The history of Kilawin Kolektibo: How Filipina lesbians found community in NYC in the 1990s

By Catherine Espejo

Because of You: A History of Kilawin Kolektibo, a documentary made by Desireena Almoradie and Barbara Malaran, features archival footage of personal stories that bring awareness to what it meant to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community in the mid-1990s.

The clips in the film showcase lesbian personalities, shedding light on their individuality. The audience gets to see their humor and quirks, reaffirming that everyone is human, who have the inherent desire to feel included and find love.

Despite the racism many endured, it was empowering and emotional to see the ways they were able to take back their identity when they marched together for their beliefs. There were clips of the unification between the Kilawin group with other ethnic lesbian groups.

In a country that is traditional like the Philippines, being a lesbian can be a difficult choice. It was humanizing to hear their voices in their struggle to come out to those with different mindsets, but ultimately finding the strength to find community with others like them. 

The film also shows their bravery to stand up and create space for themselves. They marched at the Philippine Independence Parade which they said was difficult. Even with differences in gender choices, the women showed that they are still Filipina women who wanted people to understand them. Their idea to march spread awareness to friends, neighbors, and strangers during a parade for their country. It was symbolic and impactful.

The same applies to when they sent letters to queer publications to use their voices in protest about the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. It takes courage to stand up against others, to publicly voice discomfort, especially towards the powerful film industry. Because of You is clear with the emphasis of protecting women, backing their beliefs, and helping cultivate a safe environment. It isn’t just about being a lesbian, but also advocating awareness for Filipina mail brides. It’s about being a voice for those who don’t have one.

There’s an emphasis throughout the film on the importance of community. It stands on the pillars of passion, belief, and love for another. The clips shown are of the women together  showing a range of activities, mundane moments like hanging out and marching together.

However, the experience was not without its moments of struggle. They admitted there were disagreements between the Fil-Ams (Filipinas born in the U.S.) and the Fil-Fils (those born in the Philippines). The clips call for communication and the desire to fix the problem. However, ultimately it reveals that those women care deeply for one another and want to persevere together.

The message in Because of You is that standing up for your beliefs will pave the way for unwavering courage. The film makes the audience feel what it’s like to be a part of a community so steadfast in their beliefs, and how they lean on one another.

In a press statement, the film is called a “love letter from Desireena to Barbara and from Barbara to Desireena, but also from Desireena and Barbara to Kilawin, and from Kilawin  to today’s queer QTBIPOC community, with self-reflection and gratitude.”

The project credits archivist and unofficial Kilawin photographer, Panday Banale, who provided complete access to materials and ephemera that the group has created and accumulated throughout the years. “We often appear in the footage as we pass the camera to other members of the group to document our collective history.”

Almoradie and Malaran’s film presents how it is to cultivate a safe environment for their community, a steppingstone for those who want to continue to empower others.