Every culture has a storytelling tradition. In the Filipinx diaspora, kwentuhan (storytelling) is a way of remembering and honoring ancestors, preserving histories, and reconnecting with kapwa (a recognition of a shared identity, an inner self, shared with others). It has also provided a path to resisting invisibility. From the time the first Filipinos landed in California in 1587 to the time they began settling in San Mateo County in the 1920s, storytelling has always been part of the fabric of the community’s lived experience. Equity Through Art Series’ “Filipinx Kwentuhan” features unique stories of resilience, healing, and bayanihan (giving a hand to the community and accomplishing goals together as one) in the Filipinx community in San Mateo County.  

The Equity through Art Series, a partnership between the County Library, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Office of Diversity and Equity, and San Mateo County’s Chief Equity Officer, takes us on a journey to understand the experiences of Black, Indigenous, Communities of Color, through their voices and stories.