MeSearch: Featuring Filipino Perspectives

In this episode, MESEARCH talks to Vanessa Van Zeyl, owner of Orange County California's Salon 25. Vanessa tells us about how she learned the ins and outs of business and shares how she builds community through excellent hair care and customer service.  In 2007, Salon 25 opened its doors to celebrate hair! Their mission is simple, “Happy Guests”. Their team believes exceptional guest experien...

In this episode, MESEARCH talks to Toronto, Canada, based Caroline Mangosing about VINTA Gallery, which offers a collection of modern Filipiana clothing. Caroline aims to keep VINTA Gallery focused on ethical and social sustainability. She does this by providing a living wage to artisans and crafts people and by supporting the continued preservation and innovation of Filipino traditions in clothin...

This episode was recorded during a live stream via the Kumu app, the Philippines' top social media app for Filipinos across the diaspora to find and build community. In this episode, we discuss religion and our own spirituality. As young Filipinos we both have deep cultural ties to Catholicism. Over time and in this conversation, we challenge ourselves to reflect on the various conceptualizations...

This episode was recorded during a live stream via the Kumu app, the Philippines' top social media app for Filipinos across the diaspora to find and build community. In this episode, we discuss change and transitions. Change can be rewarding; transitions can be difficult. How do we manage these moments in our lives especially as we age?  Stay connected with MeSearch at https://www.mesearchpod...

This episode was recorded during a live stream via the Kumu app, the Philippines' top social media app for Filipinos across the diaspora to find and build community. In this episode, Krystle shares her educational background in acting and Dustin facilitates a fun improv game. We close the discussion with some practical advice on how to find acting jobs.  Stay connected with MeSearch at https:...

This episode was recorded during a live stream via the Kumu app, the Philippines' top social media app for Filipinos across the diaspora to find and build community. In this episode, we discuss our wildest dreams. We acknowledge that we're living the wildest dreams of our past selves' and of our ancestors. We end the episode by sharing the dreams we currently have and hope to actualize in the near...

This is a special episode recorded during a live stream via the Kumu app, the Philippines' top social media app for Filipinos across the diaspora to find and build community. We take this episode to say cheers to Krystle Tugadi and another year of life. We also discuss our creative processes as artists, and we end with a shout out, as part of Women's History Month, to the Filipinas, past and prese...

In this episode, we talk to Kenneth Tan of the Lola x Kenneth Collaboration, a collaborative art project between Kenneth and his Lola Crescenciana. This project has evolved into a memoir (available May 2022) featuring collections of Lola Crescenciana's personal stories paired with Lola x Kenneth artwork. Kenneth talks to MeSearch about his relationship with his lola, this project, and the importan...

This is a special episode recorded during a live stream via the Kumu app, the Philippines' top social media app for Filipinos across the diaspora to find and build community.  In this episode, we reminisce about the pop artists musical stylings of the '90s and '00s. We end with a discussion on books we've recently read that touch on concepts of race and caste. Check it out!  Stay connect...

Starla Sampaco is a Filipino-American TV news anchor, Harvard Business Review contributor , and professional speaker . Most days, you can watch her reporting the news on KCTS 9, Seattle's PBS news channel. Outside of journalism, she founded Career Survival Guide, which offers career workshops, free content on YouTube & Instagram , and consulting services. She created Career Survival Guide to s...

This is a special episode recorded during a live stream via the Kumu app, the Philippines' top social media app for Filipinos across the diaspora to find and build community. Today, we play a round of get to know you questions that tackle the tough and light subjects, from stress management, to rejection, to what's the best shows to stream these days! Stay connected with MeSearch at https://www.me...

Marlo Campos is a member of UBE ARTE, a Southern California-based collective of professional musicians, dancers, and academics with a shared mission to advance Philippine cultural research and education in the Pilipinx/Filipino American community. In this episode we discuss his perspectives on Kulintang music, PCN (Philippine Culture Night) productions at the college level, and how to learn more a...

Aldrine Guerrero is a professional musician with a specialty in the ukulele. With experiences performing for live audiences, as well as TV and film, his credits continue to grow. He is also the co-founder of UkuleleUnderground.com, a website that offers educational tools and forums to learn the ukulele. In this episode, we talk about some highlights of his career and about why music is such a powe...

Friend of the podcast, Grayson Villanueva is back as a guest on MeSearch. You may remember him from season one, episode 5: "Am I a multipotentialite?" Grayson joins hosts, Dustin and Krystle, via the Kumu App to talk about the exciting new projects and personal resolutions he's planned for 2022.  One of the most exciting upcoming projects he's contributed to is as a voice talent for the Pixar...

Joseph Navales, Esq. is an attorney with a specialization in immigration. In this episode we discuss his professional journey and delve into his own immigration insights and personal stories. Joseph provides pro-bono immigration support through Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Los Angeles and Orange County.  Follow Joseph and learn more about his work: Email: jnavales@advancingjustice-oc....

Makoy Clemente is a loyal friend of the podcast and co-hosts his own show, called the GAM Chat Podcast. We hung out through livestream using the Kumu app, which is the Philippines' top social media app for Filipinos across the diaspora to find and build community.  In this episode, we reflect on memories from years past and from 2021. We also talk about our new year's resolutions/commitments...

"It's the birth week of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ." OR IS IT!?  This is a special episode recorded during a live stream via the Kumu app, the Philippines' top social media app for Filipinos across the diaspora to find and build community. Today, we ask critical questions to gain a deeper awareness of how modern society engages with religion in a time globally celebrated as Jesus' birt...

Wayne Jopanda is a PhD candidate in Cultural Studies at UC Davis where he is also the Associate Director of the Bulosan Center. In this episode we speak to Wayne about why the Bulosan Center is important to the Filipino community. We also talk about Wayne's personal journey with academia and mental health.  Correction Issued by Wayne Jopanda: This episode makes mention of Filipinos migrating...

Bettina Makalintal is a food and culture writer for Vice’s Munchies and associate editor for Bon Appetit . In this episode, Bettina talks to MeSearch about how she was inspired to explore food while in college as well as what she thinks about the evolving representation of Filipino food in restaurants and media.  Check out some of the resources Bettina shared on the show:  Professor Rene...

Leveraging his training as an educator, non-profit leader, leadership development designer and facilitator, and community organizer, Godfrey Santos Plata has more than a decade of experience envisioning, designing, implementing, and managing efforts that support educators, their youth, and public schools. He is driven to improve the livelihoods of communities historically marginalized from decisio...

Happy Decolonize Thanksgiving Day!  It's Thanksgiving week in the US and we share the sentiment of gratitude, togetherness and feasting. However, in this episode, we also challenge you all to look into the history of the Thanksgiving and consider alternative narratives; particularly those of the marginalized and indigenous people that live beside us.  What are you doing to decolonize Tha...

Anthony Velasco, NP is a senior nurse practitioner and is currently pursuing a PhD in Nursing at the University of Colorado Denver-Anschutz Medical Campus. He is a certified HIV specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine and has been providing care to people living with HIV since 2010.  In this episode of MeSearch, we talk to Anthony about the nursing profession and the necessary chan...

Arianna Laila Dela Rosa is a holistic career coach who empowers first generation minority professionals, ranging from entry to mid-level, to find careers they love and thrive confidently in the workplace.  In this episode we discuss how Arianna launched her career coaching business and we delve into why knowing your values and how to network are essential for professionals. Follow Arianna and...

Chris Bautista is the owner and operator of The Beignet Truck, which serves beignets across the Los Angeles area and at private events. Chris has been featured across many notable outlets and platforms including the Food Network, which names The Beignet Truck one of the best spots outside of New Orleans to get a beignet.  "What is a beignet? The word beignet is simply the French term for a pa...

This is a special SPOOKY SEASON episode!  In this episode, we take a brief moment to discuss controversial Netflix comedy special, the Closer, which features Dave Chappelle who is currently under fire for making derogatory statements directed towards transgender women. We also chat about our favorite Halloween memories and share a spooky story about an aswang (a monstrous creature often highl...