Weaving Roots & Resistance: Reclaiming Filipino Culture in Diaspora with Elleanor Pangilinan

[Data Yap, Season 2, Episode 1]

What does it mean to reclaim culture through movement, rest, and art? 

To kick off Data Yap Season 2 and celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) heritage month, Data Yap showcases how Elleanor Pangilinan–-a Filipina American scholar and educator–embodies becoming a cultural practitioner of the Philippine diaspora. In this powerful conversation, Elleanor reflects on her journey as she reconnects with her roots through (puni and Kalinga backstrap) weaving, martial arts (eskrima), and community healing.

From the San Francisco/Bay Area to the Philippines, her story explores ancestral knowledge and the intersections of activism, embodiment, and identity. Her academic and professional work is shaped by these cultural practices, informing her responsibility to both honor her lineage and advocate for systemic change in Biology education and higher education in general. 

Episode Highlights:

1. Eskrima as Embodied Resistance: Learning eskrima helped her reconnect with her body and heritage, offering not just self-defense but a way to honor Filipino resilience and storytelling through movement.

2. Weaving as Cultural Memory: Her journey into Kalinga backstrap weaving and puni revealed intergenerational and diasporic connections, linking her to ancestral knowledge and even overlooked practices within her own family.

3. Academia and Cultural Responsibility: She emphasizes integrating indigenous worldviews into science and education, critically navigating her role as both a settler and a descendant of colonized people, aiming to decolonize knowledge and support marginalized communities.

Ultimately, Elleanor urges listeners to decolonize their perception of time and embrace rest as an act of resistance. 

Discover how indigenous practices offer pathways for resistance, rest, and belonging—especially in the diaspora. Whether you're interested in Filipino heritage, decolonization, or healing through art, this episode offers deep insights and inspiration. 

More about our Guest

Elleanor teaches Biology at Contra Costa Community College District. This is her education pathway:

• Associate of Science (A.S.) in Biology & Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Economics @ Contra Costa College

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nutritional Biology @ University of California (UC), Davis

• Master of Science (M.S.) in Cell & Molecular Biology @ San Francisco State University

Don’t miss Elleanor’s story of resilience, return, and radical care. #norcal #pinay #diaspora

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Subscribe, like, and comment on this episode on what you think about this:

Support Data Yap. 

Consider buying Dr. Melo a beverage: 

https://buymeacoffee.com/datayap