Presentation: Adventures in Filipino American Genealogy

Genealogy of Filipino Americans can be challenging where our families often say, “everyone is a cousin!” Starting from our family stories, there exist many possibilities of “finding our cousins” in the historical record. Through genealogy, I have uncovered ancestors who set foot in the U.S. generations before my family’s arrival, contributing to the story of America’s immigrant legacies.

From tracing migration records to the U.S. to visiting historical churches in the Philippines, this presentation will be a snapshot of all the research tools and challenges I have pursued as a beginner genealogist. Amidst diaspora interest in reconnecting with our ancestors and rooting in history, this session encourages simple ways people can be new family historians in relation to the Filipino American diaspora.

Leo Esclamado is a family genealogist who started documenting oral histories 17 years ago through conversations with his eldest Titas. He is a cultural preservationist and cultural practitioner documenting family history, social movement organizing and street dance history. From 20 years of experience with community building and grassroots organizing, he recently launched a consultancy to strengthen communities and change agents in building power, connection, governance and campaigns towards a horizon of a just, empathetic world. As part of his work, he is developing a curriculum titled “The Story of our Ancestral Selves” that combines community building activities and genealogical family research. He is working on a 7-generation family history that spans communities from the Philippines, Spain and the United States. He serves on the Board of Filipino Advocates for Justice. 

This program is part of the Genealogy and Family History Symposium 2026, a two-day conference presented by the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) and the California Genealogical Society (CGS), featuring speakers from SFPL, CGS, the Oakland FamilySearch Center, SFgenealogy and other organizations presenting on a wide range of topics.

See the full two-day schedule.