Filipino Community members wave Philippine and US flags during the approval and reading of the resolution designating Filipino Town in Las Vegas. CONTRIBUTED
LAS VEGAS — What began as a prayer in the mind of longtime Filipino American leader Rozita Villanueva Lee will become reality on October 9, 2025, when Clark County inaugurates Filipino Town, a cultural district along Maryland Parkway between Flamingo Road and Desert Inn Road.
Lee, 90, said her vision was not always a “town.”
“In Las Vegas there are about 47 Filipino organizations, and the discussion among leaders was always about building a Filipino Community Center,” she recalled. “But when the Ethiopians established their own Ethiopian Cultural Town designation, I thought—why not a Filipino Cultural Town designation? I prayed about it, felt the Holy Spirit’s nudge, and immediately took action.”
Filipino Town Cultural District founder Rozita Villanueva Lee reads the resolution approving the establishment of the cultural district in Clark County, Nevada. CONTRIBUTED
Her first call was to Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom. “He had me meet with a county staffer who explained what a Community Cultural Designation was, the application, the criteria, and process,” Lee said. “I took action.”
Tick Segerblom, Clark County commissioner | CONTRIBUTED
Segerblom not only sponsored the resolution but worked closely with Lee throughout the process.
“Clark County has such a rich Filipino American history. We needed to highlight their presence and contributions to Southern Nevada,” Segerblom said. “Through this designation we communicate to the greater Filipino community they are not only welcomed here—they are what makes our County thrive!”
The milestone came on April 15, 2025, when the County Commission unanimously approved the resolution. That day, the chambers were filled with Filipinos in colorful Filipiniana attire waving Philippine and American flags. In a powerful gesture, Lee stood at the podium, turned to face her community, and read the resolution herself. “It was important for me to read it in front of my people,” she said.
Lee’s leadership was central at every step. As a former AAPI Advisory Commissioner to President Barack Obama, longtime national officer of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), current global advisor to multiple organizations including iChange Nations, and co-founder of Civility for All Foundation, she drew on decades of experience. She rallied the community with town halls, meetings, and media appearances.
Image from TOFA
“I was the convincing ‘voice’ for Filipino Town,” she said. “I pitched the story to city, state and county officials, as well as to the general public, emphasizing that the 250,000 Filipinos who live here contribute greatly to the economy and every facet of life. We are nurses, teachers, doctors, lawyers, newscasters, writers, caretakers, casino and hotel workers. We’re here to stay.”
Lee clarified that representation from the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Nevada (FACCGN) came in and then left, and the Filipino American Civic Action International (FACAI) joined her until the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution. Lee then went forward to work with Segerblom to help plan for the inaugural event. Lee added that encouragement from the community, especially from the nurses’ group, was “wonderful.”
Segerblom praised her persistence. “To see everyone come together from different groups and allies—it was beautiful to witness,” he said. “And Rozita was the driving force.”
With the designation, the Maryland Parkway corridor—already home to landmarks like Seafood City, Jollibee, Red Ribbon, Chowking, and the Boulevard Mall—will serve as the hub of Filipino culture in Las Vegas.
Beyond the commercial presence, Lee said she is working with community partners on additional projects, including plans for a Filipino American Museum inside the Boulevard Mall, where cultural and historical exhibits could soon open to the public.
She added that educational programs in language, history, and music are being explored in collaboration with the Clark County School District and local businesses.
For Lee, the meaning goes deeper than business and events. “Filipino Town uplifts the Filipino image,” she said. “I believe we are a fine, chosen people to help humanity.”
Looking ahead, Lee envisions Filipino parades starting in the district and eventually winding down the Las Vegas Strip, bringing floats and artistry to a global audience.
She believes the district will not only strengthen bonds within the Filipino community but also enrich Clark County as a whole. “I’m already getting calls, texts, and messages from people planning to visit Filipino Town,” she said.
For both Lee and Segerblom, Oct. 9 will be more than an inauguration – it will be the culmination of years of advocacy, hard work, prayer and partnership.
“From the onset, I truly believed this was a project God ordained,” Lee said. “My faith and daily prayers assured it would push through. Now it will stand as a legacy for generations to come.”
