If you could reflect on one thing:

Have you ever wondered if your parents are truly happy with the life they chose?

This letter is for anyone who has ever wanted to return the favor to their immigrant parents—not just with financial support or achievements, but by encouraging them to want more for themselves.

Through heartfelt honesty and generational empathy, the writer wrestles with the quiet grief of watching her parents settle too soon. She thanks them for their sacrifices, then gently asks if they’re truly fulfilled—or just surviving.

If you’ve ever longed for your parents to keep growing with you, to heal what was left unsaid, or to believe their story isn’t over yet—this one’s for you.

If you could reflect on one thing:

When was the last time you honored your own growth—even if it meant leaving something good behind?

This letter is for anyone who’s felt the “quiet knowing” of outgrowing a former version of themselves.

Through gentle reflection and emotional honesty, the writer revisits the early days of this podcast, acknowledging what once was, what it cost, and what it means to move forward with grace.

If you’ve ever realized that your old dreams no longer fit, or that you're ready to honor the person you’ve become, this one’s for you.

Welcome to TFAW Letters, a special summer series from The Filipino American Woman Project. I’m your host, Jen Amos.

Each week, I will read a fictionalized letter—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.

Tune in for our first episode on Friday, June 20th, our podcast’s sixth anniversary!

163: A Story of Intergenerational Family Therapy Through Filipino Studies

Full video of Caitilin's live event is available now on https://thenewfilipina.com/ Join the conversation for FREE today!

On behalf of The Filipino American Woman Project, which seeks to amplify Filipina representation in mainstream media, Nani facilitates the launch event of Damacion’s traveling exhibit. The two are joined by Francis Wong, a professor in Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, jazz musician, and father figure in Bay Area community organizing for an insightful discussion about migration, student activism, and resistance.

For Those I’ve Saved Names For (FTISNF) is a call to action for Filipino American Representation. Originally a Master’s Thesis for San Francisco State University’s Department of Humanities and Comparative World Literature, FTISNF is now a traveling multimedia exhibit that can be experienced in-person or online at https://www.forthoseivesavednamesfor.com/

Shoutout to the late Uncle Kenneth Damacion for leaving us with a valuable legacy to learn from, and to Caitilin for her significant labor of love in packaging his story to share with us.

This episode is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BZ_NxPiu-Vk

For our latest updates and FINAL community events, check out our newsletter, published Friday, May 23rd, 2025: https://mailchi.mp/e9ab60aa7aeb/tfaw-project

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NEWSLETTER: Receive the latest stories, updates, and media coverage by subscribing to our FREE newsletter: TFAWPROJECT.COM

ABOUT US: From 2019 to 2024, The Filipino American Woman (TFAW) Project was a podcast that strengthened Filipino voices one conversation at a time through all things life, culture, and personal development. Learn about the latest happenings of the show, which'll be announced SUMMER 2025: TFAWPROJECT.COM

ACADEMIC PAPER: Special thanks to the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at UC Davis for the opportunity to present our academic paper, Pinay Podcasters: Building a Self-Sustaining Community Through Storytelling, Collective Healing & Learning, and Collaboration. The initial draft is now available! Read more at http://pinaypodcasters.com/

RECOGNITION: In December 2020 and December 2021, we received an Honorable Mention at the Asian American Podcaster's Golden Crane Podcast Awards. August 2020, Jen Amos participated as a speaker on behalf of TFAW Project for PodFest Global, which now holds the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Largest Attendance for a Virtual Podcasting Conference in One Week. May 2020, we were recognized as “Amplifying Asian Women Voices” on Spotify during AAPI Heritage Month.

We've also been featured in Realtime Community Oakland, Mochi Magazine, Ossa Collective, SUPERBANDS, Chopsticks Alley, FoundHer by Entrepinayship, Spotify, PodFest Expo, Philippine American Foundation for Charities, When In Manila, You Are Collect;ve, San Diego Union Tribune, NBC 7 San Diego, and much more! Read more at: https://linktr.ee/tfawproject.featured

CONNECT WITH US: Instagram...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.tfawletters.com/subscribe

162: A Look Inside Filipino American History Through Filipino Poetry

Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/N-qcmYStaO8

To celebrate Filipino American History Month 2024, The Filipino American Woman (TFAW) Project explores what intergenerational family therapy looks like through Filipino American poetry. Cohosts Jen and Nani welcome past guest, Caitilin Damacion, back to the stage for a deep dive into her Master’s thesis project, For Those I’ve Saved Names For.

For Those I’ve Saved Names For is a traveling exhibit of Damacion’s late father’s poetry, who passed away in 2013. Kenneth Damacion was a farm worker from the Philippines who grew up in Fairfield, California during the Civil Rights Era. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Master’s degree in poetry, but experienced many barriers and roadblocks in getting his work published. Caitilin, his daughter, obtained her Master’s degree from San Francisco State University in 2023. She uses the body of work her father left to illustrate her own thesis project, which covers a broader narrative about the history of Asian American scholar activism.

Learn more about Caitilin's exhibit at https://www.forthoseivesavednamesfor.com/

For our latest updates and FINAL community events, check out our newsletter, published Friday, May 23rd, 2025: https://mailchi.mp/e9ab60aa7aeb/tfaw-project

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NEWSLETTER: Receive the latest stories, updates, and media coverage by subscribing to our FREE newsletter: TFAWPROJECT.COM

ABOUT US: From 2019 to 2024, The Filipino American Woman (TFAW) Project was a podcast that strengthened Filipino voices one conversation at a time through all things life, culture, and personal development. Learn about the latest happenings of the show, which'll be announced SUMMER 2025: TFAWPROJECT.COM

ACADEMIC PAPER: Special thanks to the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at UC Davis for the opportunity to present our academic paper, Pinay Podcasters: Building a Self-Sustaining Community Through Storytelling, Collective Healing & Learning, and Collaboration. The initial draft is now available! Read more at http://pinaypodcasters.com/

RECOGNITION: In December 2020 and December 2021, we received an Honorable Mention at the Asian American Podcaster's Golden Crane Podcast Awards. August 2020, Jen Amos participated as a speaker on behalf of TFAW Project for PodFest Global, which now holds the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Largest Attendance for a Virtual Podcasting Conference in One Week. May 2020, we were recognized as “Amplifying Asian Women Voices” on Spotify during AAPI Heritage Month.

We've also been featured in Realtime Community Oakland, Mochi Magazine, Ossa Collective, SUPERBANDS, Chopsticks Alley, FoundHer by Entrepinayship, Spotify, PodFest Expo, Philippine American Foundation for Charities, When In Manila, You Are Collect;ve, San Diego Union Tribune, NBC 7 San Diego, and much more! Read more at: https://linktr.ee/tfawproject.featured

CONNECT WITH US: Instagram @thefilipinoamericanwoman, Facebook @thefilipinoamericanwoman, Twitter @thefilamwoman, YouTube @thefilipinoamericanwoman, LinkedIn @tfawproject,...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.tfawletters.com/subscribe

161: Therapy Writing Prompts for Filipino American Women

Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Z4KIqp6tduI

Whether you’ve been going to therapy for years or are just toying with the idea, we want to meet you where you’re at. In this bonus episode, Nani shares five therapy writing prompts you can use to explore your relationship to therapy and mental health, identify which therapy topics to discuss, and develop healthy coping skills for anxiety and stressful situations. As a follow-up to our previous conversation in episode 159, we hope you take advantage of this opportunity to apply what you learned to your life. Happy reflecting!

For our latest updates and FINAL community events, check out our newsletter, published Friday, May 23rd, 2025: https://mailchi.mp/e9ab60aa7aeb/tfaw-project

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NEWSLETTER: Receive the latest stories, updates, and media coverage by subscribing to our FREE newsletter: TFAWPROJECT.COM

ABOUT US: From 2019 to 2024, The Filipino American Woman (TFAW) Project was a podcast that strengthened Filipino voices one conversation at a time through all things life, culture, and personal development. Learn about the latest happenings of the show, which'll be announced SUMMER 2025: TFAWPROJECT.COM

ACADEMIC PAPER: Special thanks to the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at UC Davis for the opportunity to present our academic paper, Pinay Podcasters: Building a Self-Sustaining Community Through Storytelling, Collective Healing & Learning, and Collaboration. The initial draft is now available! Read more at http://pinaypodcasters.com/

RECOGNITION: In December 2020 and December 2021, we received an Honorable Mention at the Asian American Podcaster's Golden Crane Podcast Awards. August 2020, Jen Amos participated as a speaker on behalf of TFAW Project for PodFest Global, which now holds the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Largest Attendance for a Virtual Podcasting Conference in One Week. May 2020, we were recognized as “Amplifying Asian Women Voices” on Spotify during AAPI Heritage Month.

We've also been featured in Realtime Community Oakland, Mochi Magazine, Ossa Collective, SUPERBANDS, Chopsticks Alley, FoundHer by Entrepinayship, Spotify, PodFest Expo, Philippine American Foundation for Charities, When In Manila, You Are Collect;ve, San Diego Union Tribune, NBC 7 San Diego, and much more! Read more at: https://linktr.ee/tfawproject.featured

CONNECT WITH US: Instagram @thefilipinoamericanwoman, Facebook @thefilipinoamericanwoman, Twitter @thefilamwoman, YouTube @thefilipinoamericanwoman, LinkedIn @tfawproject, Pinterest @tfawproject, or TikTok @tfawproject

Learn more about your host, Jen Amos, at https://linktr.ee/thejenamos

Contact Us at jen@tfawproject.com

160: Dear Filipino American Women, Here’s What To Talk About In Therapy

Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GEmW8yHoaJ4

And just like that… they’re back! Join Jen & Nani as they breathe new life into TFAW Project with a hearty discussion on what to talk about in therapy for Filipino American women. In this panel discussion, Filipina therapists Marjory Ware and Roanne de-Guia Samuels weigh in on common misconceptions people have about going to therapy, how to find a therapist who is aligned with you, different types of therapy to try, and popular topics and goals to center in your therapy sessions. Don’t forget to check out our bonus episode, Therapy Writing Prompts for Filipino American Women (episode 161), to put these concepts and ideas into practice!

For our latest updates and FINAL community events, check out our newsletter, published Friday, May 23rd, 2025: https://mailchi.mp/e9ab60aa7aeb/tfaw-project

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NEWSLETTER: Receive the latest stories, updates, and media coverage by subscribing to our FREE newsletter: TFAWPROJECT.COM

ABOUT US: From 2019 to 2024, The Filipino American Woman (TFAW) Project was a podcast that strengthened Filipino voices one conversation at a time through all things life, culture, and personal development. Learn about the latest happenings of the show, which'll be announced SUMMER 2025: TFAWPROJECT.COM

ACADEMIC PAPER: Special thanks to the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at UC Davis for the opportunity to present our academic paper, Pinay Podcasters: Building a Self-Sustaining Community Through Storytelling, Collective Healing & Learning, and Collaboration. The initial draft is now available! Read more at http://pinaypodcasters.com/

RECOGNITION: In December 2020 and December 2021, we received an Honorable Mention at the Asian American Podcaster's Golden Crane Podcast Awards. August 2020, Jen Amos participated as a speaker on behalf of TFAW Project for PodFest Global, which now holds the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Largest Attendance for a Virtual Podcasting Conference in One Week. May 2020, we were recognized as “Amplifying Asian Women Voices” on Spotify during AAPI Heritage Month.

We've also been featured in Realtime Community Oakland, Mochi Magazine, Ossa Collective, SUPERBANDS, Chopsticks Alley, FoundHer by Entrepinayship, Spotify, PodFest Expo, Philippine American Foundation for Charities, When In Manila, You Are Collect;ve, San Diego Union Tribune, NBC 7 San Diego, and much more! Read more at: https://linktr.ee/tfawproject.featured

CONNECT WITH US: Instagram @thefilipinoamericanwoman, Facebook @thefilipinoamericanwoman, Twitter @thefilamwoman, YouTube @thefilipinoamericanwoman, LinkedIn @tfawproject, Pinterest @tfawproject, or TikTok @tfawproject

Learn more about your host, Jen Amos, at https://linktr.ee/thejenamos

Contact Us at jen@tfawproject.com

159: Returning for Filipino American History Month - Season 5 Trailer

The Filipino American Woman (TFAW) Project is returning for Filipino American History Month! For Season 5, we're focused on strengthening Filipina voices one conversation at a time through all things life, culture and personal development!

Hosted by Jen Amos and Nani Dominguez-Smith. This show is brought to you by our family at THENEWFILIPINA.COM. Join the conversation today!

Trailer also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/K2HkzMTUJi0

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For our latest updates and FINAL community events, check out our newsletter, published Friday, May 23rd, 2025: https://mailchi.mp/e9ab60aa7aeb/tfaw-project

--

NEWSLETTER: Receive the latest stories, updates, and media coverage by subscribing to our FREE newsletter: TFAWPROJECT.COM

ABOUT US: From 2019 to 2024, The Filipino American Woman (TFAW) Project was a podcast that strengthened Filipino voices one conversation at a time through all things life, culture, and personal development. Learn about the latest happenings of the show, which'll be announced SUMMER 2025: TFAWPROJECT.COM

ACADEMIC PAPER: Special thanks to the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at UC Davis for the opportunity to present our academic paper, Pinay Podcasters: Building a Self-Sustaining Community Through Storytelling, Collective Healing & Learning, and Collaboration. The initial draft is now available! Read more at http://pinaypodcasters.com/

RECOGNITION: In December 2020 and December 2021, we received an Honorable Mention at the Asian American Podcaster's Golden Crane Podcast Awards. August 2020, Jen Amos participated as a speaker on behalf of TFAW Project for PodFest Global, which now holds the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Largest Attendance for a Virtual Podcasting Conference in One Week. May 2020, we were recognized as “Amplifying Asian Women Voices” on Spotify during AAPI Heritage Month.

We've also been featured in Realtime Community Oakland, Mochi Magazine, Ossa Collective, SUPERBANDS, Chopsticks Alley, FoundHer by Entrepinayship, Spotify, PodFest Expo, Philippine American Foundation for Charities, When In Manila, You Are Collect;ve, San Diego Union Tribune, NBC 7 San Diego, and much more! Read more at: https://linktr.ee/tfawproject.featured

CONNECT WITH US: Instagram @thefilipinoamericanwoman, Facebook @thefilipinoamericanwoman, Twitter @thefilamwoman, YouTube @thefilipinoamericanwoman, LinkedIn @tfawproject, Pinterest @tfawproject, or TikTok @tfawproject

Learn more about your host, Jen Amos, at https://linktr.ee/thejenamos

Contact Us at jen@tfawproject.com