The International District of Seattle is renowned for its areas known as Chinatown, Japantown, and Little Saigon.
However, at the heart of it, you’ll discover Filipinotown — and it has been around for over a century!
“From the 1920s through the 1980s, there were 88 businesses owned and run by Filipinos in this area. These establishments mainly served the predominantly first-generation Manongs who arrived here,” stated Cynthia Mejia Giudici from the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS).
She mentions that since then, the number of establishments owned by Filipinos has considerably decreased in the CID.
“Many, many businesses and many, many hotels, some that have been torn down, some of them have been remodeled. But we remember the stories, and that’s our history,” said Giudici.
It’s a nearly overlooked or even unknown history that has been brought back into focus this month — making its return in the shape of a streetcar!
“It was a surprising delight, the sort of happiness that runs so deep you end up crying alongside it,” remarked Devin Cabanilla from King County Metro.
The term “Filipinotown” represents the latest inclusion on a tram traveling through downtown Seattle. He emphasizes that this designation carries significance beyond being merely a label on a streetcar.
“It brings attention to something that has always existed, yet was often overlooked, making it more apparent now,” Cabanilla stated.
The neighborhood indicates that the streetcar is heading towards a new chapter, all while paying tribute to those who have resided there for decades.
“I often reflect on the immense sacrifices, the boundless love, the relentless struggles, and the extraordinary resilience of our people as they sought to build a new homeland,” stated Chera Amlag, co-owner of Hood Famous Bakeshop, Café & Bar.
Hood Famous Bakeshop, opened by Amlag and her spouse in 2019, preserves snippets of history within its premises.
“Amlag mentioned that they aimed for it to be perceived as innovative and contemporary yet evocative of memories from the past simultaneously,” he said. “They paid attention to small details within the space with the intention of making people strongly connect with their Filipino roots.”
They excel in serving comforting meals and mouthwatering sweets, yet this eatery made history as the first Filipino cuisine establishment in the CID after over three decades.
It’s bittersweet moment for Amlag. She says their efforts are headed in the right direction, but there’s still much more to do.
“I want to be able to name even more businesses, to the point where you just don’t have enough time to name them all, and for us to just all be able lift each other up,” she said.
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