The Land Marking of the Mint Mall and Hall and Remembering Bulletx Marasigan

A Past Revisited, Connecting the Dots, part 21

The Land Marking of the Mint Mall and Hall and Remembering Bulletx Marasigan

On September 3,2025, the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission unanimously voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors designate the Mint Mall and Hall at 951-957 Mission Street as an individual Article 10 Landmark in accordance with section 1004.2 of the planning code.

The Mint Mall (basement, ground floor, and mezzanine) and Hall (upper residential floors) are identified as culturally significant and have a notable population of Filipino residents. Situated within SoMa Pilipinas, which is officially recognized by both the City and State as the Filipino Cultural Heritage District, the property has housed various Filipino cultural and arts organizations, community-serving non-profits, and small businesses throughout its history. It is a site associated with intangible cultural heritage.

The landmarking initiative was led by SoMCan (SoMa Action Network) and SoMa Pilipinas, with support from both current and former tenants of the Mint Mall and Hall who delivered statements and shared testimonies regarding the location's significance.

During my opportunity to address the Commissioners, I reflected on Bulletx Marasigan, an esteemed friend. Drawing upon her narrative, I presented the following:

There is a meaningful account that encapsulates the importance of the Mint Mall and Hall within SoMa Pilipinas.

In 1990, the United States Congress enacted the Immigration Act, which included a provision permitting Filipino World War II veterans who had served under U.S. command to apply for U.S. citizenship, regardless of their residence in the Philippines.

This provision represented a notable departure from standard immigration law, which generally required applicants to reside in the United States to qualify for naturalization. The waiver was intended to recognize the veterans’ military service and to serve as a corrective measure following the Rescission Act of 1946, which had previously revoked their U.S. veteran status and associated benefits.

Following the announcement of this special provision, many families of World War II veterans arranged for their elderly relatives to travel to the United States to take advantage of this unique opportunity. A significant number of these veterans settled in the South of Market area in San Francisco.

A veteran once arrived at San Francisco International Airport without any friends or relatives to greet him. Disoriented from his journey and unfamiliar with his surroundings, he opted to remain at the airport. As the crowds passed by, he rested on a couch in the waiting area. After several hours, two airport employees approached and inquired about his destination. The gentleman explained that he was a World War II veteran seeking to begin a new life in America, though he admitted to knowing no one in the country. The staff members, both of Filipino descent, were able to converse with him in his native language.

Recognizing that it was getting late and that overnight stays were not permitted at the airport, they advised him to take a SamTrans bus to downtown San Francisco, specifically South of Market, where he could potentially connect with fellow Filipinos for assistance.

They escorted him onto the SamTrans bus, providing the driver with instructions to let him off at 5th and Mission Street. He was then directed to proceed toward Mint Mall, located just past the Chronicle building. Upon arrival, he introduced himself to the Filipinos gathered at the entrance as a World War II veteran. The community, moved by his story, brought him to a residence shared by four other veterans. Despite being strangers, his fellow veterans welcomed him warmly, inviting him to live with them in their modest accommodation at Mint Hall.

This narrative illustrates the Filipino value of Kapwa, which can be translated as a sense of shared identity and interconnectedness among individuals.

Designating the Mint Mall and Hall as landmarks symbolizes the authentic embodiment of Filipino virtues such as Kapwa (shared identity), bayanihan (collective community effort), and malasakit (compassion and concern for others) for current and future generations.

During the public hearing, I did not disclose that Mint Hall’s veteran narrative was originally shared in the recorded interview of Bulletx Marasigan conducted by the Wildflower Institute’s Studies 2000 Project. The Wildflower Institute’s Studies 2000 played a significant role in helping our community identify cultural patterns and articulate ethical virtues and values. In the interview, Bulletx described the veteran's journey from the airport to Mint Hall to illustrate the concept of kapwa.

Bulletx and I collaborated on various non-profit initiatives in San Francisco. We both served as staff members for the Pilipino Early Intervention Program, the West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center in San Francisco, and the Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center (PBRC) in Daly City. While at West Bay, with our office located in Mint Mall, we developed the philosophy “Kapwa Natin, Pananagutan Natin,” which translates to “Our Community, Our

Responsibility,” as a guiding principle for our programs and services.

Congratulations to our community! Kudos to SoMCan and SoMa Pilipinas! Mabuhay!

Posted: Facebook Series 9/3/2025