San Francisco, California — The Manilatown Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with the San Francisco Maritime Museum, has launched “Flipping the Boat,” a year-long project celebrating Filipino maritime heritage.
The initiative aims to strengthen intergenerational ties within the Filipino American community and reclaim their maritime legacy. Caroline Cabading, the foundation’s executive director, emphasized, “Through ‘Flipping the Boat,’ we seek to revive our maritime heritage and provide a platform for cultural expression and education.”
Since November 2023, the foundation has hosted monthly workshops at the International Hotel Manilatown Center, where participants crafted and decorated miniature boats. These boats, reflecting personal dreams and aspirations, are now displayed in an art installation at the Center.
The project underscores the Filipino community’s historical role as master navigators and boat builders, linking this heritage to current challenges and advocating for increased representation in maritime leadership roles. The workshops also integrated ancestral Philippine art, environmental sustainability, and personal maritime histories.
The initiative will culminate on August 4, 2024, commemorating the 1977 eviction of I-Hotel tenants. The event will include boat launches in Aquatic Park, a walk through historic neighborhoods, and a screening of Curtis Choy’s “The Fall of the I-Hotel.” For more details, visit manilatown.org.
