Introducing: The Call to Culture Project

What is culture;

But a means to express what makes us people,

What unites us as a community,

And what brings meaning to everyday life

- E. Cortes

I was called to create a project centered on identity, culture, and fashion.

I’m called to reflect and understand what makes me who I am. I’m a blogger, a businesswoman, a sister, a daughter, a girlfriend, a friend, a student, a dog mom – and with all that I’m Filipino and American.

I grew up blending my Filipino and American cultures in my life. I feel called to share the meaning of the experience and to invite others to share their multi-culture lives.

I was inspired to invite my friends to the Call to Culture project: Doug (multiracial - Pacific Islander & Black), Ribicca (Ethopian American), and Aania (Pakistani American) have all inspired me with their multicultural lenses.

Here are the three objectives of the Call to Culture project:

1. Share our cultures that makes us who we are

2. Show the fashion industry and the blogging community that culture and diversity matter

3. Be the representation in media that we may have not experienced growing up

Beyond these objectives, a Call to Culture is a personal project for me.

At this point of my blogging journey, it’s easy to talk about fashion, career, and lifestyle posts. But acknowledging and trying to understand my Filipino and American cultures that have built me is much more challenging.

I’ve struggled with my identity at various points of my life. I’ve battled with the model minority myth all through school. I’ve also been confused as I’ve been called both exotic and a white girl at the same time.

I’ve grown up knowing I’m not the norm

– not in fashion, not in movies, not in media, and not even in corporate America.

Though I know we are progressing as a society, I think it’ still important to acknowledge where we’ve been, where we are today, and the perspectives of multicultural and multiracial children and adults.

Our experiences are a part of our truths.

Our collective truths become a part of culture.

And our collective cultures become a part of history.

I’m calling all of you to embrace the cultures you were raised in.

Choosing to speak our truths and share our cultures are the paths of opening perspectives, encouraging tolerance, and embracing diversity.

Because whether you are Filipino, Ethiopian, multiracial, Pacific Islander, black, Pakistani, or American – we all know what it’s like to feel different at some point.

It’s our differences that unite us.

It’s our traditions that enrich us.

It’s our friendships that help tell our stories.

This is the Call to Culture project. Stay tuned for everyone’s blog posts with their piece of culture and truth. Together we'll celebrate our cultures.

“Culture makes people understand each other better. And if they understand each other better in their soul, it is easier to overcome the economic and political barriers. But first they have to understand that their neighbour is, in the end, just like them, with the same problems, the same questions.”

- Paulo Coelho