Exclusive BLOGS
Stories and Lessons about us & for us.
Filipino, American, and Caught in Between | How ’90s Rap Icon Butch Velez and Masta Plann Gave the Diaspora a Beat
The 1990s was a golden era, particularly for music. Inspired by Sidney Shaw's iconic question in the movie, Brown Sugar: "When did you fall in love with hip-hop?" – I had my moment, interviewing the OG, Butch Velez, AKA Tracer One, of Masta Plann.
Filipino Roots, Californian Vines | The Rise of Filipino American Wines
California boasts numerous wine regions along its coast, including Napa Valley, Sonoma, Paso Robles, Lodi, and Temecula Valley, offering diverse tasting experiences. Consider these picks for your next dinner party, girls' trip, or romantic escape.
Filipino Flavor, Jersey Grind | Inside Ayala Coffee’s Feel-Good FILAm Vibe
Starting as a pop up coffee cart, Ayala Coffee has grown into a top-ranked cafe in downtown New Jersey. To learn more about Ayala and what they’re serving up in the East Coast.
What My Mom’s Death Taught Me About Filipino Family Drama, Inheritance Fights, and the Silence That Keeps Us from Healing
Grief is heavy on its own, but what happens when it’s compounded by betrayal, silence, and family fractures that never healed? Our guest contributing writer, Jennifer Redondo explores the painful truths behind toxic Filipino family dynamics and the cultural patterns we urgently need to break.
What Do You Do When AI Comes for Your Art? Graphic Novelist Choz Belen’s Answer: Create Louder
When we last spoke to Choz Belen, he was already deep into the creative process of building an original universe. Now, we’ll hear how this era of uncertainty sparked something new — something bold, personal, and completely unexpected: the birth of 3NJ.
Pagpag, Prayers, and Porto’s | What Planning My Mom’s Funeral Taught Me As A Filipino American
Every culture has their own rituals surrounding funerals, mourning with death, and providing comfort to the grieving. In Filipino culture, we honor the departed with traditions deeply rooted in religion, family, and community.
Who is Kuya Istilo? Meet The Fil-Am Fashion Enigma We Never Saw Coming
You must be just as curious to figure out who is this man with that good hair, dripped out in all of this fashion, rocking the barong Tagalog in non-traditional ways? Or you’ve probably told yourself, “I wish I could wear that or I could never rock that outfit."
Meet the Chef Behind the Viral Dubai Chocolate, Nouel Catis, and How His Brand SNA’AP Is Crafting Million-Dollar Magic
They say the way to a human’s heart is through the stomach. According to Chef Nouel, that is false! He believes the way to a human’s heart is by tugging on one’s heritage to draw connection and nostalgia
Meet The Fresh Chefs of Bel-Air | The Culinary Duo Behind The Rock’s Ultimate Cheat Meal at Brique French Toastery
Now this is a story all about how Chef Rocky and Daniel Breiz’s lives got flipped-turned upside down, and we’d like to take a minute, just sit right there. We’ll tell you how they became the fresh chefs of a town called Bel-Air.
Nurse Unseen on Tour | Unveiling the Rise and Legacy of Filipino Nurses in America
Nurse Unseen is a documentary that starts out with a brief Filipino-American history lesson, intertwined with personal stories of nurses impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keith Pedro Drops a Perfect 10: His Newest album ‘Manny Stacquiao’ Packs the Punchlines and Doesn’t Miss
Manny Stacquiao is Filipino-Canadian comedian, Keith Pedro's third comedy album, which launched on 10/10/2024. It is not a coincidence. Pedro purposely chose this release date because to him, “It’s a perfect album. It’s 10 out of 10
FilAM Wide Receiver Johnny Wilson’s Journey to the NFL
In the upcoming NFL season, one Filipino-American will be going pro! Johnny Wilson, wide receiver, was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round, number 185 overall.
Savoring Success | How Jake Deleon of Fila Manila Took Filipino Flavors to the Masses
Fila Manila represents the next generation of Filipino-American flavors. The company launched in November 2020, growing revenue from $6,000 to $50,000 to $400,000 in just two years!
From Manila to Sydney | Yona Signo's Journey to Empowering MOMS in Business
With the help of technology, we are able to work with people across the globe. There are more opportunities for us to obtain help, while creating jobs for those we would not have been able to prior to technology. Have you ever heard of a virtual assistant?
How the Ladies of Kwento Comics are Flipping the Script on Superheroes and Reshaping the Graphic Novel world One Saga at time
We had the opportunity to sit with the co-founders of Kwento Comics, the first all-women, all-Asian comic book company highlighting Asian and Filipino mythology through the medium of graphic novels.
Meet L.A. Renigen of Los Angeles’ Olivia Restaurant
L.A. Renigen is a Filipina-American who has taken the road less traveled. Unlike most Asian second generation children, L.A. didn’t fall into familial pressure. At an early age, she was already forging her own path, taking risks and pursuing her interests and passion in the arts and acting
Get to know Big Strong John | The Filipino Purple Wiggle
Did you know that the Purple Wiggle is Filipino? His character, “Big Strong John,” is focused on health, fitness, and being strong and resilient.
From Eagle Rock to Sacramento | FIlAM Jessica Caloza ignites change in the 2024 Californa State Assembly Race
Did you know that there is a Filipina running for Assembly in the State of California? Jessica Caloza is running for Assembly District 52, which is the heart of Los Angeles.
Two Peas in a Pod: FilAm Twins Rosalyn and Carolyn of Netflix’s You Are What You Eat
Netflix launched a TV mini series about a scientific experiment where identical twins adopt different diets and lifestyles for eight weeks to see how food impacts the body. One set of twins featured in the docu series are Filipino! We got the opportunity to sit down with Carolyn Sideco and Rosalyn Moorhouse
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Filipino-Americans in the Rap Game
Filipino-American culture has continued to evolve as more and more Filipinos continue to cross the Pacific Ocean. Through American influence, Filipinos were introduced to diverse music styles ranging from disco, rock, and even rap. Here’s a list of more artists in the rap game.