Community welcomes future mural coming to LA’s Historic Filipinotown
A new mural planned for next year in L.A.’s Historic Filipinotown district will honor the neighborhood’s lasting legacy, community members say.
The headquarters of Filipino community nonprofit Search To Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), at 3200 W. Temple Street in Los Angeles, will be the latest canvas for the new mural, which officials hope to unveil by spring 2025.
The vibrant “HiFi” neighborhood west of downtown and south of Echo Park, bordered by the 101 Freeway to the north and Beverly Boulevard to the south, is regarded as the birthplace of the Filipino American community of Los Angeles, leaders say.
A new mural is planned to represent Filipino culture and community in LA’s Historic FIlipinotown at the headquarters of SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, as seen on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
A new mural is planned to represent Filipino culture and community in LA’s Historic FIlipinotown at the headquarters of SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, as seen on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
A new mural is planned to represent Filipino culture and community in LA’s Historic FIlipinotown at the headquarters of SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, as seen on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
A new mural is planned to represent Filipino culture and community in LA’s Historic FIlipinotown at the headquarters of SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, as seen on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
A new mural is planned to represent Filipino culture and community in LA’s Historic FIlipinotown at the headquarters of SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, as seen on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Eddy Gana and Stephanie Sajor help lead the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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A new mural is planned to represent Filipino culture and community in LA’s Historic FIlipinotown at the headquarters of SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, as seen on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles is home to the largest population of people of Filipino descent, according to the Los Angeles Almanac.
The future mural will be on the west-facing wall of SIPA’s headquarters, at the HiFi Collective, a supportive housing community and mixed-use community center in Historic Filipinotown.
Outreach for the mural’s concept began in early October, during Filipino American History Month, said Kimmy Maniquis, executive director of SIPA.
To end the month of events, SIPA hosted the 9th annual “Katipunan Poetry Slam” on Saturday, Oct. 26, where creatives were invited to share their works and stories in a friendly competition. As part of its outreach, SIPA had a booth to raise awareness and get more input about the future mural.
While no specific design or theme has been decided on yet, Maniquis is excited to see the collaboration to create something beautiful.
“The mural doesn’t necessarily need to be a historical piece, or even depict actual people in the community,” she said. “We could generate something liberatory in nature; that’s symbolic, inclusive, that captures the spirit of diversity across all identities and beliefs… about what’s ahead for us as a community of Historic Filipinotown.”
The “Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana” (“A Glorious History, A Golden Legacy”) mural in Historic Filipinotown’s Unidad Park was part of the backdrop of the inaugural Baryo HiFi, celebrating Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles, on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Courtesy of The HiFi Coalition)
Other public arts planned for the area include a mural dedicated to Filipina and Filipina-American heroines , from nonprofit FilAm Arts, a news release said.
Only around a dozen or so have participated in SIPA’s online survey about the HiFi Collective Mural Project, said Maniquis.
The survey, open through the end of October,asks participants for input and definitive themes for art that “will embody the HiFi community and values.” It also asks for community artist/muralist recommendations.
Long Beach Filipino American Bodeck Luna is the set lead artist heading the project. There is potential for up to three artists to collaborate, said Maniquis.
At Saturday’s poetry event, competing artists like Los Angeles resident Maria Bolaños were excited to hear about the opportunity to uplifting Filipino culture and values through art.
“It’s super dope that SIPA is building towards a mural,” Bolaños, 33, said. “Murals are such an important display — a big, vibrant, insistent display of, ‘We are here.’”
Ashley Lanuza competes in the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Eddy Gana and Stephanie Sajor help lead the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Rozlind Silva presents her writing in the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Lady Basco leads the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
KP competes in the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Eddy Gana and Stephanie Sajor help lead the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
KP competes in the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Eddy Gana and Stephanie Sajor help lead the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Judges raise their paddles in the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Judges raise their paddles in the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the Filipino community gather for the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Demetri Manabat competes in the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Lady Basco leads the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Johnny Swoopz competes in the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the Filipino community gather for the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
KP competes in the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the Filipino community gather for the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the Filipino community gather for the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Eddy Gana and Stephanie Sajor help lead the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Ashley Lanuza competes in the 9th annual Katipunan Poetry Slam, hosted at SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipino Town on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024…(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Katipunan Poetry Slam, organized by HiFi arts organization Sunday Jump, provides a platform for Filipino American poets to channel the fighting spirit of their ancestors in this celebration of free speech, organizers said.
Modern slam poetry is an echo of “balagtasan” — a poetic political debate in Filipino culture.
Themes focused on identity, community solidarity and lived experiences, and honored the history of the Katipunan — a revolutionary group that fought for independence against centuries of Spanish colonization in the Philippines.
Bolaños competed in the event, which she called a “poetic home” for her. Bolaños’ poems and written works usually involve themes of decolonization and the Filipino diaspora.
Her first poem was about the current situation in Gaza — one she felt other colonized Filipinos would also relate to.
Poet Paul “KP” Abesamis also performed work he said was heavily influenced by his religious beliefs and complexities of being a Filipino and an Evangelical Christian. For Abesamis, there’s “a tension” within these identities which he is proud to stand in.
For him, being a Filipino American means constantly evolving: a “continuous metamorphosis.”
“I don’t think that you have to be a certain race or look a certain way to hold the faith that I have,” the Covina resident shared. “Helping redefine the Filipino American journey and experience, that’s something we can take pride in.”
Continuing October’s Filipino American History Month festivites, L.A. City Hall was lit up in the red, white, blue and yellow colors of the Philippine flag. Also on Saturday, the neighborhood celebrated labor leader Larry Itliong at a free community festival.
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