Filipino Festivals in October in Daly City

My October Reflections, part 4

Filipino Festivals in October in Daly City

I attended the annual Kasayahan Festival in Daly City on October 4, 2025, with three primary objectives. First, I aimed to conduct an ocular inspection of the proposed site for the planned six-foot monument of Dr. Jose Rizal at Gellert Park, situated in front of the Daly City Library. Second, I sought to observe the growth and development of Filipino celebrations within Daly City out of professional curiosity.

Thirdly, I intended to examine and validate my evolving framework of Kapwa Nationalism by considering October—recognized as Filipino American History Month—as the most fitting period for hosting a Filipino Festival, particularly in what author Benito M. Vergara Jr. describes as “Pinoy Capital: The Filipino Nation in Daly City.”

Daly City holds significant personal and professional meaning for me, as I lived and worked there from the mid-1980s through the 1990s. During this time, I served as lead community organizer for the Daly City Filipino Organizing Project, under the auspices of the San Mateo Organizing Project. Under my leadership, the service division of the DCFOP was transformed into the Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center (PBRC), a nonprofit organization. Additionally, the youth organizing component initiated a theater workshop, culminating in the successful production "Kin" and the establishment of Teatro Ng Tanan (TNT).

Currently, I reside on Liebig Street, near the border of San Francisco, intersecting Templeton Avenue by Mission Street. For four years, I shared a household with my esteemed friend and renowned collaborator, the late Bulletx Marasigan, at their Templeton residence. Bulletx played a pivotal role in numerous projects both in Daly City and San Francisco, including our joint work with the West Bay Pilipino Multiservice Center and the Pilipino Early Intervention Project. Together, we co-founded the Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center. Alongside the late Alice Bulos, we were honored to be among the first fellows representing the Filipino community in the Wildflowers Institute’s Studies 2000 initiative.

As I made my way to Gellert Park for the Kasayahan Festival last Saturday, memories of Bulletx and Alice came to mind. It was a pleasure to reconnect with Perla Barrientos, one of Daly City’s steadfast leaders since the 1970s, and to extend my congratulations to Rod Daus-Magbual and Justlyn Manalo, who are elected council member and both served as mayor, for their exemplary leadership and contributions to the city.

The Kasayahan sa Daly City festival is part of a long-standing tradition of Filipino cultural events in the Bay Area. Now in its 11th year, it represents ongoing efforts to promote community, celebrate heritage, and increase visibility. Juslyn Manalo notes that the annual event began at the park in 2014 and has since achieved several aims:

• Public Space Reclamation: Held in Marchbank Park, the festival redesigns civic spaces as venues for Filipino American gatherings.

• Cultural Continuum: Activities range from traditional performances such as tinikling to contemporary music, highlighting both heritage and innovation.

• Political Joy: The event serves as an act of remembrance, fostering awareness and resistance to marginalization.

Kasayahan sa Daly City is held every October to commemorate Filipino American History Month, turning local parks like Marchbank Park or Gellert Park into sites for celebrating cultural identity. Daly City has a significant Filipino population, and the festival provides opportunities for community connection and expression of shared history through various activities.

Why Daly City?

In 1984, I immigrated to Montebello in Los Angeles county with my parents and siblings, initially hesitant about adapting to life in the United States. At first, I was reluctant to navigate Los Angeles freeways or pursue employment opportunities, finding the prevailing “American Dream” culture challenging to embrace. The opportunity to relocate to the Bay Area, known for its progressive culture and traditions, marked a turning point. In 1987, I accepted my first paid position in America as a community organizer for Daly City, guided by the personal commitment to serve where members of our community reside.

Daly City has continued to intrigue me over the years. I recall Rex Navarette, Bulletx’s youth intern at West Bay, who humorously referenced Filipino life in Daly City, with jokes such as, “when it’s foggy, you know Filipinos are cooking their rice,” and, “the first words an infant baby learned to speak are ‘dada, dede, Serra Monte.’” These anecdotes reflect both the vibrant spirit and unique cultural identity present within the community.

The film Easter Sunday (2022), starring Filipino American comedian Jo Koy, represents a significant milestone in Hollywood cinema as the first major film to feature a Filipino American family at its center. Set in Daly City—though filmed in Vancouver—the movie uses the city not only as a setting but also as an integral element of the narrative. Jo Koy described the project as a "dream come true" and a valuable opportunity to portray Filipino Americans as protagonists rather than supporting characters. In recognition of his contributions to representation, Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo presented Jo Koy with the key to the city.

During my tenure as a community organizer in Daly City, the San Francisco Examiner published a three-part series highlighting Daly City as "Pinoy Town" or the "New Manila." However, subsequent research revealed that the South of Market neighborhood—now designated as SoMa Pilipinas, the Filipino Cultural Heritage District in the Bay Area—more accurately embodies the character of a Filipino town.

Check my next October reflection's part 5…