In the middle of the pandemic, friends John Erick Pabalan and Jason Lustina set out to create a Facebook community group called So Cal Filipinos. Their goal was simple: to connect Filipinos/Filipino Americans in (or have connections to) Southern California through shared experiences. From June 2020 to present, this online community now consists of 25,000 members and is still growing.
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It all started in October 2017. Dustin Staats and his friend Rich went on a podcast adventure called Board Gaming with English. Both friends were teachers: Dustin with a strong background in English Language education and Rich as the resident history and international education experience guru. The podcast shifted gears and started including subjects apart from English, paving the way
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In today’s Meet The (818) Interview, I have the honor of chatting with Chef Vallerie Castillo-Archer, the first female Executive Chef at the iconic Japanese restaurant, Yamashiro Hollywood. Her grandfather, who owned a bakery in Chef Vallerie’s hometown in the Philippines, played an integral role in her love for food. And, yes, her culinary journey literally began when she was
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San Fernando Valley Realtor Naomi Johnson is a valley girl at heart. As the creator of Live The Valley Life, a 818 lifestyle brand, she combines her two passions: helping her clients navigate today’s real estate market and sharing the 818 community she grew up in. “I’ve been a realtor for two years and I help families buy and sell
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In today’s Meet The (818) Interview, I chat with Claudia Chaverra, owner of Your CBD Store Northridge. She was featured in the #818bossbabes series last March because of how she turned a life-altering tragedy into her motivation to help her community. In 2017, after surviving the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting in Las Vegas, Claudia developed PTSD. Several attempts
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Jojo Aguilar is a Production Designer, Art Director, and Concept Designer who has worked in the entertainment industry for close to 30 years. He started right out of high school at Hana- Barbera at 1988 as a character designer. Feeling he needed more formal education, he left to the Philippines to study Commercial Arts at the University of Santo Tomas.
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Today’s Meet The (818) interview highlights photographer, filmmaker, Burbank kid, and founder of Pisano Pictures, Johnny Brillantes. Recently featured in Voyage LA, this San Fernando Valley local uses his unique brand of humor and perspective to create films and recreate movie/tv scenes with a twist. His Quarantine Scene series, created during the pandemic, bring not just his creativity and directorial
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Meet Patrick Ballesteros, artist, illustrator, teacher, and owner of Patrick Ballesteros Art Shop. Some of his art work is displayed and available for purchase at The Perky Nerd in Burbank where he was the featured artist in a couple of their art shows and even curated the Sweethearts, BFFS, and Bromance Art Show in February of 2017. In this episode
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Today’s Meet The (818) interview features 818 local and CSUN alumni, Jonathan Andrade, owner of Cans With Wicks. During the pandemic, Jonathan decided to try his hand at making candles with recycled beer cans as holders. What an awesome way to promote local breweries at the same time trying out a new skill! We chat about his love for beer,
Read moreAlexander Orozco, best known as the Hood Foodie, shares his passion for food, and helping others through highlighting various restaurants and businesses, especially the small, mom and pop stores. His story of overcoming personal challenges while creating a movement is nothing short of inspirational. Take a listen and get to know one of the 818’s phenoms while we chat about
Read moreToday’s conversation is with the founding editor of Viva The Valley, Natalie Camacho! We chat about highlighting locals and local businesses, her interview with Tommy Gelinas, owner of Valley Relics Museum, and her vision for Viva the Valley. It’s a conversation between two valley kids, talking about why we do what we do. Subscribe to her website at vivathevalley.com and show this valley
Read moreThis week’s interview is with Carissa Ortega, owner of Ninong’s Dessert Lab! We chat about how they introduced ube (taro) pancakes to the San Fernando Valley and the impact that had in their community in Granada Hills, the journey over the past 12 years, current projects and collaborations, and what happens next. Follow her on @ninongsdessertlab! Order their amazing products
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