FILMANTRA began in 2003 with a simple idea: a group of Filipino friends in Manteca and Tracy, California, wanted to share life, enjoy each other's company, and stay connected as their families grew together.

We are ordinary Filipino Americans with busy lives, jobs, responsibilities, and families of our own. We are not a formal organization or a business. We are simply friends who have built something special—a lasting bond through holidays, family gatherings, celebrations, and whenever our schedules allow us to come together.

Our friendship started with nine families. Over the years, life has brought changes, but the friendship has remained. Today, seven families continue to share the FILMANTRA bond.

Our gatherings are not about having a perfect occasion or an elaborate plan. They are about enjoying the company of people we know and care about. A holiday meal, a birthday, a special celebration, or an ordinary weekend can become a treasured memory when shared with friends who feel like family.

As Filipino Americans living in the Manteca and Tracy area, we appreciate the traditions that connect us to our Filipino heritage and the experiences that shape our lives here in America.