‘Tara, Let’s Talk’

Hilda Arenas
Oct 4
6 min read

Ireland’s Filipino power couple, Don and Lora Kiram

What if we told you that Ireland’s most influential Filipino couple juggles three energetic boys, demanding healthcare careers, and a podcast that’s become the heartbeat of an entire diaspora, all while making it look effortless?

Meet Don and Lora Kiram. From the sun-drenched islands of the Philippines to the emerald landscapes of Ireland, they’ve built a joyful new life with their boys, and are redefining what success truly means. Behind their acclaimed podcast ‘Tara, Let’s Talk’ lies a love story that transcends borders, bridges faiths, and proves that authentic connection can transform communities.

But here’s the plot twist: Their partnership isn’t just inspiring, it’s revolutionary. Lora’s journey from Christian faith to Islam, combined with Don's deep-rooted Islamic traditions, has created something extraordinary: a marriage that doesn’t just celebrate diversity, it weaponises it for good.

When two worlds collide (and create magic)

Picture this: a Tagalog-speaking woman from Luzon meets a Tausug man from Sulu. Different languages, different traditions, different faith journeys. Most people would see obstacles. The Kirams? They saw an opportunity.

When asked how the couple’s different cultural and religious backgrounds have shaped their partnership, Don leans back with his knowing smile that says he’s about to drop some wisdom. “The Philippines may be known as the only Catholic country in Asia, but it’s more secular in governance. With mainstream media reaching from Apparri to Sulu, we all somehow adapt and learn from each other visually. In practice, things might differ, but all of us, no matter what part of the Philippines we’re from or what belief system, we all have this innate moral compass, also called fitra in Arabic. That’s what guides us, and that’s what works for us.”

Lora’s eyes sparkle as she adds, “And professionally, since both of us are from healthcare backgrounds, we know how to work on our dynamics. Our life right now revolves around our three boys’ schedules!”

They’ve turned their differences into their superpower.

The birth of something beautiful

Here’s where it gets interesting. What started as an innocent travel vlog became Ireland’s most authentic Filipino voice. But this wasn’t just a career pivot; this was destiny calling. Lora’s passion is infectious as she explains what inspired them to start “Tara, Let’s Talk.”

“We started with our travel vlog channel, and oftentimes we’d talk to people instead of just showing the places we’d been to. We love talking to people and are keen to know more about the people themselves. In reality, that’s when we all learn about the facts of life by directly knowing it from the sources’ experiences.”

Don’s voice grows serious. “The podcast ‘Tara, Let’s Talk’ kicked in when there was a sudden influx of Filipino OFWs coming to Ireland in the last couple of years. We’d like to share their stories with those aspiring to come to Ireland, and at the same time, make sure it resonates with the reality of working in Ireland and abroad in general. We want our kabayans outside Ireland to experience what they should expect.”

The result is a platform where truth trumps perfection, and real stories matter more than polished narratives.

A journey of cultural awakening

Plot twist alert. A vacation to southern Spain became a cultural awakening that would reshape their entire approach to community building. This isn’t just travel, this is transformation.

Don’s voice carries the weight of discovery as he explains how their travels to Spain changed how they approach cultural understanding. “Indeed, we both have cultural differences when brought up. Lora from Luzon (Tagalog) and Don from Sulu (Tausug). But truly, it was eye-opening when we travelled to Southern Spain as the history unfolded in front of our eyes. We discovered how Spain and the pre-colonial Philippines have a resounding history.”

Lora practically glows as she continues, “Spain, being known as the Iberian Peninsula, was ruled by Muslims (Moors) from 711-1492 before the Reconquista, and pre-colonial Philippines had mostly Muslim inhabitants (Moros) from 1380 until the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Muslims, Christians, and Jews were working together and flourished during the Islamic Golden Age in Spain.”

Don drives the point home. “Filipinos should be aware of their history before 1521. They should be coherent enough to embrace this part of history, just like the Spanish in Southern Spain these days, where they proudly say their ancestors were Muslim Moros and share that history as part of their tours.”

Recognition, runway wins, and real talk

Then came the moment that proved their impact wasn’t just online, it was transforming real lives, real communities, real futures. The couple covered Philippines' National Heroes Day live and were recognised for their work.

When asked about the experience, Lora’s response is pure joy. “It’s always fun to talk to our kabayans, and of course, we were delighted seeing the attendees enjoying themselves, appreciating and learning Filipino heroes’ history as narrated by our Ambassador Daniel R. Espiritu.”

Don beams with pride. “On top of that, having been recognised for the ‘TARA, LET’S TALKS’ podcast, doing what we love and what seems like we’re just having fun talking with people, that’s wonderful!”

But wait, there’s more. Lora didn’t just conquer podcasting; she conquered fashion, too, including winning a prize at the Ladies Day Races.

“I have always loved fashion,” she shares, passion radiating from every word. “As a child, I would draw dolls and design dresses. I worked as a fashion consultant, which I enjoyed when I was in the Philippines, and learned a lot about fashion before getting a job in nursing.”

Her voice fills with emotion as she continues, “Winning the Tramore Ladies Day was a proud moment for me as a Filipino and a fashion enthusiast. Being a Filipina wearing a Filipiniana dress and a Filipino-designed headpiece represents how proud I am to be Filipino. I felt a deep sense of pride in my heritage. It wasn’t just the victory itself; it was the moment to inspire others in the Filipino community and beyond.”

The secret sauce: How they actually do it all

How do the Kirams balance demanding healthcare careers with family life and community engagement? Lora’s answer might surprise you.

“We are lucky that Ireland is such a family-oriented nation. In any given situation, family comes first; whether you’re Filipino or Irish, we all know what comes first. As healthcare professionals, our working hours are flexible. We resolve our work schedule with our boys’ needs and our spare time being involved in community occasions, and our podcasts.”

The secret isn’t time management, it’s priority alignment.

Breaking barriers, building bridges

Here’s where it gets powerful. As one of Ireland’s most visible Filipino Muslim families, they’re not just representing, they’re educating, inspiring, and transforming perceptions.

When asked what might surprise people about his family’s cultural traditions, Don’s response is both gentle and firm. “When you say ‘home’, like Sulu, women are well-respected and are not subjected to oppression when they cover the AURATS (i.e. wearing hijab, not exposing too much skin). They are so precious that they shouldn’t be exposing themselves (body) publicly.”

His conviction deepens. “As a minority Filipino Muslim family in Ireland, we’d like to bring positivity to our Filipino community regarding the stereotyping that has misconstrued the understanding of what Muslims really are in the Philippines. We’d like to educate our kabayans that we all have the same day-to-day goals in life as human beings.”

Lora’s wisdom shines through as she defines their vision for bridging communities in Ireland. ‘In theory, this might be simple. We begin by embracing our own family, our own people, our own cultures and traditions. By doing that, we will then respect others and will appreciate how they do it, either like us or the other way around.”

Don adds the spiritual dimension. “Respect is probably the key, and even in the Islamic religion, the Quran says ‘La ikraaha fid deeni’ — meaning ‘There is no compulsion in religion.’ This connotes that there’s no forcing someone into believing or acting like yours.”

Lora concludes with their rallying cry. “Ireland is becoming so diverse now. Let us lead the way to make this a positive one by being in good relations with other nationalities. As people living in Ireland, we should integrate to propel a prosperous and vibrant community.”

The legacy they’re building (and why it matters)

When speaking about the podcast, Lora’s pride is unmistakable. “We’re gladly saying that we did podcasting when there were no Filipino podcasts yet in Ireland. Life is nothing but challenges and constant changes; we accept and embody that. We just hope that the next generation of Filipinos in Ireland will not only reflect from us older generations but continue to raise the bar of excellence.”

Don delivered their ultimate vision. “We, the earlier Filipinos who arrived here, envisioned how we can all make a good impression, if not great marks, for other Filipinos to come and be given the opportunity to have better lives in Ireland. We expect, or at least hope, this remains the case.”