#filipina in america

[blade-liger-4ever]

I need something lighthearted and just to see what the general reaction is:

If you hate it, scroll past. If you think my crackship has potential though, let me know. I wanna hear what people think of this.

[barongtagalogs-blog]

The Barong Tagalog, a traditional Filipino garment, underwent significant transformations throughout the 20th century, adapting to modern trends while maintaining its cultural roots. This evolution was influenced by historical events, social changes, and the shifting dynamics of Filipino identity. From being a symbol of colonial subjugation to a marker of national pride, the Barong Tagalog adapted in response to both local and global fashion trends, making it relevant in the modern age.

Here’s how the Barong Tagalog evolved and adapted to modern trends in the 20th century:

1. Colonial Influence and Early 20th Century: Reinterpretation Post-Revolution

At the turn of the 20th century, after the Philippine Revolution (1896–1898) and the country’s shift from Spanish rule to American colonization, the Barong Tagalog began to gain prominence as a symbol of Filipino resistance and national identity. The garment, which had once been associated with colonial subjugation, became a powerful emblem of Filipino pride and cultural assertion.

Early 1900s (Post-Revolutionary Period):

Return to Tradition: Following the revolution, the Barong Tagalog was reinterpreted by Filipino elites as a garment that expressed nationalism. It was no longer worn solely by the lower classes or as a sign of colonial oppression but became a symbol of the growing Filipino elite’s sense of identity and cultural pride.

American Colonial Influence: During the American colonial period (1898-1946), the Barong Tagalog experienced Western influence. While the American administration encouraged Western-style suits and uniforms, the Barong Tagalog remained important for formal occasions. It was worn by politicians, diplomats, and businessmen in place of the Western suit, creating a distinct Filipino sartorial identity.

2. The Mid-20th Century: The Rise of Piña and Embroidery

The mid-20th century was marked by refinement in the Barong Tagalog’s materials and design, which aligned with broader trends in global fashion. As the Philippines gained independence in 1946, the Barong Tagalog continued to adapt, becoming a more formal and prestigious garment.

1940s–1950s:

Fabric Refinement: Piña (pineapple fiber), long valued for its lightness, texture, and elegance, became the most iconic fabric used for the Barong Tagalog. The intricate hand-embroidery also began to reach new heights in terms of artistry, with Filipino artisans adding detailed, intricate patterns, often reflecting regional styles. These features made the Barong more suited for high-end formal occasions, such as weddings, state functions, and official engagements.

Celebrity and Political Influence: Political figures, such as Manuel Roxas (the first President of the independent Third Republic of the Philippines) and Ferdinand Marcos, wore Barong Tagalog during official events. The Barong Tagalog became the de facto formal wear for Filipino men in positions of power, cementing its place in the national consciousness.

Filipino Men’s Fashion: The Barong Tagalog gradually evolved from a plain, functional garment into something more fashionable and stylish. By the mid-20th century, it was designed with more embellishments like lace trim, delicate embroidered motifs, and sheer, semi-transparent fabrics. These changes reflected the globalized fashion scene, which was growing increasingly focused on detailed craftsmanship and unique designs.

3. 1960s–1970s: Globalization and Cultural Resurgence

In the 1960s and 1970s, the global fashion world became more aware of traditional garments from various cultures, and the Barong Tagalog, as an important symbol of Filipino heritage, started to gain international recognition.

1960s–1970s:

Cultural Nationalism: The rise of cultural nationalism in the Philippines in the 1960s, spurred by figures like Carlos “Botong” Francisco (a prominent Filipino artist) and Nicolás Zafra (a cultural historian), brought the Barong Tagalog back into the public eye as an expression of Filipino identity. This era was marked by efforts to promote Filipino culture through arts, architecture, and fashion. The Barong became a popular garment for formal gatherings, especially after President Ferdinand Marcos issued an executive order in 1975 urging Filipino men to wear the Barong Tagalog on national holidays like Independence Day.

The Barong in International Fashion: As part of the globalization of fashion, the Barong Tagalog began to make its way into international events. The 1960s and 1970s saw Filipino diplomats and leaders sporting the Barong Tagalog at international conferences, state dinners, and even at UN summits, where foreign dignitaries were encouraged to wear the garment. The World Expo in 1964 in New York, where the Philippines was prominently featured, marked an important moment for the Barong Tagalog in the global spotlight.

Changing Fabric and Style: While piña remained the most prestigious fabric, there was also a move towards using other fabrics such as cotton, organza, and rayon. These fabrics made the Barong Tagalog more affordable and accessible to a wider range of Filipinos while still maintaining its traditional elegance. The designs became simpler, though still retaining elements of embroidery, making the Barong more wearable for casual and semi-formal events.

4. 1980s–1990s: The Barong as a Fashion Statement

By the 1980s and 1990s, the Barong Tagalog had fully entered the global fashion mainstream, adapting to the ready-to-wear movement while retaining its identity as a garment for special occasions. The emergence of fashion designers who embraced Filipino craftsmanship also played a key role in modernizing the Barong Tagalog.

1980s–1990s:

Crossover into Fashion: In the late 20th century, Filipino designers such as Rajo Laurel, Cathy Valencia, and Inno Sotto played a crucial role in modernizing the Barong Tagalog. They experimented with fabric choices, introducing organza, silk, and modern synthetics while preserving the garment’s defining sheer, embroidered look. These modern adaptations allowed the Barong Tagalog to remain a fashionable option for contemporary men’s wear while being rooted in tradition.

Global Recognition and Celebrity Endorsement: International figures, including Hollywood celebrities and foreign diplomats, began to wear the Barong Tagalog at formal events. For example, Imelda Marcos, former First Lady of the Philippines, famously wore the Barong Tagalog during high-profile events, and Filipino-American celebrities such as Lou Diamond Phillips began donning the Barong as a celebration of their cultural heritage. This helped elevate the garment’s status on a global scale.

Filipino-American Influence: The growing Filipino diaspora in the United States also contributed to the Barong Tagalog’s adaptation in the 1980s and 1990s. Filipino-Americans began to wear the Barong at weddings, family reunions, and cultural festivals, where it became a fashion statement blending both traditional and contemporary aesthetics.

5. Late 20th Century to Early 21st Century: The Barong Tagalog as a Formal Staple

As the 21st century dawned, the Barong Tagalog evolved further into a formal yet versatile garment. The garment’s continued popularity and its ability to adapt to modern trends ensured that it remained relevant in Filipino society, even as global fashion trends continued to shift.

1990s–2000s:

Barong in Weddings and Formal Functions: The Barong Tagalog became a popular choice for weddings, particularly in Filipino-American communities. Its light fabric and elegant appearance made it an ideal garment for tropical weddings and formal functions in the Philippines, and it became a mainstay in Filipino society for occasions such as national holidays and state dinners.

Global Fashion Recognition: The Barong Tagalog’s integration into the global fashion lexicon continued as international fashion weeks, like those in New York and Paris, saw designers incorporating Filipino elements into their collections. This led to a growing international appreciation for the Barong Tagalog, both as an ethnic garment and as a timeless fashion piece that combines history, art, and modern sophistication.

The Barong Tagalog’s Enduring Appeal

The Barong Tagalog has successfully adapted to modern trends while preserving its cultural significance. From its post-colonial re-emergence as a symbol of Filipino pride to its modern-day adaptation as a staple of formal Filipino fashion, the Barong Tagalog has remained a symbol of the country’s rich heritage and evolving identity.

Through continuous modernization, including fabric innovation, embroidery techniques, and cultural reinterpretations, the Barong Tagalog has become both a formal garment and an international fashion statement, cementing its place in the global fashion scene. Whether worn during state occasions, cultural festivals, or weddings, the Barong Tagalog is a lasting testament to the resilience, craftsmanship, and beauty of Filipino culture.

[143vijay]

This is the Nainital area of ​​our Uttarakhand which looks beautiful than heaven. Seeing this area gives great peace to the mind.

[arkipelagic]

The Spanish surnames of many Filipinos have often misled foreigners here and abroad, who are unaware of the decree on the adoption of surnames issued by Governor-General Narciso Clavería in 1849. Until quite recently in the United States, the Filipinos were classified in demographic statistics as a “Spanish-speaking minority,” along with Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Mexicans, and other nationals of the Central or South American republics. The Philippines, as is well known, was a Spanish colony when Spain was mistress of empires in the Western Hemisphere; but the Americans were “hispanized” demographically, culturally, and linguistically, in a way the Philippines never was. Yet the Spanish surnames of the Filipinos today—García, Gómez, Gutiérrez, Fernández—seem to confirm the impression of the American statistician, as well as of the American tourist, that the Philippines is just another Mexico in Asia. Nor is this misunderstanding confined to the United States; most Spaniards still tend to think of “las Islas Filipinas” as a country united to them through the language of Cervantes, and they catalogue Philippine studies under “Hispano-America.” The fact is that after nearly three-and-a-half centuries of Spanish rule probably not more than one Filipino in ten spoke Spanish, and today scarcely one in fifty does. Still the illusion lives on, thanks in large part to these surnames, which apparently reflect descent from ancient Peninsular forbears, but in reality often date back no farther than this decree of 1849.

Somehow overlooked, this decree, with the Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos which accompanied it, accounts for another curiousity which often intrigues both Filipinos and foreign visitors alike, namely, that there are towns in which all the surnames of the people begin with the same letter. This is easily verifiable today in many parts of the country. For example, in the Bikol region, the entire alphabet is laid out like a garland over the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes which in 1849 belonged to the single jurisdiction of Albay. Beginning with A at the provincial capital, the letters B and C mark the towns along the coast beyond Tabaco to Tiwi. We return and trace along the coast of Sorsogon the letters E to L; then starting down the Iraya Valley at Daraga with M, we stop with S to Polangui and Libon, and finish the alphabet with a quick tour around the island of Catan-duanes. Today’s lists of municipal officials, memorials to local heroes, even business or telephone directories, also show that towns where family names begin with a single letter are not uncommon. In as, for example, the letter R is so prevalent that besides the Roas, Reburianos, Rebajantes, etc., some claim with tongue in cheek that the town also produced Romuáldez, Rizal, and Roosevelt!

Excerpt from the 1973 introduction to Catálogo de Alfabético de Apellidos by Domingo Abella

[theofficalnarrator]

Luv ur post! Could u write more little oneshots like “Old With You” with Sophia?☺️LIKE ITS ACTUALLY SO CUTE🥰🥰🥰

OLD WITH YOU PT.2

Summary: Some more clips of our favorite old married couple.

Warnings: Both kinda mean to one another, cuss words, attempts at humor, they "play" fight, gay, + christamas content for the holidays!!!

---

[INTRO: Our fav old married couple that is not confirmed (yet) is back at it again! Here's some more moments of Y/N and Sophia from Katseye acting like an old married couple and making me feel hella single.]

[CUT TO: A cozy living room, softly lit with fairy lights. The camera is set up for a live stream, capturing Sophia and Y/N sitting side by side on a plush couch. The relaxing environment is a sharp contrast to their heated debate.]

“Okay, okay! Let’s not forget about your obsession with leaving ingredients out after making something!” Sophia starts, causing the other girl to roll her eyes.

Y/N turns to the camera. "Okay, Eyekons, do you know how annoying it is to ask this...," Y/N makes a face as she motions towards Sophia with a look of mock disgust ," I don't even know- THING?!"

"Hey!"

"Shush! I ask her "Hey, Soph, I'm gonna go grab something or I'm gonna go make something, you want some"", Y/N moves her head as a disgruntled Sophia throws a pillow at her ," and she says "no, I'm good!"..... AND THEN EATS MY FOOD?"

[I can't defend you Sophia, I would be pissed too]

The Filipina is doubled over, giggling, clearly amused by her fellow member's pissed of facial expression. Y/N bristles, crossing her arms. "It's not funny!"

---

[WEVERSE - Y/NTheMan - Bro I just got out of the shower and can't find my hoodie]

[WEVERSE - Y/NTheMan - all I want for Christmas is more hoodies]

[WEVERSE - Y/NTheMan - how much money do you want to bet Eyekons that one of the girls stole it???]

[not so subtle foreshadowing ]

[CUT TO: A live stream is rolling, and the camera captures Sophia sitting comfortably on the couch, her hair in a messy bun, wearing a cozy hoodie. Sophia is animatedly chatting with the audience, her laughter filling the room.]

"So, guys, the I walk into the kitchen and Megan is holding a pot... and it's on fire! She was screaming and y—"

At that exact moment, the unmistakable sound of a door opening off screen is heard. Y/N walks into frame (or her lower body does). She freezes for a moment, processing the sight.

"..Is that my hoodie?", Y/N asks, the audience only being able to see her clenched fists and her slightly annoyed voice. Sophia looks up, feigning innocence, and shrugs nonchalantly.

[oop-]

"What? This old thing? I found it lying around."

[mind you, that's a limited edition hoodie LMAO]

"Lying around? I laid it out on my bed so I can wear it after I shower!" Sophia simply responds with a smirk, clearly enjoying the moment.

"Well, you snooze, you lose, babe. Besides, it looks better on me." Y/N sits down on the couch, finally her whole body in frame. The newcomer rolls her eyes dramatically, crossing her arms. Sophia laughs, leaning back into the couch, clearly unfazed.

["babe" I would have folded if that was me, Y/N]

[WEVERSE - Y/NTheMan - *attachment 5 images* Bro not only did she steal my hoodie but she fell asleep on HER OWN LIVE. Sorry for how awkward the live was eyekons]

[chat... idk what's a bigger deal: Sophia fell asleep on Y/N OR Y/N let her!]

---

[CUT TO: The camera opens with Y/N and Sophia walking into a bustling movie theater, the bright lights and the smell of popcorn filling the air. Yoonchae, the youngest of the trio, is bouncing with excitement.]

They approach the concession stand, and the squabbling begins.

“I want popcorn, nachos, and a soda! Can we get all of that?”

[Yoonchae is so me bc I'm also a big back]

Y/N raises an eyebrow. Ever since the Korean had came to America, she was alike a sponge when it came to trying new food. A while back, the Kats were watching some movie and Yoonchae had at that moment decided that she would have to try all those food items if she ever got to go to the movie theater. Y/N was not as happy, knowing it would come out of her pockets. “All of that? You’re going to explode before the movie even starts.”

Sophia however nudges the other girl. “Let her live! It’s a special occasion.” Y/N narrows her eyes, knowing the only reason that Sophia is open to the idea is because Y/N would buy and hold everything for them.

Y/N simply responds with a sigh, and flips Sophia off behind Yoonchae's back. As Y/N suspects, Sophia pulls Yoonchae away when the time to pay comes. Y/N begrudgingly swipes her card and carries the food items over to where the girls are. The trio loiter around the soda machines for a bit, and a small part of Y/N is happy that she spent all that money to have Yoonchae smile ear to ear.

[No wonder Sophia was on Yoonchae's side, the two had a sugar mommy paying for everything]

Y/N's soft eyes towards the Korean girl as she pours butter into the popcorn is interruptted by a voice whispering in her ear. "Thanks for the food, Y/Nie-"

"Fuck off, Soph." The Filipina simply responds with a giggle.

[lmao the fact that they didn't cut this out-]

They finally get their snacks and head into the theater, where they find their seats. Yoonchae is practically bouncing in her seat, while Y/N and Sophia settle in, ready for the show to start.

As the movie begins, the three of them are glued to the screen, enjoying the magical world of Wicked. The music swells, and the story unfolds beautifully.

As the movie nears its emotional climax, Y/N notices Sophia wiping her eyes. She moves the vlog camera to capture Sophia's heartfelt response.

Y/N leans, over, her breath tickling Sophia's neck from the closeness. “Sophia, are you crying?-"

“Shut up!", Sophia whisper-yells as she sniffles ,"It’s just… it’s so beautiful... and sad.” Y/N giggles reaching out and wiping Sophia's tears away as the leader stuffs her mouth with popcorn.

[ME WHEN LORD, ME WH-]

[s the movie reaches its conclusion, the lights come up, and Yoonchae is practically glowing with excitement.

“That was amazing! I loved every second of it!” The youngest bounces up, dried tears on her cheeks. Y/N and Sophia chuckle in response, both wiping off the remnants from the brown-haired girl's cheeks.

[so jealous of Yoonchae cause I want Y/NSoph to be my parents]

They all stand up, still buzzing with energy from the movie, and head out of the theater, chatting and laughing together.

---

[CUT TO: The camera is set up in the kitchen, festively decorated with garlands and twinkling lights. A cheerful holiday tune plays softly in the background. Y/N and Sophia stand behind a counter filled with baking ingredients, wearing matching aprons.]

Y/N grins at the camera, waving with one hand while the other is gripping the counter as Sophia smothers tightens her apron from behind. “Welcome back, Eyekons! Today, we’re going to bake some holiday cookies! We'll try our best.”, The camera catches Y/N smacking Sophia's hands as the Filipina continues to tighten her apron and continues ," We're not the best at cooking and bak-"

Sophia interjects with a scoff and an eye roll. “Speak for yourself. I’m a baking pro.” The leader starts opening the ingredients, examine which ones they need.

“Right... The same pro who burned brownies last time?” The other girl says as she gives a knowing look into the camera as if she were on The Office.

[not the shade, Y/N being messy era]

“That was one time! And they were still edible… sort of.”

[edible?! THEY ATE IT??]

The two jump into the recipe. Their goal: make frosted cookies for the girls (without killing one another). As Sophia pours the flour, she accidentally knocks over a bag of sugar, sending a cloud of white powder into the air.

"... really, baking pro?"

"It was an accident!" Sophia exclaims, defensively. As the camera zooms in on the two, it's apparent that Sophia's cheeks are dusted pink to match her lips. However, viewers know damn well it's from embarrassment and not from her blush.

"Here, give it to me" Y/N says, reaching out her hand to grab the flour. Sophia pulls her hands away, a bit of flour flying into the air out from the bag.

"No, I got it-"

"No, you don't, just g-"

"No! Go aw-"

The two go back and forth, their hands gripping either side of the flour bag. Botha re too engrossed in fighting for the flour bag they don't catch the crew behind the camera calling for a timeout. Back and forth the flour bag goes until...

FLOOF! The bag rips, the flour flying into the air between the Katseye duo and dropping onto the floor.

"Sophia..." Y/N says, her voice far too low. Sophia may be the leader, but the only person that she was scared of besides Sleepy Yoonchae, was Y/N. And the voice the other was using caused her to gulp.

"I-... I didn't mean to!"

"Oh, really! You piece of sh-"

[THE CUT OFF IS SENDING ME]

[CUT TO: The camera captures the two again, the kitchen cleaned up from the flour spill and the two seeming calm, despite still being covered in flour.]

"Annnnd, we're back. Sorry about that, Eyekons. Someone had an oopsie" Y/N says, side-eyeing the leader. Sophia sighs, a bit of flour dribbling off of her, knowing that she should interject. They continue baking, but as Y/N mixes the ingredients, she gets a little too enthusiastic, splattering batter everywhere. Sophia grabs a spatula and playfully smacks Y/N’s arm. The other girl glares, but it's not with the same intensity as before. She's clearly calmed down.

[aww they look so cute]

“Careful there, Y/Nie. We’re not trying to redecorate the kitchen." Sophia says teasingly, rubbing a bit of spare flour off of the girl's nose.

Y/N rolls her eyes playfully. "That's Chef L/N to you. And I am being careful, this bowl is too small."

"Here... ", Sophia motions for Y/N to give it to here, " Let me." The Filipina is half-surprised when the other actually relents. It seems that they're both sobered up after the flour incident. As Sophia mixes, Y/N pushes a stray strand of hair from Sophia's bun and pushes it past her ear.

"Y/N..." Sophia warns, her eyes on the batter, not trusting herself to look into the other's eyes.

"Mmm?..." Y/N says with a teasing smile.

[MS. L/N BEHAVE YOURSELF]

They move on to rolling out the dough, but Sophia struggles to keep it from sticking to the counter. In a moment of frustration, she flings flour into the air, creating a mini snowstorm.

“Sophia! We’re going to be cleaning this up until New Year’s!” Y/N gasps out, smacking the leader's shoulder softly. That's what everyone assumes until Y/N continues smacking Sophia and it hits her. Y/N is dusting off the flour off of Sophia.

["she's so wifey material!" I scream as they pull me into the asylum]

They finally cut out cookie shapes, but as they place them on the baking sheet, Y/N accidentally drops one, and it lands face down.

"Shit." Y/N says. She immediately whips her head up, staring right into the camera. Sophia, who's busy rearranging the cookies, doubles over. She's silent, but from the way her shoulders shake, it's easy to tell that the leader is laughing.

[Y/N's been spending too much time w Manon it seems]

Y/N sighs, gulping as she nudges Sophia. "Stop..." Y/N whines out softly. The Filipina simply throws her head back and laughs harder.

As they put the cookies in the oven, Y/N sets a timer, but Sophia, distracted by her phone, accidentally resets it. Y/N notices a while later as she looks at the clock.

“Sophia... Did you just reset the timer?”

"Mmm?.." The Filipina looks up, looking at the clock. As it hits them that it's been reset they look at each other with wide eyes.

“We’re going to burn the cookies!” Y/N says exasperated. They both rush to the oven, but as they open it, a plume of smoke billows out. The cookies are charred beyond recognition. The two stand in silence for a couple of minutes. Sophia nervously looks behind at the camera and the crew.

"Y/N... I didn't mean to..." Sophia says softly, fidgeting with her hands. Upon not hearing a response, Sophia looks down at her feet. She almost looks like a little kid being chastised by her parent. The audience watches with held breaths as Y/N sighs, bringing one of her hands up to her temples.

[ooooooooh...]

Sophia's lower lip trembles. "Y/N... please..."

[wait I actually felt so bad for Sophia here hehehehe]

The sound it cut off by a giggle... Coming from Y/N. The girl starts laughing, her shoulders shaking as she places her head on the counter as she chuckles. Sophia's left a bit dumbfounded and lost, but at least she knows that the other girl isn't angry.

As Y/N finally seems to calm down, she turns to the camera, laughing. Sophia asks, " Y/N... are you angry?"

"Huh?... What? No! This is hilarious!" The girl says wiping away tears that came to her eyes from the baking fiasco. Seeing the girl giggle, Sophia finally cracks a smile, punching the girl on the shoulder.

"Don't scare me like that! I was so scared!" Sophia exclaims, her teary eyes and trembling lower lip, making her look adorable.

[CUT TO: The girls are back in their original positions. Their clothes and aprons are dusted and on the counter there are a pack of frosted cookies, store-brought.]

"Well..." Sophia starts.

They both burst into laughter, and Y/N up one of the store-brought cookies.

“Merry Christmas, everyone! May your cookies be better than ours!" They both take a bite of the frosted cookie, laughing, as the camera fades out with their cheerful banter and holiday spirit.

[real they're so me]

---

[CUT TO: The camera is set up in a cozy, softly lit room. Y/N sits on a stool in front of a microphone, headphones on her ear, guitar in hand, looking a bit nervous but excited. A small sign in the background reads “KATSEYE in the Booth”]

Y/N smiles at the camera, her hair falling gracefully over her shoulders and sashays as she speaks. “Hey, Eyekons! Welcome back to the KATSEYE in the Booth!"

Y/N pulls her acoustic guitar and places it over her lap, ready to play. "Today, I’m doing something a little special. I’m going to cover a song that means a lot to me, and I have to give a huge shoutout to my best friend, Sophia, for introducing me to it.”

[Y/N you can't even trick historians, they know you're both gay-]

"The song is 'Lover' by Taylor Swift!," Y/N gives a knowing smile to the camera, "I know, I know. We all know I'm not a big Swiftie, but I've been converted."

[insert I know what you are meme]

Y/N gives and smile to the camera, as if she's reminiscing something... or someone. "This song is just so beautiful and romantic, and every time I hear it, I think of all the amazing moments I've shared with my favorite Swiftie. So, here goes nothing!”

As Y/N strums the first chords on her guitar, the atmosphere becomes intimate. She takes a deep breath and begins to sing a soft, romantic melody, her voice gentle and heartfelt. The camera captures close-ups of Y/N as she pours her emotions into the song, her eyes occasionally drifting to the camera, smiling and even winking at one point.

Y/N’s voice carries a warmth that fills the room, creating a cozy atmosphere. As the song reaches its climax, Y/N closes her eyes, fully immersed in the moment. The camera captures the raw emotion on her face, showcasing her passion for the music.

[... does anyone else want to make out w her or is it just me?]

After finishing the song, Y/N opens her eyes and looks at the camera, a shy smile spreading across her face.

“...I hope you all enjoyed that." Y/N says, giggling softly. She then points straight into the camera in a Uncle Sam manner and says, "And Sophia, thank you for introducing me to this song. It really means a lot to me.”

“Alright, Eyekons, let me know what you think in the comments! Happy holidays, everyone!”

---

[WEVERSE - Lara RAJ - *attachement 3 photos, 1 video*]

[WEVERSE - Lara RAJ - guess which two ppl had to kiss cause of the mistletoe!]

[CUT TO: A cozy living room adorned with holiday decorations. A large mistletoe hangs from the ceiling, twinkling lights casting a warm glow around the space. Y/N and Sophia are sitting on a plush couch, surrounded by festive pillows and blankets, both looking a bit shy as the girls behind the camera (unmistakably the other kats), loudly exclaim]

 “Come on, you two! It’s tradition! You have to kiss!” the voice belongs to Megan, who giggles alongside the other girls off-camera. Y/N and Sophia shake their heads.

“Yeah, don’t be shy! Just a quick peck!” The voice is Lara, the cameraperson, who snorts as Y/N shakes her head frantically. Someone throws a pillow at the two, trying to coax them.

 “But we don’t want to! Right, Sophia?” Y/N asks, trying to stand up to the other Kats as she turns to her fellow Kat who's stuck in the same sticky situation.

“Exactly! We’re just friends.” The camera turns around to Lara and Daniela's face's, both giving the camera a "really?" look. The teasing continues, and the friends start chanting, egging them on.

[LMAO even the other girls know]

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

Y/N and Sophia exchange glances, both clearly embarrassed from the obvious redness on dusted over both of their cheeks.

 “What do we do?” Y/N whispers nervously to Sophia, noticing how the Kats won't stop. Sophia is caught a bit off guard as the ususal stoic and confident member is actually asking her for advice.

Sophia bites her lip, looking up at Y/N through her eyelashes. “I guess we could just… do a cheek kiss? It’s less awkward, right?”

“O-Okay, fine..... On three?” Y/N nervously agrees, gulping.

“Yeah, on three.”

They both lean in slightly.

"One" They say in unison.

Their matching rhythm causes the two to look back up into each other's eyes.

"Two"

Their hearts race as they lean even closer, their breath mingling.

"Three.."

They both lean in and quickly peck each other on the cheek, their faces turning bright red as they pull away, giggling nervously. The Kats cheer and woop, Lara zooming the camera into the girl's faces to catch their flustered reactions.

[I just know Hybe and Geffen are sending emails to these girls right now]

Y/N and Sophia exchange shy smiles, their embarrassment slowly fading as they join in the laughter of their friends.

[WEVERSE - peanutbutterlover02 - they didn't kiss one another, just on each others cheeks BORING]

[WEVERSE - mei mei - LMAO BRO I JUST NOTICED HOW RED THEY ARE ]

---

Hey Y'all! I finally finished redoing my research paper! We're in the final stages and I REALLY hope that it actually works out. Anyways, I've been pretty caught up in that and that's why I've being pushing this off. I still haven't started on the Megan fic ;-; Lowkey think I should just stick with these formats since it's quicker.

[council-of-beetroot]

MIKU INDEX

List I | List II | List III | Polish List

800+ mikus and counting ↑ in those four links above

French Bretonne Miku

French Auvergne Miku

French Alsace Miku

Spain Galicia Miku

Italian Miku

Belgian Miku

Finnish Miku

Finnish Miku

Swedish Miku

Norwegian Miku

Austrian Miku

Serbian Miku

Serbian Miku

Albanian Miku

Bułgarian Miku

Bułgarian Miku

Romanian Miku

Romanian Miku

Belarusian Miku

Belarusian Miku

Ukrainian Beer Miku

Ukrainian Miku

Grand Duchy of Lithuania Miku

Lithuanian Miku

Lithuanian Miku

Lithuanian Miku

Polish Miku

Polish Miku

Polish Łowicz Miku

Polish Biedronka Miku

Slovak Miku

Slovak Miku

San Marino Guard Miku

Pennsylvania Dutch Miku

Acadian Miku

Colombian Cundinamarca Miku

Chilean Miku

Venezuelan Miku

Surinamese Miku

Guyanese Miku

Guatemalan Miku

Puerto Rican Miku

Grenadian Miku

Trinidadian Miku

Antigua and Barbuda Miku

Dominica Miku

Barbados Miku

Muscogee Miku

Alaskan Yupik Miku

Aleut Miku

Nigerian Miku

Cameroonian Miku the real trendsetter

Cameroonian Miku

Liberian Miku

Liberian Miku

Egyptian Miku

Tunisian Miku

Mauritanian Miku

Congo (Brazzaville) Miku

Sierra Leonean Miku

Reunión Miku

Kikuyu Kenyan Miku

Kenyan Kamba Miku

Rwanda Miku

Ugandan Miku

Seychellois Miku

Bangladeshi Miku

Nepali Miku

Thai Miku

Khmer Miku

Vietnamese Miku

Samoan Miku

Samoan Miku

Tongan Miku

Australian Miku

Filipina Miku

Filipina Miku

Filipina Palay Maiden Miku

Taiwanese Miku

Ming Dynasty Chinese Miku

Qing Dynasty Chinese Miku

Chinese Miku with other Mikus from around the world

Korean Miku

Kazakh Miku

Don Kazakh Miku

Ingush Miku

Mari Miku

Armenian Miku

Syrian Miku

Syrian Miku

Israeli Miku

Jewish Miku

Jordanian Miku

Turkish Miku

Azeri Miku

I have yet to see any for

In Africa

Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Sao Tome, Tanzania,

In North America

Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines,

In Asia

Maldives, East Timor,

In Oceania

Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu,

If I am missing your miku let me know or if you have found a country I have listed that I couldn't find

[jencattv]

Hey there! I’m Jenelle (she/her) and I’m a theatre actress/vocalist based in Las Vegas 📍

I got to play my dream role of Jane Doe from Ride the Cyclone at my favorite theatre Majestic Rep and I will be insufferable about it for the rest of my life 🫶🏼

I love to travel, cosplay, eat yummy food, junk journal, collect nostalgia anime figures and Kuromi/My Melody plushies, and many more things.

Proud bisexual Filipina-Canadian in America 🏳️‍🌈🇵🇭🇨🇦🇺🇸

Every few months I pack my things and live on a cruise ship to sing in their theatre production shows and travel the world 🌎

Am in a long distance relationship with a drummer from Chile I met on my last ship contract 🇨🇱

I am also currently getting back into reading books and want to get back into drawing and painting as well! 🎨

I’m always open for questions, so feel free to ask away! ❤️ and I absolutely love fan art of my version of Jane Doe, so yes I would love to see it and please send them my way 😊

Thanks for reading and for all the love and support 🫶🏼

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Marpessa Dawn (Black Orpheus)—She's like. fairy tale princess etheral pretty. truly eurydice realness. AND she's a singer AND she's a dancer. she used to be a governess/nightclub dancer, which isn't hot per say i just thought it was an interesting job combination. If you want to hear her sing just look up the Black Orpheus soundtrack

Margaret Lindsay (Frisco Kid, The House of the Seven Gables, Scarlet Street)—she was born in Dubuque, Iowa, then moved to England to make her stage debut. She framed herself as a British actress and moved back to America to try Hollywood, then starred with James Cagney in a bunch of movies. She was in the Ellery Queen movie series and The House of the Seven Gables. She never married (I suspect lesbian stuff) but lived with her sisters. She dated Cesar Romero and Liberace (I told you. Lesbian stuff.) Please include the pic of her in the tie [included above]

This is round 3 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Margaret Lindsay:

Marpessa Dawn:

Marpessa Dawn was an filipina/african american who became well known as an actress, singer and dancer in France. She is most famous for her role in 'Black Orpheus' in which she played Eurydice. It's difficult to find a picture where she and her husband, the actor Eric Vander, aren't kissing or hugging or laughing together, they are incredibly cute (and hot).

basically everyone and their mother will agree that marpessa dawn was one of THEE og vintage black women working in cinema (even if it was mostly in french cinema! the cross language barrier slay). mostly did her work in french cinema, and her smile in black orpheus is literally like the sun breaking over the sea

[crushedsweets]

What is the ethnicity/nationality of everyone in ur AU?

I don't have concrete HC's for everyone, and a lot of them just have a general region/race rather than specific ethnicity, but i have some stuff for some characters! fine with it being up to interpretation too

most r born in alabama..cuz.... story takes place in alabama

Tim - white american, born in alabama Brian - white american, born in alabama Toby - white american, grandparents were german immigrants, born in colorado Kate - half white, half chinese american, born in alabama

Natalie - french american, born in louisiana - family has been in america for quite a few generations Jack - indian american, parents immigrated from india, born in north dakota Sally - half chilean, half white american, born in alabama BEN - white american, born in oregon

Jeff - white american, born in new jersey Liu - white american, born in new jersey Jane - black american, born in alabama Nina - mexican/black/filipina american, born in california

Ann - argentinian american, born in new york Lulu - vietnamese american, born in alabama Lazari - white american, born in alabama Dina - english/white american, born in alabama

ok basically theyre all born in america. damn. maybe i should change that HAHA

[celestiarambles]

this is so random but i suddenly remembered @turtlethebean ’s headcanon of carmen being filipina-american, so as a filipina myself here are some headcanons about carmen being half-filipina:

- while her family would visit america from time to time, carmen actually studied and lived in the philippines up until high school, then she moved to america for college.

- in the philippines we’d have these major journalism competitions called press cons/press conferences, and they’d start from districts, divisions (cities), regions and finally nationals. carmen definitely competed in those kind of competitions as a photojournalist and as a tv broadcaster. she even ended up in the nationals once.

- she knows how to speak in bisaya (a filipino language)

- one of the reasons why she’s so impatient all the time is because of filipino time. (a negative filipino aspect where filipinos would arrive WAY later than the agreed time)

- she used to play chinese garter (a filipino game where you have to crosswire over a garter without touching it and the garter would get higher and higher) a lot as a kid, and she’s REALLY good at it.

- she likes to wear jackets even if the weather’s really hot.

- like most filipinos, she can actually sing a little, but she doesn’t like showing it. ever.

- one of the beauty standards here is straight hair, so there were always some peers that would tell carmen to straighten her hair. she would just promptly tell them to fuck off.

- she loves mangoes, especially with bagoong. (fermented fish/shrimp paste)

- one of her guilty pleasures is watching filipino dramas. she’d sometimes watch some even when she had already moved away from the philippines for fun.

[iamnmbr3]

"Donald Trump’s conduct is straight out of the same strongman playbook that others have used, and his presidential victory is part of a recent global trend of illiberal leaders being elected democratically. “We’re seeing the ‘Philippinization’ of America,” says the Filipina journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa. “Look at our experience for what’s coming up in the days ahead,” she adds, cautioning that what could happen in America has already occurred in other countries like the Philippines. There may be tough times ahead, but she advises that people should “hold the line” and “stay committed to [their] values.”

[irithnova]

Notes on Empire of Care by Catherine Ceniza Choy

The scapegoating of Filipino nurse immigrants: Filipina Narciso and Lenora Perez are examples of two nurses who were scapegoated.

Filipino nurses with temporary work visas, H-1 visas, were exploited

Mass murder cases involving Filipino nurses included the 1996 Richard Speck massacre. Some of his victims were Filipino nurses and the only survivor was one of these Filipino nurses

The only survivor - Luisa Silverio

The victims

The 1975 Veterans administration hospital murders that happened in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and involved the previously mentioned nurses Narciso and Perez, bering initially convicted and then later acquitted. They were accused of poisoning and conspiracy

These cases reflect how US imperialism shaped the treatment that was levelled at Filipino nurses

During the late 1970s, Filipino nurse organisations emerged in order to combat the exploitation and discrimination that Filipino nurses faced

There is still a huge gap in the study of Filipino Americans. Quoted from Sucheng Chan's essay on Asian American historiography

"Despite the steady progress in Asian American historical scholarship, significant gaps remain. The most glaring is the absence of book-length studies on Filipino Americans"

American imperialism still shapes the way in which Filipinos - especially Filipino women are perceived

Jesse Ventura, an American politician in his autobiography "I ain't got no time to bleed" reminisces on his days as a Navy Seal stationed in the Philippines.

He talks about being young with a large libido, and how the abundance of Filipino women for him and his comrades to take home relieved that.

He spoke of going through less hurdles when he came to getting a Filipina to sleep with him compared to American women back home. In other words - Filipinas were easy.

This is a reflection of how US imperialism has shaped how the Philippines is viewed.

Filipino women are used in order to portray the Philippines as a feminised, hypersexual, always-willing paradise for the pleasure of Western men.

This depiction of so called "love" between Filipinos and Americans erases the long history of US violence, US domination, the colonial relationship between the US and the Philippines and the history of sexual violence perpetuated against Filipino women. Not to mention the destruction of the environment and spread of disease

US military presence in the Philippines also helped in influencing migration patterns.

By 1970, there were more Filipino men in the US navy than the Philippine navy. This was due to the active recruitment of Filipino men into the US military

Yet another example of how the US imperialist narrative erases truths about history and the lived experiences of Filipinos:

Filipino American organisations had to convince Minnesota legislature to correct a plaque commemorating the Spanish-American war.

The plaque stated that it was honouring the fact that the war was fought to free the Philippines from the tyrannical Spanish

This is unequivocally untrue and rings back to the concepts of American exceptionalism - The US being far more "benevolent" to it's colonies than their European counterparts.

The war was fought in order to defeat the Spanish - not to liberate the Philippines.

The Philippines then fought against the US for independence thereafter

America's so called "forgetfulness" when it comes to Filipino-American history continues to hurt Filipinos.

In particular, Filipino American war Veterans who struggle to fight for their access to veterans benefits.

[bajoop-sheeb]

I can't help but notice that all of the people in your anti-colonialism by "marginalized people" book rec list are people who were born and grew up in either the US or, in one or two cases, another white Anglophone country. I.e. the imperial core.

As a non-American I wonder whether, due to the cultural hegemony of the US and other Anglophone countries, the perspectives of people who have spent their whole lives in the Imperial core (even if marginalized in other ways due to their race or some other attribute) can be considered "authentic" depictions of the effects of colonialism in the way that you are presenting them. I find that people from the US, even POC people from the US, are often pretty incapable of understanding non-US perspectives on social justice issues because they're rarely exposed to them and because they grew up brainwashed with media that treats the US as the center of the world, so they overlay the US framework over everything.

I would perhaps have liked to see more recs for authors writing about colonialism who actually grew up in countries that have been affected by colonialism, or at least in countries that aren't as rich and powerful as the US and are therefore heavily dependent on the political whims of powerful Western ones. I'm sure there's a bunch of people in South America writing SF/F, for example, considering their long tradition of awesome magical realism. Or South Africa. Or India (I note that Salman Rushdie is not on your list, for example). I'm not writing this to be pettish, because I don't know enough about it either and would actually like to know, I just feel like perhaps we should all be a bit humbler when talking about this since a strictly US-centric perspective is still a VERY limited one when talking about colonialism (by definition an international, intercultural phenomenon), even when written by POC.

I also wonder about your definition of "marginalized" and if it doesn't fall into the same US-centrism that I talked about in my previous paragraph (even if we assume that "marginalized" means "marginalized as it relates to colonialism" and ignore other forms of marginalization). Is a person from, say, the Balkans, marginalized enough to write about anti-colonialism, or are they exactly the same as a white American in your perspective? Does it matter where from the Balkans? Does it matter if they're Muslim or Christian? How about a Ukrainian person? How about a Ukrainian Jew? Is a person from Bosnia or Ukraine, who went through a war in their lifetime, less qualified to write about war than Kuang, who grew up middle class and went to an Ivy League school (and honestly did a really shitty job of portraying a war in The Poppy Wars), just because they're "Caucasian"?

Also, people are allowed to acknowledge flaws of books written by POC without being automatically labeled as racist, you know. Finding Babel too heavy-handed or on the nose has nothing to do with finding POC characters annoying or unrelatable and sorry but, yeah, IMHO it's really on the nose and annoying about it. It's the writing style that's the problem, not the themes. Also the central metaphor, IMHO, makes it completely useless as a colonialism allegory because if you can destroy colonialism by destroying one magical uberpowerful whatsit, your book is kinda not serious enough about nuanced representation of sociological and political forces to be considered impactful anti-colonialist literature. Saying that as someone who loves Butler and Jemisin. Thea Guanzhon, for example, is a Filipina born and raised in the Philippines and still lives there, which makes her book way more of an "own voices" account of colonialism than Kuang's could ever be in my accounting, but that doesn't mean that her account of colonialism has any particular nuance to it (so far it's just the backdrop for the enemies to lovers romance). So even assuming that Kuang's account is resonant enough with enough people (which I know it is because her book is super popular), who is more deserving of being on your "own voices" list, Kuang or Guanzhon?

I also wonder why white women in particular?

The simple response to all of this is that the post you're referring to broke containment.

I debated replying, because I can't help but feel your message was written in bad faith. But I'm going to try to give you the benefit of the doubt.

You are absolutely right about the limitations of the original list. I truly didn't expect it to reach so many people, and I am not nearly as well-read as I'd like to be when it comes to literature written outside of the West. Please take a look at the reblogs, where a bunch of awesome people have done incredible work filling the gaps I left.

I struggle with the rest of your message. I explicitly stated that I do not expect people to enjoy specific books written by BIPOC authors, simply that I've noticed a very frustrating pattern. And yet you suggest I'm saying that if someone doesn't like Babel or The Hurricane Wars, I'm saying they're racist. Be serious.

Even as a child of multigenerational immigrants, I'll freely admit that I personally have a very US-centric perspective on social issues that I need to work on, but it's wild of you to say that all POC people born in the US are "pretty incapable of understanding" global issues.

When I wrote "marginalized" in the original post, what I really meant was "BIPOC and BIPOC queer people.” I should’ve been more careful about the wording.

Why white women in particular? When it comes to anti-colonial and anti-imperialist fiction (written by Anglophones) the authors that I see most highly and frequently praised are white women. I'd list the specific ones I'm talking about here, but 1. I don't want to be hunted for sport by their fans, 2. I've actually enjoyed some of their work, and 3. they're only a small part of the problem and I think people should be allowed to write whatever they want as long as they can handle the criticism. But I'm sorry, white women. I'll do better next time. I also want to use this moment to apologize to all the dumbasses complaining about my tone/me being "shouty." Reverse racism is real, and we must all stand vigilant hahaha miss me

You telling me to be humble feels a tad hypocritical, but sure, I'll take that under advisement.

[arthenaa]

Upcoming Auror! Sebastian Sallow x Auror! Reader Fic Details <3

Hi guys! As some of you may know, I'll be doing a Seb Auror Fic soon which will be based in the Philippines <3. Since there's no wizarding lore yet in the PH, i've decided to set the setting first before moving w the story. Here are the details below!!

MOODBOARD

Setting:

Mid-1800s, Philippines.

Hogwarts Legacy Setting will be adjusted slightly before the events of the fiction. (At this point I suggest just not getting into it too much im getting confused as well lmfao)

Details:

(About the Filipino Wizarding Community)

Philippine Magic has deep roots in the dark arts. Wizards and Witches back then often used and were masters in the arts of dark magic. It was often a misconception that the dark arts were inherently evil and while it did hold some truth to it, it all depends on how it's used. Filipino Wizards and Witches value the proper use of dark magic to use it to help people rather than harm them. However due to the misuse of said magic because of its great power, there is then a rise of magic users who seem to use it for personal gain. So these Wizards and Witches adapted their form of dark arts into the magic that can help combat sinister magic. This evolved into healing magic which is the main core of Filipino wizardry.

Marahuyo en Mahika Akademya | Philippine School of Wizardry

(place of reference: University of Santo Tomas)

A school formed to preserve the ancestral magic and history of Filipino Wizardry, Marahuyo en Mahika Akademya is a School of Magic for Wizards and Witches in the Philippines. Founded by Maria Ana Flordeliza Santos, she opened the gates to magic users so that they may expand their knowledge, academic prowess, and capabilities in the field of magic. The school's patron deity is Bathala, the god of creation and the being who granted mahika to the people.

The process of acceptance is quite peculiar. At the young age of 11 is when young wizards and witches will be doing a sacred ritual also known as Pagtawas. While the ritual is used to detect supernatural illnesses, it also detects magical traces within the person. It is a form of healing and a sacred ritual to determine one's fate. A piece of the person's hair will be burned on a special type of candle and then its wax will be poured into a basin. If the wax produces an image or a form according to the person's true self (some form a type of animal or plant) then the person does indeed have magic. If nothing happens, there is no magic within them. From then on, their parents will be responsible for the basic magic curriculum. At the age of 15, they will then be brought to the Akademya by carriages driven by the Tikbalang tribe. They have 5 years of magical curriculum to learn during their stay there. There are three houses to be sorted in Marahuyo en Mahika;

Mayari

known for their bravery, strength, determination, ability to excel in their most desired fields and leadership. They are categorized as the warriors.

Colors: Navy Blue and Beige

Hanan

known for their optimism in the unknown, courage in taking risks, perseverance amidst challenges, and an open perspective in life. They are categorized as the pillars.

Colors: Gold and Bronze

Tala

known for their willingness in helping others, their need for knowledge, vast creativity, and wisdom. They are categorized as the shepherds.

Colors: Cyan and Silver

Philippine Bureau of Magic and Wizardry (aka PhilMaj)

(place of reference: Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar)

The official governing office of the Philippine Wizarding Community. Inspired by Britain and America's Ministries of Magic, the PhilMaj was to be open not only to the PhilMaj community but to wizards all over the world thus the name in English. Founded by the 5 great Maharlikas (aka Aurors), the organization was created to protect the Filipino Wizarding Community from outside threats which includes 'SeroMahi' (Sero (Zero), Mahika (Magic) or the Muggles basically).

The PhilMaj exists independently and separates themselves from their seromahi counterparts as they see seromahis as a threat to their existence if they are to be found. With the Philippines experiencing a great force of oppression from outsiders, PhilMaj has done its best to stay hidden and away from its affairs (they are specifically known to hide too well that they have not encountered any type of exposure to the seromahi community. They, unfortunately, have strict rules regarding wizard —seromahi relationships and usually wizards or witches with mixed bloodlines take long processes to enter PhilMaj. MaraMahika (school) is an exception as it accepts all magic users despite their blood lineage).

Aurors also known as Maharlikas are divided in Divisions. Division I is for investigation, Division II is for order and Division III is social relations.

PhilMaj has different departments to tend to concerns.

Department of Magical Law Enforcement

Department of Protection of Magical Tribes and Folk

Department of Control and Care for Magical Creatures

Department of International Social Relations

Department of Magical Education

Department of Magical Businesses and Endeavors

Department of Magical Transportation and Building

Department of Recruitment and Referrals of Wizards and Witches

Department of Mysteries

Current location of PhilMaj is in Manila, Philippines. (Guarded by the Siyokoy Tribe in the waters of Manila Bay, the waters open like a door as it parts the way underground where the PhilMaj Headquarters reside)

____________________________________________

A/N: i have a shit ton of details in my notes but im sharing the general lore or idea of the magic world in the philippines. this counts as a teaser as well 😎 lmk if i've miswritten something or if some things dont line up. you guys can add ideas as well and ill add them in my notes hehe (if you wish to be included in this fic's taglist, reply to this post or any of my posts regarding this fic ty !!)