OUR STORY

The Making of a Creative Social Enterprise

From a curatorial project to a platform for creative livelihoods, community impact, and cultural leadership.

ETYMOLOGY

Kathâ

noun

  1. A story or narrative; a form of creation expressed through storytelling.
  2. Rooted in Filipino and Sanskrit traditions, kathâ reflects the act of shaping meaning through language, memory, and lived experience.

In creativity and culture, kathâ speaks to creation that begins as story and carried by people, place, and imagination.

OUR STORY

How Katha Pilipinas Evolved

Katha Pilipinas began in 2016 as a curatorial project rooted in care for artists, for craft, and for the stories behind the work. We started by bringing creatives together through thoughtfully curated pieces and collaborations that honoured Filipino creativity and craftsmanship, while building relationships grounded in trust and shared values.

From 2016 to 2019, our work focused on curation, storytelling, and creating spaces—both physical and conceptual, where artists and artisans could be seen, supported, and celebrated. These early years shaped our community and taught us how much artists need more than exposure; they need structure, support, and sustainability.

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In 2020, everything shifted. As the pandemic displaced artists and informal creative workers, we knew we couldn’t continue as we were. We pivoted Katha Pilipinas into an e-commerce platform to help raise funds for displaced and homeless within Metro Manila while creating market access for our independent creative community.

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What followed was a deeper commitment to action. As the world slowly reopened, our work expanded beyond products. We began producing in-person events and festivals, developing upskilling and leadership programmes, and forming long-term partnerships with institutions, foundations, and industry partners who shared our belief in fair creative futures.

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Today, Katha Pilipinas operates as an arts management platform working across programmes, partnerships, community initiatives, and fair market access. Everything we do is grounded in lived experience, built alongside artists, and guided by the belief that creative work deserves systems that allow it to thrive.

We continue to grow, learn, and evolve while listening closely to our community, responding to real needs, and building pathways where creativity can become a sustainable livelihood.

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OUR MISSION

Building Creative Livelihoods Through Community, Collaboration, and Impact

Katha Pilipinas exists to strengthen creative livelihoods by building systems that allow artists, artisans, and creative entrepreneurs to thrive economically, socially, and collectively.

Rooted in lived experience and continuous learning, our work has evolved alongside the communities we serve. By listening closely, adapting intentionally, and responding to real needs, we now step into a new chapter focused on creating deeper impact for our communities and contributing meaningfully to nation-building.

Our mission today is to deepen community-led work, expand partnerships across industries beyond the creative sector, and strengthen the role of creativity within education, enterprise, and policy. We believe creativity is not supplementary, but essential to building inclusive economies and resilient societies.

Together with our partners and creative community, we strive to make meaningful connections, bridge gaps, and develop sustainable projects that offer support, resources, and opportunities. Through this collective effort, we work toward a brighter, more equitable future for our CREATIVE TRIBE.

GET TO KNOW US

Meet the Team

We’re a multi-passionate collective turning bold ideas into programs that genuinely serve and strengthen our creative community. By blending our diverse perspectives, we strive to bring unique depth and genuine care to every project we take on.

Daianne Moreno-Mempin

Daianne Moreno-Mempin

Founder & Managing Director

Practice shaped by the performing arts, political economy, community work, and education.

Mariel Olayan

Mariel Olayan

Project Management and Marketing Lead

Business development, Key accounts and relationship management lead. Full time corporate, part time organizer.

Mima De Castro

Mima De Castro

Retail Events Lead

Crochet Artist and Workshop Facilitator for MGotHooked. Former Early Childhood Educator

Kai Soriano-Sta. Cruz

Kai Soriano-Sta. Cruz

Programmes Lead

Certified Life & Career Coach, Motivational Speaker & Professor of Business Communication at UA+P. Formerly Regional Director based in Singapore for Thomson Reuters.

Dette Ramos

Dette Ramos

Policy and Partnerships Lead

Visual artist, Digital Finance Practitioner, Digital Inclusion Advocate.

Aaron Mempin

Aaron Mempin

Finance and Logistics Lead

Resident Artist & Creative Lead. Specializing in traditional mediums with a focus on fostering creativity in early developmental stages.

Bupie Buiser

Bupie Buiser

Partnerships Lead- Europe

Market intelligence and performance marketing specialist in UK and international higher education

Matthew Chan

Matthew Chan

Digital Lead

Page Search and AI Operations Director at Alley.

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