Felicita Irigon receives 2026 OCA Unsung Heroes Award
The following article was published in the Northwest Asian Weekly.
Felicita Irigon, a longtime Seattle advocate and community volunteer, has received the 2026 OCA Unsung Heroes Award, which recognizes people whose lifelong dedication has made a lasting impact without seeking public recognition.
OCA Greater Seattle cited Irigon’s decades of volunteerism, advocacy and community leadership as the foundation for her selection.
The award was presented by OCA Asian Pacific Advocates during its national convention held July 23-26 in Detroit.
Born in the Philippines and raised in Seattle, Irigon has spent more than 50 years advancing civil rights, healthcare, education and community services. In the early 1970s, she and her late husband, Francisco “Frankie” Irigon, helped organize protests over the construction of the Kingdome, efforts that contributed to investments in community organizations and healthcare services in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID), including International Community Health Services.
The Irigons also helped launch one of Seattle’s first Asian American newspapers and supported the grassroots efforts that led to the creation of the Asian Counseling and Referral Service.
Professionally, Irigon worked as a social worker with Seattle Public Schools, focusing on mental health and supporting vulnerable students and families. She has also volunteered with numerous cultural and community organizations and remains an active member of OCA Greater Seattle, where she mentors younger leaders and continues to advocate for the Chinatown-International District.
