Day 201: Filipino American Community Hall, Bainbridge Island, Washington
📌APIA Every Day (201) - Located on Bainbridge Island, Washington, is the Filipino American Community Hall, established in 1943 and originating from the 1928 Bainbridge Island Fair Hall. In 1935, the Filipino Growers Association acquired the 10-acre property, including the hall built with lumber from the Port Blakely Mill. During World War II, Filipino farm workers managed farms after Japanese American residents were forcibly removed. In 1945, Filipino farmers incorporated as the Bainbridge Island Filipino Farmers' Association, later transferring the hall to the Filipino American Community of Bainbridge Island and Vicinity.
As the hall became a center for Filipino culture, it also took on special importance for a unique community that emerged on the island. The Filipino American Community Hall holds particular significance for the Indipino community, a group that emerged from marriages between Filipino immigrant workers and Indigenous women from various tribes who came to work on the island's farms in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The children of these unions faced challenges of identity and acceptance in pre- and post-World War II society, making the hall an essential gathering place that fostered cultural connections and provided much-needed support.
As a focal point for cultural preservation, the hall became a safe haven where Indipino individuals could explore and celebrate their dual heritage. It offered a space where they could connect with their Filipino roots through traditional cuisine, music, and dance, while also acknowledging their Indigenous ancestry. This cultural blend was particularly important for a community that often struggled to find its place in the broader social landscape of the time.
Despite challenges, including the U.S. government acquiring part of the property in the 1960s for an Army Nike site (later converted to Strawberry Hill Park), the hall continued to serve as an important cultural landmark. Its historical significance was recognized in 1995 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the Filipino American Community Hall continues to play a vital role in preserving and sharing Filipino and Indipino culture. On September 14th, 2024, attendees of the National APIAHiP Forum visited the hall, where they met Gina Corpuz, the hall's Project Administrator and Executive Producer of "Honor Thy Mother." Corpuz, an Indipino native of Bainbridge Island, shared the hall's history and significance. Visitors also viewed a traveling exhibit featuring posters explaining the history of Filipino migration to the U.S. and experiences on Bainbridge Island.
LEARN MORE:
Indopino Community of Bainbridge Island: The Filipino Hall
Bainbridge History Museum: Filipino American
Post Alley | Seattle: Honor Thy Mother
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