Carrying Home With You: Sherryla Diola on Migration, Food, and Selfhood

In this episode of To Hum is Human, I sit down with Sherryla Diola, the founder and chef behind Ginger Love Cafe, to explore a journey that spans continents, cultures, and creative reinventions. Born and raised in Davao City in the Philippines, Sherryla spent a decade performing traditional Philippine dance around the world before eventually making her way to Western Massachusetts, where she found an unexpected sense of belonging.Together, we talk about growing up in a close-knit Filipino family, the discipline and artistry of dance, adapting to new cultures, and the challenges and gifts of migration. Sherryla shares how a return trip to the Philippines after ten years away awakened a deeper appreciation for her roots and inspired her to introduce Filipino cuisine to a community that had little exposure to it.What began as festival pop-ups and a food truck has grown into Ginger Love Cafe, a beloved local business that serves more than food. It offers connection, cultural storytelling, and a reminder that hospitality can be a powerful act of love.This conversation is about identity, entrepreneurship, creativity, and the courage to trust what you carry within you. It is also a celebration of the ways food, art, and community can help us find our way home.Follow me on Instagram: @tohumishuman @sonorous.light55 @thisisdbcYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SonorousLightWebsite: www.sonorouslight.com