Our Mission
Many Filipino Americans today feel disconnected from their cultural roots, shaped by the sacrifices their families made through the diaspora. Istorya’s founder Walbert Castillo traveled to the Philippines to reconnect with his heritage.
Three years ago, Walbert was in a cemetery in Ozamiz City, Mindanao searching for his great-grandfather’s grave. Just as he was ready to leave, something told him to dig. He uncovered his hidden tombstone and realized his heritage wasn’t lost—it was waiting for him.
For too long, these stories have been hidden. This journey inspired him to create Istorya, a platform that celebrates our unheard stories through food.
Istorya is a Las Vegas-based pop-up restaurant serving dishes inspired by Philippine history. Through menus influenced by the diverse cultures that shaped Filipino cuisine and culture, we invite guests to rediscover our heritage.
Named Best Pop-Up Restaurant in Las Vegas by Las Vegas Weekly, Istorya brings people together over food and stories. What started as a passion project has grown into a space for everyone to connect and reconnect with Filipino food. Our team of food-loving storytellers is dedicated to honoring the culture and history of the Philippines. Join us to share in our stories and enjoy the flavors of our heritage. Maraming salamat!
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Walbert Castillo
FOUNDER/CO-OWNER
@walbertjcastillo
Walbert Castillo brings his media background in journalism and documentary storytelling to his role as the founder of Istorya. Currently serving as an Associate Creative Director at Amazon, Walbert combines his passion for storytelling with his deep love for Filipino food and culture to create meaningful culinary experiences.
Before launching Istorya, he spent five years as a Multimedia Journalist at USA TODAY in Washington, D.C., and worked as a server and host at Purple Patch, a Filipino restaurant in the heart of the nation’s capital. Originally from Chicago, Walbert holds a journalism degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Monica Blanco
CO-OWNER/OPERATIONS
@monnylog
Monica Blanco, Istorya’s Operations Lead, is an engineer turned storyteller who believes imperfection fuels innovation. With a knack for turning chaos into meaningful connections, she’s built a community of over 500,000 across platforms. Monica co-creates spaces like Istorya and FilExcellence to make cultural preservation feel like coming home, blending ancestral knowledge with modern insights.
Passionate about transformation, she helps others bridge the gap between who they are and who they’re becoming—while embracing every step of the journey.
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Dio Buan
EXECUTIVE CHEF
@dangerously_delicious702
Currently a Master Cook at Joël Robuchon Las Vegas, Chef Dio has trained under culinary leaders such as Bobby Flay and Thomas Keller, as well as under chefs who were directly mentored by the legendary Joël Robuchon, grounding his expertise in both modern American and classic French fine dining traditions.
While his early career focused on classical technique, his current work returns to the flavors of his upbringing in Manila. Through Istorya, he reimagines Filipino dishes with the precision of fine dining and the care of home cooking. His approach honors the traditions he grew up with while pushing them forward, one plate at a time.
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Griselle Tufford
GENERAL MANAGER
@griskeywhipped
Griselle brings her passion for hospitality and culinary excellence to Istorya as our General Manager. She joined the team during our first pop-up dinner in February 2023 and has played a vital role in shaping our events ever since. In addition to her work with Istorya, Griselle is a server at Momofuku Las Vegas, where she continues to hone her skills in the food and beverage industry.
Her dedication to exploring Filipino heritage led her to join Istorya’s research trip to Mindanao, where she immersed herself in the region’s rich culinary traditions.
Meet the rest of Team Istorya!
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Ava Carino
research assistant + event coordinator
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Andrew Dizon
head of research
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Flerine Cruz
public relations
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Cy Yamat
mixologist
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Jaryd Lucero
video
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Ramon Posis
assistant manager
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Justin Barnes
chef
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Cat Carlucci
culinary advisor
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Sunshine Dominguez
adivsor
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Charmaine Balisalisa
advisor
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Ronalli Enriquez
advisor
