Filipinx-American History Month

We invite you to reflect with us on our relationships with our bodies. Let’s work towards dismantling colonial narratives of the “ideal body†while understanding their historical influence on our daily lives in the present. In this educational movement workshop, we’ll begin to liberate ourselves from body shame by creating new narratives that celebrate our being. A somatic healing practice led by Yari Cervas (creator of Practical Somatics) will invite us to experience gratitude for the strength of our bodies. Following this, Alyssa Saquilayan (creator of Alyssa Coaching) will guide a restorative yoga practice encouraging body love and self-knowledge of our sacred spirits.

Content warning:
In this workshop, we’ll be discussing our relationships with our bodies and the historical colonial context that our modern relationships are built upon (including colorism fatphobia, white-body supremecy, etc.). This can be a sensitive topic for some of us. Please be conscious of your own physical, emotional, and mental sensitivities, and honor your personal boundaries as we invite you into intimate conversation and bodywork.

Before the class:
Please read “Rules of Play”, a collection of 8 community guidelines:https://drive.google.com/…/1JI7_898G…/view

Things you’ll need:
– a place you feel comfortable moving & meditating
– a blanket and/or pillow
– something to write with
– water (to drink)

Optional things:
– a snack or something warm to drink
– incense, stones, photos, or other sacred items

🇵🇭 October 8th – Celebrate > Elevate: How Decolonization can Lead to Healing Through Food
Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/smcpc-filamfood

Join us in exploring the journey of how Filipino cuisine came to be and what the future looks like through the lens of decolonization.
What does decolonization mean? How can it facilitate healing by returning to our roots? How can food be a vehicle for resistance, healing and change? The San Mateo County Pride Center is excited to be in conversation with Yana Gilbuena, a nomadic Filipinx chef who brought Filipinx food to all 50 states through a series of pop-up kamayan dinners known as The Salo Series.

🇵🇭 October 15th – Film Screening the documentary OutRun (2016)
https://tinyurl.com/smcpc-filam-movie

Directors S. Leo Chiang and Johnny Symons chat about documenting the leader of Ladlad, possibly the world’s only LGBT political party, which is in the Philippines. Their documentary, Out Run, tells the story of Ladlad leader Bemz Benedito, as she aims to become the first transgender woman in the Philippine Congress. Follow Benedito as she rallies the transgender beauty queens and hairdressers in working class neighborhoods in the Philippines.

We will be watching this via Zoom! Please register using the link above.

For a trailer of the movie, please see this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaE-QeXVmrI

🇵🇭 October 22nd – (Not) Talking: Unsaid Words of Queer Filipinx Americans
Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/smcpc-unspoken

Please join us on Thursday, October 22 from 6 – 8 PM as we learn and share together in (Not) Talking: Unsaid Words of Queer Filipinx Americans. Dr. Hazel Benigno (she/siya) will provide a short lesson on the history of gender and sexuality in the Philippines, including the effects of colonization. In the spirit of decolonizing queerness, we will then engage in a panel discussion and community conversation to talk about some of the things we may not get to talk about as queer Filipinx Americans. In guiding ourselves and our community toward unlearning the intergenerational trauma of colonialism and rediscovering our roots, we hope to open our minds to the wisdom of our ancestors and share in collective healing. Trigger warnings: Potential discussion of homophobia, potential discussion of personal traumas.

🇵🇭October 29th – Malakas and Maganda: a Meditative Reflection of the Divine Masculine and Feminine

Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/smcpc-filam-meditation

Join us as we explore the mythical roots of Filipinx. Legend shares that the first Filipinx came from one bamboo split open by the bird that connected the sky to the earth. Malakas (Strong) and Maganda (Beautiful) represent the divine masculine and feminine that live in each of us. This workshop will be a journey of recognizing the divinity and fullness of who we are. Led by wellness coach, energy healer and meditation teacher Marnelle Marasigan, this is a healing space where we invite you to explore and nourish your divine energies & harness your masculine and feminine strengths.