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In honor of Fil-Am Heritage Month, I’d like to share an event from three years ago that motivated me to take The Khmer Collective out of the archives and into the public eye. Seeing Khmer and Filipino art together on full display for the masses (in my city) sent chills down my spine. I wished my kid were there to see it. 

Husband and wife duo, Theo and Lillie created kamay - the Tagalog word for “hand.” The word Khmer is also pronounced the same way. It’s the idea of lending a hand and helping each other out. They hired a full SE Asian team with an emphasis on Khmer/Filipino art and I was asked to be the photographer for the festival. It was an absolute honor.

Set in the historic Underground Atlanta, what used to be storefronts were turned into sweeping interactive artist galleries, the alleys filled with artists, food vendors, organizations and sponsors alike. 

The best part? I already personally knew some of these amazing artists like Aldrin (@aldrin_banguilan) and Sokai. And looking back on it in present day- I had no idea I’d someday meet a few of the esteemed Khmer classical dancers featured in Bong Sokai’s work while on my own journey with TKC.

Thankful for Theo + Lillie for giving your Khmer brothers and sisters a space to exist and for bringing me on to document kamay. I celebrated my mom’s birthday with a Srong Tuk ceremony the next day. That trip home literally changed the trajectory of my life. 

Happy Filipino-American Heritage Month!
🇰🇭🤝🏽🇵🇭
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That one time Atlanta took over a party in Vietnam! 

@djlilliesmalls and I made sure a time was had in Da Nang. 😅

Shout out to @thewavedn @quan.pratt @theroofdanang for letting us do an Atlanta Cobra Corp takeover! The southern hospitality was beautiful, thank you again! 🖤

🐍 @cobra_corps
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I cannot handle how amazing @forgottenislandmovie was. Legit might be one of my favorite movies of the year. The lore! The music! The visuals! The humor! They went SO HARD representing our culture.

It’s like The Hangover meets Inception meets Moana. A little unhinged in the best way, even a lil scary, and HELLA GOOD.

And the DETAILS!!! The fact that they even had GIGIL in there?! I was gigil over the fact that they included gigil 😂 Like COME ONNNN.

Seeing so much of myself, my family and our culture reflected in these characters on the BIG SCREEN?! I felt so seen 🥹🇵🇭 And watching it in a theater packed with kababayan made it even more special. 

I’m obsessed. TAYO NA!!!

Forgotten Island IN THEATERS THIS FRIDAY! 🎬

#ForgottenIslandMovie #FilipinoRepresentation #FilipinoAmerican #FilAm
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Vietnam 🇻🇳 — Part III

One last dump.

A 9-hour delay in Japan before the trip even started… then 6 cities, old friends, new friends, unforgettable nights, and enough memories to make the chaos worth it.

Funny enough, the last photo in this dump is actually the very first photo I took after landing in Hanoi after that 9 hour delay, with a new friend I had met only minutes before. Feels like the perfect way to end it.

From reconnecting with people I hadn’t seen in years to meeting people I’ll hopefully know for years to come, this trip was one for the books.

Until next time, Vietnam. ✌🏾🇻🇳

#Vietnam #TravelDump #Hanoi #DaNang #Saigon
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VIETNAM 🇻🇳 PT. II

Came to celebrate love. Got a suit made in Vietnam and understood the assignment. 🥂

Congratulations to James “Jay Envy” Lam & Lyna Huynh — The Envys. ❤️💍

#CobraCorps
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