Our Lolos and Lolas' Neighborhood in San Francisco
/Today, San Francisco’s South of Market (SoMa) is known for its trendy restaurants, world-class museums, sports arenas, and million-dollar homes. But in the mid-20th century, long before redevelopment transformed the area, SoMa was home to generations of Filipino immigrants who built their lives in the shadow of the city’s prosperity.
In our lead story this week [Growing Up Filipino in San Francisco's South of Market], Dr. Alex Fabros, Jr. brings to life the SoMa our lolos and lolas knew: a close-knit community of merchant mariners, farmworkers, cooks, hotel employees, and laborers. Filipino restaurants, groceries, barber shops, and small businesses became more than places of commerce; they were lifelines where jobs were found, news was shared, children grew up, and strangers became family. Churches served as gathering places, while schools and playgrounds helped young Filipinos find their footing in a new country.
This was a community built not on wealth or privilege, but on bayanihan—the quiet, everyday generosity of people who looked after one another far from home. SoMa’s Filipino story is a testament to the grit, resourcefulness, and enduring spirit of our people. As the neighborhood changes, may we never forget those who laid its foundations—not with grand buildings, but with hard work, sacrifice, and the courage to make a home in America.
This Week’s Stories
Growing Up Filipino in San Francisco’s South of Market by Alex S. Fabros, Jr.
PinoyPals: Sharing Concerns Across the Ocean by Scarlet Tabuena
Who Will Care for Arnold? by Rudy D. Liporada
Baguio’s Horror Festival Sparks Clash Over Art, Faith, City’s Identity by Rene Astudillo
[Read It Again]
‘Siya’ Is My Pronoun – Let’s Make Oxford Put It In the English Dictionary by France Viana
We Stand on Their Shoulders, Part 1 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco
We Stand on their Shoulders, Part 2 by Mona Lisa Yuchengco
[Video of the Week] Filipinos in the U.S. Navy - From Stewards to Flag Officers
In The Know
Hundreds of Filipino seafarers caught in widening US deportation crackdown
https://www.therebelyellow.com/p/hundreds-of-filipino-seafarers-caught?
Dialysis at home: How two UP graduates developed an affordable, handy treatment option for CKD patients
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/10/17/how-2-up-grads-developed-an-affordable-handy-treatment-option-for-ckd-patients-1153?
Dubai visa scam leaves hundreds of OFWs in financial, legal woes
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/overseas-filipinos/dubai-visa-scam-financial-legal-woes/?
LOOK: Baguio City Is Opening a New Park With a Forest Boardwalk This Month
https://www.spot.ph/things-to-do/the-latest-things-to-do/look-baguio-city-is-opening-a-new-park-with-a-forest-boardwalk-this-month-
Small PH towns in Mars
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2291497885024014
Christensen Hsu
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1838203157194401
Save your seat now for Philippine International Aid's 40th Anniversary! Featuring Martin Nievera and friends! Sunday, November 8, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero in San Francisco.
