“In 2008 I was on the committee to organize the first Filipino-American Heritage Night, and so I think it’s wonderful that the NBA has continually honored our culture. ” This heartfelt soundbite, given exclusively to The Filipino American Post, is from NBA legend Raymond Townsend, the first Filipino-American to ever play in the NBA as point guard in 1978. Proudly in attendance at Thrive City prior to the Warriors’ game against the Spurs, he greeted many adoring fans and watched alongside hundreds of attendees honoring Filipino Heritage Night as pre-game activations of Tinikling, Baybayin demonstrations from local artist Kristian Kabuay, and food from Senor Sisig energized the crowd for the cultural celebrations to come soon.
Inside the Chase Center, both anticipation for the match and adoration for Filipino American culture fully electrified the energy throughout. Preceding the national anthem by the Bytes & Notes Chorale, Caroline Cabading confidently rang the bell alongside the always-effervescent Franco Finn, who also holds the honor of being the Warriors’ first Filipino American hype-man. Cabading herself is the Executive Director of the San Francisco Manilatown Heritage Foundation, and when asked about what this meant to her, Cabading proudly elucidated, “We are very much proponents of having a firm foundation of being a Filipino American in this country and giving them strength.”
At halftime, with the Warriors just barely trailing behind, the attention then shifted to the Kalikasan Dance Company, who collectively both edified and amazed the crowd with their precisely choreographed traditional Tinikling performances. “When we practice we talk about the historical significance and how each dance symbolizes something, and we really try to instill that in their lives that they’re proud to be Filipino because they know what it truly means.” exclaimed their dance manager.
The Chase Center was also remarkably ignited by the surprise appearance by tennis legend Roger Federer, as well as a reverent acknowledgement to Raymond Townsend. While the Spurs ultimately claimed victory with the final score of 126 to 113, breaking the Dub’s five-game winning streak, the crowd still left with an indelible understanding of Filipino American history, culture, and the future of cultural representation, both in sports, and in the greater Bay Area.
