SAN FRANCISCO – The Manilatown Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the San Francisco Maritime Museum, proudly announces “Flipping the Boat,” a year-long community engagement project and event. This initiative aims to honor the power and agency of Filipino-American and other Bay Area residents, drawing on maritime heritage to inspire community leadership and solidarity.
“Flipping the Boat” hosted free monthly intergenerational workshops from November 2023 through July 2024 at the International Hotel Manilatown Center. These workshops taught participants to create and decorate small boats, symbolizing their dreams and wishes for themselves and the city of San Francisco. The small boats have formed an art installation at the Center, reflecting the community’s aspirations.
Workshops incorporated Philippine ancestral art, culture, and environmental sustainability practices, providing a hands-on understanding of maritime traditions and even a sharing of personal maritime family histories and connections. While the Maritime Museum lectures focused on Filipino-American Connections with SF Maritime, Making of the “Grace Quan”, and Celestial Navigation. This initiative will culminate in a significant event on August 4, 2024, commemorating the 1977 eviction of the I-Hotel tenants, many of whom were merchant seamen, longshoremen, and fishermen.
The August 4th event activities will begin at 3PM with a gathering event at the Maritime Museum. This project aims to grow into an annual multicultural event, fostering intergenerational connections and empowering the Filipino-American community to reclaim their maritime heritage. Participants will then join together in a group celebration that launches their miniature boats in Aquatic Park—symbolically reclaiming ancestral connections to the waterways. In honor of the use of Ramaytush Ohlone land, special guest Ramaytush Ohlone elder Gregg Castro will sing the Fog Song at Aquatic Park. Participants will then walk together through Aquatic Park, North Beach and Chinatown to the International Hotel Manilatown Center, with the event culminating in a screening of Curtis Choy’s classic documentary, “The Fall of the I-Hotel” and a remembrance ceremony for the I-Hotel evicted tenants.
“As stewards of pre-colonial Philippine art and culture, we recognize the significance of our maritime history,” said Caroline Cabading, Executive Director of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation. “Flipping the Boat” aims to revive our community’s maritime leadership and provide a platform for creative expression and cultural education.”
“Flipping the Boat” highlights the rich maritime history of the Filipino-American community, drawing parallels to their role as master navigators and boat builders in Philippine ancient times. It addresses the current socio-economic challenges, advocating for greater Filipino representation in leadership roles within the maritime industry.
This initiative not only commemorates the historical significance of Manilatown and the I-Hotel but also strengthens community bonds through shared cultural experiences. The workshops and events offered opportunities for families to learn, create, and celebrate together, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment. For more information about “Flipping the Boat” and the Manilatown Heritage Foundation, please visit manilatown.org.