Kapwa, a Tagalog Filipino word which means the other is also yourself – a shared identity, a sense that we are not separate but deeply connected. It’s the understanding that our existence is intertwined, and with that, a responsibility to each other. Living away from my culture, I felt the ache of that lost connection deeply. When I rediscovered kapwa, in Filipino spaces in Melbourne, in sharing my culture within my friendships, in sharing meals, music, and laughter did I realise how kapwa is needed for purpose. Music and singing has always reminded me of kapwa – individual notes forming something greater when played together. It unites us in emotion, in presence, in purpose. Kapwa is not just an idea; it’s a way of being, one that heals, uplifts, and roots us in community and compassion – a truth often overlooked in Western culture. I only wish more people knew the quiet power of living with others as extensions of themselves.