COLLECTIONS

Established in 1938, the Iloilo Circle was a Filipino social club and an important part of Stockton’s historic Little Manila district, located at 128 E. Sonora Street, Stockton, CA.

For decades, the Iloilo Circle clubhouse was an active social hub for Stockton’s Filipino community, with “manongs” (elderly Filipino men) gathering to play cards and socialize.

The building was one of only a few structures remaining from the original four-block Little Manila district, which was largely destroyed by the construction of the Crosstown Freeway in the 1970s. 

The aging and passing of the “manong” population led to a decline in social club membership.  Eventually, Iloilo Circle ceased to function and was permanently closed.  In early 2025, the Iloilo Circle building was put up for sale. To prevent the loss of the historical marker, funds were raised in July 2025 by Little Manila Rising and the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum to save the building’s large sign. The sign is being stored at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum, preserving a physical connection to the past for the city’s Filipino American community.

Written by Linda Claramo