Thank You
EPHEMERALITY WAS JUST THE BEGINNING
It's been exactly one week since we opened the doors to EPHEMERALITY, and we’re still processing what we experienced together.
Thank you to everyone who attended EPHEMERALITY.
Thank you to those who joined our panel discussion PERMANENCE (more on that in next week's email).
Thank you to the collaborators, vendors, volunteers, and believers who made this possible.
And thank you for being part of what DIWA is becoming: a home for Filipino American stories that deserve to be told, preserved, and celebrated.
Over 100 guests walked through three rooms at The Hoxton, Portland moving from awakening to remembering, from hiding to revealing. You witnessed a story about coming home to yourself. And in doing so, you made space for others to do the same.
This was DIWA's first event, but it won't be our last. What you helped create is just the beginning.
With gratitude,
Kyle Beltran
Founder, DIWA
Kat Magsaysay
Co-Founder, DIWA
Experience EPHEMERALITY Online + In Person
Couldn't make it to The Hoxton? We've got you covered.
We just launched PROLOGUE: EPHEMERALITY on our website—the complete collection of Celeste Noche's photography paired with the stories that inspired each image.
Walk through the same journey from The Awakening to The Blessing, read the poetry and context behind each photograph, and experience the narrative that moved our guests.
Want to see it in person?
The full exhibition—all nine photographs and styled looks—remains on view at the Travel Portland Visitor Center (1132 SW Harvey Milk Street #104 Portland, OR 97205) through October 31st.
If you want the full experience, head over to PAMANA afterward at The Hoxton, Portland. The ube pancakes for breakfast are a must-try! See their full menu here.
Filipino American History Month Continues
October isn't over yet, and Portland's Filipino community is just getting started. Here are upcoming events you won't want to miss:
Rice and Ritual Photography Exhibition
Saturday, October 18 • 3:00–6:00 PM
Filipino Bayanihan Center
An exploration of Filipino traditions through powerful imagery
Sarimanok Ballet & Pinagmulan Exhibit
Sunday, October 19 • 6:00 PM
The Reser Theatre
Experience Filipino culture through dance and storytelling
FilAm Festival
October 26 • 1:00–9:00 PM
Pioneer Courthouse Square
Food, music, community—the celebration of the year
Portland's Filipino community is rising. These events prove it.
Help Us Reach $5,000 for Alzheimer's Research
EPHEMERALITY was born from a deeply personal place when Kyle’s mother and grandmother were diagnosed with dementia.
We're partnering with the Alzheimer's Association's "Do What You Love to End ALZ" campaign throughout October—and beyond.
We're 10% to our goal of $5,000.
Every dollar funds research, provides 24/7 support helplines, and helps families navigate these diagnoses. This isn't just an October campaign. This is a continuing partnership with every DIWA event moving forward.
Your contribution honors the memories we're fighting to preserve.
Enter to Win a Bottle of Stoller Wine
Want an easy way to support DIWA and maybe win something delicious?
Subscribe to our newsletter and you're automatically entered to win 1 of 12 bottles of curated wines donated by Stoller Family Estate.
That's it. One click. Twelve bottles gifted. Quarterly stories delivered to your inbox.
Drawing will be held on Instagram on October 22. Please follow us on Instagram @_diwaco
Share Your Story
At the end of EPHEMERALITY, we asked: What have you forgotten that's worth remembering?
Now we're asking you to share it.
"Stories That Stay With You" is our call for personal essays about childhood memories, family traditions, moments that shaped who you became. We want to hear about:
The dish that tastes like home
The family member who taught you resilience
The moment you realized you were between two cultures
The memory you carry that no one else remembers
We'll choose one story to feature in our April 2026 issue.
Your story matters. Your memory deserves to be kept.
Submissions close December 31, 2025. 500-1,500 words.
Save the Date: Noche Buena is Coming
We're not done gathering yet.
This December, DIWA is hosting a Noche Buena-style dinner—celebrating Christmas the Filipino way, right here in Portland.
Think: lechon, bibingka, family-style feasting, and the kind of warmth that only happens when Filipinos gather around a table.
More details coming soon, but mark your calendars. You'll want to be there.