The story behind the stories

OUR FOUNDING STORY

A group of seven young adults posing in front of a leafy background with some curtains, with an ice cream cone sculpture at the center. Some are standing, one is kneeling, and one is sitting cross-legged.

A new generation of culture bearers

Recently, I discovered something extraordinary about my community, the Filipino American community. It can take some time, but when we find each other, the spirit of creativity comes alive. It’s magic when it happens.

Through Portland's vibrant Filipino food scene, digital connections, and chance encounters, I met incredible Filipinas across the city. But that’s no surprise because just like the women in my family, these Filipina women are formidable. They are entrepreneurs, creatives, community builders, each carrying their own stories of finding belonging in the new places they have come to call home.

Story after story, I saw how our community is full of wisdom; it’s got spirit, it’s got soul, it’s got everything DIWA means.

Photographer Celeste and I started talking about capturing Filipino American stories through fashion. My friend Jane brought her essence to our first shoot, expanding the vision. Friends in hair & beauty, family, and community members offered their talents, transforming DIWA from an idea for a fashion editorial into a whole new platform.

Each collaborator brought their own relationship with Filipino culture. All shared the understanding that Filipino Americans deserve representation with the care and thoughtfulness we embody, a platform celebrating both our roots and our evolution.

DIWA exists because of this serendipitous collaboration. And it is this very collaborative spirit that drives our mission to amplify each other's voices. Together, we all come home to ourselves.

DIWA

/di • wa/

Tagalog word
light, thought, essence, spirit, soul, consciousness, life, life-giving

borrowed from the Sanskrit word jiva (जीव)
living being, life force, to breathe, to live, gift from god, power of the feminine

The story that inspired everything

When Kyle’s mother learned she had dementia while his grandmother was already in the late stages of her diagnosis, he faced a profound realization: the cultural wisdom and family stories he had yet to learn would soon fade away with time. 

This vital need became DIWA’s foundational commitment to capturing Filipino American stories before they disappear from memory. Growing up Filipino American often means living between worlds—honoring heritage while adapting to a culture not your own, carrying forward traditions while creating new ones.

Kyle experienced this duality firsthand, and it shaped both his personal journey and professional path. Over a decade in brand strategy and community building taught him how powerful stories connect people to their identities and to each other. 

From luxury retail to nonprofit work, from Las Vegas to Portland, he consistently found himself drawn to projects establishing long-lasting relationships across diverse communities. But it wasn’t until facing the potential loss of his own family’s stories that he discovered a new purpose, to create DIWA.

DIWA represents the convergence of a personal quest and professional expertise. It is a publication born from love, loss, and the deep belief that every one of our stories matters.

The women of DIWA

Braulia Diwa

Braulia Diwa

Black and white photo of a bride and groom in wedding attire, seated in a studio with a painted backdrop, a rug underneath them.
A woman standing outdoors, dressed in a light-colored top and a patterned skirt with a bow at the waist, with trees and outdoor seating in the background.
An older woman with dark hair, wearing a patterned shirt and light-colored pants, sitting on a vintage upholstered armchair with her arm resting on the armrest, in a room with a wooden floor and some furniture in the background.

Ligaya Manasan

Ligaya Manasan

Minda Cruz

Minda Cruz

About Our Founder

Meet the creative force behind DIWA—Kyle Beltran, who channels his fashion expertise and his understanding that Filipino American stories hold power when told with intention and care, into cultural storytelling. With DIWA, his mission is to create a platform to uplift the stories of the Filipino American community.

A young man with short dark hair and a beard is standing indoors, wearing a white T-shirt with a quote that reads, "Know history, know self. No history, no self."

He brings strategic thinking and community-building expertise from his work with brands like Burberry and Valentino, where he created lasting partnerships with cultural institutions including the Nevada Ballet Theatre and Nevada Philharmonic. His nonprofit experience includes developing youth programs and managing community engagement initiatives.

This combination of creative vision and deep community connection allows him to build DIWA into a lasting cultural home for Filipino American stories.

Where it all started

How over a decade of work in brand strategy and community building converges into storytelling

Creative Collaborators

  • A woman with wavy hair wearing a light-colored blouse with embroidered details, looking at the camera in a softly lit indoor setting.

    Jane Barmore

    Community Builder

  • A woman with long dark hair and glasses sitting with crossed arms, looking thoughtfully to the side, surrounded by stacked chairs in a room with natural light.

    Celeste Noche

    Photographer

  • A woman with shoulder-length dark hair and a confident smile, wearing a sleeveless polka dot top, standing in front of a textured wall with visible cracks, near stacked circular wooden objects.

    Alexa Domenden

    Styling Assistant

  • Portrait of a woman with short dark hair, wearing a floral dress with puffed sleeves, a necklace, and earrings, standing in front of a plain wall.

    Jess Moss

    Hair Stylist & Barber

  • Black and white portrait of a woman with dark hair, hoop earrings, and a subtle smile, facing slightly to the right.

    Akila Stevens

    Makeup Artist

  • A man wearing glasses and a dark coat, holding a camera, looking at bathroom fixtures in a store with empty shelves.

    Antonio Leija

    Videographer I

  • Black and white portrait of a young woman with long, wavy hair, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

    Maddie Meyers

    Video and Photography