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ajrafael

Last night reminded why I love performing music so

Last night reminded why I love performing music so much. One of the most fun sets I’ve had in a loooong time. Thank you for all the love @626nightmarket_oc @myxglobal #FAHM 📸: @angelicanicolle

Looking off into the distance because I’m super

Looking off into the distance because I’m super excited to perform at @626nightmarket_oc this Sunday the 24th to help close out #FilipinoAmericanHistoryMonth with @myxglobal 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 The show starts at 7pm! Excited to be playing a set with my band for my friends and family and YOU! Come hang!!! 📸: @isaramos.foto

Hey y’all! In case you don’t know, @alyssugh a

I’m so grateful to #bibigo for inviting me to #T

I’m so grateful to #bibigo for inviting me to #THECJCUP to experience not just some awesome golf, but ALL THE AMAZING FOOD. I learned a lot about kimchi from Chef Esther, and Mandu aka Korean Dumplings from Chef Deuki… my overall appreciation for Korean food has gone up so much that I may honestly start trying to make my own kimchi. Sending love to all my homies pictured and not pictured here who I got to experience this great weekend with.

Did you get hungry watching my posts? Stay tuned to the @bibigousa account for #ManduMonday campaign! They'll be giving away delicious meal kits with #BibigoMandu made by celeb chefs like @ChefChrisCho @WhatsGabyCooking in the upcoming weeks! #THECJCUP #bibigo @THECJCUP #ShareKoreanFlavor

New @kuyateco at 12PM pacific TOMORROW (10/12)!!!

New @kuyateco at 12PM pacific TOMORROW (10/12)!!! This drop is dedicated to our ancestors, to the history makers of our past and of our present… From Larry Itliong and the manongs of Delano, to historians and academics like Dr. Dawn Mabalon (RIP) who continue to inspire all of us here on earth… To those doing the work to uplift and empower FilAm’s and Filipinos all over the world, you know who you are! This one’s for you.

We are also donating proceeds of this drop to 3 Filipina/x/o organizations — @filamartsla @fanhs_national @pepsanfrancisco — click on their profiles to see the important work they’re doing for our community and history.

We’re so happy we could put out clothing for those who want to show their pride in their everyday lives… and to maybe help educate somebody who doesn’t know about the Delano strike, or that 1587 was the year that Filipinos first came to America. Happy #FilipinoAmericanHistoryMonth! #filipino #filam #pinoy #pinay #filipinx #historic 📸: @markkristoffer

Happy birthday to my OG partner in crime, who turn

Happy birthday to my OG partner in crime, who turns 31 today, @jasminejrafael! You are one of a kind, your heart, your talent, your passion— anyone who knows you knows that you are a Diamond in the rough!!! I love you so much, sister! I brag about you to everyone I know. You can achieve anything your heart desires and you deserve to celebrate your life and accomplishments today and everyday. I am so proud of you, our whole family is very proud of you. Dad would be very proud of you!!!

Please everyone go wish my sister a happy birthday!!!

It’s been 4 days since @dantebasco premiered his

It’s been 4 days since @dantebasco premiered his new film @fabfilipinobros at LAAPFF @vcmediaorg and I’m so proud to be a part of it as my first score to a feature length film. Here’s to more stories, specifically FilAm stories, to be told on the big screen and beyond! #fabulousfilipinobrothers #laapff #fahm #filipinoamericanhistorymonth 📸: @sthanlee

Ready to take on the beast that is Filipino Americ

Ready to take on the beast that is Filipino American History Month (not Heritage!) next week! October is always packed with important events and celebration for our community. To my fellow FilAms who are always doing so much during this time (many of whom I saw this week— from @rod4dalycity to @rubyibarra to @gtongi to @beatrockmusic to @christinaluna, the Basco fam and many more) be sure to recharge and rest where you can— especially before October hits. Put your oxygen mask on before helping others! We appreciate your work and the activism you do for our community. Especially sending love to FilAm community guardian @ccnic48’s family during this time. #fahm #mabuhay #kuyate #october 📷: by FilAm photographer @bringoutthegold

I have always dreamed of writing a musical. Especi

I have always dreamed of writing a musical. Especially about the Filipino/FilAm experience. This weekend I had the privilege to watch one. @onthissideoftheworld is a Filipino musical about Filipinos created by a Filipino. To have watched this production and listened to the music as someone who cares deeply about representation and telling the stories of our loved ones and our ancestors, this moved me in ways that I can hardly put on paper. My sister and I were already bawling after the very first song. “What a privilege it is to see yourself represented…”
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There are six cast members in this production, and they all morph into different characters but with every song they sing and every personality they take on, you either see yourself or someone you know in them. There’s a song called “Cool Tito” which I already know my cousins would be laughing their asses off watching it. The song “My Mother Is An Immigrant” made me super emotional for obvious reasons… where was the Kleenex when I needed it?!?!
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The music is top tier. Hints of that Jason Robert Brown-esque contemporary musical feel and beautiful choral harmonies that feel like a character of their own— I am dying for a cast recording to happen for this show already.
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@pauloktirol, thank you for writing this piece and for creating more roles for our people. If you can’t wait until March for this to be set on stage at @musicaltheatrewest, or have never heard of this musical til now— please come through this Saturday at 5pm to Historic Filipinotown here in LA to watch highlights from the cast. I am co-hosting this special portion of the event! I have nothing to do with this musical besides the fact that I am a massive fan and want it to be seen by everybody possible especially my fellow FilAms! Details are in my bio and if you swipe left!

Happy 27th bday to my favorite person @alyssugh ✨ 27 was a great year for me because that’s when I started dating you 😍 I picked these photos of you because they made me smile and laugh and think about how you bring pure joy everywhere you go. You deserve the world 🌎 LOVE YOU

Happy 75th birthday, dad. Just here on earth follo

Happy 75th birthday, dad. Just here on earth following your footsteps. Miss you everyday.

Happy anniversary, @alyssugh ✨ These past 5 year

Happy anniversary, @alyssugh ✨ These past 5 years with you have been the best of my life. Even the past couple of weeks have been packed with memories to last a lifetime. From performing with you, to making funny videos with you, being a dog parent with you, eating good food with you.. the adventures never end. I love you so much! Thank you for accepting and loving me, flaws and all. Our last anniversary before we’re married!! Happy 5 xo

I have officially accepted a job as Multimedia Con

I have officially accepted a job as Multimedia Content Lead at @eastwestplayers!!! From Mamma Mia to @crazytalented_asians, EWP has been my home in many ways and I’m so thankful to @heysned, Artistic Director of EWP, for making it official. I can’t put into words how much of an honor it is to serve the AAPI community through the Nation’s longest running Asian American theater, East West Players. More to come. The work continues. Lots of stories to tell. Let’s go!!! #eastwestplayers #representationmatters #diversityandinclusion ps it’s Christmas in the Philippines as of today 🎄🎅

Smiling to myself because I get to be on stage aga

Smiling to myself because I get to be on stage again this Sunday at the Ford Theater @thefordla with a killer lineup 🇵🇭🇺🇸!!! I’ll be performing with my band and may be bringing up a special guest 🥰 See y’all on Sunday! Swipe to see who’s performing and the ticket link is in my bio!!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

New drop for @kuyateco is LIVE and my future fathe

New drop for @kuyateco is LIVE and my future father-in-law looking FRESH in the new Kuyate Corduroy Hat come onnnnn!!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support on our clothing line. 🔥 photos by our cousin @markkristoffer 🙏🏽

I haven’t changed my profile picture in 6 years

World Premiere of @shangchi last night is in the b

World Premiere of @shangchi last night is in the books!!! Our first premiere together @alyssugh 🤩
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I’m stoked for the little Asian American kids who never saw themselves as a superhero. Representation matters and this movie does it so well. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is for the culture and is going to make a huge impact on the WORLD. Thank you @marvelstudios for bringing this story to the big screen. @simuliu’s performance in this role is everything and more. Congrats to the cast and crew of this epic movie 🍿
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Grateful to @tdwandco for the invite, and shoutouts to @drinksanzo @originalfunko @85cbakerycafe @geico for the amazing giveaways! It was so fun to be on the carpet with so many beautiful Asian people, what a way to celebrate 🙌🏽

In a little less than year now, I will get to say

In a little less than year now, I will get to say “I do” to my future wife, my dance partner for life… Honest to God, I didn’t even think of marriage until I met Alyssa. She has changed my life in so many ways… Everyone can see it, too. Anybody I catch up with who knows how much she’s had an impact on my life. Here’s to enjoying this moment and also looking forward to a future with my soulmate 🥂
📸: @sarahphouthaboun

Selfie to let y’all know this is your last chanc

Selfie to let y’all know this is your last chance to get this hoodie and all of the gear from this @kuyateco drop! Sales end tomorrow at Noon pacific!
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This one goes out to the Filipinos who fought so hard to represent their country and roots in the 2020 Olympics, especially these legends below 💪🏽
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⁃ Hidilyn Diaz, first Olympic gold medal for the philippines (women’s weightlifting team PH)
⁃ Lee Kiefer, FilAm (gold medal in women’s individual foil team USA)
⁃ Nesthy Petecio, silver medal in women’s boxing (team PH) first female filipino boxer to win an olympic medal
⁃ Carlo Paalam, (mens boxing team PH) . Just advanced to semifinals, assuring to secure another medal for the philippines.

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