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The transcription discusses the story behind the Filipino community and restaurants in Beacon Hill, Seattle. It highlights the Pinchinikling dance as a traditional Filipino folk dance and the importance of Filipino restaurants in the neighborhood. The focus is on Muthang, a restaurant owned by Chef Melissa Miranda, which serves as a community and educational space for Filipino culture. The transcript also touches on the challenges faced by the Filipino community in terms of categorization and recognition. It emphasizes the need for acknowledgment and celebration of Filipino accomplishments in shaping the city's culture. Hi, my name is Lawrence Paraiso, and I'm Jasmine Tran, and today we're going to be covering the story behind the Filipino community and restaurants within Deacon Hill. This song is designated Pinchinikling, a traditional Filipino folk dance that involves two people tapping their loo poles against each other on the ground while one or more dancers step in between the poles. I think it's like an uplifting and nostalgic tradition, and growing up in the Filipino community in Seattle, I have had lots of experience doing it, and it kind of brings me back to feeling of being home in the Philippines. Speaking of home, one place that creates the feeling of being back home is Deacon Hill. There are only a handful of Filipino restaurants in Deacon Hill, and they deserve to get more attention. One of the restaurants that located here is called Muthang. The owner of Muthang, Chef Melissa Miranda, to her, Deacon Hill is more than just a neighborhood. It's a place deeply rooted in her heritage and her family history, and you can hear her speak on this. We're from Seattle. It's a restaurant space, and also a community space. It's focusing on the education of Filipino communities, and a lot of emphasis on our hospitality, our stories, and then our food. We focus not just on serving people here, but the community as well. As you can tell, it's clear that Muthang is more than just a restaurant. It's a space dedicated to fostering community, educating people about the Philippines, and sharing the rich stories and hospitality of the culture. The emphasis on the education suggests a commitment to preserving and celebrating the heritage of the Filipino community. To many outsiders, just having a staple restaurant in a busy town can be considered any other building. To elders, younger generations, just anyone within the Filipino community is viewed as a landmark. It's a place they can return to, to be surrounded by the culture, somewhere with an encouraging and comforting environment, people who welcome you with open arms, and delicious food. Within the local community, Filipinos are in a gray space, fighting between the boundaries of categorization of being Asian or considered Pacific Islander. This is pushing the group back and forth between the two societies. It can develop a sense of an identity crisis, as selecting what side you characterize can be difficult. In the end, many people within the Filipino communities find that focusing where they come from, and creating a community into a family, determining what they identify as in society, isn't important. An article named, Beacon Hill is Getting a Filipino Restaurant Unlike Any Other, dives into how the bond between individuals is what connects them back home. The article states that Beacon Hill was, and remains, a neighborhood that has deep connections to Seattle's Filipino immigrant story. That's why, when Beacon Hill resident and chef, Melissa Miranda, decided to open Musang, she knew it would have been the place that she's called home most of her life. But most importantly, Miranda wants diners to feel welcomed. She states, like you're walking into my family's dining room. Another quote we are going to dive into is from a Filipino magazine. From within the heart of Seattle's Chinatown International District, a new publication is making waves. It's called, Filipino Town Magazine. With its emphasis on celebrating the achievements of Filipino Americans in Seattle, this magazine is more than just an ordinary local paper. It's a testament to resilience, community, and the power of storytelling. They stated, often Asian American communities are seen as monolithic, and Filipino Americans are forgotten. When they talk about classifying Asian Americans as monolithic, they're establishing the common Asian groups do not include Filipino Americans. Tying this back to bouncing between the two societies, they aren't getting the recognition for their own existence, let alone their accomplishments for the community. Unfortunately, anything big or world-renowned done by someone from within the Filipino community will then be a win for the Asian community as a whole. Each Filipino restaurant and family-owned business are a depiction of home, and sharing the culture of Beacon Hill has been a pride and joy of our people. Repaying them for their efforts and hardships is the last thing they desire, but it's what they deserve. By acknowledging and honoring the historical significance of places like Seattle's Chinatown International District, the magazine aims to ensure that Filipino Americans are not just remembered, but celebrated for their role in shaping the city's culture. The community doesn't need a monument or a parade, but the recognition of their accomplishments.