First it was Alex Eala—our kababayan tennis phenom—shaking up the sport. It’s not just her climb in the rankings; it’s the energy. If you’ve seen clips of her matches, you know: the crowd shows up loud, proud, and very Filipino.

Then came a proud Fil-Am moment on TV. Kristin Villanueva, Isa Briones, and Amielynn Abellera—all playing nurses on "The Pitt"—hit the stage together at the Screen Actors Guild Awards to accept Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Fil-Am nurses on-screen, winning as a team? Yeah, that hits different. [See "Princess and 'The Pitt'" by Anthony Maddela below.]

And then last weekend? History. Autumn Durald Arkapaw—with that unforgettable name—became the first woman, first woman of color, and first Fil-Am to win Best Cinematography at the Academy Awards for "Sinners." Bay Area–raised, shaped by her Filipina mom, her tita, and her Kapampangan lolo (a WWII guerrilla and Death March survivor—grabe that legacy). Her speech? One of the night’s realest moments, honoring the women who made space for her to even be there.

Also making waves: Zinzi Evans-Coogler, lead producer of Sinners, becoming the first Fil-Am nominated for Best Picture—alongside her husband, Ryan Coogler, and Sev Ohanian. Power couple, but make it groundbreaking.

This Women's History Month, Filipinas in sports and entertainment aren’t just having a moment—they’re building momentum. And honestly? It feels less like a blip and more like the start of something long overdue.

This week’s stories:

Princess and ‘The Pitt’ by Anthony Maddela

Ceramic Art Across the Seas by Brian delos Santos

Before Our Dream Came True by Joel Jong Clemente

[Read It Again]

Standing Room Only by Lotis Key

Pinky Valdes’ Winding Road to Healing by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Warmth by Durin Chappe

[Video of the Week] Autumn Durald Arkapaw talks about Oscar nomination, Filipino roots

[Partner] Philippine International Aid’s U.S. Scholarship

In The Know

‘If I go home, we don’t have enough money’: the low-paid Filipino workers caught up in the war on Iran