The Bohol Circle Immigrant Park, the first recreational park in the United States named after a Filipino-American community organization, was inaugurated in Alameda, California on Jan. 21, 2023 according to a report by the Philippine Star that appeared on the newspaper’s website.
The park was named after Bohol Circle Inc., (BCI) an organization composed of Filipino-Americans with ties to Bohol.
Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer joined the inauguration event which was also attended by several Filpino-American political leaders.
In his speech during the event, Ferrer commended the BCI for leading the efforts to build the waterfront park project.
He said the park is a testament to the organization’s commitment to strengthen community-driven leadership and service all in the spirit of “bayanihan” and “pakikipagkapwa”.
The BCI spearheaded the efforts to convince the Alameda City Council to pass a resolution in Nov. 2022 to name the park after the Boholano immigrant organization.
The BCI is an organization formed by Boholano immigrants to the US in 1936 and recognized by the Filipino-American National Historical Society.
The BCI is the oldest existing Filipino-American organization in the US and its headquarters are in Alameda, California.
The organization, the report says, has been providing support especially to Boholano immigrants in the United States.