Six years after a small pandemic-era Facebook group set out to connect Filipino Americans across Southern California, SoCal Filipinos stood inside the State Capitol on August 3 to accept one of the California Legislature’s highest community honors.
The organization was named a Champion of Change during the California State Assembly and Senate’s joint Filipino American History Month celebration, recognizing its work strengthening Filipino American communities throughout the region.
The day started with both chambers adopting resolutions formally designating October as Filipino American History Month. From there, the celebration moved to a community reception at the historic Leland Stanford Mansion, drawing elected officials, community leaders and honorees from across the state. Festivities closed with the lighting of the Capitol dome in observance of the month.
Leading the recognition were Assemblymember Jessica Caloza, the first Filipina elected to the California Legislature, and Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, the first Filipino American elected to the state Senate.
Caloza represents the 52nd Assembly District, covering East Los Angeles, Northeast Los Angeles and South Glendale. Cabaldon represents the 3rd Senate District, which stretches across Napa, Solano and Yolo counties along with parts of Contra Costa, Sacramento and Sonoma counties.
Their presence at the celebration reflects a broader shift underway in California government.
Filipino Americans now hold posts across all three branches of state leadership, following in the footsteps of Attorney General Rob Bonta, the state’s first Filipino American attorney general, and former Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye, who became the first Filipino American and first woman of color to lead California’s Supreme Court.
Nani Coloretti, now Cabinet secretary in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office, has also been described as the highest-ranking Filipino American to serve in the Obama, Biden and Newsom administrations.
SoCal Filipinos shared the Champion of Change honor with a small group of individuals and institutions recognized for shaping Filipino American life in the arts, education, technology and film: Joselyn Geaga Rosenthal, president emerita of the Friends of Echo Park Library and founder of the Carlos Bulosan Book Club; the late Diosdado “Dado” Banatao, the Silicon Valley engineer and entrepreneur widely credited with pioneering breakthroughs in personal computer chip design;
Emil A. De Guzman, former president of the International Hotel Association and president emeritus of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation; and the Manila International Film Festival, recognized for bringing Philippine cinema and Filipino storytellers to wider American audiences.
Founded in 2020, SoCal Filipinos has grown into one of Southern California’s more active Filipino American nonprofits, running cultural programs, community events, scholarships and its New Business Program for Filipino entrepreneurs, reaching thousands of community members each year.
“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from the California State Assembly and Senate,” said Jason Lustina, founder of SoCal Filipinos.
“This award belongs to every volunteer, partner, supporter and community member who has helped build SoCal Filipinos into what it is today. Together, we’ve shown what is possible when we invest in our community and celebrate our shared heritage.”
Lustina also thanked Caloza and Cabaldon for what he called their leadership in keeping Filipino American achievements visible at the highest levels of state government.
“This recognition is not only a celebration of our work over the past six years, but also a reminder that our community’s impact continues to grow,” he said. “We look forward to continuing to create opportunities that connect, empower and uplift Filipino Americans across Southern California.”
The Champions of Change honors are presented annually as part of the Legislature’s observance of Filipino American History Month, marking the contributions of Filipino Americans to California and the nation.
SoCal Filipinos is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Southern California that organizes cultural programming, community events and scholarships aimed at connecting and empowering the region’s Filipino American community.
SoCal Filipinos founder Jason Lustina received The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA) national honor in the Arts & Culture category in 2023, during the 13th annual TOFA gala held in Los Angeles.
