Filipino center on California’s Central Coast keeps culture alive

The San Luis Obispo, California organization was formed in 1945, just after World War II, with this physical center coming years later.

The Filipino Community Center In Grover Beach on California’s Central Coast has been preserving Filipino culture, especially among younger American-born generations, since 1945.

“For most Filipinos, this center is actually home away from home,” the center’s president, Abraham Garces, told Genelle Padilla of KSBY.

“Most of us are Filipino-Americans, but still we would like to maintain and preserve our Filipino way of life,” explains Garces.

The San Luis Obispo, California organization was formed in 1945, just after World War II, with the physical center coming years later. It has served as a gathering place to socialize and share cultural traditions for several generations.

“Most of us are Filipino-Americans, but still we would like to maintain and preserve our Filipino way of life,” explains Abraham Garces, the center’s president. SCREENSHOT

Older generations often struggle to  keep traditions alive with their U.S.-born and raised children and grandchildren.

“People know us by our food, pancit and lumpia, but they don’t quite know how rich our heritage is and our culture is,” said Jasmine Carranza, Boys & Girls Clubs of South San Luis Obispo County, Resource Development Coordinator.

 “We would like to be a part of the bigger for the American community, and we would like to be recognized. And we would like to have our own identity as Filipinos,” Garces adds.