Shala Social Club: Fil-Am Culture, IRL & Unfiltered
From potluck picnics to palayok parties, hear from the founders of this unique social club based in Los Angeles, CA.
In a world where screens mediate most of our day to day interactions, the longing for genuine, in-person connection has never felt stronger. So when we heard about a “social club” created by two Filipinas in LA, we knew we had to get the scoop. Imagine a gathering space where culture and community come alive and participants rediscover the joy in connecting in real life. Words by Trish Bautista and Mia Sibala. Photos by Nailah Barcelona.
Shala Social Club
Shala Social Club is an initiative that celebrates culture and community through gatherings that feed the soul: food, film, arts, nature—all through the lens of warm Filipino traditions.
Our mission is simple: to celebrate culture and build meaningful connections by bringing people together in spaces that feel like home, wherever we are.
Trish Bautista
I moved to the U.S. from Manila when I was 18. My mom was a flight attendant all my life, so I grew up with flight perks that let me go home often—something I recognize as a privilege. I clung to those trips, using them to ease my homesickness and as an excuse not to build connections here. Why try to find community in the U.S. when my best friends were still in Manila and just a flight away?
But looking back, I think part of me was resisting what it meant to be an immigrant—that I was no longer “just Filipino,” but slowly becoming part of something else too. American culture felt foreign, and I didn’t know how to belong without feeling like I was giving something up.
Then, years passed. And I realized I still didn’t have a community here.
Shala Social Club is my way of making up for that lost time. It’s me finally choosing to embrace the fullness of my immigrant identity, and creating the kind of community I once didn’t think I needed, but now deeply cherish.
Mia Sibala
There are several stories where I can pull from my I wanted to co-found Shala Social Club along with Trish.
One that stands out the most was losing my brother at a young age where no one should have to experience such loss.
I spent most of my formative years in Burbank, CA—where curfew was strictly enforced for minors by 10 p.m. At just 13, I learned there were far greater injustices than breaking curfew. My brother was prematurely taken from this world—his life stolen by someone’s overwhelming pride.
Since then, I’ve spent years trying to piece together why prejudice and senseless violence persist, even despite the evolution of mankind technology. Today, @shalasocialclub is my way of honoring him. It’s a space built to bring people together, reminding us that even a few minutes of genuine connection can break down walls—and spark a ripple effect of positive change.
Editor’s Note:
But what does “Shala” mean? Here’s what Trish said:
“Shala” as some might know is Filipino slang for “sosyal” or sophisticated/posh. It’s often said with a wink or even as a joke. When Mia and I were conceptualizing this social club, what we really wanted to do was share Filipino culture and reframe how it’s seen. Our culture is often viewed through a lens of struggle or simplicity. While that is also part of our history, there is also so much richness, artistry, and intention in the things we grew up with from the way we cook and gather, to the craftsmanship of our people.
Shala Social Club is our way of celebrating that quiet elegance. Of saying, Filipino culture is refined. It is creative, and it is worthy of being admired, preserved, and shared even beyond our own communities.”
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