We had the good fortune of connecting with Bien-Elize Roque-Nido and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bien-Elize, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Kababayan Kids was founded by three Filipina moms living in Vallejo, CA. Christine, Bien-Elize, and Charlene met while attending UCSD, and coincidentally moved to Vallejo to raise their children. While searching for Filipinx activities for their kids, they found that although Vallejo has a high population of Filipinos, there was a lack of activities for their kids. So, they simply decided to start the movement themselves. What started as an idea for Tagalog story time has developed into a Tagalog parenting collective that spans from Vallejo all the way Canada!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m Bien, an educational specialist with over 15 years of experience serving children and their families as a teacher, administrator and community advocate. I’m lucky to have grown up understanding Tagalog and as a teenager, I decided to try to learn to speak it as well. I’ve been able to combine my love of learning with my passion for my culture into the business that we started together. It’s an act of cultural resistance and preservation, and I am so happy to be part of it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Vallejo, CA

Alibi Bookshop
Mare Island Brewery
Bud’s Burger (a staple!)
E-40 Way
Filipino Community Center Mural

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to our Kababayan Kids Team – Charlene, Stephanie, Christine, and Rudolf! Together, we are changing our little piece of the world.

Website: https://www.kababayankids.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kababayankids/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KababayanKids

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KKids

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