Honoring Dolores Sibonga.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Hasegawa and 2 co-sponsors

Senate Resolution 8631 formally honors Dolores Sibonga for trailblazing legal, civil rights, and public service work that advanced justice and equity for Filipino Americans and wom

Adopted.

Overview

Type: Senate Resolution (ceremonial designation)

Subject: Honoring Dolores Sibonga

Status: Adopted

Introduced: April 22, 2025

Adopted: April 22, 2025

SR 8631 recognizes and honors Dolores Sibonga for her trailblazing contributions to the legal profession, public service, and advocacy for justice and equity, particularly for Filipino Americans and women of color in Washington State.

Purpose and Intent

Acknowledges Sibonga’s lifelong commitment to public service, civil rights, labor rights, and social justice.

Highlights pioneering achievements that opened pathways for future generations of Filipino Americans and other marginalized communities.

Encourages Washington residents to reflect on Sibonga’s legacy and to celebrate the social, political, economic, and cultural contributions of Filipino Americans in the state and nation.

Key Provisions (Substantive Content)

Statement of recognition for Dolores Sibonga’s groundbreaking accomplishments and public service.

Summary of notable achievements (see background details below) that illustrate her impact on law, governance, and civil rights.

Encouragement to honor her legacy and contributions through community reflection and celebration.

Certification and formal adoption language by the Senate, including a statement by the Secretary of the Senate.

Note: As a resolution, SR 8631 provides ceremonial recognition rather than creating new laws, appropriations, or policy mandates.

Who/What Is Affected

The primary effect is ceremonial recognition by the Washington State Senate.

It centers on Dolores Sibonga’s legacy and how it reflects on the state’s history of Filipino American leadership and social justice advocacy.

May influence public acknowledgement in state ceremonies, educational materials, and historical records.

Background on Dolores Sibonga (as cited in the resolution)

Born 1931 on Vashon Island, Washington.

First Filipino American to graduate from the University of Washington journalism program (1952).

Co-owner of The Filipino Forum, a publication amplifying voices of Asian, Black, immigrant, and Indigenous communities in Seattle.

First Filipino American (man or woman) to pass the Washington State bar exam (1973).

First woman of color to serve on the Seattle City Council (elected 1978; served over a decade).

On the Council: advocated for labor rights, civil rights, social justice; introduced a reparations ordinance for employees fired during World War II due to Japanese ancestry.

Roles beyond the Council: public defender; deputy director of the Washington State Human Rights Commission; mentor to many community leaders.

Served on boards including the King County Board of Tax Appeals and Equalization.

Widely described as a catalyst for positive change and a lifelong advocate for justice and equity.

Potential Impact

Formal statewide recognition of Sibonga’s contributions, potentially informing educational and cultural commemorations.

Encourages ongoing awareness of Filipino American and other communities’ histories in Washington State.

Serves as a reference point for discussions about diversity, inclusion, and public service impact within the state.

Bill