SoCal Filipinos, the fast-growing nonprofit that began as a Facebook group connecting Filipino Americans in Southern California at the height of the pandemic, is marking its anniversary with a gala celebration spotlighting community, culture and collaboration.
Founded on June 18, 2020 by Los Angeles-based community organizer and content creator Jason Lustina, the group has quickly evolved into a 501(c)(3) network that produces events, panels and digital content for Filipinos across the region.
What started as an online space for Filipinos who felt isolated during lockdown has become a year-round hub for information-sharing, business spotlights and cultural programming. Through its website and social channels, SoCal Filipinos now connects members to workshops, community forums, and features on Filipino-owned restaurants and small businesses, helping raise visibility for the diaspora in Greater Los Angeles and beyond.
Lustina, who serves as founder and CEO of SoCal Filipinos, created the platform to “unite Filipino Americans” by curating meaningful content, live events and partnerships that center community stories. Based in the Los Angeles area, he has expanded his work into the broader Kababayan Network, continuing to build bridges among Filipino Americans through interviews, collaborations with other Filipino-led media, and coverage that celebrates both emerging and established talent.
Under Lustina’s leadership, SoCal Filipinos has scored several notable milestones in just a few years. The group formalized as a nonprofit organization, partnered with Filipino American chambers and community groups for educational panels, and produced video features highlighting local eateries and creatives, including a recent spotlight on Manila Inasal, one of Los Angeles’ newest Filipino restaurants. Its interactive events, such as online forums and culture-focused programs with other Filipino media platforms, have also amplified conversations around Filipino food, identity and representation.
For many Southern California Filipinos, the anniversary gala underscores why Lustina and his organization matter: they offer a consistent, accessible space to see Filipino culture reflected in everyday life, whether on social media, at networking mixers or at community stages. By spotlighting local leaders, entrepreneurs and artists, SoCal Filipinos has helped nurture a sense of belonging in a sprawling region where Filipino Americans remain one of the largest Asian communities.
In recognition of his work in community building and digital engagement, Lustina was honored as a TOFA awardee in 2023 during The Outstanding Filipino Awards’ 13th annual gala in Los Angeles, where Filipino “global trailblazers” from media, public service and the arts were celebrated.
