Los Angeles’s Historic Filipinotown was honored on October 31, 2011 when First Lady Michelle Obama, Honorary Chair of the Preserve America Initiative, designated it as one of the nation’s newest Preserve America Communities.
“Preserve America Communities demonstrate that they are committed to preserving America’s heritage while ensuring a future filled with opportunities for learning and enjoyment,” Mrs. Obama said. “This community designation program, combined with the Preserve America Grant Program, Preserve America Presidential Awards, and other federal support, provides strong incentives for continued preservation of our cultural and natural heritage resources. I commend you for your commitment to preserving an important part of our nation’s historic past for visitors, neighbors, and, most importantly, for children.” said the First Lady.
The National Preserve America Community application process for Historic Filipinotown (HiFi) was facilitated by Pilipino American Network and Advocacy (PANA), co-chaired by Dr. Ben Marte and Dr. Leo Pandac. As a Preserve America Community, HiFi will be featured in the National Register Travel Itineraries and in “Teaching with Historic Places” curricular materials created by the National Park Service. “PANA is grateful to First Lady Michelle Obama for bestowing HiFi with this honor.” said Marte, “We are also very proud to have facilitated the involvement of the many partners that made this designation possible, including Search To Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), My HiFi, the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), the HiFi Neighborhood Council, Inc., Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council President Eric Garcetti, , the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and numerous other organizations and individuals.”
Historic Filipinotown was designated by the City of Los Angeles in 2002, culminating almost 30 years of advocacy by community leaders and activists seeking recognition of the area’s significance to the Filipino American Community. Downtown redevelopment after WWII displaced Los Angeles’ original Filipino enclave, causing many families to move west and settle along the Temple Street and Beverly Boulevard corridors. Today, the neighborhood is very diverse, with Filipinos living alongside numerous other ethnic and immigrant groups. However, it continues to serve as a historic and cultural center for the community, as evidenced by the numerous Filipino churches, community-based organizations, small businesses and other institutions still in existence. Additionally, the neighborhood is home to the Filipino WWII Veterans’ Memorial and Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana (A Glorious History, A Glorious Legacy), the largest Filipino American-themed mural in the country.
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