THE CULTURAL JOURNAL FOR FILIPINO AMERICA
Weaving together the stories of Filipino America
DIWA PRESENTS: Filipiñana
A special one-night-only screening in celebration of Filipino American History Month 2026.
DIWA is an independent Filipino American magazine based in Portland, Oregon. We tell the stories of Filipino America through fashion, history and culture, then bring those stories into the room through film screenings, exhibitions and community gatherings. Our editorials mix high and low the way Filipino style always has: luxury pieces next to pre-loved finds, Spanish regalia next to American military textiles, Indigenous weaving next to what we wear today. Each look ties back to a period of our history, seen through a present-day lens.
An events-based magazine for Filipino America
Why DIWA:
In Filipino, diwa means spirit, essence and wisdom. It was also the maternal name of founder Kyle Beltran's great-grandmother. Our logo centers the mano po, the gesture of bringing an elder's hand to your forehead as a sign of respect. DIWA exists for the same reason that gesture does: to honor the people who came before us, record their stories while we still can, and pass them on.
What DIWA is:
Twice a year, in April and October, DIWA publishes a Chapter, a collectible bookazine that moves through Filipino history in order, from the islands before 1521 to Filipino America today. Our 2025 Prologue introduced DIWA to Portland. Chapter I, Islas de los Pintados, arrives in April 2027. It looks at the tattooed Visayans whom Spanish chroniclers called the Pintados, and asks whether Filipino Americans can claim those tribal patterns today.
The Chapters
The Gatherings
Between Chapters, we host the events where these stories come to life: launch nights, film screenings, exhibitions and members' evenings. In October 2026 we brought the film Filipiñana to Portland for a one-night screening at The Hoxton with PAMANA. The night sold out, and part of the proceeds went to the Alzheimer's Association.
Filipino Americans in Portland live all over the city and can be hard to find. The Guide will be a free directory of Filipino and Filipino American businesses, independent creatives and community events, launching in Portland in 2027 and growing across the region from there.
The Guide
Become a DIWA Member
DIWA is funded by the people who read it.
Depending on tier, members receive the printed Chapters, first access and member pricing for events, and early access to DIWA goods. Membership comes in three tiers: Gatherer (5),Maker(15) and Weaver ($30). Founding Membership is open through November 30, 2026.
A look back at Filipino American History Month 2025
Filipino America has always been here and we’re growing. Now is the time for our stories to be shared.
If you have a Filipino American story we should tell, or you'd like to write, photograph or style for an upcoming Chapter, email stories@diwamag.co.