In this episode of Chica with Monica, I have the pleasure getting to talk to my friend Kayan Cajudo, a Filipino American from Florida where we talk about Filipino martial arts, history, and of course his work on handcrafted Southeast blades. Kayan is also a Guro (teacher) in Kali Filipino martial arts and has on going class in the Central Florida area 3 times a week. If you want to learn more about his work, please check out all of his socials @SDKcustomblades (IG), @SDkaliOfficial (IG), SDkali.com, and Sanduguan Kali on Facebook. Thank you so much for listening, as always I hope you enjoyed our conversation and stay tuned for next week’s episode for another Chica.

Mabuhay!

In this episode, I talk with the creator and owner of Ugat clothing Michael Dalupo. From what was going to be a conversation about clothing turned into talking about the embedded toxicities that us Filipinos face today due to many historical events. There are a lot of reasons to be proud of being a Filipino, and Kuya Michael definitely shares many of the reasons why. I hope you enjoy this episode, please do check out Ugat clothing on all social media platforms @UgatClothing as well as Kuya Michael’s podcasts: @Blazi_Blah_Podcast and @PYBPodcast.

Mabuhay!

In this episode, I had the pleasure to talk to such talented and kind hearted Southeast Asian creatives to talk all about Raya and the Last Dragon. We go in depth on the influences from our cultures, the similarities we have and the differences as well. To watch a snippet synopsis of us answering this question visit my YouTube Channel @Monica Joelle Ortiz to check that video out. 

Huge shoutout to everyone in this video, please do check all their socials out here: beacons.ai/Lexi.the.First, linktr.ee/sukiyuu, @JuliaaKong, @YourTieSun, @Aksj._, & @TylerTChao.

For ways to help and educate yourself on Myanmar please visit https://justiceformyanmar.carrd.co/

Ways to help the Asian community right now please visit linktr.ee/stopaapihate

Thank you so much for listening to this episode, I truly appreciate every single one of you! Stay tuned for episodes on time every Monday>.<

Mabuhay!

This episode is a little different than my usual episodes, but nonetheless I had a wonderful time talking to my boyfriend Tyler about our short film, cultural differences, our dreams, mental health, and about life in general. We go on a few tangents here and there, more so me than him, but regardless I hope you enjoy our conversation. Also, please do expect more content from me on all platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, life has been quite busy lately, but we are slowly getting back to a normal schedule again.

Thank you so much for listening as per usual, and Mabuhay!

In this episode of Chica with Monica, I speak with the talented Nacho Tambunting about the rise in Asian hate crimes in the U.S. along with the many historical implications that has lead to these events. We also dive in a bit on representation in Media and how certain portrayals of us as a community has also influenced how we as Asian Americans have been perceived by the masses. This conversation was certainly much needed and I hope in time we'll have a lot more like it. On ways to help elevate the Asian community during this time, please visit: https://beacons.page/hateisavirus/, Gofundme.com/AAPI, and Stopaapihate.org. To find Nacho online visit NachoTambunting.com or @NachoTambunting on social media.

Mabuhay!

This episode is so special because not only did I get to speak with such a talented human being, but I also got to make another family friend, as shocker to none, the Filipino American community is such a beautifully small world. If you don't know who Bianca Grava is, shame shame shame; anyway, Bianca was one of the stars of the hit Disney movie Magic Camp with Adam DeVine, Gillian Jacobs, Jeffrey Tambor, and so much more. We talk a lot about her experience on set and what it meant to her to be able to play an actual Filipino in the movie. I hope you enjoy this episode, as I had an amazing time talking to someone equally obsessed with movies as I am. Catch Magic Camp on Disney Plus today and follow Bianca on her social media @BiancaGrava.

Mabuhay

In this episode of Chica with Monica, my guest Alyssa Navarro and I talk about what it means to take up space in industries that are still in dire need of diversity. The strides we collectively take to achieve progress in our communities never go unnoticed, and in our own little unique ways we end up inspiring others to pursue their passions as well. This episode was a ton of fun and enriching for me, plus we also get a little cameo from a special guest in the end. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and please don't forget to check Ate Alyssa out on all her social media @Alyssugh. Let's also all collectively await that fire Christmas album the end of this year!

Mabuhay!

On today's episode of Chica with Monica, I have the amazing Nelita Villezon, a Filipino American Martial Artist, Model, and Fitness Professional. We talk a lot about her experiences in fighting, what it means to be a Biracial Black and Filipino American in today's society, along with our excitement for seeing our culture depicted on screen in Disney's newest film Raya & The Last Dragon. We could've honestly talked for hours, but this 1st episode together shall suffice for now. Please check Nelita out on all her social media @Nelita_V or at www.NelitaV.com. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did making it!

Mabuhay!