Before she was known to thousands of TikTok followers as Mighty Magulang, Mona Magno-Veluz was simply a writer, a history geek, and a mother learning how to navigate life’s curveballs with courage and curiosity. Her beginnings may not have been rooted in academic history, but her voice has become one of the most respected in the digital space for Filipino public history and civic education.
“I’ve always been a writer,” Mona shares. “I kept journals, and when blogging first became a thing, I wrote there too.” But the name Mighty Magulang—now a recognizable moniker among her growing online community—didn’t start as a history brand. It came from a deeply personal place: “I started using the name ‘Mighty Magulang’ around the time my eldest son was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. My husband and I decided early on that we wouldn’t be victims of our situation. We wanted to stay empowered and informed so we could give our son the best life possible.”
That sense of empowerment would eventually evolve into advocacy, and eventually, into public education. What started as a parenting handle became something more profound. “Years later, during the pandemic, I decided to create content on TikTok about history and civic education. When it came time to name the account, I stuck with Mighty Magulang. It wasn’t about parenting anymore, but the name still felt right.”
For Mona, Mighty Magulang captures more than just a role—it reflects a mindset. “Mighty reminds me to stay bold and brave, especially when speaking about things that matter, like inclusion and digital literacy. Magulang isn’t just about being a parent. It’s about being a grown-up, embracing experience, responsibility, and the humor that comes with being unapologetically Gen X.”
@mightymagulang Rizal was TOTGA for many women. #kasaysayan #genealogy ♬ original sound – Mighty Magulang
Her love for history and genealogy also traces back over two decades. “It started in 2000 when I made a family tree as a Christmas gift for my husband’s relatives. After that, friends started asking me to help with their trees. It became a fun side hustle while I was still working full-time in corporate.”
What began as a gift slowly grew into a calling. “But the more I did it, the more I got hooked. I loved how names, documents, and family stories could bring the past to life. I spent hours with church records, old archives, and oral histories. That journey deepened my love for our country’s history, and my genealogy practice grew from there.”
Today, Mona works not only with families but also with NGOs, government offices, and even probate lawyers, helping people discover and understand their roots. “Eventually, I began giving talks about public history and genealogy, as I hope my story encourages more people to become ‘ninuno-hunters’ too.”
It was during the isolation of the pandemic that Mona’s voice found its next powerful medium. “Like most people, I joined TikTok out of boredom during lockdown. But I quickly saw something worrying: there was a lot of misinformation and oversimplified takes on serious topics — especially history.” This digital void ignited something in her: “I felt there was space for content that was evidence-based but still engaging. So I drew from my background in communications, years of research, and a sense of civic responsibility.”
Her very first post? “My first post was about the Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos, the Spanish decree that assigned surnames to Filipinos in 1849. I posted it in July 2021. I honestly didn’t think anyone would watch it. TikTok was full of dancers and lip-syncers, and I was just a tita talking for over a minute about obscure history.”
But when she tackled the economics of martial law in a September 2021 video, something shifted. “That one went viral. News outlets picked it up. The account suddenly took off. I got a lot of thoughtful questions in the comments and, of course, a bit of online toxicity too. But it showed me there was a real hunger for historical content that’s clear, smart, and relatable.”
Underneath the facts and stories she shares online is the heart of a mother—and that role deeply informs her approach. “Raising a child on the autism spectrum has shaped me in many ways. It taught me empathy, sharpened my advocacy instincts, and gave me very little patience for nonsense.”
She continues, “I’m always aware that young people and vulnerable audiences might be watching. That’s why I’m careful to keep my content respectful, inclusive, and rooted in real facts. I don’t share too many personal stories, but my parenting experience informs how I speak—especially about disability, resilience, and the human side of policy or history. I try to lead with compassion, truth, and a perspective that invites conversation.”
From building a family tree to building a digital community grounded in truth and learning, Mona Magno-Veluz’s story is proof that lived experience can spark meaningful movements. Through Mighty Magulang, she continues to make history relevant—one story, one post, and one voice at a time.
