My favorite time of year, when I get to feature YOU! I asked y’all to submit your voice notes and asked: what are you most proud of from 2022 and what is the biggest thing you learned?

I LOVE everything everyone shared and am truly touched by this community. ♥️

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My big sister, Kristin or “Ate Shasta”  joins us on this episode as we close out the year, sharing with us lessons learned turning 30 and a message she has to us all. Kristin is an attorney focusing on environmental law & toxic torts. She attended Chapman Law School and attended her undergrad at UCLA. Kristin also served as President of the Public Interest Law Foundation and graduated with the class of 2020 Community Service award. She is an active board member of the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law.

We discuss:

• Her top 3 realizations & pieces of advice on turning 30
• Responsibilities and expectations as the eldest child of immigrant parents
• "Not trying so hard," prioritizing health, seeing the bigger picture
• A message she has to all of us as we close out the year <3

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You don't know how you all have meant <3 As we enter the holidays, I just want to say a huge thank you.

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Salamat! Love, Krystl

I’m back from a 3 month break and in this episode, I reunite with Tesz, and discuss

• High & lows on recent adventures and 2 big wake up calls I had
• Why rest is so hard for people pleasers, performers and/or descendants of immigrants
• the 100-breath practice I learned to for stillness and surrender
• Our NYC event and NFT launch
• Celebrating the amazing podcast hosting that Tesz did!

Support our show!

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• Leave a written review on Apple
• Follow IG @filipinaontherise

Mabuhay and Welcome back to the podcast. My name is Tesz Millan, creator of the YouTube series Filipina. America. Creative. This is the last interview I’ll be hosting before Krystl Fabella finally returns to you from her adventures.

In today’s special conversation, you’ll get to meet Mary Jane Butac Livingston. Hailing from Hawaii, Mary Jane is a first generation Filipina-American, a Dental Hygienist to the stars, and a New York City content creator known as Pineapple in the Big Apple. Most importantly, she’s a brand new mom to her cute-as-a-button 9-month-old daughter, Dakota Jane, or DJ for short.

Although she grew up in a traditional Filipino household, she didn’t initially identify herself solely as a Filipina. She is now on a path of self-discovery to what being a Filipina looks like and what that embodies. Her hope? To pass these discoveries and treasures onto her daughter and future children, as well as to the generations to come.

In this episode we’ll cover…

·       Importance of therapy to prevent passing trauma to the next generation
 
 ·       What post partum depression feels and looks like and how to care for yourself while still caring for others
 
 ·       Manifestation requires Action
 
 ·       Supporting her husband through Medical Residency while working 4 jobs and making the most of NYC Life   
 
 ·       Dental Hygiene is about giving someone their smile back

 ·       How beauty standards can cause racism within the Filipino Community
 
Importance of Episode:

Like her parents, Mary Jane craved growth and opportunities in the great beyond. It’s what has driven her to manifest and take action to reach all of her goals before the age of 30. Now, with the birth of daughter DJ, Mary Jane is navigating motherhood as a new mom, including finding her own identity again, reassessing her goals and overcoming the challenges of post partum depression. She shares with us how New York City is a special place for her, because it’s where she learned what it means to be independent and cultivate a strong sense of self. Finally, through her work as a dental hygienist, Mary Jane is able to give her patients confidence, change lives through her mission work in the Bahamas and teach the next generation the importance of giving people their smiles back.

 Watch Exclusive Footage of this interview with Mary Jane:
https://youtu.be/A_i_jFhMETE
 
Connect with Mary Jane Livingston, Pineapple in the Big Apple: 

·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pineappleinthebigapple/

Join the Filipina Soul Sisterhood Circle! Hang out with Krystl and other “journeying” Pinays every week, as we reconnect with our culture, meet with and get mentored by impactful, industry-disrupting Filipina leaders, and help each other step into our power as Pinays.
 
Support, Share, Follow, Get Spotlighted:

·       Support the show for as little as $1 a month: http://patreon.com/filipinaontherise

·       Follow IG @filipinaontherise

Pledge $3 or $10 a month to help keep the show going! Here: Patreon

To get a deeper understanding of Stockton’s distinct place in Philippine-American history, I reached out to Little Manila Rising, an organization whose mission is to remember and reclaim Stockton’s proud Filipino history. When I arrived, the organization’s Community Development Director Irene Calimlim and Board Member Manang Elena Mangahas welcomed me with a tour and intensive history lesson of Stockton’s Little Manila. After our tour of Little Manila, I sat down with them to talk in-depth about their personal connection with South Stockton and the Little Manila organization.

Little Manila Rising (LMR) serves the South Stockton community, developing equitable solutions to the effects of historical marginalization, institutionalized racism, and harmful public policy. LMR offers a wide spectrum of programs that address education, environment, redevelopment, and public health. LMR values all people’s unique and diverse experiences and wishes to see the residents of South Stockton enjoy healthy, prosperous lives.

In this episode we’ll cover…

·       Stockton's distinct history of Filipino Manong and what's left of Little Manila

·       Little Manila Rising's efforts in historic preservation, cultural revitalization and environmental protection

·       How Stockton's youth, aka "Boomerangs," are returning home to create positive community change

·       The importance of Filipina leaders to decolonize their minds to rise up for their communities

·       Stockton's grassroots efforts to create partnerships on the local and national level
 
 Importance of Episode:
The amount of passion and dedication Irene and Elena exude to preserve Filipino history as well as advance initiatives to protect the community is nothing short of awe-inspiring. When I hear them talk, I can’t help but feel that their determination to uplift and do what is right for both history and for the future comes from the same unending source of strength and integrity that generations of Filipinos have felt who came in search of a better way of life. Because in the end, the Story of Little Manila Stockton is not just their story, it is our story to share, to discover and to create together.

Watch Exclusive Footage of this interview with Little Manila Rising:
https://youtu.be/rsubrQwuE5g

Watch Exclusive Footage from my tour of Little Manila in South Stockton, CA: https://youtu.be/nnhXoDlL-UI

Connect with Little Manila Rising: 

·       Website:  https://littlemanila.org/

·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlemanilastockton/

If you would like to help support Little Manila Rising in their efforts to preserve Stockton's Filipino History, visit https://littlemanila.org/future

Join the Filipina Soul Sisterhood Circle! Hang out with Krystl and other “journeying” Pinays every week, as we reconnect with our culture, meet with and get mentored by impactful, industry-disrupting Filipina leaders, and help each other step into our power as Pinays.
 
Support, Share, Follow, Get Spotlighted:

·       Support the show for as little as $1 a month: http://patreon.com/filipinaontherise

·       Follow IG @filipinaontherise

Pledge $3 or $10 a month to help keep the show going! Here: Patreon

Mabuhay and Welcome! In today’s episode, host Tesz Millan and special guest Val Roxas are going to take you on a journey to reconnect inward to your soul and outward to the meaning of the Filipino word KAPWA, the inherent sense of knowing someone at their core. 

Essentially, Kapwa means, “I see you because I see myself in you.” 

VAL ROXAS, is a Filipina-American artist, writer, poet and the founder of LUNAS, a healing practice dedicated to helping kids of immigrants achieve their Soul Goals. Through her private mentorship, workshops and 1:1 soul sessions, Val uses meditation, visualization and other healing modalities to help the Soul searchers and truth seekers unmask false identities that have been passed down for generations and reconnect to their deepest knowing. She helps those who work together with her, clarify what it is they really want out of this life by guiding them towards tangible goals, while also walking them through an invisible journey of internal healing. Val is currently in the process of building an online school for those who are seeking a financially accessible platform to undergo intergenerational healing and discover their soul goals in “go at your own pace” environment.

In this episode we’ll cover…

·       Defining the Soul Goal as a Process of Discovery rather than Reaching a Destination

·       Navigating the guilt and confusion of feeling deep Love and deep Hate for our parents

·       How Generational Healing is possible by learning our history and sharing our stories

·       The meaning of Spirituality as it relates to Kapwa

·       “I Am”, a poem celebrating Filipina identity that Val wrote after visiting the Philippines
 
 Importance of Episode:

The feeling of isolation when pursuing your life goals, especially as a Filipina, can feel almost crippling at times. The weight of intergenerational trauma, achievement fatigue and the pressure of “I can and should have it all” can be overwhelming and almost too much to bear. Through her mission to help first generation children of immigrants define and pursue their Soul Goals, Val is showing that life has deeper meaning when you connect to your history, community and stories. From the moment you first meet Val, whether in person or through the digital space, you immediately experience her soulful resonance. You see a sister, a teacher, a friend. Through her inherent wisdom, you begin to realize your own soulful understanding of the meaning of life. You realize the power and everlasting beauty of Kapwa.

Watch Exclusive Footage from the Interview with Val: https://youtu.be/6nSuMpGw3fg 

Connect with Val: 

·       Website: https://linktr.ee/vroxass

·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vroxass/

Join the Filipina Soul Sisterhood Circle! Hang out with Krystl and other “journeying” Pinays every week, as we reconnect with our culture, meet with and get mentored by impactful, industry-disrupting Filipina leaders, and help each other step into our power as Pinays.
 
Support, Share, Follow, Get Spotlighted:

·       Support the show for as little as $1 a month: http://patreon.com/filipinaontherise

·       Follow IG @filipinaontherise

Pledge $3 or $10 a month to help keep the show going! Here: Patreon

Mabuhay and welcome back to Filipina on the Rise… 

Today, our host Tesz Millan is excited to talk with Kimee Balmilero, a successful Hollywood and Broadway actor and singer, who is breaking through the entertainment industry's glass ceiling while inspiring the world to laugh and feel good with her effervescent energy and her beautiful soul. More recently, Kimee played opposite Fil-Am Comedian Jo Koy as his sister Geraldine on the TV pilot JOSEP. She can also be seen regularly on CBS’ Hawaii Five-O and Magnum P.I. as Medical Examiner Dr. Noelani Cunha. In addition to playing a wide range of major television roles, Kimee first started her career in musical theater, starring on Broadway in the Original Cast of Mamma Mia! as well as performing in the 2nd National Tour of Miss Saigon, which she joined right out of high school.

In this episode we’ll cover…

·       Working with Fil-Am Comedian Jo Koy and how the movie Easter Sunday is one of many examples of how Filipinos are ready to have their stories featured in Hollywood.

·       Kimee’s Hawaiian upbringing, which led to her auditioning for roles that weren’t typical for Asian actors and how that led to her breaking through Hollywood’s glass ceiling.

·       How Hawaii continues to be a trailblazer in hiring local actors and featuring Asians in major film and TV productions. 

·       The importance of celebrating each success as Hawaii's entertainment community continues to open the door for Asian stories.

·       The joy of acting with her dad on a special episode of Hawaii Five-0.

Importance of Episode:

Kimee has persevered as a Filipina in an industry that is only now just starting to share Filipino stories in a big way. She recalls a time (not so long ago) when she could only audition for the one Asian role in a major production, to now going after and winning lead after lead, regardless of her ethnicity and skin color. What’s remarkable is that a major part of her success can be attributed to her Hawaiian upbringing, where seeing Asian faces on television was normal. It’s why she never thought twice about busting through Hollywood’s seemingly impenetrable glass ceiling and going after roles that would normally have excluded her because she’s Filipina. Most important, despite paving the way for Filipino representation in the entertainment industry, Kimee continues to hold humility and hope for what’s to come. Because she knows, this is just the beginning for all of us.

Watch Exclusive Footage from The Interview with Kimee: https://youtu.be/wBNLMhTv7qw

Connect with Kimee: 

·       Website: https://kimeeb.com/

·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimeebalmilero/

Join the Filipina Soul Sisterhood Circle! Hang out with Krystl and other “journeying” Pinays every week, as we reconnect with our culture, meet with and get mentored by impactful, industry-disrupting Filipina leaders, and help each other step into our power as Pinays.
 
Support, Share, Follow, Get Spotlighted:

·       Support the show for as little as $1 a month: http://patreon.com/filipinaontherise

·       Follow IG @filipinaontherise

Pledge $3 or $10 a month to help keep the show going! Here: Patreon

Mabuhay and Welcome, dear listeners of Filipina on the Rise… While Krystl takes a much deserved break, you'll hear a new voice on the podcast. Hi! I'm Tesz Millan, Creator of the YouTube series Filipina. American. Creative. For my very first episode hosting this amazing podcast, I brought in the support of someone I’ve looked up to and admired, pretty much my entire life.

Dr. Maria T. Millan, MD is the President and CEO of CIRM, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. As the leader of this groundbreaking organization, she is leading its mission to help direct 8.5 billion dollars toward stem cell research projects and clinical trials that are not only saving lives but changing the way the world heals its sickest patients. Before that, she was the Director of Pediatric Transplantation at Stanford University, and before that, she completed her Surgery Residency at Harvard. Simply put, she is a bad a$$. Most importantly, she’s an amazing Filipina, a mom of two college students, loving wife to her husband David, and yes, she is my cousin!


In this episode we’ll cover…

·       How to shed the armor of over-achieving that prevents us from having real, meaningful connections

·       Maria's journey of becoming a pediatric surgeon of the highest degree, to leading CIRM as CEO and President, to being a mother and the importance of embracing vulnerability and trusting yourself along the way

·       Knowing when enough is enough - that what you do is good enough

·       How Filipino culture upholds positional hierarchy and the affect it can have on our need to constantly overwork 

·       What play looks like and how to learn the art of play from those around you


Importance of Episode:
Culturally, as Filipinas and as immigrants, we feel the pressure of wanting to fit in and have a place. We're brought up and even rewarded to achieve in order to feel like we bring value to this world. Making the mistake of thinking ONLY our achievements make us worthy can be detrimental to our overall mental health and physical well-being. To stay healthy, it's essential to recognize when enough is enough, to not beat yourself up when you take time to play/rest, and to know you have a place even when you're not in service all. the. time. Embrace vulnerability, take care of yourself and learn to forgive yourself for being human. Taking a moment for you to be "selfish" is not going to define you forever. It will actually help make you stronger and more whole, so you can fully give your best self to the world.


Watch Exclusive Footage from My First Interview with Maria: https://youtu.be/gpuTByvPTmc


Connect with Maria:
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-t-millan-m-d-4438b06/


Join the Filipina Soul Sisterhood Circle! Hang out with Krystl and other “journeying” Pinays every week, as we reconnect with our culture, meet with and get mentored by impactful, industry-disrupting Filipina leaders, and help each other step into our power as Pinays.


Support, Share, Follow, Get Spotlighted:

·       Support the show for as little as $1 a month: http://patreon.com/filipinaontherise

·       Follow IG @filipinaontherise

Pledge $3 or $10 a month to help keep the show going! Here: Patreon

Today, we have a very special guest, Caila Quinn Burello. When I started this podcast and dreamt big, I told myself one of the Filipinas I’d have on one day was Caila, and here she is! Caila Quinn is a celebrity reality star, content creator, most known for her time on The Bachelor Season 20 in 2016, where she made it to a coveted top 3 spot and is now a beloved icon of Bachelor/reality tv nation. She is a proud Filipina, with her mother Filipino and of Irish German and Swiss descent. She graduated from Boston College, moved to NYC and is now in Austin with her now husband. Caila is extremely active on social media, where you can check her out @cailaquinn and you’ll immediately see her personality that really made her stand out to me and from the rest, as a cheerful, ever optimistic and hopeFUL romantic.

In this episode we’ll cover…

• How to lean into the yearning of being connected to your roots
• Caila’s “origin story” of growing up in a Filipino-German/Swiss household while still feeling connected to both cultures through her parents
• Caila’s experience on The Bachelor, the impact on her life and how it bridged the gap of representation for so many viewers
• How to navigate the journey of falling in love with yourself again
• Making room for the experience of being half Filipino, especially if you don’t feel like you’re enough 

Importance of Episode:
Knowing where you came from is a vital piece to knowing who you are. Learning about your roots and the history of your culture can provide you with a greater understanding of who you are and who you’re meant to be. Caila is an amazing example of that and we can learn so much from her willingness and desire to show Filipino culture in spaces, like The Bachelor, that don’t typically feature the beauty of being Filipina. 

Connect with Caila: (@cailaquinn) 

* Website:  https://withlovecaila.com/  

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cailaquinn  

Join the Filipina Soul Sisterhood Circle! Hang out with Krystl and other “journeying” Pinays every week, as we reconnect with our culture, meet with and get mentored by impactful, industry-disrupting Filipina leaders, and help each other step into our power as Pinays.

Support, Share, Follow, Get Spotlighted:

• Support the show for as little as $1 a month: http://patreon.com/filipinaontherise
• Follow IG @filipinaontherise

Pledge $3 or $10 a month to help keep the show going! Here: Patreon