Fellows Spotlight: Miles Mariano-Ortilla
Did you know that October is Filipino-American History Month (FAHM)?
In celebration of FAHM, we are featuring Miles Mariano-Ortilla, 2019 Nyah Fellow. During his fellowship experience to Bali, Indonesia, Miles realized his strength and the power in leading from the background, making sure that people work well together and that things get done, rather than being a figurehead.
My experience as a Nyah Fellow taught me so much about my purpose and how my actions can affect the lives of others.
I learned that my purpose is to help the youth of my community, especially those living in the Philippines. After my experiences at the Giri Asih orphanage and Stella’s Child youth organization, I realized that children’s education is paramount in the development of future generations. The youth are not the future; they are the present. My core values evolved from my passive love for the Philippines to actively seeking to improve the wellbeing of Filipinos.
Making good on his word, Miles now serves as the Head Coordinator of the Tiyaga Ay Pag-asa Scholarship Fund based in Ramos, Tarlac, Philippines. As part of his role, he will spend the next nine (9) months on the ground in Ramos, furthering their mission to develop a generation of young adults that strives for greatness, works together for the betterment of the country, and is determined to overcome any obstacle. The Scholarship Fund supports up to 12 local university students so they can pursue opportunities for a brighter future. (Isabel Armedilla, another 2019 Nyah Fellow and current junior at the University of Florida, also serves as an Admissions Board Member for the Fund.)
This summer, Miles also worked to promote awareness of Philippine history in South Florida. He assisted the curator of the “Golden Years: Weighing Philippine Martial Law 1972-1981” photo-documentary exhibition, which launched its national tour at Florida International University’s Glenn Hubert Library, as well as the Florida film premiere of “11,103”, a documentary about survivors of Philippine martial law. Both of these initiatives brought together the community for dialogue and understanding around Philippine martial law.
Miles is currently pursuing a joint degree in Global International Relations at American University in Washington, D.C., and Ritsumeikan University's Sakura Scholars Program in Kyoto, Japan. He is the founder of MilesAway Politics, a multimedia political platform for all voices to be heard, and also taps into his creative side by making music.
About FAHM
FAHM has been recognized by the U.S. Congress since 2009. It is a monthlong commemoration and appreciation for the Filipino/a/x experience throughout American history — stretching as far back as October 18, 1547, when the first recorded Filipinos (“Luzones Indios” onboard a Spanish galleon) came ashore in what is now the continental United States, specifically Morro Bay, California. Filipino-Americans are now the third largest Asian-American ethnic group in the United States.
