Welcome to TFAW Letters — the Filipino American History Month edition by the Filipino American Woman Project 💙❤️💛

I’m your host, Jen Amos.

Just like our summer series, I will read fictionalized letters — my creative interpretation of real conversations with you!

These letters have been woven with heart, reflection, and truth to honor your stories while protecting your privacy.

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.

Let’s get started.

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If you could reflect on one thing, it’s this:

What do the clothes you wear and conversations you have today say about the community you've built — or hope to build?

This letter is for anyone who’s ever tried to blend in—only to realize how it only makes you feel lonelier.

To wrap up the Summer Series, Jen reflects on her evolving identity as a Filipino American woman—tracing her journey from childhood birthdays filled with vibrant love, to the muted grief of losing a built-in community, to rediscovering color, voice, and belonging on her own terms.

If you’ve ever wondered what you had to change to be accepted, tried on different versions of yourself to fit in, or walked away from a place where you felt “othered”… This one’s for you.

This concludes our Summer Series. ☀️

Thank you for listening, and stay tuned for Filipino American History Month! 💙❤️💛

If you could reflect on one thing, it’s this:

Whose voice shaped your definition of success—and does it still hold true?

This letter is for anyone who has ever felt like their career choices were never enough.

Through much clarity, the writer explores what it means to break free from a parent’s version of stability—and instead build a life aligned with purpose, not predictability. Whether confronting generational expectations or making peace with a mother who may never understand, this letter offers a moment of quiet self-trust.

If you’ve ever heard your parents’ voice in your head when you’re trying to make a decision, or struggled to explain your unconventional path to someone who just doesn’t get it—this one’s for you.