Why I Joined

Growing up in a Filipino household, I was always surrounded by pieces of Filipino culture whether that was food, music, traditions, etc. However, a critical piece of my Filipino identity that I lacked was an understanding of Filipino history. This was a topic that was not covered in any of the schools I attended growing up, nor was it talked about a lot in my home. Coming to UW, a goal that I had for myself was to fill this gap. The first step I took to become more connected with Filipino culture was joining Sayaw, the Filipino traditional folk dance troupe on campus. I learned much more about Filipino culture through music, dance, and storytelling. I realized that this was a key aspect that I was also missing. As a result of this newfound knowledge, I was curious to continue learning more.

When I heard about Knowledge Kapamilya from friends in Sayaw, I thought it immediately sounded like the opportunity that I was looking for. The chance to learn more about Filipino history and culture through meaningful discussions. Additionally, I would be able to explore and research the Philippine collections acquired by the Burke Museum which is where Knowledge Kapamilya sessions would be held. Not only would I learn more about Filipino history, but I would also have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research that is culturally focused. As Filipino history was not a topic that was talked about much in my household growing up, I was excited to share the knowledge that I gained through Knowledge Kapamilya with family, friends, and those around me. Needless to say, I applied right away.