You are reading

New Mural in Woodside Honors Its Filipino Community

Unveiling the new mural in Woodside’s Little Manila neighborhood (Little Manila Queens Bayanihan Arts)

June 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin

Woodside community members unveiled a new mural Friday honoring the Filipino neighborhood and the efforts of Filipino healthcare workers and businesses during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

The mural reads “Mabuhay,” a Philippine expression that has several meanings, including “cheers”, “welcome” and “may you live.”

It was painted on the side wall of the restaurant Amazing Grace on the southeast corner of 69th Street and Roosevelt Avenue in the Filipino section of the neighborhood known as “Little Manila.”

Filipino organizations, businesses, artists, community leaders and local elected officials unveiled the mural Friday, on Philippine Independence Day.

The mural is a special thanks to Filipino healthcare workers who risked — and gave — their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community leader, Sockie Laya Smith, read names of Filipino healthcare workers who died from COVID-19 during the unveiling ceremony.

“This is to remember them as human beings—not simply as a labor percentage, a deceased statistic, or an immigration number,” she said. “We thank you, say thy name. Mabuhay!”

(Little Manila Queens Bayanihan Arts)

Artists and community members Princes ‘Diane’ De Leon, Ezra Undag, Hannah Cera, Jaclyn Reyes, and Xenia Diente painted the mural, borrowing details from Philippine culture. For example, the typography is based on lettering found on iconic jeepneys, colorfully painted jeeps used for public transportation in the Philippines.

The community has tried to create a Philippine mural in the Little Manila neighborhood for more than 10 years, according to organizers. The “Mabuhay” mural finally came to fruition thanks to the Little Manila Queens Bayanihan Arts, a year-long project that seeks to create public art installations in Woodside.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

6 Comments

Click for Comments 
Amyrose

Krystals is doneso. Maybe for 2 yrs now, the ppl who replaced something Inasal can not fill the void.

Reply
Ali. Abdalla

I have A Filipina Friend. She could drive the whole country crazy But very lovely Mara. this is to you

2
3
Reply
Mabuhay Pinoy

What happend to Krystal’s Restaurant that used to be at that location…they had the best lechon kawali…used to hit the place up after a Mets game…the bihon guisado was pretty solid also…

Reply
doo wop makes me want to kill

nicely done actually, but the taggers are out in full force now, check all the windows gates, this things gonna be destroyed in days.

3
1
Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Queens Together launches ‘Unofficial US Open Dining Guide’ encouraging fans to sample restaurants along the 7 line

Aug. 20, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

The US Open returns to Flushing Meadows Corona Park this Sunday, with more than 1 million attendees anticipated to take mass transit to the iconic annual tennis event. With hundreds of thousands of fans set to take the 7 out to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, there is a world of delicious local eateries lying beneath the elevated train tracks should any fan wish to stop en-route to the US Open.

Can Queens’ food scene thrive with both trucks and restaurants?

Aug. 19, 2025 By Jessica Militello

In Jackson Heights at 4 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon, Roosevelt Avenue is buzzing with energy as commuters file in and out of subway cars and onto the street and cars and trucks grapple to get down the busy road. The street is filled with rows of shops and restaurants, along with food carts, street vendors and food trucks along the avenue. The almost-but-not-quite the weekend lag leaves hungry commuters faced with another choice to make throughout their day and the array of food truck options in busy areas like Jackson Heights offers customers convenience and delicious food without breaking the bank, two features that can feel vital, particularly with rising costs of living and pressure from inflation.