We’ve been taught wrong. For generations, Filipinos were told Cebuano, Ilocano, Waray, and Kapampangan are just “dialects.” Let’s diug into the truth about languages vs. dialects in the Philippines — and why this colonial myth still shapes our identity today. Related Videos: 🤐 Banned from Speaking Filipino? ENGLISH-ONLY Policy in the Philippines! https://youtu.be/cVfy2R_Vp3U 🌞 Precolonial & Early Philippine History https://bit.ly/EarlyPhilippines 🌏 Demystifying Southeast Asia: https://bit.ly/KnowSoutheastAsia 🎥 Join my channel! — https://youtube.com/kirbyaraullo/join 🔔 Subscribe — http://goo.gl/yDgQmK 🍿 Be my Patron — https://www.patreon.com/kirbynoodle 📚 Books, merch, etc. — https://www.kirbyaraullo.com/books 🔍 Featured Topics: 00:00 We’ve Been Taught Wrong 01:23 The Bigger Picture 04:22 CLEAR DEFINITIONS — Once and For All 07:52 THE COLONIAL ORIGIN OF “DIALECT” 10:26 THE DAMAGE OF MISLABELING 13:00 EDUCATION & POLICY TODAY 16:11 BUSTING THE BIG MYTHS 19:47 CALL TO ACTION — SPEAK, TEACH, RESPECT 📺 About This Video: Every August, the Philippines observes Buwan ng Wika to honor the national language. But while Tagalog—rebranded as Filipino—is celebrated, hundreds of other Philippine languages remain marginalized, forgotten, or dismissed as "just dialects." Millions of Filipinos still believe that Cebuano, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Waray, and other mother tongues are “just dialects.” But the truth is very different. This video explores the real difference between a language and a dialect, and how colonial education distorted the way Filipinos see their own identity. Historian Kirby Araullo traces the story from Spanish missionaries to American classrooms, showing how policies downgraded thriving Philippine languages into “dialects.” You’ll also learn why this debate isn’t just academic — it affects cultural pride, intergenerational connection, and even national unity. By the end of this video, you’ll understand why calling our mother tongues “dialects” is more than just wrong — it’s erasure. And you’ll have the knowledge to explain it to others, sparking real conversations about identity, culture, and survival. ☀️ About Kirby: Kirby Araullo is a distinguished Filipino American historian, culture bearer, and content creator based in California. He is a direct descendant of the indigenous Paramount Kings of Luzon—Lakandúlâ of Tondo and Rája Matandá of Maynílâ—as well as the anti-colonial Katipuneros and World War II Guerilyeras who fought for Philippine liberation. His rich heritage also includes Kapampángan, Tagálog, Indigenous Áytá, Pangasinan, and Spanish-Basque-Portuguese-Irish Mestizo roots. Kirby co-founded the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at the University of California, Davis, where he has authored works on Asian American, Philippine, and Southeast Asian histories. With education from UC Davis and Harvard University, Kirby teaches Filipino history and culture through indigenous scripts like Kulitan and Baybayin. His popular YouTube channel features educational content on historical narratives and cultural insights, attracting a global audience eager to explore Filipino and Southeast Asian histories, and the stories of revolutionaries and freedom fighters from the Philippines.

Before ASEAN’s founding in 1967, Southeast Asia thrived on ancient trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange—but centuries of colonial rule, Cold War politics, and today’s crises have reshaped it in ways few realize. In this special ASEAN 58th anniversary video, discover how a region once united now faces challenges that could decide its future. Related Videos: 📌 Sabah History Playlist: https://bit.ly/SabahHistory 📌 Modern History of Southeast Asia Playlist: https://bit.ly/ModernSEA 📌 Demystifying Southeast Asia Playlist: https://bit.ly/KnowSoutheastAsia 🔍 Featured Topics: 00:00 What Is ASEAN, Really? 01:26 ASEAN’s Untold Origins 02:31 Before ASEAN: Ancient Southeast Asian Networks 05:45 Colonialism Shatters Regional Unity 09:01 Early Failures: SEATO, ASA & Maphilindo 11:25 1967: ASEAN Is Born 15:02 ASEAN Today: Myanmar, Borders & the South China Sea 17:57 History’s Lessons for ASEAN’s Future 20:50 The Future of ASEAN 📺 About This Video: ASEAN’s Untold Story: Ancient Roots, Colonial Disruption, and Modern Challenges explores the deep history and ongoing struggles of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Long before ASEAN’s founding in 1967, Southeast Asia was connected through thriving trade networks, diplomatic alliances, and shared cultures. These ties were disrupted by colonial rule, fractured by Cold War rivalries, and eventually reshaped into the modern ASEAN we know today. From the millennium-old Laguna Copperplate Inscription to the failures of SEATO, ASA, and Maphilindo, this video reveals the lessons—both successes and mistakes—that paved the way for ASEAN’s creation. We’ll examine its founding principles of non-interference, consensus, and sovereignty, and how those same values are being tested today by the Myanmar crisis, South China Sea disputes, and border conflicts. Released to mark ASEAN’s 58th anniversary, this documentary-style deep dive is also an evergreen reflection on what it takes to keep Southeast Asia united for the next 58 years and beyond. ☀️ About Kirby: Kirby Araullo is a distinguished Filipino American historian, culture bearer, and content creator based in California. He is a direct descendant of the indigenous Paramount Kings of Luzon—Lakandúlâ of Tondo and Rája Matandá of Maynílâ—as well as the anti-colonial Katipuneros and World War II Guerilyeras who fought for Philippine liberation. His rich heritage also includes Kapampángan, Tagálog, Indigenous Áytá, Pangasinan, and Spanish-Basque-Portuguese-Irish Mestizo roots. Kirby co-founded the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at the University of California, Davis, where he has authored works on Asian American, Philippine, and Southeast Asian histories. With education from UC Davis and Harvard University, Kirby teaches Filipino history and culture through indigenous scripts like Kulitan and Baybayin. His popular YouTube channel features educational content on historical narratives and cultural insights, attracting a global audience eager to explore Filipino and Southeast Asian histories, and the stories of revolutionaries and freedom fighters from the Philippines.

'Buwan ng Wika' (National Language Month) celebrates the Filipino Language (a.k.a. Tagalog)—but what about the rest? Back in elementary school, I got punished for every non-Tagalog and non-English word I spoke. I was shamed for speaking Kapampangan in class, even though we were in Pampanga. Now over 30 Philippine languages are critically endangered. That’s the result of generations of policy, shame, and erasure. Related Videos: 🤐 Banned from Speaking Filipino? ENGLISH-ONLY Policy in the Philippines! https://youtu.be/cVfy2R_Vp3U 🌞 Precolonial & Early Philippine History https://bit.ly/EarlyPhilippines 🌏 Demystifying Southeast Asia: https://bit.ly/KnowSoutheastAsia 🎥 Join my channel! — https://youtube.com/kirbyaraullo/join 🔔 Subscribe — http://goo.gl/yDgQmK 🍿 Be my Patron — https://www.patreon.com/kirbynoodle 📚 Books, merch, etc. — https://www.kirbyaraullo.com/books 🔍 Featured Topics: 00:00 Language Shame in Filipino Schools 01:37 Why Buwan ng Wika Isn’t Enough 03:15 “Dialect” Is a Dangerous Word 05:04 Colonial Roots of Language Loss 07:58 Losing Language at Home 10:59 The Emotional Cost of Silence 12:53 Reviving Our Native Tongues 15:11 How You Can Help Save a Language 📺 About This Video: Every August, the Philippines celebrates "Buwan ng Wika" to honor the national language. But while Tagalog—rebranded as Filipino—is celebrated, hundreds of other Philippine languages remain marginalized, forgotten, or dismissed as "just dialects." This video explores how colonial education systems, language policies, and cultural stigma helped silence many of our native tongues. From personal stories to national history, we unpack why so many languages have disappeared, and what it takes to revive them today. From Baybayin and Kulitan to the everyday act of speaking with our elders, this is about remembering what we've been taught to forget—and choosing to speak it again. ☀️ About Kirby: Kirby Araullo is a distinguished Filipino American historian, culture bearer, and content creator based in California. He is a direct descendant of the indigenous Paramount Kings of Luzon—Lakandúlâ of Tondo and Rája Matandá of Maynílâ—as well as the anti-colonial Katipuneros and World War II Guerilyeras who fought for Philippine liberation. His rich heritage also includes Kapampángan, Tagálog, Indigenous Áytá, Pangasinan, and Spanish-Basque-Portuguese-Irish Mestizo roots. Kirby co-founded the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at the University of California, Davis, where he has authored works on Asian American, Philippine, and Southeast Asian histories. With education from UC Davis and Harvard University, Kirby teaches Filipino history and culture through indigenous scripts like Kulitan and Baybayin. His popular YouTube channel features educational content on historical narratives and cultural insights, attracting a global audience eager to explore Filipino and Southeast Asian histories, and the stories of revolutionaries and freedom fighters from the Philippines.

Was MAPHILINDO really meant to be a supercountry? Many think Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia tried to form a single country called MAPHILINDO. But it was never meant to be a federation. This video explains what MAPHILINDO actually was, why it failed, and how it shaped Southeast Asia’s future through Cold War politics and colonial legacies. Related Videos: 📌 Sabah History Playlist: https://bit.ly/SabahHistory 📌 Modern History of Southeast Asia Playlist: https://bit.ly/ModernSEA 📌 Demystifying Southeast Asia Playlist: https://bit.ly/KnowSoutheastAsia 🔍 Featured Topics: 00:00 Was MAPHILINDO Supposed to Be a Supercountry? 01:15 How the Cold War Shaped Southeast Asia’s Borders 03:22 The Real Reason People Think MAPHILINDO Was a Federation 05:54 What MAPHILINDO Really Was (Not a Country) 08:39 Why the MAPHILINDO Alliance Collapsed So Quickly 12:03 How MAPHILINDO Led to the Creation of ASEAN 15:06 What MAPHILINDO’s Failure Teaches Us About Regional Unity 17:03 Rethinking Southeast Asian History Today 📺 About This Video: The Truth About MAPHILINDO: Southeast Asia’s Forgotten Alliance explores the common misconception that Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia attempted to form a single federation during the 1960s. Instead, historian Kirby Araullo reveals the true nature of MAPHILINDO—an idealistic but fragile diplomatic confederation formed in 1963, grounded in shared Malay heritage but lacking real political or economic integration. Through detailed historical context, diplomatic analysis, and cultural insight, this video explains why the idea collapsed within months and how its legacy shaped the later formation of ASEAN. A must‑see for anyone interested in Southeast Asian history, postcolonial challenges, and the complexity behind regional unity narratives. ☀️ About Kirby: Kirby Araullo is a distinguished Filipino American historian, culture bearer, and content creator based in California. He is a direct descendant of the indigenous Paramount Kings of Luzon—Lakandúlâ of Tondo and Rája Matandá of Maynílâ—as well as the anti-colonial Katipuneros and World War II Guerilyeras who fought for Philippine liberation. His rich heritage also includes Kapampángan, Tagálog, Indigenous Áytá, Pangasinan, and Spanish-Basque-Portuguese-Irish Mestizo roots. Kirby co-founded the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at the University of California, Davis, where he has authored works on Asian American, Philippine, and Southeast Asian histories. With education from UC Davis and Harvard University, Kirby teaches Filipino history and culture through indigenous scripts like Kulitan and Baybayin. His popular YouTube channel features educational content on historical narratives and cultural insights, attracting a global audience eager to explore Filipino and Southeast Asian histories, and the stories of revolutionaries and freedom fighters from the Philippines.

Most Filipinos today think Diwatas are just fairies, but that’s a colonial lie. In this video, we explore the ancient and sacred meaning of Diwata as powerful deities and cosmic forces in precolonial Philippine mythology. From Encantadia’s iconic Sang’gres to our own indigenous oral traditions, we unpack how colonialism reshaped our ancient gods and why reclaiming their true power still matters today. 🎥 Join my channel! — https://youtube.com/kirbyaraullo/join 🔔 Subscribe — http://goo.gl/yDgQmK 🍿 Be my Patron — https://www.patreon.com/kirbynoodle 📚 Books, merch, etc. — https://www.kirbyaraullo.com/books Related Videos & Playlists: 🇵🇭 Philippine Mythologies - https://bit.ly/MythologyPH 🌞 Precolonial & Early Philippine History https://bit.ly/EarlyPhilippines 🌏 Demystifying Southeast Asia: https://bit.ly/KnowSoutheastAsia 🔍 Featured Topics: 00:00 Diwata Are NOT Fairies: The Myth That Misled Millions 01:54 The Real Meaning of Diwata: History, Identity, and Respect 03:05 How Diwatas Became Fairies: The Colonial Rewrite 06:10 What Diwatas Really Were: Gods, Forces, and Nature Spirits 08:51 Diwatas Weren’t Always Kind: Power, Justice, and Sacred Fear 11:21 Diwata vs Anito vs Engkanto: What’s the Difference? 13:27 Why This Matters: The Sacred Power Behind the Myth 15:59 Conclusion & Legacy: Reclaiming the Diwatas’ True Power 📺 About This Video: Diwata are NOT Fairies! In this video, Filipino historian and culture bearer Kirby Araullo uncovers the real meaning of the diwata, sacred cosmic beings found in the mythologies of precolonial Philippines and greater Southeast Asia. Far from the glittery fantasy characters we see in pop culture, the original diwatas were elemental forces of nature, justice, and balance. From Ápûng Sínukuan and Magbabaya to the devatas of ancient temples, this video explores how colonialism distorted native beliefs and why reclaiming them matters today. Drawing from Kapampangan, Visayan, Lumad, and regional Southeast Asian traditions, Kirby breaks down the difference between diwata, anito, and engkanto, and shows how these powerful deities were never just fairy godmothers, but reminders of our deep connection to land, ancestors, and the cosmos. A must-watch for anyone interested in Filipino mythology, indigenous cosmologies, Southeast Asian spirituality, and the decolonization of popular narratives. ☀️ About Kirby: Kirby Araullo is a distinguished Filipino American historian, culture bearer, and content creator based in California. He is a direct descendant of the indigenous Paramount Kings of Luzon—Lakandúlâ of Tondo and Rája Matandá of Maynílâ—as well as the anti-colonial Katipuneros and World War II Guerilyeras who fought for Philippine liberation. His rich heritage also includes Kapampángan, Tagálog, Indigenous Áytá, Pangasinan, and Spanish-Basque-Portuguese-Irish Mestizo roots. Kirby co-founded the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at the University of California, Davis, where he has authored works on Asian American, Philippine, and Southeast Asian histories. With education from UC Davis and Harvard University, Kirby teaches Filipino history and culture through indigenous scripts like Kulitan and Baybayin. His popular YouTube channel features educational content on historical narratives and cultural insights, attracting a global audience eager to explore Filipino and Southeast Asian histories, and the stories of revolutionaries and freedom fighters from the Philippines.

June 19th is both Juneteenth and José Rizal’s birthday, two events that seem unrelated, but are part of the same history of slavery, colonialism, and the fight for liberation. From Texas to the Philippines, this isn’t just a coincidence. It’s a story of resistance that still matters today. 🎥 Join my channel! — https://youtube.com/kirbyaraullo/join 🔔 Subscribe — http://goo.gl/yDgQmK 🍿 Be my Patron — https://www.patreon.com/kirbynoodle 📚 Books, merch, etc. — https://www.kirbyaraullo.com/books Related Videos & Playlists: 🇵🇭 Philippine Revolutions & Independence: http://bit.ly/KalayaanPH 🌞 Precolonial & Early Philippine History https://bit.ly/EarlyPhilippines 🌏 Demystifying Southeast Asia: https://bit.ly/KnowSoutheastAsia 🔍 Featured Topics: 00:00 Jose Rizal Born on Juneteenth? The Truth Behind the Date 01:00 Rizal and Juneteenth: Are They Really Connected? 01:41 Colonialism in the 1800s: U.S. and Spanish Empires 03:13 Juneteenth and Rizal: Fighting Empire and Oppression 06:18 Why Juneteenth and Rizal Still Matter Today 09:12 Black Filipino Solidarity in History: The Real Story 12:32 From Juneteenth to Rizal: What This Means for Us 📺 About This Video: José Rizal Was Born on Juneteenth?! This historical video by Kirby Araullo explores the surprising connection between Juneteenth — the day Black Americans in Texas were finally informed of their freedom — and the birth of Filipino revolutionary José Rizal. While these two moments happened on opposite sides of the world, they are both rooted in the same global systems of slavery, colonialism, and resistance. From Spanish-occupied Philippines to post-slavery America, this video traces how empire shaped both histories, and how the fight for liberation echoed across oceans. A must-watch for anyone interested in Filipino history, Black history, anti-colonial struggles, and the stories we’re not taught in school. ☀️ About Kirby: Kirby Araullo is a distinguished Filipino American historian, culture bearer, and content creator based in California. He is a direct descendant of the indigenous Paramount Kings of Luzon—Lakandúlâ of Tondo and Rája Matandá of Maynílâ—as well as the anti-colonial Katipuneros and World War II Guerilyeras who fought for Philippine liberation. His rich heritage also includes Kapampángan, Tagálog, Indigenous Áytá, Pangasinan, and Spanish-Basque-Portuguese-Irish Mestizo roots. Kirby co-founded the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at the University of California, Davis, where he has authored works on Asian American, Philippine, and Southeast Asian histories. With education from UC Davis and Harvard University, Kirby teaches Filipino history and culture through indigenous scripts like Kulitan and Baybayin. His popular YouTube channel features educational content on historical narratives and cultural insights, attracting a global audience eager to explore Filipino and Southeast Asian histories, and the stories of revolutionaries and freedom fighters from the Philippines.