Celebrating #MyFilAmStory: 6 Fil-Ams who embrace their roots, heritage 

Filipino Americans — Grace Kelly Art, Gabe Norwood, Janice Freytag, Bretman Rock, Chris Newsome, and Caelan Tiongson, embracing their #MyFilAmStory

The Filipino American community’s rich contributions to society play an important role in shaping the United States and the Philippines today. This October, we celebrate Filipino American History Month with inspirational stories from Filipino Americans (Fil-Ams) who are making waves in sports, entertainment, and the foreign service.  

This year, we highlight six Fil-Ams and how their heritage influences their identities and what makes them proud to own their #MyFilAmStory. 

Bretman Rock, content creator

Bretman Rock, content creator

He’s probably one of the biggest Fil-Am personalities of today’s generation because of his massive influence on social media with a combined following of over 50 million across platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok. As an online content creator, Bretman uses his platform as a tool for good to showcase authenticity and raise awareness of certain social issues, especially LGBTQI+ rights.  

How does your Filipino-American heritage play a role in pursuing your career and shaping your identity? 

My job is personality based and as a Filipino, we have a lot of that. Our culture is so rich in creativity that I try to carry it with me through any project I’m working on. And even though I’m not a singer, I was blessed with this Filipino personality.

My heritage continues to shape my lifestyle and how I carry myself as a person. Bagyo (typhoon) season in the Philippines is a perfect example of how our community will always look for the silver lining. Our whole country could be flooded, and we would still be on our roofs singing and dancing. That’s how I carry myself in a lot of ways. I try not to stress too much and remind myself to look for light when going through hardships.

How do you celebrate your Filipino-American roots? 

There are ways to celebrate both cultures while embracing my roots, but the word Filipino comes first in Filipino American. Especially growing up in Hawaii, I acknowledge that my Filipino-American story doesn’t start or end with me. There will be future generations that celebrate their identity because of me, the same way I get to celebrate my identity from those who came before me. 

Christopher ‘Chris’ Newsome, professional basketball player

Fresh from his team’s historic championship win at the 2024 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup, the Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome has come a long way from the fourth overall pick of the 2015 Rookie class to being hailed as the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). This California-born professional basketball player values his time with family, something that he inherited from his Filipino roots.

Christopher ‘Chris’ Newsome, professional basketball player

How does your Filipino-American heritage play a role in pursuing your career and shaping your identity? 

My Fil-Am heritage plays a role in pursuing my career because I’m here to represent both those that came before me and those that are with me now. I take pride in knowing my Lolo and Lola came from humble beginnings and sacrificed a lot to seek a better life for my mom and her siblings. My father and his family also had humble beginnings in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and he served in the U.S. Navy for 14 years. Seeing how much both sides of my family had to go through for me to have the life I have today is something I will never take for granted. This all motivates me to make the best of the opportunities given to me every time I get to step on the court. 

How do you celebrate your Fil-Am roots? 

I celebrate my Fil-Am roots by attending family functions when I have the time. My family has been holding a reunion every two years in different parts of the United States as an opportunity for us to stay connected and to remember how far we have come and those that played a role in getting us all where we are today. At the same time, we get to embrace the future generations and instill our family roots and core values in them to continue the family traditions for the years to come. 

Janice Freytag, foreign service professional

After her valuable 17-year stint in the U.S. Department of Defense — serving six years active duty military as a financial manager in the U.S. Air Force and 11 years as lead program analyst for the western range launch program at Vandenberg Space Force base — Janice pursued a career in the foreign service as an Expanded Professional Associates Program (EPAP) Professional Associate. She served for two years in Human Resources at U.S. Consulate Almaty, Kazakhstan and is currently assigned to U.S. Embassy Manila’s Public Diplomacy Section.

Janice Freytag, foreign service professional

How does your Filipino-American heritage play a role in pursuing your career and shaping your identity? 

My career in public service has been deeply influenced by my Filipino-American heritage. The strong sense of community, resilience, and dedication ingrained in Filipino culture has guided my approach to serving others. Plus, the inspiring stories of my family members who made their mark through military service and political involvement have really fueled my commitment to making a positive impact on people’s lives. 

How do you celebrate your Fil-Am roots? 

I celebrate my Filipino-American roots by cooking up traditional recipes and getting together with friends and family. There’s just something special about sharing dishes like adobo, sinigang, and lumpia with the people I care about.  It’s not just about the food, but also about the stories and memories that come with it. 

Caelan Tiongson, professional basketball player

Born to a Filipino father and an American mother, Caelan recently signed a three-year contract with the PBA. This 6-foot-5 Biola University alumnus is considered a veteran after playing for some years around the world, including with the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) and Taiwan’s T1 League.

Caelan Tiongson, professional basketball player

How does your Filipino-American heritage play a role in pursuing your career and shaping your identity? 

My Filipino-American heritage paves the way for me to pursue my career in basketball. Honestly, my Philippine citizenship allowed me to play basketball in Asia, so I’ve gotten to travel to 13 or 14 countries and pursue what I really love. It is something that shaped me for sure, and I am grateful for it. 

How do you celebrate your Fil-Am roots? 

I celebrate my Fil–Am roots by being proud of who I am and where I come from. I think growing up in America and having a Filipino family with me ever since helped me to easily adapt to the rich cultures of two countries. I celebrate my heritage by being proud and being open to trying new things as much as I can.  

Grace Kelly Art, foreign service officer

With over 24 years of service in the U.S. Department of State, Grace has served in multiple roles in various countries. She started as a locally employed voucher examiner at U.S. Embassy Manila and was later assigned as a Foreign Service officer in financial management to Charleston, South Carolina; Fiji; and Bangkok. She is currently assigned to U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq.

Grace Kelly Art, foreign service officer

How does your Filipino-American heritage play a role in pursuing your career and shaping your identity? 

The experience of navigating both Filipino and American cultures has been instrumental in honing my cultural adaptability and empathy—traits that are indispensable in the foreign service. The strong work ethic and resilience inherent in both cultures have made my global travels not only possible but profoundly rewarding. The ability to understand and respect diverse cultures has been a powerful asset in my international assignments. My Filipino-American heritage has deeply influenced my work ethic, fortified my resilience, and strengthened my commitment to public service.  

How do you celebrate your Fil-Am roots? 

Celebrating one’s roots is an everyday affair—it involves holding on to family values, respecting and caring for elders, a love for music, and finding joy even in the midst of a crisis. It’s about singing your heart out during difficult times, working hard, and having a natural drive to excel. Embracing my Filipino-American roots means blending traditions from both cultures, creating a unique and fulfilling way to honor heritage while navigating the bicultural experience.  

Gabriel Daniel “Gabe” Norwood, professional basketball player

After playing for nearly two decades with the PBA, Gabe has earned his spot in the Philippines’ basketball arena. In his new role as assistant coach with the PBA’s Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters, the former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay and George Mason University star is up for another challenge in his 16th season with the league.   

Proud of his Filipino-American roots, Gabe always brings with him the values of humility and gratitude on and off the court.

Gabriel Daniel “Gabe” Norwood, professional basketball player

How does your Filipino-American heritage play a role in pursuing your career and shaping your identity? 

My Fil-Am heritage played a huge role in pursuing my career as a professional basketball player. The United States’ and the Philippines’ love of basketball influenced my interest in the game at an early age. I’m blessed that I was molded perfectly with this opportunity to continue to play here in the PBA. My Fil-Am roots really shaped my identity in terms of my love for the game. 

Here we say PUSO, the tagline of the national team that I have been a part of. It is a day-to-day process in the game of basketball, be it at the professional level, the youth level, the grassroots, or the provinces. It brings discipline, creativity, and everything in between.  

How do you celebrate your Fil-Am roots? 

I celebrate my Fil-Am roots by continuing to educate myself, my family, and my children, in terms of the history of the Philippines and its relationship with the United States. And by taking opportunities to go out to museums or exhibits and continue to find interesting and creative ways to keep my kids engaged. Continuing to live and instill the importance, the pride, and the joy — the “puso” — that comes along with being a Filipino American.  

#MyFilAmStory is a U.S. Embassy campaign featuring impactful stories of Filipino Americans in the Philippines, the United States, and around the world.  

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