OUR HISTORY
What started as a simple dinner conversation in LA’s Koreatown quickly transformed into a powerful movement for Filipino representation. In 2018, founders Leo Albea and Kristine de los Santos envisioned a space where Filipino culture, creativity, and community could thrive—both online and offline. From viral videos highlighting Filipino talent to groundbreaking discussions on identity, One Down has continuously evolved, sparking conversations that matter.
Today, One Down stands as a leading digital media platform, amplifying Filipino voices in entertainment, culture, and beyond. With millions of organic views, impactful collaborations, and a growing community, our mission remains the same: to redefine what it means to be Filipino in today’s world.
August 2018
The Spark of an Idea
It all began with a dinner at a KBBQ spot in LA’s vibrant Koreatown. Leo Albea and Kristine de los Santos sat down to enjoy a meal, but their conversation was anything but ordinary. They envisioned a community for Filipinos that thrives both digitally and physically—a space where Filipino culture, creativity, and connections could flourish. In that moment, the seed for One Down was planted.
September 2018
Building the Foundation
Inspired by their initial discussion, Leo brought together Grazian Moreno, a teammate from his newly-joined dance team, and Victoria Cambe, his childhood friend. Alongside Kristine, the four of them gathered weekly in Leo’s Koreatown apartment. These brainstorming sessions were filled with energy and creativity, shaping the early vision of One Down. It was during these meetings that they decided on the name One Down, the English translation of “Isang Bagsak,” symbolizing unity and resilience.
October 2018
First Steps into Content Creation
A pivotal moment occurred when Leo saw a tweet from filmmaker Ava DuVernay, highlighting a Filipino cinematographer who had shot the #1 and #2 films at the box office that weekend. Ava wondered if anyone in the Filipino community had achieved such success, and Leo realized the untapped potential. Motivated, he created the One Down Facebook page and quickly edited a video featuring Matthew Libatique. The video resonated deeply, organically reaching over 30,000 views, signaling that there was indeed an eager audience for their content.
November 2018
Our First Original Video
Continuing their momentum, One Down released an interview with Echo Park-based rapper, Klassy. With a dedicated crew of three, this marked One Down’s first original video. Prior to this, their content consisted mainly of edited YouTube clips. This endeavor not only showcased their commitment to original content but also attracted the attention of Roland, leading him to reach out to One Down.
May 2019
Breaking Barriers with Cultural Dance
Leo revisited a video he had filmed during his senior year, blending cultural dance with Hip Hop. This re-edited video became a sensation on Facebook and Instagram, surpassing 1 million views. It highlighted the Filipino-American (Fil-Am) community’s ability to innovate and transform traditional dance forms, sparking both praise and critique.
February 2020
Formalizing Our Presence
With the foundation firmly in place, One Down officially registered as an LLC. This milestone marked our transition from a passionate project to a formal business entity, setting the stage for future growth and professional endeavors.
March 2020
Expanding Our Reach with Merchandise
One Down launched its first merchandise line and campaign titled “Re-Defining Filipino”. Collaborating with rising Fil-Am artists and creators, the launch video garnered 500k views organically on Facebook. The iconic ‘Filipinotown’ One Down shirt was introduced, paying homage to the physical space for Filipinos while continuing to build our digital community.
During the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, One Down collaborated with HiFi to produce a video addressing anti-Blackness within the Filipino community, reaching 1 million views and making a significant impact.
Our partnership with Jeremiah for Tremendous resulted in our highest-watched video online, supporting Fil-Am movies and amplifying our presence in the entertainment industry.
October 2020
Launching “Breaking The Tabo”
One Down debuted its first digital series, Breaking The Tabo: Season 1, which amassed an astounding 20 million views organically. Sponsored by Kumu, this series underscored our commitment to creating meaningful content for the Filipino community.ty.
This series remains our most viral content, emphasizing Filipino representation in entertainment.
May 2022
Launching “Breaking The Tabo”
One Down welcomed Berna Anat into the studio, leading to the spontaneous creation of Tabo Takes. This new series featured Berna reading controversial takes from a Tabo, rapidly gaining popularity with 4 million organic views. Tabo Takes soon featured celebrities like Liza Soberano, Nadine Lustre, Kathryn Bernardo, and many more.
January 2023
Expanding Our Horizons
One Down launched new verticals—SoBakla, 7K+, and Ulam Co—to better represent the diverse groups within the Filipino community. These initiatives broadened our reach and allowed us to cater to various interests and demographics.
This powerful video demonstrated the influence of Filipino media and underscored the importance of platforms like One Down in advocating for Filipino representation.
February 2024
Collaborating with Kumu and ABS-CBN
One Down partnered with Kumu to launch the Diamond Hunt, which was distributed on ABS-CBN. As the production company behind post-production and marketing, we successfully promoted **Liza Sober
ano**’s online campaign, Lisa Frankenstein, achieving the highest viewership in her campaign against Next Shark.
This collaboration highlights our expertise in digital marketing and our ability to drive significant engagement for high-profile campaigns.
April 2024
Hosting “Medienda” and Launching Two Up
One Down hosted “Medienda,” a mixer bringing together three groups of Filipinos in Hollywood: Filpinx Actors Barkada, Filipinox in Entertainment, and Filipino TV/Film/Media Editors. With over 100 attendees, One Down announced Two Up, a 501(c)(3) initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of Filipino youth to pursue creative careers.
This event underscored our dedication to community building and supporting emerging talent within the Filipino community.
July 2024
Focusing on Mental Health with “Trauma Bond”
In July, One Down launched a new series focused on Mental Health, titled “Trauma Bond”. The series explores the generational trauma experienced by an immigrant mom and her American daughter. Collaborating with mental health organizations, content creators, and therapists, One Down is driving essential conversations about mental health challenges within the Filipino community.
This series marks our commitment to addressing critical issues and providing a platform for meaningful dialogue.
Looking Ahead to the Future
Our past has shaped who we are, but the best is yet to come. Whether you're a creator, a storyteller, or simply passionate about Filipino culture, there's a place for you here. Let's continue building, creating, and redefining what it means to be Filipino, together.