'Makibaka: A Living Legacy' exhibit showcases history of Filipinos fighting to call SF home

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San Francisco (Crohn) – “What does it mean to you to be a Filipino?”

Soma Pilipinas Raquel Raquel Redondiez with Kron4 giving a tour at the “Makibaka: A Live Legacy” shown in the Yerba Buena Center.

He needed to spend a moment, Redondiez was emotional because she was thinking about her answer. Wow, she said in a reaction to this simple and deep question.

“For me, I am a Filipino is to continue this legacy,” Redondez said. “The resistance, which is located in our blood, in our bones, for several decades, but centuries. The Philippine islands were a colony from Spain, the United States colony, a lot of this date, we are only fighting, we are fighting for liberation in our homeland.”

Redondiez explains that the history of the Filipinos includes generations fighting to call San Francisco Home. She says highlighting the Filipinos and their history is very important.

Wednesday, October 1, falls on the first day of the month of the Philippine American history. Art exhibitions like one in YBCa displays this date.

A peek can be seen inside some artworks in the slides’ shows below.

  • The signs that the Filipino society holds, which show the opposition against evacuation and ice deportation.
  • An artistic piece displaying the streets that include the historic Soma region.
  • “Sino Ka” translates into “Who are you?” And “Anu Ka” translates into “What are you?”

From charcoal on rice paper, to art on steps, to oil paintings, photography, and traditional weaving – more than 20 Filipino artists are displayed at the Makibaka exhibition.

The Philippines were in San Francisco for more than 120 years, where they made a house in Soma for decades. The Makibaka exhibition in YBCA is described as a celebration of the rich Filipino history and culture in the city.

“Our community has been the makers of culture and transformers for a long time … but a lot of time we do not get the limelight,” said Readondez.

The violent evacuation of the Filipinos from the international hotel in San Francisco in 1977 is one of the many moments highlighted in the exhibition’s timetable.

“MacPaka means fighting for resistance and upgrading, and it is an invitation to work over generations,” said Readondez. “Whether it is fighting for housing rights, immigrant rights, workers’ rights and today, this is a deep resonance.”

“Makibaka: A Living Legacy” exhibition in YBCA in the SOMA neighborhood that lasts until January 4, 2026. Tickets can be shown on YBCA website.

Watch the Noelle Bellow story from Kron4 at the video player above.

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