recognized SOMA Pilipinas as SF’s Filipino Cultural Heritage District, under the leadership of the Filipino-American Development Foundation. 

In 2017, SOMA Pilipinas was one of the first selected cultural districts for state designation by the California Arts Council and in 2018 received the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant for creative place-keeping.  

Since then SOMA Pilipinas has gone on to earn numerous accolades and honors for their work in the South of Market neighborhood from 2020 YBCA 100 Honoree, and Architects International Association SF for revitalization.  

Working in solidarity with the other SF Cultural Districts and hand in hand with other Filipino groups, SOMA Pilipinas is inspired by the spirit of bayanihan and the fighting spirit of the community.  

SOMA Pilipinas is proud to be part of a community-in-action — and a grassroots movement carrying on the legacy of Filipinos fighting for recognition and racial equity.

Mission

CULTURAL CELEBRATION

To increase the visibility and celebrate the contributions of the Filipino community in SOMA, San Francisco, California and the Diaspora, and to sustain our legacy cultural institutions and events, and develop our cultural arts, assets, and creative place-keeping and place-making.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

To prevent the displacement of Filipino residents, protect our historic and cultural assets, and sustain our legacy institutions and community organizations.

ECONOMIC AND RACIAL JUSTICE

To develop initiatives for the Filipino community to thrive, and to support our community’s struggle for dignity, equity, rightful recognition and racial justice.

Vision

SOMA Pilipinas is A celebration of where we come from, and where WE ARE going.

Our Cultural Heritage District is a product of its people, who are resilient, creative, and determined.
We live, work, play and gather here as a community. 

SOMA Pilipinas is a movement that is anchored in the neighborhood, our history and our people.
It is a place that connects the broader community to our narrative and stories as Filipinos in America.  It is a living culture — a community that's conscious of history, yet embraces progress, working together to move forward in unity and vision.

SOMA Pilipinas Reports