Celebrating my birthday with Kapwa ✨

Dear community,

If you’ve been following my journey, you know this year has brought its fair share of highs and lows, such is life. I find solace in enjoying the beauty and whims of each season as much as I appreciate learning more about astrology.

From taking a seat at the table with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission's LGBTQI+ Advisory Committee to navigating the sheer exhaustion of existing in today's social and political climate, I keep coming back to one profound truth: Joy is resistance. 

Choosing joy over fear and anxiety is resistance.

As I celebrate another trip around the sun, living my fullest as a transwoman, I’m reflecting on what keeps my spirit grounded. It’s not just self-care; it’s community care. In Filipino psychology, we have a beautiful, deeply rooted concept called Kapwa. It represents a shared inner self. It is the understanding that my humanity, including both the joy and hurt, is inextricably woven into yours. When one of us is hurting, we all feel the ache. But when one of us thrives, we all rise.

To practice Kapwa is to recognize that we aren't meant to do this alone. 

That is exactly the kind of sanctuary the San Francisco Community Health Center (SFCHC) provides every single day. Staff of this amazing organization are on the frontlines doing the critical work and offering life-affirming care. SFCHC is the safety net of the safety net for the underserved, unserved, and inappropriately served communities.

For my birthday this year, I wish to channel our collective magic to breathe life into Kapwa. I am inviting you, my community, to join me in sending blessings to SFCHC.

Our shared intention is to gather $10,000. Gathering these resources is about so much more than hitting a financial milestone.

You may click on the photo or this link to support our cause.

Please also help me amplify the message by sharing it to others.

With defunding and budget cuts happening on the federal and down to the city level, we help keep clinic doors open, and health services continue flowing to our trans and gender nonconforming communities, our unhoused folks, folks living with HIV, and more people from the most vulnerable communities.

Let’s show up for each other. Let’s protect our joy, and let’s keep resisting together.

In community & gratitude, 

Kiki ✨💕🧿