☀️ BE FREE FESTIVAL
Come eat, drink, shop, and vibe in the heart of SOMA Pilipinas.
Saturday, June 8, 2024
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
The Be Free Festival in San Francisco's SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District is a neighborhood crawl, an annual celebration that showcases the vibrant Filipino culture and the community of Artists, Creatives, Community Builders & Entreprenuers —
SOMA Pilipinas' lively atmosphere makes this a great opportunity for the #BAYAREA Filipino community and our friends to celebrate our culture and heritage.
21+ QUEER JAM SESSIONS AT EXECUTIVE ORDER, 12PM-6PM,
Celebrating Queer Filipinos. PERIOD.
Curated by Charito (Of ASTRALOGIK) & Hosted by Willa (Of Highly Human) featuring Doctor Xingon & Genesis Fermin, Leon Cruz, Pinay Voltron, Kita Mahal & DJ Fibonacci.
Join us for an unforgettable day of Pride!
LOCATIONS
12 venues to eat, drink, dance, shop, learn, connect & explore.
Each of these locations will feature different activities & entertainment, from traditional music and dance performances, contemporary art galleries to Filipino food tastings and cultural exhibitions.
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1. Kapwa Gardens
Shopping, Food & Performances
Kapwa Gardens | 967 Mission Street -
2. The George
Shopping & Food Truck
434 Minna @ Marty St -
3. Bituin Studio
Art Gallery
445 Natoma -
4. Balay Kreative
Open Studios & Art Workshops
863 Mission Street -
5. Executive Order
Drinks, Food & Performances
868 Mission Street -
6. Sentro Filipino
Hinabi Ilocos Textile Exhibit
814 Mission Street -
7. City College Mural
Art Mural
4th & Mission Street -
8. Izzy & Wooks
Restaurant
The Metreon | 155 4th Street
4th between Mission and Howard Street -
9. SIGLAthon
Outdoor Health and Wellness event featuring a 5K and Senior Mile Race
Mabini & Bonifacio Streets -
10. Sarap Shop
Restaurant
171 Stillman Street -
11. MESTIZA
Restaurant
214 Townsend Street -
12. Victory Hall
Craft Cocktail Bar
360 Ritch Street
Tour SOMA Pilipinas
MAHAL
JEEPNEY
MAP
The Mahal Jeepney is a 1948 model Willy that was donated to SOMA Pilipinas by Toro y Moi.
The Mahal Jeepney was a feature and namesake of Chaz’s 2022 album project Mahal.
Mahal Jeepney is street legal and will be used to offer crawl stops to community members and visitors a tour throughout SOMA Pilipinas every hour during the Be Free Festival.
*Mahal Jeepney will go to each stop around every hour. Seating is limited, first-come first-served.
21+ VICTORY HALL, 5:30PM - 8:00PM
JOIN US AT THE OFFICIAL
BE FREE AFTERPARTY!
Nestled in the fabled 360 Ritch Street alley, Victory Hall is a craft cocktail bar and event venue giving a pulse to San Francisco's SOMA South Beach neighborhood.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are looking for volunteers! Let’s lend a hand for one another in making Be Free Festival accessible.
SUPPORT FILIPINO OWNED BUSINESSES
FOOD & BEVERAGE
CRAWL SCHEDULE
CRAWL SCHEDULE
CRAWL SCHEDULE
KAPWA GARDENS
Kapwa Gardens,
967 Mission St
Food/Vendor Marketplace, 12p-6p
Join us and let’s celebrate Philippine independence & Pride month! Hosted at the vibrant Kapwa Gardens and The George, we are so excited to bring a marketplace filled with immersive experiences, live performances, and a showcase of local talent.
Emcee: Johan Casal, Kuya John Productions
Live Music & Performances:
Enjoy a diverse lineup of artists and performers, bringing you the best of local and international music, dance, and entertainment.
SCHEDULE:
12:00 PM - Event Starts
12:30 PM - Don Miralles, Multidisciplinary Artist, Singer Songwriter and Creative Director, San Francisco, CA.
1:00 PM - Gabriela South, Indie folk-pop identity of Filipino songwriter Jolo Merilleno
1:30 PM - Drag Performance
2:00 PM - Kulintang Dialect
2:30 PM - Jazzy, Jazzy is a multifaceted artist, open-format DJ, and a founding member of LADIES 1st DJ CLUB.
3:30 PM - Mabuhay Gardens , an interdisciplinary Experimental-Pop band, bloomed in 2015 as a solo project by Solitaire M. on Soundcloud, later joined by Mike S. in 2023.
4:00 PM - Drag Performance
4:30 PM - NA$TALIE, Filipina Bay Area native NA$TALIE (Krista Natalie) is making waves in the open format DJ scene, with a deep passion for house, hip-hop/R&B and the occasional OPM banger.
Featured Retailer:
araw-araw, Avenoir Co, Bambuhay, Chorva Co., Johny Carino Marquez, Katha Collection, Mie Makes, Native Sol, PamanaTreasures, studio damili
Community Organizations:
Legacy, Filipino Martial Arts, Malaya Movement SF, Reimagination Farm
Food & Drinks:
Savor delicious food and beverages from an array of local vendors, offering everything from gourmet bites to refreshing drinks.
THE GEORGE
434 Minna @ Marty St
Marketplace, 12p-6p
Stop by, lounge relax and shop at The George . Discover unique, handcrafted goods and support local businesses at our vibrant marketplace. It’s the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind treasures.
Featured Vendors:
Arkipelago Books
Bayani Art
Hey Lay!
Kapuwaco
Kristian Kabuay Art
MicheleDraws
PinoyShotArt / Still Balanced
Pusong Likha
Ugat Clothing
BITUIN STUDIO
445 Natoma
“ARAW NG KALAYAAN / DAY OF FREEDOM” Art Gallery, 12p-6p
Araw ng Kalayaan,' a multi-medium group art exhibit celebrating Filipino/a/x artists in the Bay Area. Explore narratives of freedom and Filipino/a/x creativity. An innovative expression of Filipino identity through sculpture, painting, photography, film, performance art, and more.
Featuring Artists:
Saint | Jenn Ban | Jerome Noveras | Chi Chai | Bangka Journey | Kristian Kabuay | Julia Solano | Kali Canedo | David San Miguel | Gabriel Rocamora | Nic Elisa Hampton | Jean Teodoro | Jy Jimmie Gabiola | Papatson Suphavai | Amanda Messina Gerodias | Rinna San Gabriel | Chelsea Marlayne Macalino-Calalay | Iggy Mora | Ian Ibalong & More
BALAY KREATIVE
Balay Kreative,
863 Mission St
Open Studios, 12p-5:30p
Balay Kreative's Open Studios showcases a wide array of resident artists and creatives from multiple disciplines. Step into their working environments for a glimpse into their artistic methods and creative processes. Their work, which blends culture, creativity, and liberation, sparks inspiration and imagination within the community. Interested in joining our Balay Kreative community? This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about our team, space, and Kreative Growth program.
The Open Studios event offers a carefully curated experience, featuring:
FREE Interactive Photobooth | 12p-5p
Step into the spotlight at our Open Studios! Capture memories and create fun moments with our interactive photobooth – capture candid, posed and portrait experience with your kapwa!
Unlock your creative potential with our 2024 Kreative Growth Grants! 2p-3p
Gain insider insights and guidance tailored to enhance your application, no matter your artistic pursuit. This session is your chance to engage directly with us, pose your questions, and clarify any doubts about eligibility.
This Info session will take place during our Open Studios at Be Free Festival.
Weaving Freedom: A Community Offering by Diwa Malaya | 4p-5p
In this workshop, we are going to learn about weaving, not just as an artistic expression, but also as a compass to our pursuit of freedom. Diwa will take us on a journey of (re)membering through questioning, shedding, healing and dreaming. As we learn stories of weaving in the Philippines, we will also weave together tropical fibers, fabric scraps, found objects and recycled materials (supplies provided). Our intention is to create a container where we can better understand our relationship with weaves so that we can consciously partake in revitalizing weaving in the motherland.
We are inviting our kapwa who feel called to connect with their Filipin* roots grounded in the ways of our ancestors, waves of our movements, and webs of social realities. Come with an open heartmind and let’s weave our freedom together!
*This workshop is an introduction to the Weaving Workshop Series (frame loom, backstrap loom, pedal loom and indigo dyeing)
EXECUTIVE ORDER
Executive Order
868 Mission Street
Queer Jam Sessions, 12p-5p
Celebrating Queer Filipinos. PERIOD. Music. Drinks. Grooving & Vibing!
Queer Jam Sessions curated by Charito and Tone.
Live Music, Singing, DJ sets by these beautiful souls 💫☀️
Curated by Charito (Of ASTRALOGIK)
Hosted by Willa (Of Highly Human)
Featuring Doctor Xingon & Genesis Fermin, Leon Cruz, Pinay Voltron, Kita Mahal , Nutasha, & DJ Fibonacci.
Oracle Readings by Midori
Join us for an unforgettable evening of Pride!
SENTRO FILIPINO
Sentro Filipino
814 Mission St
Hinabi Project: “Inabel: Weaving of the Ilocos Exhibit”, 12p-6p
Come preview pieces from The Hinabi Project’s upcoming textile exhibit:
Inabel: Weaving of the Ilocos
And check out: Books from PAWA (Philippine American Writers and Artists), Textiles from THP, Edibles, Clothing, and Artisanal Work from Community Vendors.
The Hinabi Project: The Art of Philippine Textile seeks to increase awareness of and appreciation for the exquisite and rich tradition of Philippine weavings and textiles. The project aims to encourage the families of weavers, embroiderers, and designers of traditional Filipino textiles to continue working on their crafts by supporting sustainable household economies and their incorporation into the culture industries. Through these efforts, the project hopes it will inspire Filipinos at home and overseas to rediscover their rich textile heritage and incorporate aspects of this heritage in their modern lifestyle, thereby ensuring the continuation of a living culture and related craft industries.
Toward these goals, The Hinabi Project has introduced to the San Francisco public an exhibit of textile arts by artisan families who produce fabrics from pineapple fiber and textile produced from abaca (musa textilis) as part of itson-going awareness program.
CITY COLLEGE MURAL
4th & Mission Street
Map
TAYO AY PINAGTAGPI / WE ARE WOVEN TOGETHER
Tayo Ay Pinagtagpi: We Are Woven Together, by Andre (Dre) Sibayan, was installed in May 2024.
The textures, iconography, patterns, and vibrant colors tell a story of pride, struggle, joy, and beauty that is the unique tapestry of Filipinx pride and SOMA Pilipinas.
Tayo Ay Pinagtagpi (graphic laser print on vinyl) covers the façade of City College of San Francisco’s Downtown Center.
Sibayan is a multidisciplinary creative born and raised in the Bay Area. Working professionally as both an illustrator and designer for more than 20 years, his artistic style is a mix of colorful illustrative and graphic elements woven together through thoughtful storytelling. Working in both traditional and digital mediums, his work engages the viewer with both bold simplicity and detailed subtlety. His graphically illustrative style blurs the line between graphic design and fine art. He is also the Creative Director of Kultivate Labs.
This project was made possible by the Yerba Buena Community Benefit District, City College of San Francisco, Moscone Center, and SOMA Pilipinas.
IZZY & WOOKS
4th & Mission Street
Asian American Fusion Restaurant, 12p-6p
Izzy & Wooks serves traditional American sandwiches made with the beloved ingredients from our Asian-American pantry. Stop in to try a few of our best-sellers in smaller “Be Free” portions so you can try more than one!
Speciality Menu:
Crispy Cauliflower ($6) - Crispy, pickled Cauliflower with a side of our vegan Edamame Calamansi Green Goddess sauce
Mini Izzy Truff Smash Burger ($7.50) - Our take on the Oklahoma Smash. One 3oz patty of House-ground Short Rib and Beef Chuck patties, smashed on the flat top with grilled banana ketchup onions. Served on a potato bun, topped with American cheese, Izzy Sauce and pickles.
Manny’s Way ($9) - with a crispy cheese halo
Crispy Chicken Skin ($9.50)
Chicken Sisig Fries ($7.50) - Our battered fries topped with shredded cheese, chicken sisig (chopped chicken marinated in soy and calamansi), chopped spicy peppers, Izzy Sauce, black sesame seeds and 2 blistered shishito peppers.
Chicken Sisig Fries ($7.50) - Our battered fries topped with shredded cheese, chicken sisig (chopped chicken marinated in soy and calamansi), chopped spicy peppers, Izzy Sauce, black sesame seeds and 2 blistered shishito peppers.
Calamansi Agua Fresca ($3) - A refreshing blend of Calamansi, Tangerine, Pineapple, and Mint. (10oz)
SIGLATHON
Mabini & Bonifacio Streets
RUN AND WALK Wellness Event, 9:30AM - 2:00PM
SIGLAthon, a FREE, three-hour outdoor health and wellness event will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024 in SOMA Slow Streets (Mabini, Bonifacio, Lapu Lapu, Rizal, and Tandang Sora Streets).
The word “sigla” translates from Filipino as “vitality” or “vigor.” SIGLAthon aims to bring out multi-generational low-income immigrants and POC residents, workers, and visitors to join a day of fun activities that promotes active living, healthy eating, and utilization of Slow Streets designated areas.
Part of the event will be a 5K (3-mile) and Senior Mile race in which participants walk or run with their neighbors, family, and community members around SOMA Slow Streets.
Organizations providing health services, relevant programs to our attendees, and/or activities will be tabling to provide information and resources to all the attendees.
On the day of the event, participants who registered for the race will receive race bibs with timing chips. Custom designed SIGLAthon medals will be given to race finishers. SIGLAthon trophies will be awarded to overall top finishers by race distance/category and age group determined by the participant’s chip time. There will be aid stations with water for participants during the race.
Though there are already numerous running events that occur in San Francisco each year and SOMCAN already coordinates numerous physical activity workshops, we wanted to organize an event that will introduce the experience of participating in a race but one that is thoughtful of all age groups and sensitive to an individual’s ability to move, including income (since running events have a registration fee). In addition, we want to continue utilizing the SOMA Slow Streets corridor that was fought for by residents, stakeholders, over 10 organizations, SOMCAN’s Community Health Ambassadors, and led by SOMCAN as part of our Policies, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) strategy campaign.
Schedule:
9:30AM: Bib and T-Shirt Pick Up
10:00AM: Event Starts
10:15AM: Assemble for Senior Mile Race
10:30AM: Senior Mile Race Starts
10:30AM: Assemble for 5K Race
10:40AM: 5K Race Starts
12:00PM: Awards
12:00PM - 2:00PM: Activities, Resource Tables, etc.
SARAP SHOP
171 Stillman St
Plant Forward Filipino American Comfort Food, 12p-6p
The Sarap Shop is proudly a family-owned, Bay Area-based cafe, caterer, and creative food studio. We specialize in inclusive first-gen Filipino comfort food + products + experiences, featuring lots of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. We are best known for our Sisig Carbonara, Halo Halo Milk Tea, Sea Salt Leche Flan Coffee, & Longanisa Dirty Dog, we are also the first to bring vegan Lumpia to market with Impossible Foods. Visit us in San Francisco in our history making stand at the Golden State Warriors Chase Center Arena, and in our new HQ in the SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural District. Celebrate the heart of Filipino food, culture, and hospitality through our feel-good flavors!
Be Free Promotions
We will be running our special Halo Halo Snow Ice — creamy snow ice ribbons mixed with ube, coconut jelly, jackfruit and red beans, drizzled with condensed milk and topped with crunchy pinipig (toasted rice). Usually this special is only available on our catering menu but we are bringing it to Be Free!
BOGO Party Time Lumpia — buy one get one deal of our Party Time Lumpia, our vegan take on the classic Lumpiang Shanghai.
Other menu items to try that day from our regular menu:
Lechon Sisig Carbonara — Spaghetti noodles tossed in our housemade creamy and dreamy carbonara sauce. Topped with roasted pork belly sisig, longanisa bacon bits, and shaved parmesan.
Tofu Sisig Carbonara 🌱(veg) — Spaghetti noodles tossed in our house creamy and dreamy carbonara sauce. Topped with shaved parmesan and our best selling tofu sisig, a garlicky, citrusy, spicy stir-fry.
My BFF’s Fried Chicken Rice Bowl 🌾 (now gluten free!) — Juicy breaded and boneless, halal chicken strips tossed in a sweet Filipino banana BBQ sauce. Served as a rice bowl with fluffy white jasmine rice and pickled vegetables.
Kare Kare Dan Dan Noodles 🍃 (v) — Chewy noodles topped with caramelized Impossible™ ground “beef” sauteéd in a creamy Chinoy spiced nut-free (but still v nutty!) Kare Kare sauce. Served with blistered long beans, bok choy, and eggplant.
Halo Halo Milktea 🍃🌾 (v, gf) — inspired by cereal milk, we infused this drink with our favorite nostalgic flavors from the popular Filipino dessert, Halo-Halo. Enjoy hints of ube, flan, tropical fruits, red bean, and more.
MESTIZA
214 Townsend St
Plant Forward Filipino Fusion Restaurant, 12p-6p
Visit this small takeout-friendly SoMa restaurant for plant-forward riffs on Filipino classics and stunning kamayan spreads — though there are meaty dishes on the menu too. It’s a comeback for Mestiza owner Deanna Sison who closed the first iteration of her restaurant in 2020 and now returns in a new space with chef Syl Mislang at her side. Order sweet potato-stuffed lumpia, calabasa coconut curry with aji verde, and a vegan version of sisig made with mushroom tempeh.
Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Be Free Sangria
Hot Chili Freeze Soft Serve ($5)
Pork Adobo Bowl or Mushroom Sisig Bowl - with jasmine rice, pickled red onion, garlic chips, green onion
Delicious things to try from our Regular Menu:
Roti Wraps - Braised Pork Adobo Wrap w/ garlic rice, shaved cabbages, pickle red onion, chopped kale, roti wrap
Sweet Potato Lumpia - with shaved Brussels, water chestnut and Island Sauce
Skewers - Chicken Inisal w Red Cabbage Slaw
VICTORY HALL
360 Rich St
The Official After Party, 530PM - 8:30PM
DJ: TBD
Nestled in the fabled Ritch Street alley, Victory Hall is a craft cocktail bar and event venue giving a pulse to San Francisco's SOMA South Beach neighborhood.
Happy Hour Cocktails:
- $10 Pineapple Ginger Mojito
- $10 Be Free Mango Margaritas
Draft Special:
- $5 SARAP! Calamansi Pilsner
