Collection Guide
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Finding aid to the Filipino American Development Foundation Records
(1983-2017)
SFH 705
SFH 705
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Table of contents
Title: Filipino American Development Foundation (FADF) Records
Date (inclusive): 1983-2017
Date (bulk): 1995-2010
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 705
Creator:
Filipino American Development Foundation
Physical Description:
5 cartons, 1 small pamphlet box
(5.25 Cubic Feet)
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: The Filipino American Development Foundation (FADF) seeks to support the Filipino community, prioritizing low-income Filipino
immigrants and longtime residents of San Francisco's South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood. The foundation developed the Bayanihan
Community Center (BCC), and master leases BCC from TODCO, the current owner and manager of 1010 Mission Street. The collection
includes materials relating to the SOMA Filipino community and Filipino activism, redevelopment of 1010 Mission Street, fundraising
and grant materials, and publications. Media types include papers, floppy disks and photographs.
Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in
English.
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs
available during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours
in advance.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the
City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the
owner of the physical items.
[Identification of item], Filipino American Development Foundation Records (SFH 705), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco
Public
Library.
Donated by Bernadette Sy of FADF in 2019. Accession number 2019-68.
Related materials include Kularts Records (SFH 535), Bindlestiff Records (2019-74), and The Filipino guide to San Francisco:
an introduction to the Filipino-American community of San Francisco. Additional SFHC Filipino American collections include
the Celestino Tagimacruz Alfafara Papers (SFH 557) and the Maxine Gonong Papers (SFH 59).
During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered in acid-free folders and boxes. Some metal staples remain.
The Filipino American Development Foundation (FADF) is a nonprofit which aims to strengthen the social, physical, and economic
wellbeing of the Filipino American and South of Market communities, focusing on underserved members of said communities. Founded
by Mario Borja, M.D. (1997) with a vision to provide an inclusive space for Filipino immigrants, FADF brings together services
to enhance the economic, health, legal, educational and cultural needs of the community.
FADF's roots began when Dr. Borja purchased the Delta Hotel (1976) located at 1010 Mission Street in San Francisco's South
of Market (SOMA) neighborhood, a community with a dense Filipino population. In 1993, he began providing low-cost housing
to Filipino WWII veterans; however, fire heavily damaged the building (1997) leaving Borja unable to provide housing for the
veterans. Borja sold the building to the Tenant and Owners Development Corporation (TODCO), a nonprofit housing developer
of SOMA single room occupancy hotels (SROs). TODCO contracted with Borja to develop affordable housing for the fire victims,
rename the housing Bayanihan House, and commit to a $1 per year lease (expired 2020) allowing the Bayanihan Community Center
(BCC) to establish itself.
The BCC (opened 2005), previously named Veterans Equity Center (VEC), provides community services and space to neighborhood
families and organizations. FADF developed the BCC and master leases the ground floor and lower level for the BCC from TODCO.
Originally focused on serving Filipino WWII veterans, the BCC has expanded their services to include the larger senior Filipino
population.
FADF provides fiscal and administrative support to other budding nonprofit agencies who serve San Francisco's most vulnerable
Filipino Americans. Supporting services include housing and employment, guarding against domestic violence, sponsoring Filipino
language and history education, and supporting immigrant youth up to age 24. They also provide culturally acute mental health
services, community workers, and career development for educators.
Nonprofit organizations supported by FADF include Filipino Community Center (FCC), Pinoy Pinay Educational Partnerships (PEP),
and the South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN). Starting in 2016, FADF began working with the SOMA Filipino community
to establish SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District (established 2018). FADF also manages Galing Bata After School
program, and the Filipino Mental Health Initiative, San Francisco (FMHI-SF).
Organizations that partner with BCC and FADF include KULARTS and Bindlestiff Studio. KULARTS art group is a community partner
with FADF and tenant of BCC. Bindlestiff Studio performs Filipino American theater working closely with FADF, with FADF providing
Bindlestiff and other artists rehearsal space at BCC.
To avoid confusion and competition for funding, the Three Filipino Centers Collaborative (TFCC) was established circa 2000.
The TFCC includes Manilatown Center, San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center (SFFCC), and the BCC. Combining under one moniker
allowed the centers to share resources and combine marketing efforts. The shared name also avoided confusion for outsiders
witnessing the creation of multiple centers led by three discrete Filipino organizations. Additionally, establishing the TFCC
allows foundations such as Haas Jr., Fund and San Francisco Foundation to provide funding to the TFCC, rather than choosing
between each center.
FADF's ethos always begins with the community, demonstrated by their sponsorship of the Parol Lantern Festival, an iconic
Filipino holiday celebration. Celebrating the parol in SOMA since the early 2000s, the festival is a unifying and community
building tool. The parol builds value and pride for the Filipino immigrant community, aligning the festival with FADF's values.
The FADF's ultimate goal is civic engagement. FADF strives to protect and continues to support the community through various
programs and initiatives.
The collection includes administrative papers for FADF, Bayanihan Community Center and some of their core centers and programs.
The collection strengths are materials relating to the SOMA Filipino community and Filipino activism, found in series 1 and
2.
Materials found in Series 3: Planning and Construction, relate to redevelopment of the SRO and offices at 1010 Mission Street,
as well as materials from the planning phases of FADF and BCC's formation (including both their social role and the physical
building). Series 4: Fundraising and grants includes both fundraising events and grant application materials. Series 5: Publications
includes newspapers and magazines representing the Filipino community, and programs and flyers for events attended by the
donor. The collection contains papers, floppy disks and photographs.
The collection is arranged in 5 series: Series 1: Bayanihan Community Center Organizations, Series 2: South of Market Filipino
Community, Series 3: Planning and Construction, Series 4: Fundraising and Grants, Series 5: Publications.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Filipino Americans
Filipino Americans -- California -- San Francisco.
South of Market (San Francisco, Calif.)
Low-income housing -- California -- San Francisco
Filipino American Development Foundation -- Archives