Historic Filipinotown (alternately known as HiFi) is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles.

In 2008, it was one of the five Asian Pacific Islander neighborhoods (Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Historic Filipinotown, Koreatown, and Thai Town) in the city that received federal recognition as a Preserve America neighborhood.

Geography On July 31, 2002, the City of Los Angeles designated Historic Filipinotown with the following boundaries: on the east by Glendale Boulevard, on the north by the 101 Freeway, on the west by Hoover Street, and on the south by Beverly Boulevard. The area, located in Council District 13, had commonly been referred to as the "Temple-Beverly Corridor". Both the Department of Public Works and the Department of Transportation were instructed in install signage to identify "Historic Filipinotown". Neighborhood signage was installed at the intersection of Temple Street and Hoover Street and Beverly Boulevard and Belmont Avenue. In 2006, Historic Filipinotown signage was installed along the 101 Freeway at the Alvarado Street exit.

History

In a section of downtown Los Angeles now known as Little Tokyo, that displaced the original little Manila, a Filipino community known as Little Manila existed and flourished for over two decades (1920s-40s). The first significant wave of Filipino migration came in 1923. However, Filipinos were already in Los Angeles as early as its' very foundation, as a certain Antonio Miranda Rodríguez, a skilled gunsmith of Filipino descent from Manila was one of the original founders of Los Angeles city, however after arriving in Los Angeles, was then shortly re-assigned to nearby Santa Barbara which was a fortress that needed his gun-smithing skills more.A Filipino was to Help Found Los Angeles, 1781 (Los Angeles Almanac) As for the first major migration in 1923, for when over 2,000 arrived in California. Ten years later, over 6,000 resided in Los Angeles, most living in the downtown neighborhood bordered by San Pedro Street to the east, Sixth Street to the south, Figueroa Street to the west, and Sunset Boulevard to the North. Twelve restaurants, seven barbershops, the immigrant newspaper The Philippines Review and the Manila Portrait Studio all helped to buoy the Los Angeles Filipino diaspora. Many of the Filipino pioneers came to Los Angeles to study, while others settled as residents for employment. This community of mostly males established numerous restaurants, pool halls, cafés, employment agencies and barbershops which became the hub where Filipinos congregated, lived, socialized, organized and networked among their compatriots to find companionship, fellowship and work. One would merely drive to First and Main Streets to solicit Filipinos, either by Hollywood studios in need of ethnic-type extras for cinematic productions or many others in need of cheap labor.

By the early 1950s, Filipinos were able to buy land in the United States. In Los Angeles, many Filipino families bought their first homes in the Temple-Beverly corridor, with the growth of Filipino families in this corridor, they created Filipino-owned businesses, establishments, churches, and organizations.Montoya, C.M. (2009). Images of America: Los Angeles's Historic Filipinotown. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. Retrieved March 01, 2018

Despite the fact that there are other enclaves of Filipinos living outside Historic Filipinotown (Carson, Long Beach, Glendale, Cerritos, West Covina, Panorama City, and Eagle Rock), this neighborhood was named "Historic Filipinotown" because it was one of the few areas where Filipinos first settled during the early part of the 20th century and home to key Filipino organizations, Filipino churches (Filipino Christian Church, Iglesia ni Kristo, St. Columban Filipino Catholic Church, United Church of God Ministries, Praise Christian Fellowship and Congregational Christian Church), housing (Manila Terrace, Mindanao Towers, Mountain View Terrace, and Villa Ramos), and social service centers. Many Filipino American families began purchasing homes and establishing businesses in the area beginning from the 1940s, shifting away from the downtown area now known as Little Tokyo in the 1920s and later the Bunker Hill area. The "Historic" label was added to recognize the area as a gateway and the current place where Filipino immigrants establish themselves, create businesses and have community-based activities. This was because the Filipino American community in Historic Filipinotown created a partnership with mayor Eric Garcetti, as a result, he maintained a staff position assigned to the Historic Filipinotown neighborhood during his tenure.Villanueva, G. (2015) Filipinos for Garcetti: Ethnic political organizing in Los Angeles and Asian American civic engagement in cities. Asian American Policy Review, 26, 10-19. * Retrieved February 12, 2018

In 1985, the Pilipino American Reading Room and Library (PARRAL) was established in a church basement. Founded by Helen Agcaoili Summers Brown, the collection grew to include more than 6,000 books, articles, and photographs that reflected the Filipino experience in America. In January 2000, PARRAL was relocated to Temple Street where it was renamed the Filipino American Library. While the library eventually was closed down, in 2017 its collection was split between the USC Libraries and the Echo Park Library Branch. The Echo Park Branch Library houses over 1,000 books, in English, Tagalog, and other Filipino dialects, that highlight Filipino life and culture, therefore making it the only public library in the Southern California region to have a Filipino heritage collection.

On November 2, 2010, the intersection at Temple Street and Alvarado Boulevard was named as "Remedios 'Remy' V. Geaga Square," and the Department of Transportation was directed to erect a permanent ceremonial sign at the location. A resident of Historic Filipinotown, Geaga dedicated her life to end discrimination in employment, education, and housing.

On October 31, 2011, Historic Filipinotown was officially recognized as a Preserve America community after years of advocacy by the Pilipino American Network and Advocacy (PANA) and other community advocates. Receiving this honor from former First Lady and Honorary Chair of the Preserve America Initiative, Michelle Obama, Historic Filipinotown is provided with strong federal support and incentives for the continued preservation of cultural and natural heritage resources.Teresa Watanabe, "A Boost for Thai Town," Los Angeles Times, August 3, 2008

Demographics In 2010, Hispanic or Latino Americans constituted approximately 66% of the population. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders comprised about 25% – with Filipinos as the largest Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) subgroup. Of the 25% of Asian Americans that resided in Historic Filipinotown at the time of the survey, 64% were Filipino. Non-Hispanic Whites and Black Americans each constituted 4% of the neighborhood.

Community organizations There are several advocacy organizations located within the boundaries of Historic Filipinotown area.

Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA)

Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) was founded in 1972 and helps to provide health and human services as well as helps in the economic development, arts and cultural programs for youth and families in Filipinotown and the greater Los Angeles Fil-Am community. SIPA’s indigenous values include KAPWA (humankind), KARANGALAN (honor), KAPAKANAN (well-being), and KATARGUNGAN (social justice). As per these pillars, SIPA’s major contributions to the HiFi community include but are not limited to affordable housing, youth programs, mental health services, and health & wellness resources.

As of March 2024, SIPA has expanded from one to two locations, recently expanding a new well-being center at the new Lucena on Court. SIPA HQ, located within HiFi Collective is located at 3200 W. Temple Street.

Filipino American Services Group, Inc. (FASGI) FASGI is located on 135 North Park View Street. It was incorporated in 1981, is a "community based on non-profit social service agency that focuses on the health and well being of underserved adults, particularly senior citizens…"

Filipino American Community of Los Angeles, Inc. (FACLA) FALCA is located at 1740 W. Temple Street, It was originally founded as the Filipino Unity Council in 1930, the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles. It housed the Filipino Cultural Center .

Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) Established in 1997, the PWC is located at 153 Glendale Boulevard. The Pilipino Workers Center aims to "secure the dignity and safety of the Pilipinx community in Southern California and build labor leaders in the domestic worker industry".

Pilipino American Network and Advocacy (PANA) PANA was founded to advocate for the economic and political empowerment of Filipinos in Los Angeles County. The organization, with the help of the Filipino community, successfully advocated for the designation of Historic Filipinotown as a Preserve America Community with the US Federal government in 2011.

Events

Annual Historic Filipinotown Festival - the event includes foods, craft, educational activities and a 5K run. Annual Philippine Independence Day Parade and Festival - the parade spans several blocks. At the end of the parade, there is a festival area with a performance stage. Annual Larry Itliong Day - Unidad Park hosts an annual Larry Itliong Day event over the weekend of October 25, which falls on Larry Itliong's birth date. This cultural festival, honoring Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong, officially began as a state-wide commemoration in 2015. The first three celebrations (2015-2017) were called "The Annual Larry Itliong Day Parade and Festival" and were sponsored by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Arts Activation Fund (AAF). From 2018 onward the commemoration has simply been known as Larry Itliong Day. Annual Polemount Parol Lighting - Local business and family-sponsored parols (Christmas lanterns) line Temple Street to coinciding with festivities in the Philippines. Parols are constructed to resemble the star of Bethlehem and its role as a light to guide the three wise men.

Hidden HiFi - The Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) in partnership with LA-based social enterprise Public Matters, hosts an event called Hidden HiFi which promotes events and Jeepney tours. Sunday Jump - a monthly open mic series primarily held at PWC's community halls. It was designated by the Department of Cultural Affairs as one of the cultural treasures of Historic Filipinotown. Baryo HiFi - The first Historic Filipinotown Festival at Beverly Boulevard in AAPI Heritage Month's celebration on May 4, 2024, "commemorates the Filipino community's cultural significance over Greater Los Angeles." The event includes performances by Yeek, Rini, Esta, and SoSuperSam performances, Kristofferson San Pablo art exhibit, rapper P-Lo and DJ Noodles. "The best of Filipino food" offers The Park's Finest, Lasita, Big Boi, Jollibee, and Wanderlust Creamery.

Landmarks Filipino Christian Church and St. Columban Filipino Catholic Church

On May 5, 1998, the Los Angeles City Council designated the Filipino Christian Church as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 651.