Since 2000, we have led the effort to preserve the Little Manila Historic Site and tell the story of the first generation Filipino Americans who found community there. Their backbreaking work, resilience, and sacrifices have afforded the opportunities present-day Filipino Americans have today.
Our Mission
The Little Manila Foundation advocates for the historic preservation of the Little Manila Historic Site in Stockton, California and provides education and leadership to revitalize our Filipina/o American community.
“Let the new ones (Filipino Americans) be mindful, in charity and kindness towards our working young generation who have taken our elder’s place and are attempting to enshrine our historical sites... Little Manila is alive, with dreams for the future. Our younger generation, bless them, is working to make it come true.”
What We've Achieved
- 2002 - The Little Manila Foundation successfully urges the City of Stockton to designate the Little Manila area as an historic site.
- 2003 - The City of Stockton designates the Gleason Park Commercial Area (an 8 square block area) a redevelopment zone. Little Manila Historic Site (LMHS) is one of the blocks.
- 2003 - LMHS is designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as One of the Eleven Most Endangered Historic Sites in America. The situation of LMHS becomes national and international news.
- 2003 - The Little Manila Foundation (LMF) rallies the community together to put together their own redevelopment proposal with smart growth principals, respect for property owners, and preserves the LMHS to counter the proposed strip mall development.
- 2003 - Bowing to community, national, and international pressure, the City of Stockton ceases development of the Gleason Park Commercial Area.
- 2004 - LMF begins Fight the Blight, a community clean-up campaign, in the Little Manila area.
- 2006 - LMF makes a music video with director Patricio Ginelsa and the Grammy Award winning group, the Black Eyed Peas for their song "Bebot" which is set in Little Manila.
- 2007 - The California Preservation Foundation presents LMF their President's Award.
- 2008 - Dr. Dawn Mabalon, Rico Reyes, the Filipino American National Historic Society Stockton Chapter, and LMF publish the book "Filipinos in Stockton."
- 2008 - Stockton's Cultural Heritage Board presents LMF with the Charles Weber Award for our efforts in historic preservation.
- 2008 - LMF brings the Obie Award winning off-Broadway play "The Romance of Magno Rubio" (based on Carlos Bulosan's short story) to Stockton's Bob Hope Theatre.
- 2009 - The Little Manila After School Program begins at Edison High School teaching Filipino American history.
- 2010 - LMF creates a mini-museum at Taylor School to teach Taylor and Marshall School students about Filipino American history.
- 2010 - Filipino television network, ABS-CBN presents LMF with their Geny Lopez Jr. Pilipino Heroes Award.
- 2013 - Dr. Dawn Mabalon releases her book "Little Manila Is In the Heart."
- 2014 - The Little Manila Dance Collective is created to revive Filipino traditional dance in Stockton.
- 2015 - The Little Manila Center is opened. The center is comprised of the Antonio Somera Gallery and the Larry Itliong Justice & Equity Room.
Our efforts were featured on The History Channel and in the press both nationally & internationally.
Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas plays a taxi-dancer in Bebot: Generation One directed by Patricio Ginelsa.
ABS-CBN honors LMF with the Geny Lopez Jr. Pilipino Heroes Award.
The Little Manila Dance Collective is created to revive Filipino traditional dance in Stockton.