“There’s nothing more sacred than the community we have. We’ve inherited the strength of the women of volcanoes, rice terraces, oceans and skies. You, me – we are hundreds and thousands of years in the making. Start acting like it.”
– Christine Bumatay, Freelance Writer & Pinayista 2021 Lightning Talk Speaker
The Importance of Community and Sisterhood, Especially During Difficult Times
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Emotional support & solidarity. When life presents us with challenges like microaggressions, economic instability, identity crises, or everyday exhaustion, having fellow Pinays around provides emotional support. They serve as witnesses, encouragers, and safe havens. We don’t have to endlessly explain our struggles; they see, they feel, they get it.
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Collective knowledge & generational memory. Many of our stories, our family histories, our memories of home get lost in the diaspora. When we gather, we bring those stories forward. Someone might remind you of a piece of wisdom your elders would share, or pass on a ritual, a saying, or a memory rooted in the archipelago that grounds you.
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Mutual uplift & accountability. In a capitalist “hustle culture,” we’re often pitted against each other: competition masked as self-improvement. But sisterhood flips that narrative. We commit to helping one another, amplifying each other’s voices, holding each other accountable in healthy ways, and rallying around each other’s wins and wounds.
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Intergenerational healing. Many of us carry the weight of migration, sacrifice, trauma, or displacement, not just in the present, but across generations. When we connect deeply with peers who share parts of that load, we begin to unpack, heal, and reimagine what it means to be Filipinas in the diaspora. Community and sisterhood are not mere extras; they are vital lifelines.
“Those who’ve experienced not fitting into a certain definition of sisterhood and folks who aren’t even here yet. People who don’t see themselves reflected but are still amongst us… Upo na kayo (Take a seat).”
– Aimee Espiritu, Creative Consultant & Pinayista 2021 Lightning Talk Speaker
The Pinayista Summit: A Sacred Space for Connection & Rooted Growth
The Pinayista Summit is more than just a conference; it is a sanctuary where self-identified Pinays can authentically connect. In this space, our identities are honored without hesitation. It serves as our gathering ground. Here, we engage in:
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A sense of belonging that requires no explanation. At Summit, you don’t have to pause to translate or justify parts of your identity. Because Pinays build it for Pinays, the context is already known, and your story is heard.
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Lightning Talks & raw vulnerability. In the format of short but powerful stories (4–5 minutes), Pinay leaders open up about pivotal moments. These aren’t polished speeches. They’re honest, sometimes messy, and always human.
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Panels on real topics that matter. Conversations delve deep. Think decolonizing leadership, negotiating cultural expectations, and balancing tradition with innovation. These are the behind-the-scenes struggles we often carry in silence, unpacked with people who understand.
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Interactive workshops. Not passive lectures, but space to act, reflect, experiment – from business scaling to wellness, all led by Pinay experts.
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Networking, community, joy. Between structured meetups and spontaneous conversations, friendships and alliances are born. And of course – there’s dance, tears, laughter, because you can’t separate joy and healing.
Summit is a safe container where you feel seen and sharpened. It is a place to connect with your community and to reconnect more deeply with your roots, your ancestors, and your inner self.
“You need to take time and give yourself permission that your story is deserving to be heard. You’re deserving to be seen. You have to let yourself be seen if you want to keep showing up for other people… your first priority should be advocating for yourself.”
– Krystle Fabella, CEO of Filipinas on the Rise & Pinayista 2021 Panelist
How This Translates to Personal Growth & Intergenerational Healing
When you lean into this kind of rooted sisterhood, the impacts ripple, and we reclaim our legacy by:
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Accelerating Personal Development: We gain confidence and strategies through shared experiences that uplift us.
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Gaining tools and perspectives: From business strategy to wellness, you equip yourself with practices that honor your whole self.
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Fostering Intergenerational Healing: Open discussions allow us to unpack burdens and forge healthier pathways forward.
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Amplifying a Collective Legacy: Together, we weave our lineage through shared stories, rituals, cultural practices, and unwavering support that we can pass forward to future generations.
“You will never understand the power of your own narrative, you will never understand the power of your own self, until YOU show up. Until you are brave enough to know that you are deserving of an adventure.”
– Nina Parks, Founder of Supernova Woman & Pinayista 2021 Lightning Speaker
In a diaspora that’s complicated, fragmented, and too often invisible, the work of building sisterhood is a kind of resistance. We resist isolation. We resist erasure. We resist the myth that we must go it alone.
So come, sisters: whether you’re new to the hustle, scaling up, doubting your path, or yearning for belonging – join us. Let’s hold space for one another, reclaim our stories, and create futures that honor both who we are and who we’re meant to become.
Let the Pinayista Summit be one of those places. Where your heart is fuller, your roots deeper, and your sisterhood stronger.