In 2015 I went back home to the Philippines for the first time in 8 years. I remember feeling overwhelmed that I haven't seen my family in so long. When I arrived, I remembered the little things from my childhood and began to put the pieces back together from my memories. I realized that as time went by some things changed and some things remained the same. The biggest thing I took out of that trip was reconnecting. Reconnecting with loved ones, the culture/lifestyle that was introduced to me since birth, and my roots. I began to see the world in a different aspect.
When I returned back to California I wanted to hold on to that emotional feeling I felt and spread that message to other individuals. So I created Humbly Rooted. I wanted to create something that would remind me and others of where they came from. I always thought it was truly important for someone to not only remember/know where they came from, but to also embrace their beginnings in order for growth to occur in their life. It's something that has kept me grounded and given me a higher appreciation in life for things I have and the people I surround myself with. I always wanted Humbly Rooted to be a symbol of hope. To not only create opportunities for yourself, but also for others.
This year I was lucky enough to go back home to the Philippines. I decided to pack up a box full of Humbly Rooted apparel and hand them out to my family and to the community back home. I always knew I wanted to give back to the place that has given me everything and has heavily influenced me. I wanted to spread what Humbly Rooted stood for with the small community of Capas, Tarlac. Throughout my trip I witnessed many influences to what has lead me to the creation of Humbly Rooted. One in particular was celebrating my sister and cousins birthday. My family ended up buying out street food carts from different local small businesses for the day and opened the party up to the entire community. Hundreds of local people came over that day. People that we didn't even know, but welcomed them with open arms. We treated them with home cooked meals, street foods, candy/chocolates (which they are CRAZY for) and even played games with the kids. The emphasis of this story is simple. Give back. Give back to your community, to those less fortunate than you, to anyone.
Humbly Rooted stands for many things. Growth, giving back, never forgetting where you came from, selflessness, etc. All these things lead to our main message. We inspire for every individual to journey freely, live life with great purpose, and to never forget your beginnings. Thank you for everyone's love and support towards us. We hope that this post gave you a better understanding of what we as a brand stand for. It's been a long time coming, but we're just getting started!
- Jerome Yabut
Founder of Humbly Rooted
