This week’s column is dedicated to the memory of Anthony Cruz Legarda, a dear friend who passed away in Manila on August 22, 2026. Anthony was one of our community’s luminous champions of cultural empowerment, first rising to prominence with his groundbreaking showcase in 2000, “Arkiteknik: Visionaries, Designers, and Builders of America’s New Cultural Landscape.” He went on to earn widespread acclaim and awards for his visionary work in Philippine textiles, passionately championing indigenous weaves, natural dyes, and modern innovations alongside partners such as The Hinabi Project (where he was a co-founder, https://www.thehinabiproject.org/) and the Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI). A memorial Mass celebrating Anthony’s life and legacy will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Robert’s Catholic Church, located at 1380 Crystal Springs Road in San Bruno, California, with Fr. Arnold Zamora officiating.
OCTOBER 17–18, 2026: FilBookFest 8, the Filipino American International Book Festival, returns for its eighth iteration, continuing its legacy as the largest Filipino American literary festival in the United States. Held during Filipino American History Month, FilBookFest brings together an exciting array of writers, scholars, and creatives from across the globe—including the U.S., Canada, and the Philippines—at the iconic San Francisco Public Library. Organizers have also issued a call for volunteers. For more information, visit https://filbookfestival.org/.
OCTOBER 24, 2026: Filipino-American Voice United (FAVU), in partnership with the Caring Hearts Foundation, Inc., presents the 5th Larry Itliong Leadership Awards: A Dinner & Dance on Saturday, October 24, 2026, starting at 6:00 pm.
Held at Sentro Filipino: The San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center (814 Mission St, San Francisco), this evening of celebration honors community leaders Gayle Romasanta, Juslyn Manalo, Al Perez, and Dorie C. Paniza. Guests will enjoy live musical entertainment by D’Naturalz Live Band featuring Arlene “ARRIELLE” Fernandez. Attire is Filipiniana or semi-formal, and dinner tickets are $100. For tickets and inquiries, contact Juanita Nimfa Yamsuan Gamez at (510) 714-6071.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero (5 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA): It’s that time of the year to give back! Join Philippine International Aid as they celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special performance by Martin Nievera & Friends. Giving Hope to the Children 2026: Holiday Bazaar starts at 10:00 am. Luncheon and Show starts at 12:00 noon. Ticket cost is $200. Buy your tickets now: https://phil-aid.org/giving-hope-2026.html#buy-tickets
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OCTOBER 3, 2026
EVENT TITLE: Filipino Island Fest: Rooted Here. Culture that grounds us. Community that grows us.
TYPE OF EVENT: in-person
ORGANIZER(S): Malaya Collective and Partners
WHAT: outdoor festival
DESCRIPTION: Celebrate Filipino culture with food, music, dance & island vibes at the 3rd Annual Filipino Island Fest! Last year, more than 30,000 people joined us on the waterfront to celebrate Filipino culture through food, music, art, entrepreneurship, and community. This year, for the first time, Filipino Island Fest will be a ticketed event. Every ticket purchased helps support Filipino artists, musicians, performers, small businesses, cultural programming, and the continued growth of one of the largest Filipino cultural celebrations in the country. The festival’s community partner is Filipino Advocates for Justice.
WHEN: Saturday, October 3, 2026
WHERE: Alameda Waterfront Park
2151 Ferry Point, Alameda, CA
WHAT TIME: 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
HOW MUCH: From FREE to assorted ticket levels.
RSVP LINK: https://www.filipinoislandfest.com/
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OCTOBER 24, 2026
EVENT TITLE: UNDSCVRD Golden Hour Night Market
TYPE OF EVENT: in-person
ORGANIZER(S): Kultivate Labs, UNDSCVRD SF, and partners
WHAT: A night market
DESCRIPTION: 10 years ago, Undiscovered started the trend of night markets (hosted by the Filipino American community). For their 10th anniversary, they’re bringing the night market back to Ritch Street, between Townsend and Brannan, for the first time since 2019. Eat your way through the market, shop retail vendors, catch DJ sets, and step inside Victory Hall for a special exhibition honoring the history of 330 Ritch, the legendary nightclub that once made this block pulse after dark. Anchored by Mestiza and Victory Hall, UNDSCVRD Golden Hour Night Market is an intimate but electric return: a celebration of ten years of Undiscovered, the flavors of our community, and the people who keep this district moving.
WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2026
WHERE: 330 Ritch Street, San Francisco, CA
WHAT TIME: 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
HOW MUCH: From FREE to assorted ticket levels at RSVP link.
RSVP LINK: https://luma.com/raipa01b
WEBSITE: Instagram @undscvrd
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NOVEMBER 7, 2026
EVENT TITLE: Two Films. One Manilatown Legacy.
TYPE OF EVENT: in-person
ORGANIZER(S): Manilatown Heritage Foundation + SOMA Pilipinas, partial funding from the San Francisco Arts Commission, in partnership with San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
WHAT: A special double-feature film premiere at SFMOMA
DESCRIPTION: Experience the living legacy of San Francisco’s Manilatown and the International Hotel on the big screen. The Manilatown Heritage Foundation presents the SF premiere of the newly restored, landmark 1983 documentary The Fall of the I-Hotel by Curtis Choy, alongside Manilatown Manang, which spotlights artist, activist, and 1970s anti-eviction Tenant Defender Jeanette Gandionco Lazam. The double feature is part of DEKADA, celebrating ten years of cultural preservation in SOMA Pilipinas, the city and state-recognized Filipino Cultural Heritage District. A community conversation with Curtis Choy, Jeanette Lazam, and the filmmakers follows the screenings.
WHEN: Saturday, November 7, 2026
WHERE: Phyllis Wattis Theater, SFMOMA
151 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
WHAT TIME: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm (estimated)
HOW MUCH: FREE. Suggested donations appreciated.
RSVP BY: Reserve your seat in advance.
RSVP TO: Inquiries only at [email protected]
RSVP LINK: https://tinyurl.com/twofilms11072026 (Eventbrite)
WEBSITE: https://www.manilatown.org/
This Filipino community events announcement column is a community service project spearheaded by Lorna Lardizabal Dietz, an edited content curation of chosen events organized by community-based organizations and community events that benefit our diverse communities.
NOTE: I excluded the November 8, 2026 event from the printed publication of The Filipino American Post due to space requirements. The social media version of my events announcement column is the full version (unedited).
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