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Volume 13, Issue #3. Published on February 28, 2005
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Manilatown Rises Again!
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Noe Sacoco Jr.
Asian Pacific Review
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The Chinese have their Chinatowns and Hispanics have their Barrios. Filipinos had a Manilatown in San Francisco until city officials demolished the area for redevelopment.
The International Hotel (I-Hotel) was located at Kearny and Jackson streets in San Francisco and was initially built in the late 1800's as a high-class hotel.
The I-Hotel was situated in the core of San Francisco's Manilatown; a ten block area for 10,000 immigrants. Pool and dance halls, restaurants and barbershops surrounded the area.
The I-Hotel symbolized a family-like atmosphere for many elderly Filipinos. The building served as a home to manongs (elderly men), veteranos (WWII veterans), farm workers and cooks. The I-Hotel served as a cultural community for the elderly who did not have family.
In the 1960's, the financial district started expanding, evicting poor tenants and demolishing low income hotels to make room for redevelopment. In 1968, Milton Meyer Company bought the I-Hotel and attempted to evict the tenants in order to build a multi-level parking lot.
The company was not successful in demolishing the I-Hotel. Over time, the ten-block Manilatown was chiseled away until only a one-block area remained.
With rent increasing up to 200% and countless battles with city officials, the tenants sought to defend themselves. On Aug. 4, 1977, about 400 police officers broke through a human barricade of 2,000 protesters to seize the I-Hotel, that marked the end of a nine-year struggle for the property.
As documented in Curtis Choy's film "The Fall of the I-Hotel" the night of Aug. 4, featured powerful activism and barbaric police brutality.
Inspired by the spirit of the I-Hotel struggle, the Manilatown Heritage Foundation was established. It's mission, to foster community development and share the Filipino American history.
After several decades, a new Manilatown Center will be built on the ground floor of a 15 story new I-Hotel Senior Housing. The new Hotel will combine much needed, housing, social services and cultural programs to both residents and the broader community.
The I-Hotel kept a multitude of manongs safe within its walls, created wonders for locals and was a place for young and old to congregate.
Fortunately, the future looks positive for the I-Hotel; preserving and restoring its unique history is essential.
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