Las Vegas to Inaugurate First Filipino Town This October

On October 9, 2025, during Filipino American History Month, Las Vegas will formally inaugurate Nevada’s very first Filipino Town, a new cultural district along Maryland Parkway—marking a historic milestone for Southern Nevada’s vibrant Filipino-American community.

This long-anticipated designation follows months of community advocacy and planning. In April of this year, Clark County Commissioners unified in passing a resolution that officially establishes the district stretching between Flamingo Road and Desert Inn Road along Maryland Parkway.

At that momentous session, activist and longtime Filipino-American leader Rozita Villanueva Lee, who has lived in Las Vegas since 1979, moved many with her heartfelt remarks.

She graciously acknowledged the community’s generosity and thanked commissioners for their support, saying, “thank you because everybody is so joyful… the Filipinos make a complete and a wonderful contribution to this state.” Commission Chair Tick Segerblom echoed the sentiment, expressing gratitude for the community’s persistence.

This recognition is particularly significant considering the Filipino-American demographic context. More than 200,000 Filipinos now reside in Southern Nevada, making them the largest Asian American group in the region and the second largest nationwide. Establishing Filipino Town not only acknowledges this thriving presence but also cements it through a designated cultural corridor.

The 1.2-mile stretch along Maryland Parkway is set to become a visible hub of Filipino heritage, featuring anchor establishments such as Seafood City, a well-known Filipino supermarket. The district aims to spotlight Filipino culture, commerce, and community in a way that resonates beyond symbolic recognition.

An exciting enhancement to the initiative is the planned Filipino cultural museum within Boulevard Mall. The mall’s management has offered to donate space for this institution, which will house artifacts collected by Edna Narrido-Luer since her youth—items with profound cultural and historical value, including traditional Ifugao rice gods and religious relics. Rozita Lee envisions this museum as a foundational feature of Filipino Town, dubbing it Nevada’s “first Filipino museum.”

Looking forward to the October inauguration, Clark County officials have promised celebratory events marking the installation of district signage. Community members anticipate “big parties” to usher in this new chapter, reflecting a collective pride in both heritage and civic presence.