posting in filipino time (late) as always, but couldn’t kick off november without acknowledging what a beautiful month october was. it’s an honor to be pinay every day, but the last 31 days hit a little different. i have spent most of my life wishing for a larger community of people who share my background. i grew up going to schools where i was the sole asian person and spent my early years of adulthood knowing only a handful of filipino people. fast forward to now, and not only do i have a supportive community of filipino creatives in my corner (shoutout to @pearlsociety.co), but the parts of my culture and heritage that previously made me feel othered — tan skin, slanted eyes, a curvier build, even an affinity for karaoke — are now being celebrated and have opened countless doors for me. a hectic, beautiful month of events culminated in me moderating a panel for @meta / @metaprosper’s api beauty summit titled “putting the culture in creative,” honoring how creatives bring their heritage into their work — all while wearing a barong and pearls. forever honored to visibly and publicly celebrate everyone who came before me, especially my parents, whose bravery in immigrating over to the states allowed me the opportunity to build this small but mighty platform. happy filipino american history month, pamilya 🇵🇭 i’m wearing two filipino-owned brands in these pics: @vintagallery and @maaari_co. please go follow their incredible work!