DIWA (inner self, essence) ✨
The recent naming of the new Miss Universe Philippines, @bea.millan.windorski , is one so close to home.
Bea is an alumna of our Filipino Global Mentorship Program, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin (which also houses our Fil Am mental health research initiative, Usap Tayo), and was introduced to us at a @wearemafa conference where we were named the community partner.
What really makes Bea’s win feel personal is the driving force behind her decision in moving to the Philippines - her desire to be in and be a part of the very place that shaped so much of her sense of self. Her story is one of several threads which weave the fabric of the Filipino American identity, one that is still evolving. As our istorya within the United States progresses, many Fil Ams feel their path continues by returning to the motherland.
As one of them, Bea will bring another piece of Filipino American identity to the world stage while carrying the commitment to serve Filipinos in the Philippines.
Congrats, Bea! Ang galing mo! #filipinow #isangdiwa
BAY AREA! Get tickets before door price hits! Come together for the launch of our community + filmmaker’s mixer in Oakland this Thursday.
We’re coming together and celebrate us in the spirit of Village Bayani. Thank you to our community partner @filexcellence for building up the BAYANI in every one of us ✨🙌
FilExcellence embraces the principle of kapwa, recognizing that true excellence is achieved by elevating both the individual and the collective. We believe that nurturing a strong, compassionate, and empowered self is essential to building thriving communities. By fostering personal growth and shared purpose, we create pathways for lasting community impact, meaningful connections, and the continued advancement of Filipinos globally.
📍March 12, 2026, @hella.bees
Doors open at 6 PM, Start at 7 PM
Filmmakers presented by RFC’s Filipino Film Circle
Co-presented by @noblecreations.us
🎟️Tickets: $20 on Eventbrite | $25 at the door
Link on our bio or purchase at bit.ly/village-launch
Fiscally sponsored by @birthruckus
#BayArea #Filmmaker #BayAreaFilmmaking
Alongside community partners at @filexcellence , Center for Healthy Minds researchers Tony DelaRosa, Dr. Hadley Rahrig and Dr. Christy Wilson-Mendenhall work on the Usap Tayo study, which aims to promote wellbeing in Filipino American communities using methods grounded in Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Indigenous Filipino Psychology).
Learn more now! LINK IN BIO.
/news/reframing-wellbeing-through-the-lens-of-indigenous-filipino-psychology
Photos by Isabella Toledo
@filexcellence@mgveland@tonyrosaspeaks #IndigenousFilipinoPsychology #UsapTayoStudy #CenterforHealthyMinds
Another Isang Bagsak in the books 📚. The @fasomadison x Usap Tayo event to explore Midwest Filipina/x/o American identity formation was healing. Thank you @halohalofood for catering this event. The food was 🫰🏽🔥 all things hella Filipina/x/o American
The USAP Tayo lab on Filipino well-being and politics got to present some preliminary findings today 🙏🏽🇵🇭. Thank you @healthy.minds x @filexcellence for this opportunity to collaborate. Colleagues Chelsea Blake and @mgveland were able to come through from DC!
DMV EDITION ISSUE 1 AVAILABLE NOW
Miss all these Pin@ys 🫶🏾
Find DMV’s first issue at FILIPINOTOWN.com also at @purplepatchdc and @kayu.dc
#filipino #christmas #gifts
STRONG CONNECTIONS STRONG COMMUNITY
Chelsea Blake of @filexcellence is THEE Connector in Chief .. Our 1st DMV issue does not exist it’s vibrant form without Chelsea’s ability to connect and organize ❤️
MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT FAM 🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾
Shout out to @joiaburgerdc for the picturesque backdrop
#filipinoamericanhistorymonth #filipino #american #community #washingtondc
FROM 7000 ISLANDS: ISTORYA
Watch the full episode covering award winning @istoryalv by @walbertjcastillo at the link below or FILIPINOTOWN.com
Congrats to the Istorya team on the new Chapter GALEÓN Tuesday August 19 at @saffronloungelv
#filipinofood #lasvegas #istorya #story
🎧 If your life had a soundtrack, what would it sound like?
📅 Monday, 07/07
🕔 5PM PDT
💻 Virtual
Join FGMP mentee Emma Ramirez for a Kapwa Hour that invites you to reflect, reconnect, and discover the playlist of your own story.
Through music, journaling, and shared reflection, we’ll explore how the songs that move us can help us make meaning, and remind us we’re not alone in what we feel.
✨ Expect:
🎵 Playlist-making as storytelling
📝 Creative reflection and grounding
🎤 A circle to share and be witnessed
This space is open to all community members — no music background needed, just your presence.
🔗 Sign up at FilExcellence.com/kapwahours or panganay.typeform.com/communitykapwa
📲 Tag a friend you’d make a mixtape for.
“How do communities actually come together to heal?”
While there is no single answer, sitting beside powerful women like @giospirit2@lifeof.rage and @drstaceyalitam at the Patterns That Remain book launch reminded me that healing was never meant to happen alone.
We can start by remembering Jose Rizal’s words:
Know History, Know Self.
No History, No Self.
And maybe now, we’re being called to evolve it:
Know Others, Know Self.
No Others, No Self.
While we ground ourselves in history and remember where we come from, we’re also becoming what our ancestors dreamt us to be.
We are future ancestors, co-creating what we wish we had.
📣 Community care starts with shared knowledge.
And in times like these, knowing our rights is one way we protect each other.
For our next Kapwa Hour, we’re gathering to learn, ask, and hold space for collective action rooted in care.
Kapwa Hours: Know Your Rights
Led by FilExcellence board member and community organizer Josh De Leon @joshoflion , this conversation will focus on practical tools and people-first guidance around immigration enforcement.
🗓 Monday, June 16
🕛 4PM PT (7PM ET)
📍 Open to all — RSVP at /KapwaHours
After a grounding session, we’ll talk through:
- What your rights are during ICE encounters
- What to do (and not do) in the moment
- How to support undocumented loved ones
- Q&A rooted in community care
This is about preparation, protection, and kapwa.
Because when we care for each other, we all move forward safer and stronger.
📩 Sign up now and follow @FilExcellence to stay updated on more sessions like this.
