Who is that one person you could absolutely see a future with, and yet still say no?

Mic writes to Ian, a dear friend who’s been part of her friend group since middle school, after he unexpectedly asks her out on a date. She thinks through everything that makes him the obvious choice: their blended community of Filipino family and friends, her parents’ unsolicited approval, the ease, and the entire future she can already picture in vivid detail. It just makes sense. But why can’t she say yes?

If you struggle to move past the friend zone with a childhood friend, this letter is for you.

Letter 198 is part of The Filipino American Woman Project’s letters series, inspired by real conversations. This is our Summer Edition.

Who do you dare to be outside of people needing you?

Dani has finally accomplished the impossible: making friends who don’t need saving. It should feel like winning. But after one ordinary dance class, she experiences uncomfortable feelings as a regular member she’s grown to like starts hanging out with the new girl. She navigates her feelings as she searches for new leggings on the clearance rack.

If you’re no longer saving your friends and you feel weird about it, this letter is for you.

Letter 197 is part of The Filipino American Woman Project’s letters series, inspired by real conversations. This is our Summer Edition.

Who do you love without question, and can’t wait to welcome home, no matter how long it’s been?

Mamma Maria replies to her daughter Ren (Episode 187) with pride and adoration, and reminds Ren to check her messages to stay up to date with her life. She can’t wait for her daughter to return home so they can be the dynamic duo once again.

If your daughter is your best friend, this letter is for you.

Letter 196 is part of The Filipino American Woman Project’s letters series, inspired by real conversations. This is our Summer Edition.

What do you really mean when you say “I love you”?

In this letter, Wanda (aka “Woke Woe”) replies to Nance (Episode 193). She acknowledges their fast friendship, activism, and the busyness that ultimately took Nance away, leaving Wanda with many unanswered questions.

If someone saying ‘I love you’ still left you feeling unloved, this letter is for you.

Letter 195 is part of The Filipino American Woman Project’s letters series, inspired by real conversations. This is our Summer Edition.

When’s the last time you blew up on your family — and was it really about them?

In this letter, an older sister writes to Sofie, her younger sister. Despite the older sister being raised to raise Sofie, they were often mistaken for twins growing up because of how much they enjoyed being sisters. Even as their paths diverged — different colleges, different cities, and a decade apart — they still felt fondly about each other. At least, that’s what the older sister thought.

When Sofie returns home, the older sister begins to see who her younger sister has become: a social justice warrior returning to save her oppressed mother. Soon enough, the older sister realizes who Sofie is saving their mother from.

If you ever grappled with a family member coming home completely changed from childhood, this letter is for you.

Letter 194 is part of The Filipino American Woman Project’s letters series, inspired by real conversations. This is our Summer Edition.

Reflect on past relationships that have grown distant, and ask yourself: Did I play a role in this?

In this letter, Nance writes to Wanda, the loud-and-proud president of a Filipino student organization who felt like the big sister she never had. Even though she was too nice to say no, Nance found purpose and belonging with Wanda and the organization's members. But when the activism began to feel more than she could keep up with or express, she did what she’s always done when things get overwhelming.

If you ever got too busy to say what you really wanted to say, this letter is for you.

Letter 193 is part of The Filipino American Woman Project’s letters series, inspired by real conversations. This is our Summer Edition.

Who was the last Filipino person you were excited to meet — and did you ever stop to wonder if they wanted to connect that way?

Claire’s new friend invites her to a dinner party, a refreshing change from the Filipino parties she’s used to. That is, until she meets Marco.

The moment he finds out she’s Filipino too, the evening takes a sharp turn toward assumptions, unsolicited opinions, and questions she didn’t anticipate having to answer. Claire thinks very carefully about her response the next time her friend invites her to another party.

If you’ve ever felt stereotyped by another Filipino, this one’s for you.

Letter 192 is part of The Filipino American Woman Project’s letters series, inspired by real conversations. This is our Summer Edition.

How has rejection redirected you to reclaiming and expressing who you really are?

In this letter, Robin writes to Lolo G, their late grandfather, who loved them deeply. But his love was expressed with gender expectations about how a girl should move, dress, speak, and carry herself.

It was in Robin’s young adult years that they discovered the language and pronouns to voice who they really are, who they’ve always been. Then, before their 30th birthday, they’re ready to come out to their grandpa and family.

If you’re finally ready to show and tell everyone who you really are, this letter was written for you.

Letter 191 is part of The Filipino American Woman Project’s letters series, inspired by real conversations. This is our PRIDE Month special and Summer edition.

Welcome to TFAW Letters — the Summer Edition — by the Filipino American Woman Project! ☀️

I’m your host, Jen Amos, here to read aloud letters inspired by real conversations with you!

It all begins with one line:

If I could say one thing...

Because sometimes one thing is all we need to take up a little more space. 💛

First letter releases next Friday! Stay tuned! 🎧

What was once the greatest setback in your life that has now become your greatest inspiration?

This letter is for the working mom who was a proud career woman — until she became a mother.

In this letter, Mia writes to her twin sons as an empty nester. She’s now honest about who she was when they were young, and the real struggle she faced as a career-driven woman to surrender to motherhood. She doesn’t shy away from acknowledging how much she had to compromise and the guilt and resentment that came with it. Yet, along the way through the growing pains of being a working mother, something unexpected happened.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can be a devoted mother and still be the ambitious woman you were before, this letter was written for you.

Letter 189 is part of The Filipino American Woman Project’s letters series, inspired by real conversations.

This concludes our AAPI Heritage Month edition. Thanks for listening, and we’ll resume in the summer!

Question: I have a paid membership. Where’s my bonus content?