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Filipino Americans Removed from Resolution about Seattle’s International District

International District Night Market
Photo by Joe Mabel

A resolution supporting the economic development and cultural vitality of Seattle’s International District is causing concern in the Filipino American community.

The resolution unanimously passed the Seattle City Council on August 2. So did a resolution removing a reference to Manilatown, reported the International Examiner.

The amendment read “WHEREAS, the area known as Chinatown/International District (C/ID) includes the neighborhoods of Chinatown, Japantown, historic Manilatown, and Little Saigon.”

Council president Bruce Harrell told Seattlenet the language was changed “based on what we thought was some feedback from the community.” He acknowledged not enough discussion took place with leaders of the Filipino American community.

He said he would introduce a new resolution within a few weeks.

Former Seattle council member Dolores Sibonga was critical of the resolution.

“In doing so, you essentially denied and denigrated my existence and those of Filipino Americans who lived and worked in the ID,” Sibanga said during the public hearing.

A letter from concerned members of the Filipino American community was published in the International Examiner and sent to the City Council. Part of the letter read:

How could the City Council unanimously vote on such a flagrant and racially motivated exclusion to the resolution? Why did the Council resolve to strikethrough Manilatown at Full Council through amendment without dialogue among the Filipino community? This should not have even occurred considering that the council members also sit on multiple commissions for equity and civil rights. The desired city practice of applying a racial equity lens to changes was not engaged. Filipinos do have an active community who celebrates the Carlos Bulosan Memorial on Maynard Ave, the regular patronage of the historic Eastern Café, and we have ongoing Filipino History Walking Tours of the C/ID today. Our community is still alive and celebrating our history, and culture; it is not forgotten by us or others. It should not have been forgotten by the council either. The removal of reference to “historic Manilatown” in the C/ID should have included our voice; instead this reference should have been changed to “historic Filipino Town” within Resolution 31754.

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3 COMMENTS

  1. RE: Filipino Americans Removed from Resolution about Seattle’s International District: Thank you for reporting on this serious matter. Please update the name listed for former council member to “Dolores Sibonga”. I am the coalition leader in the Seattle area pushing for correction. We are sad that bias may have played a role in this, and glad the council recognizes their error against the Filipino American community.

  2. RE: Filipino Americans removed from resolution about Seattle’s International District: You got the Resolution number wrong. It’s 31754

  3. RE: Filipino American Removed from Resolution about Seattle’s International District: I like historic Filipino town… or historic Pinoy town. It eliminates regional/subjective bias on this matter.

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