Our next guest host episode for this week features Bay Area high school student, Benedict Del Rosario! Right in time for the holidays, this student-produced episode dives into Filipino cultural celebrations and its role in forming a strong sense of identity, belonging, and community.

As Benedict interviews his father, Reynaldo, a first generation immigrant, we witness the importance of storytelling and the tradition of passing down oral history as a way to preserve cultural practices across generations. We also learn about the Del Rosario family’s history of resistance and resilience, highlighting the role of personal heroes, like Benny’s great uncle Pepe, who actively participated in the guerrilla movement against the Japanese invasion of World War II.

From the Cultural Kultivators team to our local and international listeners abroad, we hope this conversation encourages all of us to dig a little deeper with our elders this holiday season and discover something new about our own traditions and roots!

Apply for next year’s Unsung Heroes Youth Podcast Scholarship Here!

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