Dallas Filipinas on the Rise: The Prominence of Filipina Excellence

Highlighting the strength and creativity of Filipina women, fostering connections and celebrating their diverse achievements.

By André Averion, Communications Chair

Published September 30th, 2024.

The DFW Filipino community gathered to celebrate Filipinas on the Rise for the first time Sept. 28 at Vauhx Creative in Dallas, providing representation for businesses, leaders and Filipina excellence.

"My greatest passion is about spotlighting local women and spotlighting local Filipino-owned businesses,” Krystl Fabella, founder of Filipina on the Rise, said to NBC. “And also just being able to gather local Filipino women together to meet each other and feel connected in this very curated, very intentional space."

The four hour summit not only highlighted personal stories but also focused on the collective strength of the Filipina community. Featuring a marketplace showcasing a diverse range of Filipina-owned businesses, the marketplace served as a platform for networking, fostering connections among like-minded individuals who share a commitment to empowering one another. 

The event focused on celebrating and empowering Filipina women through discussions, networking opportunities and showcasing Filipina-owned businesses. Local leaders and trailblazers were invited to host discussion panels, recall stories of women empowerment and address concerns in the Filipina community.

Guest speakers included owner of Yu Law Firm Liezyl Yu, CEO of DatuKutti Alavia Khawaja, Miss Texas 2022 and House District 112 candidate Averie Bishop, NBC 5 morning news reporter Alanna Quillen, Nike global trainer Betina Gozzo and Olympian Lauren Hoffman. 

Beyond business, the summit also offered entertainment, including live music and poetry, creating a dynamic atmosphere that emphasized the cultural richness of the Filipina community. Performers at the event included TYC Veronica, DJ Deauxpe and Xyzsa Love. 

The multimedia summit that would eventually become Filipinas on the Rise initially started in 2019 as a podcast to talk about the history and innovation of Filipino women. The mission of the podcast became about empowering women to inspire innovation and entrepreneurship throughout their community while combating negative stereotypes. 

"I believe it has grown because we are filling a need, that women wanted to be more represented. They want to feel more proud about their Filipino identity and their culture and share that with others," Fabella said to NBC.

Filipinas on the Rise has toured the likes of San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York in previous years, with Dallas being a first time location. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is currently the fastest growing region for the Asian American demographic, with those of Filipino descent being the fourth largest Asian group migrating to North texas. 

As the movement gains momentum, Filipina on the Rise is not just a celebration of accomplishments; it’s a call to action for Filipina women to recognize their worth and influence. The recent summit in Dallas exemplifies this vision, reinforcing the belief that when Filipina women rise together, they can drive change and pave the way for future generations.