When my father suffered a stroke earlier this year, life shifted overnight. Seeing him—once a resilient Army veteran—in such a fragile state was devastating. Suddenly, I was navigating hospital stays, therapy schedules, and the emotional weight of becoming his primary caregiver alongside my husband, Shawn. In the middle of this uncertainty, I knew his healing would take more than medical care—it would require connection, culture, and community. That’s when the Filipino Community of Seattle (FCS) became more than a community hub; it became a lifeline.

Founded in 1935, FCS has been a cultural cornerstone for generations, “Celebrating 90 years of Community Service, Empowerment, and Innovation!” Its programs uplift youth through STEM education and leadership development, support seniors with wellness initiatives, and strengthen families through services and cultural celebrations. But during my father’s recovery, its mission took on new meaning.

The FCS network rallied around us with open arms. We participated in the Senior Food Program and Food Bank, giving my father comforting dishes that reminded him of home. Friends and staff from FCS encouraged him in Tagalog and Ilocano, prayed with us, and reminded him of the strength he carried as a Filipino elder. They invited us to gatherings and cultural celebrations, ensuring my father felt connected to his heritage while rebuilding his health. Those moments of laughter, music, and dance weren’t just entertainment—they were medicine for his spirit.

As a board member of FCS, I have been proud to pay this support forward. Through leadership, advocacy, and securing T-Mobile VolunTGrants to sustain and grow our volunteer programs, I’ve been able to contribute to the same organization that helped my father heal. These grants have provided resources for youth, seniors, and families to thrive, ensuring that FCS continues its vital role for generations to come.

Caregiving is often isolating, but I never felt alone. The spirit of bayanihan—the Filipino tradition of communal unity—was alive in every gesture of support, reminding me that healing is a collective act. FCS is not just a building; it is a living legacy of compassion and connection.

As we celebrate 90 years of service, empowerment, and innovation, I am grateful to be part of this legacy—not only as a recipient of its care but as a steward carrying its mission forward. My father’s recovery is proof of what happens when a community chooses to show up, lift each other, and lead with love.

Diane Burkhammer - BOARD MEMBER

In September 2022, during the pandemic, I felt a deep longing—an emptiness mixed with hunger—to seek community and to better understand what it meant to be Filipino, to be Filipina. The pandemic forced many of us to sit with grief, loss, and questions of identity, mahal (love), and belonging. For me, the lesson came through kapwa—our shared identity—and answering the call of our evolving needs with the bayanihan spirit.

I first encountered the Filipino Community of Seattle through a social media post for a “Palengke” event featuring Hood Famous. That was my first time stepping into the community center. Later, after returning from a trip to the Philippines—where I explored "agri-preneurship" and the role small businesses play in stimulating local economies in my extended family’s province of Ilocos Norte—I missed home. I searched “Filipinos in Seattle” and, of course, found FCS again.

I attended a small business finance workshop where I met Board Member Francis Franco and then–SBRN Project Manager Gracie Santos. They encouraged me to apply for the WSMA project to help develop a Filipino/a/x small business directory in the wake of the pandemic. That became my entry point: helping with community outreach, survey design, and data organization—just as I was leaving a large e-commerce company and reflecting on how I could channel my technical skills toward social impact.

Over time, my role grew into supporting the Small Business Program, where I now help community members navigate resources through the Small Business Resiliency Network, facilitate listening sessions, and shape our services in these uncertain political and economic times. What inspires me most about small business is how it can serve as a vessel for our kababayan—to share stories from across the Filipino/a/x diaspora, weaving together art, culture, and lived experience while inviting others into our community to strengthen our economic safety nets.

What has stayed with me most are the memories of volunteers—elders, youth, and families—pouring so much time, energy, and love into events like the Talipapa Market Cultural Festival, the Tree Lighting and Night Market, and other cultural celebrations at FCS. These events not only preserve culture but also provide vending and marketing opportunities for small businesses that might not otherwise have access to markets or real estate. Witnessing this sheer labor of love revealed the true power of bayanihan. It has also taught me invaluable leadership lessons and reminded me to be mindful of intergenerational traumas we must heal within ourselves to build stronger communities.

The Filipino Community of Seattle is not just a building—it has been a homecoming. It is where I rediscovered community, pride, and purpose. Today, I carry that memory forward as a commitment: to collaborate, gather stories, and protect community voices so I can help inform policymakers and leaders on how best to serve our small businesses, creatives, and kababayan.

I remember Tita Agnes (our FCS Executive Director) would greet visitors at the community center and, to paraphrase her, say: “This community center is yours. This was built by the Filipino community of Seattle—you are our community.” She reminds me of the responsibility we all share as guardians, caretakers, and leaders. I strive to listen and co-create solutions with community members while using technology in accessible ways that meet people where they are and reflect the real needs of our community.

Jan Edrozo - Program Manager