Gathering Kapwa: Connecting Filipinx Diaspora Through Sangha
with Victoria Mausisa, Kimi Mojica, Jonathan Relucio, and Jessy Zapanta
Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. PT (Time Zone Converter)
HYBRID (if we can get at least 20 in-person sign-ups!)
Closed Captioning Provided on Zoom
The center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible
N95/KN95 masks required
Join us for our 2nd annual gathering and embark on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and connection as we dive into the inquiry: As Filipinx in the diaspora, how do we deepen our roots? How do we strengthen our understanding of what it means to be Filipinx and find connection when we feel separate from our homeland and each other? How do we see beyond separation to feel our connection with ancestors and each other?
Guided by a cadre of Filipinx teachers, this daylong retreat is a welcoming space open to self-identified Filipino/a/x/o practitioners of all levels, from beginners to experienced meditators. Weaving in teachings of the Buddha, we will offer ceremony, meditation, and movement practices, alongside Dhamma talks and discussions that invite reflection, compassion, joy, love and understanding on our path. Through the shared experiences and wisdom of the collective, we will create a supportive and nurturing community that encourages growth and transformation.
This hybrid* format allows participants to join either in person at EBMC or virtually from the comfort of their own homes. All registered participants will be invited to bring an object from home to add to our community centerpiece and supplies for ritual will be forthcoming. Those in person can look forward to a potluck lunch . Let us celebrate and make meaning together, nuancing what our cultural identity means on our spiritual path.
*PLEASE NOTE: Due to limited resources, we will ONLY run these meetings hybrid IF we get at least 20 in-person sign-ups. If a meeting has fewer than 20 in-person sign-ups, we will notify all registrants to meet online only (at least 24 hours in advance). Thank you!
For in-person participation:
For those wishing to practice in person, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching.
To attend in person, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products, including those that are especially good for people of color, appears on our website
East Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible.
For Zoom participation, these are our Universal Access Guidelines:
– Please do not use virtual or blurred backgrounds
– Please keep your camera still when it’s turned on
– Please say your name when you speak
– Facilitators will attempt to read any comments in the chat out loud
– Please mute when you’re not speaking.
Teaching Team
Victoria Mausisa, (she/siya/we), Filipina, Lola/grandmother. Victoria began her practice over 20 years ago and is ordained in the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Order of Interbeing. She is a community builder, sangha and retreat leader. An advocate for racial and social justice, she co-founded ARISE Sangha — Awakening Through Race, Intersectionality and Social Equity. Victoria is called to heal communities of color and to cultivate inclusiveness. She combines trauma resiliency with mindfulness and also trained at the Sati Center Buddhist Chaplaincy program. She is a graduate of East Bay Meditation Center’s inaugural Spiritual and Teacher Leader Program. A contemplative at heart who leans on authenticity and ritual, Victoria thrives on spiritual practice and deep relationships with our ancestors, our lands, family, and friends.
Kimi Mojica (they/she/siya) fell deeply in love with the Buddha Dharma over twenty years ago when they touched the earth at Deep Park Monastery’s People of Color retreat with the venerable Thich Nhat Hahn. Since 2007, they’ve considered East Bay Meditation Center their spiritual home and currently serve as one of BIPOC Sangha’s Guiding Teachers. Previously she held roles as Chair of the Leadership Sangha, co-founder of the Restorative Practices for Dharma Practitioners (RPDP) deep refuge group, and is a graduate from EBMC’s Commit2Dharma and Spiritual Teacher and Leadership (STL) programs. Kimi has taught at Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Braided Wisdom and Dhamma Dena among others. Siya’s commitment to racial, gender and healing justice is evident through the dynamic ways they hold space as a facilitator, process strategist, coach, and conflict transformation practitioner. It brings Kimi much joy to commune with ancestors, plantcestors and beings through ritual, movement and creative arts, all while discovering, co-creating and centering liberatory practices that cultivate wholeness and well-being for all in everyday life.
For a decade, Jonathan Relucio (he/him/siya) was a Senior Trainer for Niroga Institute, teaching trauma-informed yoga, meditation, and mindfulness in urban schools, mental health clinics and juvenile detention centers. He completed Spirit Rock’s Mindfulness Yoga and Meditation Training (MYMT); Communities Rising Yoga and Meditation Training for People of Color; and East Bay Meditation Center’s inaugural two-year Spiritual Teacher & Leadership (STL) training. Currently, he teaches at both Spirit Rock Meditation Center and East Bay Meditation Center and will begin Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leaders Program in January 2025. Jonathan facilitates transformation in social justice movements as a Trainer for Rockwood Leadership Institute; integrates mindfulness with restorative circles for healing and racial equity as co-founder of AllThriveEd.org; and serves on the Healing Advisory council for Filipino Advocates for Justice. With over 20 years of experience in social services, community organizing, training, and leadership development, Jonathan values Buddha Dharma, mindfulness, yoga, meditation, indigenous medicine, martial arts, dance, DJing and grounding in his Filipino ancestral roots as practices for liberation that heal us from systems of oppression.
Founder of Healing Without Hierarchy & Kapwa Flow Somatic Meditation, Jessy Zapanta (he, she, siya) is a community builder, educator, and survivor-centered mindful movement and meditation facilitator born and raised in the working-class, BIPOC-majority parts of the lands known as the Bay Area (Ohlone territory). Jessy is a graduate of EBMC’s Practice in Transformative Action Program and inaugural two-year Spiritual Teacher and Leadership Program, and is a co-founder of Dharma in Motion Sangha. Experienced in western and Asian bodywork, counseling, Raja Yoga, qigong, somatics, and improv, he has held space for queer, trans, gender-diverse, disabled, and neurodivergent folks of all ages. Siya is passionate about radical inclusion and access, inviting the collective needs of participants into the room. With roots spanning across Pangasinan and Pampanga, Nagasaki, and Fujian, Jessy’s path includes reclaiming diverse ancestral teachings, trusting intuition, and building intersectional, intergenerational communities of care.
Cost
The teachings are regarded as priceless. So they are offered without a fee. You are invited to support the teachings and our efforts by contributing voluntary donations (the practice of “Dana”) for the expenses of the meditation center and the support of the teachers.
Other ways to give:
To make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center, you may do so via Paypal: paypal.me/eastbaymeditation or our website: eastbaymeditation.org/dana 100% of our programming is sliding scale and no one will ever be turned away for lack of funds.
Please also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well, who do not receive a salary for their work, and give their teachings freely to all.
Venmo:@Kimi-Mojica
Paypal: kimi.mojica@gmail.com
CashApp:$KimiMojica.
Please indicate “Teacher dana for 10/13 Gathering Kapwa EBMC” in the subject line. Kimi Mojica will collect dana on behalf of the teachers.
Thank you for the gifts of your generosity and for supporting the work of East Bay Meditation Center and our beloved teachers who have volunteered their time.
