Did you see me on Seattle now for Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month?

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month and Seattle Now [CW11], a CBS affiliate, featured me and my work as part of their programming!

As you probably already know, embracing my Filipino heritage has been an important part of my life. This past year, after years of research & speculation, I was finally able to confirm what specific regions in the Philippines my ancestors are from; this includes Northern Luzon, the same region as where linglingos are believed to originate from! I had known it in my heart for a long time, but to finally get confirmation feels like such a gift.

So why is it important? Well, just like indigenous groups on Turtle Island, Filipinos in different regions have their own languages, creation stories/myths, regalia/amulets, weavings and tattoo motifs, to name a few! Iโ€™m excited to further my learning with the new found knowledge of exactly where my ancestors called home.

I make art and jewelry not just for me and my clients, but also as a tribute to those that came before me. For the ancient Filipino goldsmiths that were called to create, just like I was. I make art inspired by the art of my ancestors, to honour them and to show them that their craft and skill carryโ€™s on in me, and all the amazing artists & crafts people that are revitalizing Filipino traditions.

๐—”๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜„๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ธ๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—”๐—บ๐˜† ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ๐˜† ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—บ ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—–๐—ช๐Ÿญ๐Ÿญ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ฆ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ผ ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น ๐—บ๐˜† ๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜†.