In 1999, the city of Stockton bulldozed another block of Little Manila, displacing Filipino oldtimers and destroying historic buildings, to make room for a McDonalds and a gas station. This time, the community decided to act. The Little Manila Foundation was created in 2000 to remember, reclaim, and revitalize Little Manila. We pushed the city to declare the area a historic site. Hundreds of letters and emailed of support poured in from around the world.

In 2002, the city designated the area as the Little Manila Historic Site, but demolitions continued. We stepped up our efforts and gained more media attention for the need to save our history. Three original buildings remained: the Filipino Recreation Center (built as a casino, social hall, and labor union headquarters), the Rizal Social Club (a Filipino-owned dance hall), and the Mariposa Hotel, a residential hotel where Filipinos lived for many decades, and headquarters to labor strikes and Filipino organizations). We have purchased the Mariposa Hotel and plan to restore it and turn it into a cultural center, and partnering with the Filipino American National Historical Society, the National Filipino American Museum.

Little Manila must be saved because they are the symbols of our history. They tell us who we are as a people, because they tell us where we have been, so that we know where we are going.

Filipino Americans are the oldest and one of the largest Asian American groups in the nation, but there aren't many places where we can learn our history. The history of Little Manila isn't just significant Filipino American history. It's an important part of American history. Everyone should learn about how different groups of immigrants struggled against racism and contributed to the culture and economy of the United States. Most importantly, everyone should learn how they, despite so many challenges, made better lives for themselves and the next generations.

Back to Top