|
SAN FRANCISCO, California: Have you been to the
“Mission” lately? To most San Franciscans, the Mission is that
long stretch of road that starts as a fringe of the financial
district in downtown San Francisco and moves on to end in Daly City
several miles away.
Mission Street, including its
capillary streets that compose the Mission District, is synonymous
with San Francisco. It’s history is rich, fascinating and
diverse—and sometimes touched with triumph and/or violence.
In the late 1930s and even up to
the early eighties, fresh off the boat (FOB’s) Filipino immigrants
began their lives in America in the Mission area, oftentimes sharing
cheap and tiny living quarters with other relatives or friends.
Here, they began their search for the greatAmerican Dream.
The Mission thrived as a
working-class neighborhood and still is, in many ways today. As they
prospered, however, many immigrants moved on to live in better
homes. Still, the Mission remained a bustling, lively neighborhood
with its mom-and-pop stores, unique boutiques side-by-side with auto
repair shops, cheap shoe and clothing stores, well-stocked meat and
seafood markets and inexpensive restaurants.
The heart of the Mission District
covers the vicinity from 16th Street to 24th Street; underground
trains connect the lives of all the people who pass in between both
streets, making the shopping and business area the busiest and the
most crowded in the entire city. It is in the very heart of the
Mission that the Filipino-American Council of San Francisco owns a
building that serves the residents, especially seniors and other
minorities in the area.
According to Pacific Gas &
Electric executive Tony Estrada, this heart of the Mission is
presently undergoing a huge infusion of energy and change. First
class eateries, interesting coffee houses and cafes and
one-of-a-kind boutiques are moving in the area. The Fil-Am Council
intends not to be left behind and is gearing to be part of this big
change.
Where once the center’s focus
was services for seniors, the center will now become more visible,
attract more clients, prepare more programs on a regular basis and
eagerly reach out to the neighborhood.
Recently, Council members and
volunteers discussed about problems and priorities. This infusion of
“newer, younger blood” from committed volunteers included the
participation of talented Benito Bautista, a filmmaker and a
financial analyst, who committed to providing the Center with an
original mural. Ideas and proposals came in fast from PG&E’s
Estela Logarta, retired librarian Estrella Manila, community leaders
Celly Carbonell, Dolores and Tatay Bondad, retired school official
Circe Sola-McLeod, NANAY president Marge Ortigas and others. The
meeting was spearheaded by Chevron’s Marisa Robles and Fil-Am
Council president Amado Villanueva.
|
