End of a long wait Filipinos celebrate their first San Francisco supervisor

Isabella “Beya” Alcaraz has made history by becoming the first Filipino American to serve on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, appointed to the vacant District 4 seat by Mayor Daniel Lurie. The Filipino community in San Francisco, which numbers around 34,000 and makes up about 4. 2 percent of the city's population, is celebrating this significant milestone. Community leaders, including former Daly City Mayor Juslyn C. Manalo, expressed pride in Alcaraz's appointment, stating it resonates beyond the Bay Area.

Many community members, previously unaware of Alcaraz, have pledged their support for her upcoming election bid in June 2026. Legislative aide Mick Del Rosario highlighted the slow but growing Filipino representation in leadership, noting that Alcaraz's appointment carries substantial weight. Franco Finn, a Filipino American on the San Francisco Film Commission, shared his personal connection to Alcaraz's achievement, reflecting on the lack of visible leaders in the community. Rudy Corpuz, a first-generation Filipino immigrant, suggested that the delay in representation may stem from the transient nature of many Filipino families in San Francisco. Overall, Alcaraz's appointment is a pivotal moment for a community that has contributed to the city for over a century.