Giselle G. Tongi
Life’s Journey
I
By MELODY GARCIA Photos by WILLIE CHENG had the honor to spend some time
learning something about Ms. Giselle Tongi’s life journey. Also known as “G. Töngi”, she currently hosts and produces the Los Angeles based Filipino Talk show called “Kababayan Today”, which is aired in KSCI/LA 18. Ms. Töngi’s professional career started at the age of 16 after being discovered at a mall, which launched into her multi-faceted dimension of artistry, that includes acting, singing, and dancing or what they call “ a triple threat”. One of the most admirable traits that this dynamic woman possesses is her passion for continuous growth, the pursuit of learning, and a high level of self-accountability. During this interview, she openly shared some of her beliefs and self-actualization that has enabled her to reach the level of success she has attained thus far.
Q: What is your “why? “ GT: Why I create? Why I’m passionate about what I do? When I was growing up in New Jersey as a young Filipino kid, I never saw people I could identify with in the media. I saw a need for representation in the FIL-AM community. It was hard to identify and look for commonality or have someone to relate to. Decades later, she is now in a position to make a difference to younger Filipino American generation to help them understand how important it is to connect with their heritage on a bigger spectrum. She is currently living her dream because as a child, there was not a lot of content available to people like her who grew up in America but struggled with their identities. “What are you?” was the question she was often asked. Q: How do you personally define success and do you believe yourself to be successful at this stage of your life? GT: Success is relative and I have to remind myself that in social media, it is so easy to look at a person’s life online and compare oneself to what one sees. I am an ardent believer in creating my own path and that my success is different from that of other women or individuals. Let me give you my disclaimer from the beginning, my life should not be compared to anyone else’s. I don’t use the word “successful” rather, I focus on what I can accomplish today. I set goals on a daily basis that is part of my larger goal. I use a mind
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