LA Historic Filipinotown gateway to go up in May

Artist’s rendition of the gateway named “Talang Gabay – Our Guiding Star,” which will span 82 feet across Beverly Boulevard and stand 30 feet in height. CONTRIBUTED

A long-proposed monument-welcome sign will be installed at the eastern gateway to Historic Filipinotown in May to mark Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, according to the Los Angeles Department of Public Works and Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell’s office.

“After many years, countless meetings, and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, I’m proud to share that the Historic Filipinotown Eastern Gateway will be installed and unveiled this spring,” said O’Farrell in a news release. “This beautiful, historic landmark will be a source of pride for the Filipino community, and will rightfully celebrate this vibrant neighborhood and the incredible contributions Filipino Americans make to the City of Los Angeles.”

The gateway named “Talang Gabay – Our Guiding Star,” will span 82 feet across Beverly Boulevard and stand 30 feet in height. The $587,000 structure, which was commissioned by the City of Los Angeles, will include work from Filipino artists Eliseo Art Silva with Celestino Geronimo, Jr., as well as design elements such as the Parol, the Gumamela flower, and the Sarimanok, which are symbols of Filipino culture.

Planning for the landmark dates back nearly two decades, starting in 2003 when current Mayor Eric Garcetti commissioned a study of Historic Filipinotown improvements while serving as 13th District Councilmember. Seed funding for the gateway monument was provided through Council action in 2018 under his successor, O’Farrell.

The monument’s design was made public in June 2020, and construction began off site in March 2021. It will be located on Beverly to the west of Glendale Boulevard, and to the north of Belmont High School.

“Our community finally had a ‘win’ in 2002, when the City Council, under the leadership of then-Councilmember Eric Garcetti, officially designated a 2.5 square mile area just west of downtown Los Angeles as Historic Filipinotown,” said Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal, a member of the Building and Safety Commission.

“Twenty years later, we have another win: a majestic Eastern Gateway to Historic Filipinotown will rise on Beverly Boulevard!”