podcast

The Filipino community and restaurants in Deacon Hill are an important part of Seattle's culture. The Pinchinikling dance is a traditional Filipino folk dance that brings back feelings of home and nostalgia. One restaurant in Deacon Hill, Muthang, is more than just a restaurant. It is a space dedicated to educating and fostering community, preserving the heritage of the Filipino culture. Filipinos in the local community often struggle with their identity as they are categorized as either Asian or Pacific Islander. However, what matters most is creating a sense of family and community. Beacon Hill has deep connections to Seattle's Filipino immigrant story, and it is a place where Filipino Americans can feel at home. Filipino Town Magazine celebrates the achievements of Filipino Americans and aims to ensure that they are recognized and celebrated for their contributions to the city's culture. The Filipino community in Deacon Hill deserves recognition and support for their efforts and har 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 community 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.