"Our lives as Pilipinos and Pilipino Americans are unique. No other culture shares our exact experiences. maganda serves to record our cultural history—our thought, opinions and emotions—because it is important and must be shared and celebrated. maganda exists not only as a creative outlet for writers, poets and artists, but as a tool for empowerment. Beyond 'art for art's sake,' we confront issues that affect our lives as a marginalized group in the United States. maganda allow us to express our joy, fear, frustration, sadness, anger, despair and love so that Pilipinos and non-Pilipinos alike can partake of our lives and become informed, entertained and inspired..."

"Growing up in America was a painful process of assimilation for me. Mahirap pala ang buhay sa Amerika. Looking back, I can't help but shiver when I think about how hard I tried to fell like I was a part of this country—a place that I dreamed of living in ever since I can remember.

I have cherished memories of my life growing up as a child in the Philippines, but unfortunately, those memories were dominated by the American dream instilled in me by the American colonial legacy and the American-glorifying media. At the vulnerable age of 10, when I immigrated to the U.S., all I wanted was to live out my dream of becoming 'American'..."