somaPilipinas.org

Soma Pilipinas is the name given to the Filipino Social Heritage Special Use District (FSHD) located in the South of Market (SoMa) area of San Francisco. SoMa has been home to many new immigrant Filipinos since the 1920’s and over the years, the newly settled communities created buildings, streets, murals, and festivals reflecting the Filipino culture and traditions, and the stories of their migration to America. The FSHD is the compilation of community assets or resources within a defined boundary with historic and community significance to the Filipino community. The purpose of the Filipino social heritage district is to identify, commemorate and preserve the assets or resources that continue to serve the Filipino community living in SoMa today.

The Filipino-American Development Foundation took the initiative in 1999 to research, map and compile the list of Filipino cultural resources and over the last decade, FADF has worked with the Filipino community currently living in SoMa to utilize, sustain, and strengthen these assets that benefit their families and their heritage.