ISTORYA
WALBERT CASTILLO TRAVELED TO THE MOTHERLAND TO RETRACE HIS ANCESTRAL ROOTS. LEARNING HIS OWN ORIGIN STORY MOTIVATED HIM TO TELL THE ORIGIN STORIES OF OUR PEOPLE.
LOCATION | WINNIE & ETHEL'S DOWNTOWN DINER
WINNIEANDETHELS.COM / @WINNIEANDETHELS
WALBERT CASTILLO
Founder + Owner - ISTORYA
FAMILY ORIGIN.
Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte + Iligan City + Dumaguete
INSPIRATION.
Learning his own origin story motivated him to tell the origin stories of our people.
[from Istorya.com]
CAT CARLUCCI
Mother first, then Chef - ISTORYA
FAMILY ORIGIN.
MANILA + VIGAN
EDUCATION.
Bachelor of Arts Hospitality Management, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, CA
Culinary Arts Certificate - St Helena, CA
MOTTO.
If you want something bad enough, you can attain it.
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HE / HIM
General Manager - ISTORYA
Family Origin: Batangas + Bicol
Education: Bachelor of Science in Hospitality
Inspiration: People
Motto: Life's too short to not have adventure.
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SHE / HER
Hostess - ISTORYA
Licensed Financial Professional
World System Builders
Origin: Negros Oriental + Dumaguete City
Education: Bachelors in Public Health (in progress)
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Inspiration: My mother’s stroke and health struggle that put my whole family into financial burden. My goal is to never have any other family experience what we did.
Motto: I can’t complain about how much is on my plate when my goal was to eat.
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SHE
Bartender - ISTORYA
Family Origin: Negros Occidental + Pangasinan
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Communications - University of Guam
Inspiration: Other creative and intelligent minds
Motto: Show up as the person you envision.
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SHE / HER
Executive Assistant - ISTORYA
Family Origin: Tondo
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies - University of Nevada Las Vegas
Mottos: I am enough. I am where I am supposed to be. I'll never know if I never try. "This too shall pass."
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Restaurant Store Manager - ISTORYA
Origin: Ilocos Sur + Tondo
Education: Dunwoody College of Technology (Mpls, MN)
Inspiration: My inspiration comes from all art forms, the beauty of nature, and people who aren't afraid to get out of their comfort zone to try something new or break barriers. People with selfless love.
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HE / HIM
Chef - ISTORYA
Origin: Bataan + Malabon
Inspiration: A lot of my inspiration comes from my family and friends that I have made along the way. Learning from past ideas and creating new ones.
Motto: I’m here for a good time, not a long time.
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SHE / HERS
Research Assistant - ISTORYA
Family Origin: Camarines Sur
Education: Bachelor of Arts Asian and Asian American Studies -University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Achievements: Inaugural recipient of the Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon History Scholarship Award
Inaugural recipient of the Neon Pacific Initiative Peer Mentorship and Podcast
Inspiration: To undercover histories that have not yet been written down and shared for generations
Motto: Cherish the time you have with loved ones, one day you’ll only remember in photos.
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SHE / HER
Operations - ISTORYA
Family Origin: Angeles City, Pampanga + Botolan, Zambales
Education: NASM-CPT Trauma Informed Personal Training Engineering, B.S. - Hope College
Motto: Self acceptance does not mean giving up on growth or change
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HE / HIM
Mixologist/bartender - ISTORYA
Family Origin: San fernando + Pampanga
Education: University of Las Vegas, CSN
Inspiration: My late grandfather
Mission Statement: My hope is to reconnect with my culture and have people see there’s more to Filipino food than just lumpia and pancit.
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SHE / HER
Video Strategist - ISTORYA
Family Origin: Manila + Subic Zambales + Mindoro
Education: Azusa Pacific University, UNLV
Mission Statement: I am dedicated to nurturing empathy, creativity, and conscious living through many unique intersections. I strive to inspire others to embrace their own uniqueness, make mindful choices, and cultivate wonder in their daily lives. By bridging the worlds of art, community, consciousness, and social responsibility, I aim to continue creating meaningful connections that ripple outward — positively impacting local communities & our global home.
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SHE!
Brand Designer - ISTORYA
Family Origin: Laguna + Makati + Ilocos Norte
Organization: His Love Shines Bright
Education: Associate in Applied Science , Graphic Communications, College of Southern Nevada
Motto: Love God , Love people - Matthew 22:37-39
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SHE / HER
Server - ISTORYA
Topgolf associate
Family Origin: El Salvador
Education: Bachelor of Arts - Graphic Design - California State University, Northrigde
Inspiration: My family
Mission Statement: Opening up my world through new, different and unique people, food and experiences.
ISAAC GONZALEZ
ISTORYA FAMILY
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HE / THEY
Head of Research - ISTORYA
Organizations: YEG Ballroom / Kinesis /
Alberta Dance Alliance
Family Origin: Pampanga + Laguna
Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts
Special Focus in Printmaking + Intermedia - University of Alberta
Inspiration: There is no shortage of sources of inspiration in this life
Mission Statement: To honor and free my people and myself.
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SHE / HER
Server - ISTORYA
Family Origin: Cagayan Valley
Education: Bachelor of Science - Nursing - College of Southern Nevada Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines
Inspiration: What inspires me aside from my family is food. I get excited.
Motto: Keep moving forward
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HE / THEY / SIYÁ
Family Origin: Masinloc, Zambales + Dumaguete City + Negros Oriental
Education: George Mason University + University of Maryland
Inspiration: Stories. We hear echoes of the feelings, struggles, and triumphs of the past which connect us with people whom we’re so far removed from. I can feel my ancestors guiding me (although I typically don’t listen) in what I can only describe as “utang na loob.” I’ve struggled, grappling with finding a balance between what I “owe” to my parents / grandparents, what I owe myself and “what we owe each other” (per: T. M. Scanlon) but my inspiration doesn’t come from a debt rather than an investment in the future. The love that I have doesn’t originate from me, I’m a medium, a conduit.
So the beauty, perseverance, patience, hope, and love that inspires me comes through stories. And those stories themselves utilize the same sentiments to connect me to the past so I can contribute towards a brighter future.
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SHE / HER
FOOD RUNNER - ISTORYA
Family Origin: Washington
Education: Associates Degree
Physical Therapy Assistant - Carrington College
Inspiration: When someone works hard and is passionate and dedicated at what they do.
Mission Statement: Be grateful and humble because it can always be worse.
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HE / HIM
Chef - ISTORYA
Origin: Cavite
Inspiration: Food. Travel. Culture. People. Nature
Mission Statement: Live each moment Of each day Mindfully. No control, desires or agenda.
Our time here is limited. Our footprints will be washed away by the tides of time. Appreciate the moments. As we will never pass this way again. Seek new ADVENTURES. Be CURIOUS & LEARN. ATTITUDE is everything. Be RESPECTFUL. Act with KINDNESS.Nurture FRIENDSHIPS.Be GRATEFUL. Have FAITH.
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HE / HIM
Chef - ISTORYA + MGM Resorts
Family Origin: Phayao + Rayong
Education: Restaurant Management / Culinary Arts - The Art Institute of Las Vegas
Inspiration: Traveling the world
Personal Motto: Imagination, the greatest power.
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HE / HIM
Video Editor - ISTORYA
Origin: Ilocos Sur Narvacan + Cebu + Gapan
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Communications - Broadcast Journalism concentrationCalifornia State University Fullerton
Motto: Live in the moment. Get 1% better everyday.
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Co Creative Director of Design - ISTORYA
Origin: Negros Oriental + Dumaguete City
Education: Bachelors of Fine Arts
Visual Communication and Design
Montclair State University
Inspiration: My family and friends who support me and always have my back.
Mission Statement: I am a person who will help others in some capacity, is hungry and goal-oriented, and is extremely passionate about my strengths.
