Dozens of people gathered at the intersection of Woodman Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard in Panorama City last week for the official unveiling of Kapwa Square in honor of the Filipino community’s contributions and long history in the San Fernando Valley.
The Oct. 1 celebration also recognized Filipino American History Month. The name selected for the square – “kapwa” – is a Filipino term that means “oneness” or “togetherness.”
Los Angeles City Councilmember Imelda Padilla said they dedicated Kapwa Square to create a “lasting recognition” for the “generations of Filipino families who have helped shape the San Fernando Valley.”
“This dedication is about making that history visible,” said Padilla, who represents the 6th District. “It is about honoring the families, workers, small businesses and community leaders whose contributions have helped build the valley into the place we know today.”
“The Filipino community’s history [and] culture belong in the story of Los Angeles,” she said.
Filipino Americans make up the largest population of Asian Americans in the San Fernando Valley. There are approximately 80,000 people of Filipino descent living in the valley, with the highest concentration in Panorama City, where they make up about 15% of the population. The community’s roots date back to the 1920s and 1930s, when many arrived as agricultural workers.
Joining Padilla for the unveiling of Kapwa Square was fellow LA City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents the 14th District and was the first Filipino American elected to the council. Other notable members of the valley’s Filipino community who attended the dedication included Aquilina Soriano Versoza, founder and executive director of the Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California; historian Dr. Joseph Bernardo; Jhenine Cordero with the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFON); and Janelle Parra with the LA Filipino Association of City Employees (LAFACE).
Students from St. Genevieve High School and Panorama Senior High School also attended the event.
