Pearl Parmelee, 69, Proponent of Filipino Cuisine in America and Beyond
Pearl Parmelee, Sonia Delen and Keesa Ocampo , Pinay Visionaries awardees
I first met Pearl in 2003, and until her very last days, she never ceased to amaze me. Her wisdom, wealth of experience, resilience, and unwavering commitment to serving others were truly inspiring. She had a unique ability to make everyone feel welcome, valued, and cared for.
Pearl was a fixture in the Filipino American community. She was especially passionate about food—not simply as nourishment, but as culture, heritage, and connection. She was a true food diplomat, using cuisine to build bridges between communities and cultures. As one of the early organizers of the San Francisco Pistahan, the largest Filipino American outdoor festival in the country, she helped create beloved traditions, from the famous balut-eating contest to ensuring that volunteers were always well-fed and appreciated.
My relationship with Pearl deepened when we joined six other Filipino foodies to co-found the Filipino Food Movement. Pearl became one of the movement’s strongest champions. She tirelessly advocated to preserve, promote, and advance Filipino cuisine on the global stage. She mentored aspiring chefs, taught food management, built partnerships with chambers of commerce, and fostered collaborations across communities. Whether working with Latino, Laotian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, or Filipino organizations, Pearl understood that food was a universal language that brought people together.
What made Pearl truly remarkable was her willingness to help at any time, under any circumstance. If there was a need, she showed up. If there were people to feed, she was there. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was always ready to support programs that provided meals for first responders and frontline workers. Service was not something she did—it was who she was.
Pearl Parmelee, always busy in the kitchen
Whether in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, or beyond, Pearl’s impact could be felt wherever she went. She had a gift for connecting people, creating opportunities, and making everyone feel like family. Her generosity knew no boundaries. She embraced people from every background and every walk of life. In a world that often divides, Pearl brought people together.
Some people measure their success by what they achieve. Pearl measured hers by how many people she helped along the way.
Our beloved Tita Pearl passed on last Thursday, June 10, 2026. A memorial will be held on July 11, 2026 in San Francisco.
Sonia Delen is president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco; and is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America - Global Leasing. In 2018, then California Governor Jerry Brown appointed Sonia as a non-lawyer, public member to the Board of Trustees of The State Bar of California, the regulatory, disciplinary and admissions agency of the Supreme Court of California. Sonia is a community leader in the San Francisco Bay Area, and lives with her husband Christopher Fitzsimmons in San Francisco; they have 3 children David, Justin and Matthew.
More articles from Sonia Delen
No comments: