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community

KABATAAN CULTURE supplies. Imagine a charity benefiting other international
I have already introduced my friends at Kabataan charities. They donated to the Choc Walk, the Hawaii
Culture in a previous issue with their own article, Community Foundation in the wake of the Maui fires,
but to reiterate – founders Mari-Anne De Castro as well as by way of the Aipono Café in Orange County.
Miralles and January “Jan” Beulah Obciana created They continue to support the Laura Vicuna Foundation
a “Filipino Enrichment Program” to teach/retain the in the Philippines, having donated rice, milk powder,
Tagalog language and Filipino culture within their own cooking oil, and umbrellas as recently as November in
American born and raised children. I first heard of KC Cubao, Philippines. In terms of what is next locally, they
through an Instagram ad (salamat, Meta algorithm) just started a partnership with the LA County Library,
since I was interested in taking adult Tagalog lessons. I wherein they will host cultural workshops alongside the
was paired with a Manila-based teacher, Shiela Ortega, Asian Resource Center, introducing activities like parol
and subsequently attended 2 levels of Tagalog via Zoom making and pamaypay painting. They are a growing
sessions (before my son’s classes took over my time and force in the Fil-Am community and champion the Pinoy
finances). That said, it was enough to instill a linguistic identity through cultural education. To find out where
foundation and understanding, as shortly thereafter I they will be next, or give to their organization, you can
interviewed our Consul General Edgar B. Badajos at the follow them on Instagram @kabataanculture or via their
Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles. website www.kabataanculture.org.

Subsequently, I am pleased to report that I am a SWIM BRAYV
Philippine citizen (eligible through birth), having While we look forward to enjoying the holidays with
recently obtained my Filipino passport. I look forward to my side of the family, this year has seen no shortage
putting it to use over the holidays while my husband and of time spent with my in-laws. What was originally
I visit the Philippines, introducing our son to my entire supposed to be a month-long visit spanning various
family for the first time. Sadly, this means we will miss states this summer, turned into a 3.5-month stint with
out on Kabataan Culture’s first benefit gala, Pasko Sa them spending most of the time in California after my
Barrio, taking place at The Nest: También in Bellflower son’s first birthday. To make a long story short, I rescued
on Friday, December 15th at 8pm. The inaugural event my 80-year-old father-in-law from drowning. Living on
will be hosted by my friend, fellow Fil-Am, and pageant Kauai, Hawaii, he is a competent swimmer. However,
titleholder Ms. Universe Petite 2023 Christy-Anne that day, I am thankful for my American Red Cross
Lopez, known for her work on “Chef Dynasty”. Adult training as a pool lifeguard (as was required by my job as
tickets are $85, children 12 and under are $30, and an underwater performer with Sheroes Entertainment).
proceeds from the event will help support KC’s mobile
classroom trailer funding. Despite a fractured spine and having suffered a
subsequent stroke, he is still with us, and I am grateful
I have had the opportunity to visit with them at their that the ARC covers beach entries and rescues despite
various pop-ups throughout the year, including but not not being necessary for pool duty. Even with several LA
limited to: February’s “Pamilya Day Date” and “Smore’s Country beach guards around – and being in front of a
Love”, April’s “Summer PlayFest”, May’s “562 Night lifeguard center of operations – I just happened to be the
Market”, the “Palengke: A Night Market” on Philippine first to respond since I knew what to watch-out for and
Independence Day, the “Fil-Am Children’s Festival” trusted my instincts as my training took over. This just
and the “Kababayan Mixer” during Filipino American goes to show how quickly an in-water scenario can go
Heritage Month, and they were invited to San Francisco from unlikely risk to life-threatening emergency.
to lead the children’s area at the UNDISCOVERED SF This is also why I am a volunteer and ambassador for
event in the SOMA Pilipinas district. Earlier this month, Swim Brayv.
they had their 2nd annual “Parol Festival” which saw
700 attendees. In addition to this visibility, their reach The Swim Brayv foundation is a 501(c)(3) that uses
extends beyond North America. Next up, on December mermaid and mermen mascots to educate the public
14th they will be launching a new community feeding on water and swim safety. Its founder, Candace Thome,
program called “Meals of Hope: Philippines”. The first started the charity in 2016 after the drowning accident
feeding will be in Sampaloc, Manila. and passing of her youngest sibling, Brayv, in 2011. He
was just shy of his second birthday. Drowning is the
They will be providing meals for 200 children; soup, second leading cause of accidental death in children 14
juice, and a string backpack filled with toys and school and under globally – and is the leading cause of death

18 manilaupmagazine.com