How do you identify with Filipino culture in your everyday life?

In addition to my work as a social justice and reproductive justice advocate, where I work to support reproductive and sexual rights in API communities, I also am an artist and I devote my artistic practice to my ancestors and work to make art accessible to my communities by offering free community classes. Being Filipino to me also means raising my son in community, with inter-generational values, and with an understanding of where he comes from.. 

What’s your favorite Filipino childhood memory?

My grandmother was from the Philippines and she would make her own clothes and do needlepoint. My favorite memories of her are being at her house and the rough feel of her home made blouses against my skin as we cuddled, and looking at the needlepoint landscapes that she made.

What advice would you give to younger Filipinos trying to embrace their heritage?

I have always struggled with feeling that I'm not Filipino enough and that has kept me from learning and re-membering culture. Know that you are enough. Someone once said to me, "your ancestors aren't looking down at you thinking that you aren't enough or who do you think you are trying to be Filipino, they're just happy to see their descendants continuing the practices and traditions." And that's always stuck with me. And for everyone else, don't wait to ask your elders their stories. It's so easy to take for granted that wealth of knowledge when you're young. There is so much knowledge there and that kind of intergenerational sharing is healing.