08 November 2004 – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood of the City of San Jose, California recently approved the motion to change the name of the Northside Community Center to Jacinto “Tony” Siguig Northside Community Center in honor and recognition of the role of the late Mr. Jacinto Siguig, one of the founding fathers of the Filipino American Senior Opportunities Development Council and Northside Community Center.

“Naming the Northside Community Center after Mr. Siguig was most fitting since he was the first Executive Director of the Center, as well as the visionary of the Golden Dream. He envisioned the center to be a single point of entry where all seniors—Filipinos and other nationalities—could receive their entitlements, benefits and services,” Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez said.

The Filipino community in San Jose led by Mr. Rudy Nasol, Trustee of the Berryessa Union School District, and San Jose City Mayor Ron Gonzales recognized Mr. Siguig’s contributions not only to the Center and the Filipino-American community in the area, but also to the City of San Jose and all immigrant communities.

Mr. Siguig, who died in March 2002, immigrated to the United States and became one of the most successful farmers in the area even at a time when Filipinos were not allowed to own lands at that time. In 1970, realizing that most of the first Filipino pioneers were approaching retirement age, he led the establishment of the Filipino-American Senior Opportunities Development Council, Inc. which would encompass a full scope of services for all Filipinos, to include affordable housing for seniors.

Filipino-American Ben Menor, currently the President and CEO of the Center, is now implementing the Center’s current programs and services which were designed with Mr. Siguig’s inclusive philosophy of intergenerational and intercultural programming. The recently remodeled and expanded Community Center is re-opened in November 2003, while the Mabuhay Court Apartments, a senior affordable housing, opened in December 2002. The Center has also been the premier provider of a wide array of supportive services meeting the needs of Filipinos, indo-Americans and other nationalities in the community. Its goal is to develop and implement supportive intergenerational programs and integrating older persons, family and young people in the planning and delivery of services. END