Filipino American Student Association at UMich

For the record, I did not embezzle any money

I really did not expect that I would be here, writing this again. The prospect of running for FASA Board again was not something on my radar for a long time and honestly, I was set on not running until very close to elections. And yet I did because I had so much more to give to FASA. Something that I’ve noticed is that it feels very different the second time. Both being on board as well as leaving board is completely different from the first time I did it. Before I get to why I feel this is different, I’d like to take a moment, and reflect on some of the most important times I had not only this year, but throughout my career in FASA Board. 

1. “Guys, I’ll play Mr. Brightside”

My story begins when I became an intern during freshman year. I originally did it because I thought it would be a fun and cool experience. I didn’t necessarily have a strong desire to be on FASA Board. But through the intern program, and planning An Evening With FASA with my fellow interns, I knew that I wanted to be on FASA Board. There was this incredible personal satisfaction that I got from putting effort into creating an event that people really enjoyed. It was from this experience that I got to create a lot the long lasting friendships that I have. Being an intern was the best thing that could have happened to me at the time. It allowed me to find this passion that I didn’t know I had. 

2. Friendly Neighborhood Social Chairs

Andreli being so social chair

Shortly after finishing the Intern Capstone event, I ran and was elected as one of the next Social Chairs. This was big undertaking on my part. As someone who is inherently introverted, I knew that I was stepping outside of my comfort zone. However, I knew that I wanted to be the voice for people who were similar to me. I had such an incredible experience in FASA, and I wanted everyone, even the ones who were also introverted to have the opportunity to have a great experience. My time as Social Chair was some of the best times I’ve had in FASA. I was able to recreate that feeling of being proud of creating something that people could enjoy. Throughout my tenure, I found myself being profoundly happy with myself. When my tenure came to an end, there was a lot of sadness. I didn’t want this feeling to end. I felt that I had so much more to give. There was a lot of back and forth on whether I wanted to run again. Well, obviously, in the end I decided to run again.  

3. Money Money Money

The Dirty treasurer pipeline is crazy

After being elected as Treasurer, it felt like a spark got reignited in me. The passion to create things that make people happy was reawakened in a new form. I understood that my time in the spotlight was over, and so I wanted to take on a more mentor role. I wanted to be resource for other people. I could see that there was so much talent and ambition from the newly elected board. I couldn’t wait to help make their dreams, aspirations, and goals come true. 

Throughout my tenure, I was blown away by the growth of the new board. I was so happy to be a part of all of their crazy goals. While it was very stressful to make sure that I could support everyone’s ideas, a new sense of personal satisfaction came from helping in different ways. One of the things that I am proud of was creating (but not coming up with the really creative name, shoutout MIzzy) a solution to ensuring that PCN could be paid for, since it was the first fall PCN in years. The Jolli-bundle proved to be both a popular and effective method for making sure that both a Fall PCN and competing in Battle of the Bamboo. Furthermore, while some of my ideas weren’t able to be realized, I had a lot of fun putting together fundraisers with both my Finance Committees. While it may have been dangerous, the Hot Ones Fundraiser was incredibly successful and fun to put on. 

As I reflect on my tenure as Treasurer, I found that, while different, taking a backstage role and helping support the incredible talented board’s dreams was incredible satisfying. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the next group of ambitious, passionate, and talented individuals who will lead FASA in the next year.

4. My fellow board members

So proud of all these cool people

To the FASA Executive Board of 2023-2024: There are so many things that I want to say to you all. First and foremost, I want to say that I am unbelievably proud of all that we accomplished this year. In all my years being on FASA Board, there has been no group that has been as ambitious as you all. And although this often led to burnout and working overtime, I hope you can look back at all that we have done, I find yourself smiling proudly, the same way that I smile when I think about you all. From the big things such as pulling off an unforgettable Fall PCN and winning Battle of the Bamboo, to the smaller, underappreciated things such as bringing back welcome week, and having more interactions with other organizations. You all did it. You made it. And you all killed it. 

You guys are the ones who shoulder the responsibility of creating an incredible experience, countless opportunities, and unforgettable memories for so many people. I hope you all remember why you ran in the first place. Regardless of the position you ran for, the underlying desire to serve and create a community for people to come together and share a stage, or to share conversations, laughs, tears, and everything in between. I hope that every single one of you can look back, and be proud that you all accomplished that goal. Be proud of yourself for everything that you have contributed to this community that we all love so much. Each and every one of you are incredible. 

For those of you who are retiring, take a good long, and deserved rest. I know I will be. For those of you on board for a second time, I hope you get the chance to feel the same feelings of satisfaction and personal fulfillment that I did. It will be different, that's a given, but no less fun and incredible.

To my Presidents Alyssa and Bryson: As the only people who had already been on FASA Board before this year, we shared an unspoken bond. I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought that it was awesome to watch another group of people grow into their roles. As we kept a watchful eye, I couldn’t help but feel like a parent watching their child grow up. From watching you guys being cultural and performance chairs and seeing you rise to be our presidents, I am so proud of you guys. I know it wasn’t easy for you so I hope that you can find a sense of pride in all that you accomplished.

Alyssa: You and I have sold our souls to FASA for 2.5 years. I am so happy I have gotten the chance to be not only your co-worker for this long, but also your friend. We've still got one more year ahead of us so I will be continuing to annoy you with corny jokes and whatnot. Hopefully you’ll continue to entertain me with the chismis, stories, and jokes that I have come so accustomed to.

Bryson: Man. It’s finally come my friend. It’s time. 😈 In all seriousness, it was really nice to have you with me with this new board. I knew I always had someone I was comfortable with to talk to at board meetings or events. It’s been really fun ;)

To my successors, Gabe and Mizzy: To be completely honest, it took me awhile to remember that I wasn’t social chair anymore. For the first couple weeks, I always thought my agenda section came after culturals lolz. From being the previous social chair, I did have high expectations for you guys. But the only reason I did is because I knew you guys could meet them. Not only did you meet them, you blew my expectations out of the water. Firstly, to be honest, I had reservations about bringing back Welcome Week. However, instead of voicing that, I wanted to see what you’d do with it. Genuinely, I thought that your Welcome Week was incredibly successful, and one of the best social events of the year. I am so glad that you proved me wrong. As I watched you two grow throughout the year, I saw myself in you guys. I was confident in your abilities to not only uphold what I had done the previous year, but to also improve upon it. You guys handled FAM Heads way better than I did and I think your approach to POTTER Tasks was incredibly fun and inventive. While I know I could have said it more, I hope you two know that I am so proud of the two of you and I couldn’t have asked for a better pair of successors. #meowsinsocialchairrizz

Gabe: I had a feeling for awhile that you were afraid of me or at least intimidated from me. I hope after spending this year with you that that’s not the case anymore. You’re growth this year has been, in my opinion, the biggest I’ve witnessed out of anyone. I’m so proud of how far you’ve come when it comes to running events and public speaking. As someone who also struggles with that, I have always empathized with you when it comes to that. However, your ideas to innovate different aspects of Social Chair have been very awesome to see. Sorry for not giving you the megaphone sooner lmao. And also, I think I would beat you in a fight.

Mizzy: Even though you are my successor, when I watched you this year, I couldn’t help but to look up you. You’re caring and outgoing demeanor makes you so easy to talk to. Watching all the new members feel comfortable talking to you is something that I aspire to have. I know that you were very hard on yourself throughout the year. I think that speaks volumes about how much you care about the things that you do. I hope that you are able to see that you did so much for so many people and that you can finally be proud of the things that you have done. You are inspirational.

5. My final thoughts

Going back to my original thought, the reason why I think that this retirement feels different from the first is because I am finally satisfied with myself. The first time I retired from Social Chair, I was sad. I didn’t want it to end because I knew that I had so much more to give. This time around, I feel accomplished. I am proud of all that I have accomplished throughout my 2.5 years serving FASA. While I’ll miss being in the know about what’s going on in the background of FASA, I am optimistic that the next group of people will carry on what I and so many others have accomplished through the years. More than anything, I can’t wait to be a general member again. I can’t wait to experience the mystery, wonder, and awe that is going to a FASA event and not knowing what will happen. FASA has been so instrumentally crucial to my college experience and I can’t wait to see what my final year has to offer. 

POV: my dear Tito Jason throwing _ _ _ (you get it) at PCN 2014 

Hi! My name is Sofia <3, if you’re thinking, “hey that’s not sofia”, well you would be correct! This is my Tito (uncle) Jason. He is the reason I wanted to go to UMICH, the reason I’m in FASA, one of my favorite people and my role model. If you know me, you know that I get quite stressed out easily and if there’s someone that’s gonna hear me complain about something, it’s him. So here’s a look into our conversations because I think it really showcases my journey through FASA!

POV: Sofia is going through it (she has taken a bio172 quiz 21 times with harley… in the picture on the right) and doesn’t really think things are going to get better

POV: Sofia and Ate Irene after Tagalog class 

The transition to college was rough to say the least. I was so excited to go to college but I didn’t expect to feel so alone. I didn’t know how to gauge what organizations to be involved in, what questions to ask, or what people to talk to. I just wanted to surround myself with good people. Coming into UMICH, I knew about FASA through my Tito Jason, but I was honestly too scared to go to anything on my own so I never did. But, one day in Ate Irene’s Tagalog class she said that if I went to a FASA event, that I would get extra credit. So, being the academic weapon I am still waiting to be, I jumped at the chance of helping my grade and with some pushing from my future Ate Kris who was also in class with me, I begged the Filipino girl that lived down the hall from me to go to FAM/Lin with me. 

POV: Sofia with $wag and the girl down the hall (to my left) at FAM/Lin

POV: freshie girl from down the hall and Sofia confused because they’re being told they should try tinikling

Tito Jason told me that everyone in FASA would be good people and that I would find my people there, but I was unsure if that would be the case. Fun fact, I really thought there was gonna be Filipino food and told Taryn that surely there would be food at the event  (even though no one told me there was going to be food) so I was extremely hungry when I got there. Shoutout to my Ate Emily for giving me half of her No Thai tho. Anyways, I got sorted into the best fam, $wag (which my Tito Jason was in bye) and into KIKILAN <3!! 

Fast forward to PCN, because I became inactive for a while oops (the BIO sequence hit me like a truck what can I say)…Anyways, I went to PCN impulsively because Mikey told me that getting PCN tickets was a bloodbath. I remember I set an alarm and tried really hard to get tickets, and I honestly didn’t know what PCN was but again I told Taryn that we HAD to go together (we came as a package) and that our families should sit together. At PCN I got my first lin pic with my beautiful favs. Ate Kris was sadly not there so I photoshopped her in. 

POV: me and my Kikilan girl bosses at PCN 

Real quick imma do a shoutout to Ate Kris. Having you in my lin, in tagalog class and as my $wag fam head was so fun. I never would have been so comfortable and open to going to things if it weren’t for you. Whenever I decided to show up to things it was never as daunting because I knew at least you’d be there. Also, thank you for always inviting Kendra, Jenny and I to 815. It really felt like home there during my first year away from home and I will always remember the many nights we stayed up doing random things.

POV: Kendra and I hugging Ate Kris after our Senior Farewell speech (fishtail braid and bow by THE elias atkinson)

Back to PCN. My Tito Jason watched PCN on Facebook live and texted me asking me if I went and you’ll see how that went. Okay, so hear me out PCN was the first time I heard the FASA chant. I remember Taryn and I did not want to get up because we were like uhhhhh but let’s not talk about that. 

POV: Sofia didn’t do the FASA chant cuz she’s lame

After that night I had the best time and I was in awe of so many of the performances. I laughed, I cried, I had fun, but I also felt a little out of place. From that night I knew I wanted to be more active and put in more effort into getting to know everyone. 

My first steps into becoming active were to go to more events and become an intern. One of those two didn’t quite work out womp womp lol, can you guess which one??? Yah. I didn’t get to be an intern lol. But it’s fine!! Why do you ask? Oh, because I got really close to two people that also didn’t become interns, my lovely beautiful best friends Kendra and Taryn (AKA RAHFIRYN). 

POV: sofia n da gorls 

Anyways fast forward again, I decided to rush DEM since I didn’t become an intern. And I GOT INN woot woot. And megdalinda became my pinsan (cousin). Now fast forward to the moral of this whole story and it starts with Battle. 

POV: Sofia is RiRi from the Superbowl at Big Little

Now, minutes before leaving for battle I texted my Tito Jason that I wouldn’t do a dance like ever. But I was wrong. Somehow Taryn convinced me to sign up like 30 minutes before the deadline to sign up for GENAPA. 

POV: Sofia don’t wanna dance 

Post GENAPA, I realized that I loved every minute of going to practice and doing tinikling with everyone and performing. Every chance I get, I try to sign up to do it and I’m even doing it again this year with miss Taryn <3, and I will every year. 

POV: Pip and sofia humbly doing tinikling for PCN

Now if you remember earlier I also said I was unsure about finding my people in FASA. Well, I’ll say that I was wrong. Again lol. Because look at my little support system. 

POV: serving face post PCN 

Now fast forward to me becoming external chair. If you’re still here you would also remember that another thing I said I wouldn’t do was the FASA chant. Wrong again. Cuz I lead the chant with Therese at external PCN’s and I say it loud and proud (even the body roll guys) with Therese <3. 

POV: Sofia and Therese cold af but sitting pretty

Now I’m going to shout out my lovely co-chair Therese. Therese it’s been one of the best experiences to work with you, I don’t think I could have accomplished so much without you. You were always there for me, made me laugh hella, listened and lifted me up when I was stressed. But at the same time you made sure to handle things with grace, patience and professionalism. I loved that we pushed and supported each other to do better in FASA but to also do things outside of FASA too. We have met a lot of people and I have admired how genuine you are to everyone and how you take the time to appreciate every interaction. Most of all, I have appreciated that throughout this whole process, we became such good friends. And just know that I will continue to support you even after FASA. I am not gonna lie, you and I are going to have to hangout because man Therese I miss you already. (Let’s make taho to pretty isn’t pretty!)

Now here’s a mini run through of our year together: 

POV: Sofia and Therese’s first PCN together at FASOU PCN

POV: Sofia and Therese at Ricebowl (one of my favorite events we put on)

POV: Sofia and Therese’s last PCN together at PASS Halo-Halo

I’m so proud of the work that Therese and I did this year. We accomplished everything that we hoped for and I’m so glad that I had Therese by my side through it all. The one thing about the external position is that you get what you put into it, and Therese and I really poured our hearts into making sure that we worked with as many orgs and said yes to as many things as we could in order to open the doors for FASA to make connections. I would say that we truly did make FASA an org that was open to working with others and a presence inside and outside FASA. 

For my future external chairs, make meaningful connections, I promise it’s fun. Also, while I think it’s important to be realistic, find the balance between being ambitious and realistic. Don’t be afraid to ask your board for help and to show your excitement and passion for something that you are planning or want to plan. Your passion will rub off on other people. Also, while it is important to be independent, take the time to know when to depend on others. You don’t have to do everything alone. Especially in a co-chair position, it is important to communicate and work as a team. Grow together, learn from each other, and never forget to have fun. This is not a job, this is an opportunity. 

POV: Sofia fell

POV: Sofia is still goin (barely)

So, after reflecting on these photos (i think they really showcase my journey) and my previous messages to my Tito Jason I have realized that I shouldn’t be too caught up in thinking I have everything figured out, I clearly don’t know what I am doing all the time but that’s okay. Stay open minded, try new things, and meet new people, and keep pushing forward. Some of the most unexpected things can become some of the most important or fun things in your life. 

POV: me and $wommy meesh smilin after a good day

It’s that bittersweet time of the year again, saying goodbye to my position and the awesome experience it gave me. It feels a lot different this time around knowing I won’t be writing something like this again. If you’re reading this I just want to say thank you for the impact you’ve had on me and my journey through FASA, no matter how big or small. You mean a lot to me and are the reason I wanted to climb so high up within this organization in the first place. If I’ve known you for the past three years or just met you during my time as president, I want you to know that you’re so cool and awesome and I’m happy we’ve gotten to share this community together <3

all right, look at these boys

MY EXPERIENCE/ADVICE/WOW THAT WAS FUN

“Being president would be so cool” -Bryson (March 2023)

Oh and how cool it was. 

I used to think that I was just the tinik dude who loved getting on stage with all of his friends, and I lowkey was. But then somehow I ended up being a performance chair for this org and was shocked when I came to the realization that I could be more than the tinik guy! I could come up with ways to make this organization “better” and make my journey one that facilitates other people’s journeys. Without losing any of the fun I joined FASA for in the first place, I could be a leader and role model for those around me. I didn’t know the end result would be me sitting in the position of presidency, but I sensed myself growing professionally and just fundamentally changing as a person. This growth eventually got me to March of 2023 where I was saddened by the idea of no longer being a performance chair. Me and Caitlin had so much fun together in the position and I made so many new friends and memories as a leader of FASA performance. I was heavily considering rerunning for the position, but I knew that Ash and Kendra were probably going to be able to do something with it that I probably couldn’t even dream of (they did). That’s when presidency came into the equation. I could still choreograph and teach people dances, the thing I loved most, but I could also lead a board behind the scenes and prep FASA’s next generation of leaders. I could be a role model and leader that people looked up to and came to for help for more than whether they had to do a regular or half turn next. 

I’ll be the first to admit that I underestimated presidency. I fell through in a lot of ways, and I’ll admit that I wasn’t the greatest at doing some of the advice I’m about to give. It’s a unique job that requires more than just your typical time management skills and solid work ethic. Just doing the work you have to do isn’t enough. You have to lead by example. When you think of people to “look up to” in FASA from a board/professional view, the presidents are probably pretty up there on the list. As soon as you show that your heart’s not in it, no one else’s will be either. Why would someone care for something if the person who’s supposed to be leading them doesn’t? Surely it can’t be that important if my leader doesn’t think it is.

Learning to be empathetic is essential as a president. Everyone lives a different life, and with that comes different time commitments, academic tribulations, and personal issues all independent from their role as a FASA board member. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the “FASA is life” mindset which is why it’s so important to take a step back every now and then. You don’t always need to understand the situations that people are dealing with, a lot of the time you just need to understand how they feel in their current state. Solving the issue won’t always be possible, so you need to do your best to be an accommodating resource for your boardies who comes off as kind and caring. People need to feel comfortable coming to you with concerns and you need to feel comfortable easing the pressure off of them and letting them know FASA doesn’t need to be at the top of their priority list and that they can take care of other things they have going on. And if they’re issues are FASA-related, you have to accept that even if you don’t agree, it’s still an issue for them and you are responsible for coming up with some form of solution or compromise. The great thing about this is that with each situation you handle well you come across as more and more trustworthy and capable of doing your job.

The final thing I learned while being president is the importance of being able to take criticism. I always told myself that I was good at it because of my time as performance chair. That was a role where you know you’ll never be able to make EVERYONE happy, so I got used to knowing that some people weren’t happy with what was going on. The issue was that it was never really brought to my attention or put in front of my face. And when it was, it was usually an issue with choreo I made and I’d acknowledge that it was hard to do or just outright bad, and I’d change it. It’s a whole different situation when one of your board members comes to you with concerns about board or how you’ve been running it. Being president, even if issues with board aren’t specifically targeted at you, it still feels like they are. You’re supposed to be the overseer of everything that goes on, so when there are issues, it’s easy to take blame and feel like you aren’t good enough. However sometimes the blame will be targeted at you. It’s important to fully listen to everyone’s concerns and give thought to everything that is brought up. What you can’t do is let it get you down. Even if you can’t really come up with a solution after problems have been presented to you, it’s important to roll with the punches and come out of the situation knowing you’re still capable of being a leader. You may have faltered at some points but it’s never too late to fix what you’ve been doing and turn back to a positive direction. Take criticism, do what you can to make it better, and remember that you were elected into the position and are fully capable of leading this organization.

shoutout AHAP and modern tinik from PCN this year you guys were so much fun

THOSE WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE <3

My inspirations :)

JC You’ve been my closest friend in FASA for the past 3 years ever since Jolene and Autumn paired us up in Runaway Baby for our first PCN. Having such a close friend at every FASA-related thing I went to made it so easy to learn to be myself and grow confidence among a group of complete strangers. I definitely doubted myself in the position of president when it first became an idea I had, but I made the best choice I possibly could’ve made by having you be the first person I ever talked it out with. You helped me turn it from a distant thought or idea to something I could actually do and feel confident in myself doing. You’ve supported me from start to end, being a voice of reason and giving me perspective through every part of the journey. I honestly wouldn’t have made it out of many of the ruts I ran into this year within the position without you being there to hear what was going on and letting me know that I had nothing to worry about and was valid in my actions. You’ve been a friend, dance partner, co-choreographer, co-boardie, a real one… the list goes on. I don’t think you’ll ever be able to fathom the impact you’ve had on my journey through FASA and honestly life in general (but that’s a different story). Thanks for all you’ve done my boy.

Jolene My long lost sister who’s footsteps I haven’t stopped following in. Choreographer, Lil Nas X stan, lineage beefer, intern reject to president pipeline, FAM Head??? (We’ll see about this one). You’re someone I’ve looked up to ever since joining FASA, being a president within the org and a true role model and friend outside of anything to do with FASA. I always admired the amount of work and effort you put into FASA and wished I could leave at least somewhere close to as big of an impact as you did. When I came to you to talk about presidency, I went into the conversation looking for information on the role and instead came out feeling confident that I could not just be president, but also thrive in the role. You made me feel like I was worthy of the position and that I was someone people would look up to and follow if I were to take it on. You boosted me up and made me realize that if it was something I wanted, I’d have at least one loyal supporter out there. You made everything I was able to accomplish this year possible and I could never be more grateful for you. Thank you big Jo.

Sean I’m not bolding your name but shoutout you.

BOARD (love you guys)

You guys were so unbelievably amazing to work with throughout the course of this year. The amount of sheer passion exuded by each and every one of you was genuinely astonishing. Knowing that it would be all of you on board with me this year was a huge reason I even wanted to run for this position in the first place. Knowing that I’d be stepping into presidency with all of you to watch over and assist was so enticing and made the transition into the position so much easier. I’ve never seen a group of people so passionate about anything, and it was such a pleasure being able to reach the peak of my commitment to this org that’s given me so much alongside you all. I won’t say that I got to know all of you super well on an individual level, but I’ll always remember the connection we shared as boardies together, and this year will definitely go down as one of my favorites ever. Being president definitely had a learning curve and came with a lot of struggles down the road, but I knew I had a super supportive group of individuals who were understanding if called upon and independent in times they needed to be. It’s been such an honor being able to put my name next to the rest of yours, in the position of president at that, and I won’t take any of what we accomplished this year for granted. We saw a record number of new members, events, programs, time commitments, and problems never tackled before, yet we came out on top of all of it and have this past year to stand beside and be proud of. If any of you guys are reading this I want you to know that you did the most for FASA, board, yourself, and me this year. I’m endlessly grateful for the constant effort you put into your position and our board. Whether it be events you put on, general members you made feel at home, or the vibes you brought to our board meetings, you were an essential part of our board and you should be proud of yourself. I want you to know that I’ll always be a fan of you and am so extremely confident that you can accomplish anything you want to in your future endeavors. Watching you grow this year and become the person you are now is proof that you have a strong will, you’re determined, and you’re willing to do whatever it takes to make your dreams come to life. Thank you so much for the time you gave to our organization this year, if you don’t feel it’s been paid back to you fully yet, it will be, I promise.

the force is strong with this one

Alyssa

Not gonna lie I still don’t understand how you legit just spawned into my life our freshman year. Like I didn’t know of your existence until I was at a bangko practice and Kris was like hey Alyssa and Bryson you guys are partners. Then I was like oh dope another freshie (even though you’re old wth) cool. Little did I know two years later we’d be co-presidents leading FASA, the organization we were just jumping on and off some benches for. Your work ethic and constant drive to better our organization was so admirable this year and I found myself in awe at how much you cared about the work we were doing. The number of times you went out of your way to do things we didn’t have to do just to make sure everyone else had an easier time or to ensure that FASA would come out as a better organization was amazing. If initiative was a human being, her name may just be Alyssa Caldito. You always seemed to be in the know about everything going on within FASA, not even just board but in general. I always thought it was funny people would snoop through each others’ folders but when we’d get into a board meeting and you’d just know literally everything going on with every person in every position I’d just sit back and be like damn what am I even doing here rn. There were a lot of times I questioned whether or not I was doing enough as president having you as my co and knowing that I probably wouldn’t be able to work at your pace or with your passion even if I tried my hardest. It would’ve really killed my confidence if it was anyone but you being a co-chair literally anyone would beg for. But you constantly made me feel like we were a team and tackling everything together. It was never “I did this” or “I’ll do that” it was always “we” with everything you did. Even if you did most of something or even just outright did it without any assistance from me, you made sure I was included and that we were a team in this role. I knew that if I was lacking at any point in time or needed a break from our duties you’d instinctively cover for me without concern and make it seem like it was still two people getting the job done. When I was in the early stages of running for president and knew that you were running for sure, I knew that if I was to get elected, I would have absolutely nothing to worry about. Because in my head you were already one of the presidents for this year as soon as I heard that you were even considering running for the first time. And knowing that you’d be my co if I got the position was like being told I’d have to take a test but I could have a cheat sheet with all of the answers on it. I never once questioned your ability and was instead questioning if there was a limit to what you could do. I feel like I watched everyone but you on board grow this year and go from what they were at the start to the confident and proud people they are now. With you I feel like we started the year and I was like yeah she could literally do anything that’s going to pop up this year right now in this current moment and come out of it as if nothing happened. Not to say you didn’t grow because that’s messed up LMAO but that you didn’t necessarily need to grow into your position like the rest of us had to in some capacity. The moment you were elected you were FASA president. It wasn’t an oh yeah she’ll learn the ropes as she goes or nah don’t worry she’ll have other people around her to help. It was oh yeah Alyssa is the president. Like yeah, she’s just the president. I’m so grateful you were the person I got to ride with this year, I’d have it absolutely NO other way. I’m so glad we got a lot closer and were able to build our own relationship as we fostered the relationship of our board as a whole. Thank you so much for such an amazing year co, we popped off.

Ash and Kendra

Hello successors. I really haven’t even felt fully comfortable telling people that I was a performance chair in the past because I compare what I did to what you guys did and I’m just like bruh. You two have been so instrumental in FASA’s development as it grows and grows. You took us to Battle this year, something I used to dream of doing but wasn’t able to do during my time. And at that, you guys did it without help from anyone in FASA who’d competed in the past. You didn’t just lay the foundation, you mfs found the land, flattened it out, did some dirt checks to make sure it was suitable, drew out all the blueprints, found the resources you’d need to build the impossible creation, took initiative in obtaining funds for your dream, and ultimately crafted something FASA boards are going to use for years to come. What you guys did with Battle was no easy feat, and I really hope both of you take the time to sit and think about what you guys did. Like we really went out there and GOT THIRD TOO. Not gonna lie I truly thought we were just heading out there for a fun time and to introduce our dancers to Battle and what it was like. But we pulled up and Pamana’d all over them. All jokes aside, you two have a lot to be proud of, and I’m proud of you guys. I know it was hard, but you did it, and you did a damn good job of it too. You guys have revolutionized FASA performance in more ways than one. Performance is probably what I’m most passionate about within FASA, and I’m going to walk away from my experiences in this org remembering your guys’ time as performance chairs more than my own. I have people I see as board positions based on who’s held the positions during my time in FASA, and you guys are without a doubt my performance chairs. Anyone else who steps into the position has MASSIVE shoes to fill, and I’d honestly advise them not to try because I don’t know if it’s possible. Thank you guys for bringing one of my long-term dreams to life and for making performance what it is after this year. You two took the reins from me and Caitlin, drove straight into the unknown, and came out as a duo who’ll go down in FASA history for what you’ve accomplished. Thank you both.

Taryn and Izzy

Hi guys. Congratulations on being selected by the people of FASA to lead them and their organization. You guys have been entrusted with the responsibility of spearheading FASA, and I have no doubt the two of you will do great things with the position next year. It’s super exciting to be president and you’ll have a lot of energy at the start of your term when you start going through with your presidential duties. I’d highly recommend to pace yourselves and make sure you keep up a consistent amount of energy throughout the entire year. Burnout can hit really hard in this position not necessarily from workload, but from the weight of facilitating the dynamic of board as a whole. Things will go wrong, and you’ll probably be quick to blame yourselves. “We’re the leaders” “We’ve been on board before, why can’t we make this work?” I’m not saying everythings going to be hard, but you’ll encounter situations where you’ll feel you’re at fault for something that went wrong. It’s so important to not let it get you down. You have to bounce back every time and remember why you ran for this position in the first place. Working alongside you guys this year showed me that you guys are extremely capable individuals that can handle difficult situations that come your way. I know that you can handle whatever board life has to throw at you, so make sure you believe you can too. Make this position your own and leave behind a legacy you’ll be happy with. You guys are going to do amazing things and I can’t wait to watch it happen. Congratulations again and go make FASA what you want it to be!

We are so goated

GOODBYE!!!!

Thank you for reading my testimonial from my time as one of FASA’s presidents! I loved being in this position and it’s taught me so much. FASA is such an amazing organization with amazing people, and I’ll never forget everything I got to do this year. I won’t stop supporting this community and I hope I left a mark that positively impacted at least one person!

Much love,

Dear FASA, 

After two and a half years, I regret to inform you all that I will be leaving FASA Executive Board. Please accept this letter as my formal resignation as Co-President of the Filipino American Student Association. 

My journey with FASA started before I was ever in college, when I attended UAAO’s Asian American High School Conference and, as my Pinoydar would correctly identify, met FASA’s former Co-President Christian Paneda. He told me that U-M had a Filipino org on campus, and suggested that I join if I ever ended up attending. 

Baby me (and Minh-Thu) at HSC! The side part was truly a product of its time,,,

Little did I know that when my family friend, Kris Mallabo, would get to college, she would also join FASA and become our Performance Chair both in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. I also joined Anakbayan Detroit the summer before my Senior Year of high school, where a bunch of the other new members were involved in Wayne State’s FIL-SOC and encouraged me to join a PSA in college. 

With the way my life was going, I was 100% sure that no matter what school I went to, I would at least try to join a PSA. I even wrote it in my admissions essays… 

“Public health is a field about community. Hence, I hope to join one of the many student communities at U-M as a way to cultivate my identities and interests… Another community I hope to join U-M’s Filipino American Student Association, where I can explore my cultural identity while discussing issues important to my community.”

And when I eventually got accepted to and enrolled at U-M, the first thing I looked for at Festifall was that Filipino flag. I ended up joining FASA, going to mass meeting, and making friends with a couple of girls that unfortunately despawned after Halo Halo. As I got busier with classes, work, and other extracurriculars, I found myself unable to connect with other people in FASA exactly the way I pictured myself doing so. But, I didn’t want to give up on FASA just yet. When PCN season rolled around, Kris convinced me to sign up for a dance, where I would meet my future Co-Pres, Bryson, who was my Sayaw sa Bangko partner at the time. 

Bryson, Angeli, me, and Andrew at our Freshman Year PCN Hell Week!

Through dance practices, events, and even informal things like seeing FASA people at the Union, I slowly began to fall in love with FASA. I came to understand why Kris, all my Kasamas from Anakbayan, and all the current FASA members hyped it up so much. Even after my initial shyness or the fact that I “spawned into FASA” Winter Semester of Freshman Year (according to my Intern Class), FASA was always ready to welcome me back into its community. FASA never gave up on me, so I never gave up on FASA. 

Let’s speed run the rest of that story. I applied to be an intern and put on an amazing capstone event with my intern cohort.

Ran for Cultural Chair and bridged some generational gaps with JC. 

And by the end of my tenure as Cultural Chair, I knew that I wasn’t done. I loved FASA and still felt like I had so much to give to it, and I wanted to be part of whatever FASA did next. Even then, I wasn’t sure if running again would be the right idea. I doubted my leadership skills, and I was scared that I wouldn’t have time to give FASA what it deserved from a President. But, I’m glad that I ran anyway. What a year it has been! 

From an amazing PCN

To winning third place at Battle! 

And everything in between

We may not have won Rice Bowl but maybe the real Rice Bowl was the friends we made along the way…

Winter FAM/Lin Reveal with the best lineage in FASA (totally unbiased)

My group 100% won the Mass Meeting scavenger hunt 

It has been so rewarding to see the products of my time on FASA E-Board. But, I really have to give the bulk of the credit to my amazing boardies. 

Nicole, more than just room bookings and dealing with EMS on our behalf, I have loved the overwhelmingly positive and joyful energy that you bring to board every week. I have loved being on Core Four with you! 

Andrew, over the years, I’ve truly gotten to know you as a friend while seeing you grow as a leader within FASA. Your corny jokes have been a constant for the last 2.5 years. (And thank you for not embezzling the FASA Funds 😭)

[L]Izzy, it has been such a pleasure working with you not only as your President but also as your Culturals Ate! Your passion and drive for FASA as a community inspire me! I wish you the best in your term as president :) #CulturalstoPresidentsPipeline 

Philip, learning from you and how you do your job as Cultural Chair has been such a highlight of this year. You have always brought new and different ideas to the role, and I’ve loved getting to see how each and every one has played out! 

[M]Izzy, I have loved getting to know you both as our Social Chair and as a friend! Your humor and energy help make anyone feel welcome, and I love our little giggle sessions 🤭. P.S. we should schedule a hangout soon because I already miss you :( 

Gabe, getting to know you and getting close to you this year on board together has been so amazing! Your creativity has made every Social event one that I look forward to, and I’m so very glad to have had my kambal on board with me :)

Eli, your passion and care for social justice do not go unnoticed. Throughout this year, you have continuously embodied what it means to be our Service and Advocacy chair. I have no doubt that you will go on to make a difference both in our community and this world! 

Sofia, I seriously can’t believe how you balance school, FASA, and everything else you have going on in your life. Your commitment and love for FASA have always shone through in the work you have done as External Chair.

Therese, I’m not gonna lie, I remember meeting you our freshman year and being incredibly intimidated by you. Now, I can’t even imagine why I ever felt that way. You are one of the kindest and most genuine people I know, and I love getting to geek out about the Philippine Collections with you. 

Kendra, or is it Tendra? Or Blondra? Whatever it is, I have truly appreciated every ounce of work that you have put into this year on E-Board. The hours that you have spent choreographing, teaching, and taking care of logistics like GroupMes and Google Calendars have not gone unnoticed. The work that you have put in is a direct reflection of your love for this community and the passion you have for performance. 

Ash, it’s been absolutely amazing seeing you grow from that little freshman who told me that you were already planning to transfer at Festifall to the Performance Chair who led FASA Pamana to third place at Battle! Your ambition shines through in everything you do, and I can’t wait to see what you do next both in FASA and in the rest of your life. 

Zainab, even though we’ve known each other since high school, I never got the chance to become close with you until this school year. I’m glad I have, because you are genuinely one of the sweetest people I know, and the effort and intentionality you put into your events and towards designing both PCN and Battle have made you an amazing asset to this year’s board. 

Kayla, your initiative and creativity have truly lent themselves to your vision as Media Chair. Your care for FASA shows in the initiative you have taken as E-Board, as a choreographer, and as a friend to me and so many others in FASA. You’ve become someone that I trust and confide in, and I look forward to our long conversations. 

Taryn, as Media Chair, you have always been such a reliable and warm presence to board. You never fail to bring a smile to people’s faces, and your attention to detail has made you so incredibly equipped to capture all the incredible moments from this year in FASA. More than that, it makes you even more equipped to be an amazing President. I can’t wait to see what you and Lizzy will accomplish next year <3

All of you have had such amazing and headstrong visions going into this school year, and seeing your passion and drive for FASA was one of the biggest reasons that I ran for board again. Getting to serve you all as your Co-President and helping you bring your visions to life has been one of my proudest moments!

And Bryson, a huge thank you for an amazing year of FASA together! It hasn’t always been easy, but I’m glad to have had a person to share this role with and to support me however I needed. I have loved learning from you and all of your perspectives and insights. From my two and a half week trip to the Philippines mid-October to the monster that has been my schedule this year, you have never failed to step up when my own capacity was low. I have always appreciated that and everything else that you’ve done for me as Cos. Sharing this year as Co-Presidents with you is something that I will always treasure! 

And just like that, the Johnston-Caldito Administration comes to an end

And thank you to FASA, for giving me the space and support to grow into the person that I am today. Now that I’m stepping away from FASA E-Board, I can’t help but think that I now have this almost-encyclopedic knowledge of Filipino and Filipino-American culture, and nowhere for it to go. However, I also think that I now have such a better understanding of my identity and heritage than I came into college with. When thinking about my identity before college, I often thought of everything that I was missing: my language, my community, and especially my fading memories of living in the Philippines. As recently as this year, I wondered if things would have been better for me if I never left. Now, when I think about my identity, I think about the community that I have here on campus and all the people that are in my life here in Michigan.

Like these ones 

Or these

And these ones

I am so incredibly grateful for everything and everyone that is in my life today. Because of you all, I am more sure of my place in this world and within the diaspora than ever, and I have so many more thank yous to give for that. FASA, you will always hold a special place in my heart for being such a huge part of my cultural journey, and I hope that you will continue to be that for so many more people in so many years to come. 

And now, some final advice to future boardies from a self-proclaimed FASA Veteran:

You are Board Before Your Chair

There’s a reason that so many of you may have heard this over and over in your coffee chats. No matter how stressful or overwhelming being on Board might get, always remember that you have a team of people who have your back! During your year on board, your fellow boardies will be some of your closest and most trusted colleagues, but more importantly, they will be your friends! Don’t hesitate to lean on them for support. 

Remember Your Why 

E-Board is notorious for being a huge time commitment, and I’m sure that there will be moments when you are feeling burnt out from FASA. However, in those moments, I encourage you all to remember your why. Remember what it was like before you found FASA and let it remind you what a special place that it is. Remember why you decided to run for E-Board and give back to the community we have here on campus. Let that passion reignite your drive. 

Have Grace

You’re not always going to be perfect in your role on E-Board. There will be event logistics that fall through the cracks, questions that you won’t have the answer to, and if you’re anything like me you will always leave an event thinking about how it can be done better next time. Even then, you should always have grace and remember that you are human and that you are allowed to make mistakes. E-Board tends to have a streak of perfectionism, but I am here to tell you that mistakes are a part of learning and growing into better leaders within our community. 

Cherish Your Time on Board 

A year really flies when it’s punctuated by weekly board meetings, nonstop events, Kaibigan Korners, dance practices, and everything in between. Despite all of that, don’t forget to take a step back and enjoy everything that you’ve built! In a time when FASA is almost completely different every year, always remember that you have the chance to impact the lives of everyone in our community, whether that’s big or small. 

Time flies 🥲

Maraming maraming salamat FASA para sa lahat (Thank you FASA, for everything). 

Nagmamahal (With love), 

Alyssa Caldito 

So. You finally got your driver’s license, huh?  

Wait…no?? 

Nonetheless you’ve come to the right place! I for one am a very qualified driver. See for yourself:

MICHIGAN 

DRIVER LICENSE 

DOB: 02-16-2004

Isabelle-Leigh Changcoco Lamug

FASA Co-Cultural Chair

Troy, MI

Yup! So official, right?

Let me just say, you don’t actually need a silly license to get behind the wheel. I’ll give you a few pointers and you’ll be fine, trust! But if you don’t believe me, let me tell you about all the cars I (and others) have crashed…

Lesson 1: Driver’s Ed

You didn’t think we would be starting behind the wheel, did you? Everyone was a beginner once, and I definitely wasn’t always a master at crashing cars. 

Friday, August 20, 2021, Senior Year Band Camp!

Contrary to popular belief, I did not invent the car crash. In high school, I was a member of our color guard for three years (shoutout to the girls who somehow find this <3). During my last band camp, the guard was taking a group picture when one of the girls yelled out, “Let’s do a car crash!”

You might be wondering, how does one do a car crash? It’s actually quite straightforward. Whoever is positioned in the front and center of a group photo is your designated driver. They’ll take the wheel by two hands and steer the rest of your group in whatever direction they please. Everyone else must get into character and…well, crash! 

Lesson 2: Buckle your seatbelt

Nice! You got your learner’s permit. Now, it’s pretty easy to get ahead of yourself, so make sure you start by adjusting your seat and buckling your seatbelt. 

Starting college was a big step for me. I’m from Troy, Michigan, which is actually only an hour drive from Ann Arbor, but moving into the dorms and living away from home felt like getting my license all over again.

While, yes I grew up in a predominantly white city, it didn’t feel like it. I like to refer to my high school as a bubble, as its diverse student population and multitude of cultural organizations felt like some world of its own. The only catch was there was no sort of Filipino club. To make up for it, I found myself dropping by the Korean Club meetings and auditioning for a Bollywood dance team. I sought out solidarity among other minority students, but I never felt like I fully belonged. 

I saw joining FASA as my chance to finally find that belonging. By the time Festifall rolled around, I had been stalking FASA’s Instagram for the entire summer. I found their table, grabbed a flyer, and…that was it. No extended conversation, no putting my uniqname down…but no big deal, I was sure I would end up making new friends as one of the later events! 

I ended up attending FASA’s Mass Meeting…

And FAM/Lin Reveal…

And FASAPalooza…

And Halo-Halloween…

I thought I was doing everything right. 

Went to Fam/Lin and unknowingly met my future Co-Chairs???

Got sorted into the best lineage: Bathala!

But even though I was having fun and amazing conversations with people, I felt out of place. The connections didn’t stick outside of events and I wasn’t sure if that was on me or if that was just how things worked…and well, I was definitely feeling discouraged. It was really hard showing up to FASA events without knowing if I’d even have someone to talk to. 

Lesson 3: Check your mirrors 

After buckling your seatbelt, definitely check your mirrors. You’ll want to be aware of your surroundings. Don’t be nervous, you’re already behind the wheel!

If you’re feeling the same way I did, a bit awkward in conversations and floating around events, I promise you will find your way in this community. It’s never easy being in a new place (especially when you’re waiting for someone to let you into Couzens), but I learned to live in the awkward—to awkwardly embrace feeling uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable Decision #1: Joining two PCN dances—Modern Tinikling and Pagapir.  

Me and my twin at Pagapir 😋🤞

I had never danced tinikling before. I didn’t even know what pagapir meant, but JC, Bryson, and Caitlin created fun and welcoming practice spaces that I always looked forward to coming to. I met one of my closest friends, Miss Angelica Alpas, at pagapir practice! 

Uncomfortable Decision #2: Applying for the intern program

Working with board members and my intern class helped me feel more comfortable in my awkwardness—maybe not awkward, maybe just finding that acceptance in being myself. 

I think about this a lot, but I still remember taking the big group picture at Winter 23 FAM/Lin Reveal and calling out, “Wait, can we do a car crash?”

FASA’s FIRST Car Crash @ Winter FAM/Lin Reveal

It felt nice, you know, sharing a part of myself with FASA and watching people…enjoy it? Like it? It’s just a silly group picture, I know, but it made me feel really there (or something like that).    

Then you KNOW we had to run it back at the Intern Capstone.

Miss Erin Segui crashing 18 Roses

Then, of course…

Confident Decision #1: Running for Cultural Chair

Lesson 4: Start your engine 

Ready to get on the road? We haven’t even gotten to the fun part yet! 

The title “Cultural Chair” is a little misleading. You assume whoever holds the position is some kind of expert on Filipino culture—wrong. 

What makes the chair so special is that it’s all about learning. While you’re not an expert, you’re someone interested in something (perhaps…you might call this passion!), and that’s all it really takes. It’s not often (or ever) you dedicate a year of your life to studying the lifestyle (language, food, religion, social habits, art, music—the whole shabang) of Filipinos, and the opportunity to learn and share what interests you through events and workshops (entirely of your own design) is really just something special. Maybe you’re already fluent in Tagalog or have a dozen family recipes memorized, but no one knows everything (…surely?). I guarantee you will learn something that you have never heard of before. That alone is pretty amazing. 

So where do you start? Apparently in a Discord VC over summer vacation.  

moocow and silverbells67 in vc

Communication is key. Share your ideas. Talk out new and creative ways to show them. I like to think every Cultural Chair is drawn to the position out of a personal passion for something. In my case, I was interested in identity—its formation, factors that influence it, and how it represents us—but again I was (and still am) no expert. My coffee chats with my predecessors helped guide my ideas, but most of all, the long conversations between me and Philip (via Discord of course) are what brought them to their full potential. 

Lesson 5: One last thing!

You’re all set! Before you hit the gas, is there anyone you want to bring along?

Dear Philip, 

Thank you for being my co-driver. 

Our Buwan ng Wika Picnic!

Unknowingly, you’ve taught me so much. Where I’d approach leadership headstrong, you were always patient. When I took on more than I could handle, you’d lighten my load. If I ever lost sight of my love for our culture, your thoughtful care and insight would never fail to motivate me. 

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully express my gratitude for you, but just know…I am grateful for you! Our year as Co-Chairs is an experience I will always cherish and I will always consider you as a dear friend. I am so so insanely proud of everything we’ve accomplished together, and I know you will continue to inspire everyone you meet, just like you’ve inspired FASA, our board, and me, duh.  

Lesson 6: Crash and burn!

Fake it til you make it! You’re behind the wheel, show them what you are capable of!

Dear FASA,

Thank you for this. My goal as Cultural Chair was to build spaces that embody everything our community has given to me—a place to experiment, grow, and learn who I am in our culture. 

PCN was the greatest undertaking of my life thus far. Speaking to our theme, Who Are You?, I hope you all feel a little more comfortable with your answer, but I hope there’s still some uncertainty. Identity is a process. You’re always becoming who you will be, so I think it’s okay not to know.

I don’t think I’ll ever fully know who I am, but I know I’m different from whoever I was before, and I think that’s pretty cool. To that version of me, I promise to keep learning and growing and changing and becoming whoever we will be. 

Thank you for letting me take the wheel <3

To my passengers:

I’m sorry for putting your lives at risk

Angelica: I’ve always wanted a friend like you, and I am happy FASA brought us together. You’ve shown me what it means to be cared for, and I hope you know I care for you very much. Thank you for being my rock in this whole college life thing.  

Erin & Nate: meap. Miss Erin, I adore you <3 Nate, you’re alright. I look back fondly on our Tagalog classes together, that lumpia rolling night, and tinikling practices. You guys are my people, and I am grateful to call you my friends.

Estelle, Kate, Caitlin, Emily, & JC: Talk about leading by example. You all inspire me, and thank you for your guidance! My vision is thanks to all of you…seriously. You can’t have those deep conversations about Filipino American identity with just anybody, and I am thankful I got to share them with y’all :))  

Eun & Fran: Congratulations adings! Your passions and ideas will come together in unimaginable ways and I can not wait to see you bring them to life. Remember, you are resources to board, but at the same time, board is a resource to both of you. Make the most out of this opportunity <3

Kayla, Fran, Saarim, Marohn, & Ava: Congratulations to FASA’s first PCN Board :00 The conversations Philip and I had with each of you makes me so crazy excited! Thank you for being such lovely and welcoming members of our community, and I know you all will absolutely eat up this PCN AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! lol. 

Alyssa: Hi Ate Sa Sa. I hope you enjoy your retirement. Trotter hours are about to go crazy. 

Bryson: On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you to be here? (Fall 22 first tinikling practice reference in case you forgot)

Nicole: Maybe the real [REDACTED] was the friends we made along the way. 

Andrew: MC hide and seek champion right here

Philip: scroll up

Ate Mizzy: The OG Izzy, thank you for always letting me squish your face 🐢

Gabe: mew meow meow maiw? (where my hug at?)

Eli: It amazes me how you somehow liquify all the bones in your body. 

Therese: You’re so beautiful bro. 

Sofia: Throwback to when you ate it up as Regina! Or were you Karen? Gretchen?? 

Kendra: Your voice is so soothing. Also, I DO think you’re really funny.

Ash: What would you do if I murdered your entire family. 

Zainab: I just knew it would be a good year on board as soon as I saw you smash that boba at Rice Bowl. My respect for you is so insanely great (for reasons besides that moment, probably)

Taryn: HEYYYYY new cooooooooo ;))

“You’re Filipino, I’m Filipino, let's be friends.” 

Those were my thoughts as I approached FASA’s table in Festifal. There I met my future ate, Ashley, who then invited me to the Buwan ng Wika Picnic. Later this week, I attended an athletics event, where my future kuya, Colin, would be sitting behind me. And on the way to the Picnic from Bursley, my future ate, Krystelle sat across from me.

Crazy how life works.

I can’t thank FASA enough for the unforgettable memories and the close knit community that it has given me. From being part of the best lineage ever, to having an amazing intern class, and working with such a driven board, it has been a great 2 years. 

Highlights: 

Meeting my fellow 4th floor Burlodger Angelica at the Picnic and realizing we were right down the hall from each other

Taking a photo in front of Angelica’s door every morning at 6 am as I went to practice

Falling into a lake and showing up at Amanda’s house right before a football game

Having Amanda and Christian be my “Parents” for a day as they watched my rowing meet

Dressing up as Vector and meeting Alexa who coincidentally dressed up as a minion

Going absolutely insane while cooking for the intern project

Presentation night with Darago at NYPD 

Using the same Vector costume to then dress up as the Lorax (what will I be next year?)

So anywhoosies, let's talk about being Secretary. 

When I first became Secretary, I honestly was not as confident as I should have been, but as I talked to more people like Justine, Prezzies, Core 4, and board, I started taking more initiative and being less worried about things. Deciding that it was easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission also really helped me, but I wouldn’t really recommend that strat for everyone. 

Being Secretary had its ups, like finally getting a big room for an event, ordering merch, or being able to organize everything using spreadsheets. But it also had its downs, like scrambling for a room because everything on that day was booked, waking up and booking mason hall classrooms to try to beat the other clubs from getting to them, or not being able to even get rooms at all. But if you asked me, I’d do it again - oh wait I am…  😼

So for the next next Secretary, here are my notes to you:

OMG Congrats! The role may be intimidating at first, but know that if you were elected, it is because people believe in you and want to succeed. Take initiative, and take risks. 

Frontload all the room bookings - it takes so much stress off your mind when you know that the room bookings are done, invest now so that you don’t have to sacrifice later (I myself could have done a better job of this)

Inventory… don’t forget about it. 

Have a plan A, B, and C

Spreadsheets - Use them, they’re amazing

Be vocal - if someone looks like they have something on their mind, they probably do and ask them to share. 

I (as well as all of board) will always be here if you need it. 

After years of having felt restricted by the rural nature of his hometown, Gabriel became somewhat averse to change. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to change, but he wasn’t necessarily ready for it—he was afraid of what change would mean for him.

But still, Gabriel came into college with many expectations. He expected to find people he could look up to and learn from (1), he expected to pursue new interests he couldn’t back at home (2), and he also expected to be in a relationship (3). However, despite all these expectations, he didn’t expect to become active in the Filipino American Student Association. He also didn’t expect that this organization would be the place where he'd fulfill all his expectations, and perhaps it is where he would learn to understand what change really means. 

The day of Festifall was before Gabriel would be worried about the potential risks of sun exposure without sunscreen, and it was certainly a day that should’ve raised some concern. The sun’s rays pierced through the surface of his neck, the skin emanating heat whenever he rubbed it for some brief relief. Despite his discomfort, Gabriel felt rather ambitious. Now a sophomore, he had become more open to the idea of exploring new interests after a shaky first year. He walked through masses of people, passed through crowded tables, and grabbed whatever the organizations had to offer until he spotted a very familiar flag in the distance. It was attached to a particularly tall stick with blue and yellow bands, which was being held by a particularly tall, presumably half-Filipino man. He had found the Filipino American Student Association’s table.

Gabriel had somewhat of a rough start with FASA. When he was a freshman, he wanted to attend the FASA Fall Mass Meeting, but since COVID was still an issue, spots were limited, and the RSVP had closed before he was able to fill it out. That semester, he would only attend Tinik at the Diag where Shane Yamco, that year’s Treasurer, refused to take his membership dues because of “rules” and “policies.” Because of the false belief that one had to be a paid member in order to attend FASA events, a belief that could’ve been prevented if he filled out the Mass Meeting RSVP any earlier, perhaps he would’ve become active in FASA from the start. But because of this, Gabriel would only start being active in FASA during the winter semester.

Gabriel's First FAM Lin Reveal

Now at their Festifall table, Gabriel mentally prepared some questions. He regretted not being very active in FASA when he was a freshman and was worried if it was too late to do so. He went up to one of the people at the table and gave some background about his experience of FASA and asked, “How can I become more active?” The person he talked to, Amanda, who he later learned was the co-president of FASA at the time, responded, “Literally just show up to everything.” And so he did. He would show up to almost every FASA event that year (4), he would attend KK’s, he would go to FACT, he would become a FASA intern, he would go to Battle (5), and he would help run the intern capstone, and he would later be on board as Social Chair.

Gabriel hadn’t expected that sophomore year would pass by so quickly. He came into FASA with such a warped perspective that it was sometimes hard to process his surroundings as well as his identity in FASA. It felt strange to him that he was suddenly in such a major role as Social Chair. But regardless of his inability to process his new circumstances, he still enacted upon the vision he had for FASA.

Social Chair had a reputation for being one of the more demanding positions. Gabriel prepared himself for this by only taking 12 credits his fall semester of his junior year. Unfortunately, even with this precaution and the best co he could’ve ever asked for, his first full semester of being Social Chair was quite the struggle. His time management, organization, and communication skills were put to the test, and from his perspective, it felt that he was barely holding on. He was afraid of how people, especially his fellow board members, perceived his abilities and work ethic, further adding to the mental stress. He had doubts about whether he was even worthy of his position.

But over time, he began to understand how to properly navigate his role on FASA Board. With his co, they felt that they had found a balance. Social Chair was indeed a lot, but they knew that they were the Social Chairs. Gabriel finally acknowledged the importance of his position, and a new sense of confidence emerged. He had even led a social event by himself when his co wasn’t able to be there, and he realized that he had a place on FASA Board after all.

Epilogue

Whenever I look back and think about who I used to be, I can’t help but think of that version of myself as a completely different person. Sometimes it’s hard to believe people can change so much. It’s so interesting to think about how I’d have to mentally prepare myself before attending or planning a FASA event when now it feels so natural. Now, I love that I can look forward to seeing the people of FASA almost every day, whether it be through the events, KKs, Board, the Fishbowl, or anywhere else, I love that we’re able to have such a close-knit community, I love that I was able to be a part of it and make an impact as Social Chair through hosting events, managing P.O.T.T.E.R., and pitting the FAMs against each other, and I love that I was able to be a part of such an amazing Board (6).

As Social Chair, I realized how easy it is to become critical of oneself in hindsight. This is something me and Izzy experienced after almost every event we hosted, and perhaps even now there is some residual negativity. But it’s also easy to see how much fun people had during the events, and I think this is what made being Social Chair feel so rewarding. We recognize the impact we had on FASA, and we are so grateful to have had this opportunity. Perhaps this is partly due to sunk-cost fallacy with all the lows and highs of being a Boardie, but I truly believe that despite my initial struggle, my time as Social Chair was well spent, and I wish I could do it all over again.

Well, perhaps not.

But you know what I mean 😋

Footnotes

(1) Amanda and Celeste Amanda, you may have been the reason why I became so active in FASA in the first place. You had such a welcoming vibe when I met you which further encouraged me to become active. I am so grateful I was able to talk to you that day. Celeste, I feel like I really got to know you through the intern program. If I’m honest, I used to be a little intimidated by you, but through our many intern meetings, outside interactions, and our trip to Battle, I really appreciate your presence and your sincerity. You both were such great leaders for FASA and you were great mentors for us during the intern program, and even though I don’t see you two that often anymore, I feel like you both had such a strong influence on FASA that it still seems to reside within the organization today. 

Adrian Hi Kuya (AJ). Having a kuya who used to be Social Chair and is also FAM Head feels interesting not going to lie. I appreciate all the guidance you’ve given to me with your unique perspective, and it’s helped me so much. I might not entirely understand what it means to have a sibling, but I think if I were to have a kuya, it makes so much sense for it to be you.

Jolene and Autumn I’m not sure if y’all are reading this, but I really wanted to write this anyway. Jolene, I know we’ve had our differences, but I really appreciated having you as an ate. After being sorted into Bakunawa, I feel like you really encapsulated what our lineage was all about (and that happens to be many things). Autumn, I really wish I had the opportunity to talk to you more. You might be one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, and I think if I became active in FASA earlier, we could’ve been good friends. After my coffee chat with you two, I felt that I learned so much about FASA, and I felt that I got to know you both as well. You two were the inspiration for so much of my vision for FASA, and I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to meet you. 

Emily Paras Even though I started becoming active in FASA my winter semester of freshman year, I never met you during that time. So when I met you during the Buwan ng Wika picnic last year, I thought it was so surprising that you were on Board. During that picnic, I learned so much about FASA and Board from you, and even though I was still a bit nervous about going to FASA events, I felt so much comfort talking to you. You made me feel that everyone has a place in FASA, and I thank you so much for that.

(2) I never would have expected to learn about my culture in college. Having gone to the Filipino parties in my area, I falsely believed that I learned all that I needed to know. After having immersed myself in the many cultural aspects of the Philippines that FASA explores, I now know how much there is to learn. I learned dances, history, songs, Filipino words and phrases, and so much more. I love that FASA allowed me to explore parts of my culture that I was never able to before. 

(3) LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(4) I got COVID during the beginning of fall semester, so I was not able to go to mass meeting 😔I finally went to my first fall mass meeting when I was a junior though!!! (because I was running it)

(5)

10/10, would get left behind in a Speedway again.

(6) Let’s go in constitutional order for this one.

Alyssa Even though we both got sorted into the same lineage, at the start of our term, I still felt that I didn’t know you that well. Over time, I got to know you a bit more. I realized how naturally you conduct yourself as a leader, and I really admire that. I’m glad to have had my kambal as President.

Bryson I was really looking forward to working with you after elections. Even though the only thing we had in common was League, there was something about you that made me envision you as president. You helped make Board feel like such a fun and safe space, and I love that even though you were President, you contributed to FASA as if you were still Performance Chair.

Nicole I really appreciate how you are the comic relief of Board. You cheer everyone up with your presence, and it’s understated how much work you put in as Secretary. You were always so on top of it and able to fulfill our needs as Board. Although I’m sad we were never able to get WMPR as a room, perhaps the real WMPR was the friends we made along the way.

Andrew I was a bit nervous to be working alongside you this year. I was worried you would hold us to a higher standard since you were previously Social Chair, but I appreciate that you put some distance between us but gave us guidance when we needed it. I’m also glad we got to know each other a bit more. I now know you’re just a silly lil guy, and I really do think I could beat you in a fight 😛

Philip After meeting you at the Buwan ng Wika picnic last year, I had a feeling our paths would cross again eventually. I love that I was able to work alongside you for one and half years. I really admire how you remain composed and kind to everyone, even when a certain someone might be instigating. There’s so much to your personality, and it’s been fun continuously learning about you throughout my time in FASA.

[L]izzy I’m so grateful to have been an intern because if I hadn’t, I may have never gotten so close to you. You’re so kind to everyone, you’re so sincere, and you have such a powerful presence, and I appreciate all of it. Whenever I see you, I feel so comforted, so I always look forward to seeing you. P.S. Sorry for making meowing a habit 🐱

[M]izzy I’m so glad to have had you as my co. We supported each other through the ups and downs of being Social Chair, and this made the term so much easier. It was so enjoyable planning every event with you while we would get random songs stuck in each other’s heads. Whenever I felt stressed and we met up to work on events, you reminded me how much fun being Social Chair can be. I’m glad we started as friends and still remained friends until the end.

Eli There’s so much to you, Eli. Your honesty, your silliness, your passion, I admire all of it. I admire how you were able to say what others couldn’t, I admire how wild you can be sometimes, and I admire how much effort you put into the projects you care so much about. You have such a contagious energy, and I’ll miss it after my time on Board is over.

Therese I feel like I never truly appreciated how kind you are. You compliment so many people on Board well, and you have been such a great boardie to work with. I feel like we as an organization have been able to accomplish so much because of you and Sofia. 

Sofia Out of all the board members, I probably know you the least. But regardless, I think you’re such a funny person, and I appreciated your presence on Board. I really admire your work ethic and your dynamic with your co, and it’s clear how much you give for this organization.

Kendra I first got to know you through Adrian’s PCN dance last year. I remember learning why you became invested in FASA, and I admired you because of that. After that, I knew if you were to run for Board, I would be quick to support your endeavors. I appreciate how much work you and Ash have put into FASA; it’s really amazing what you two have been able to accomplish in just a year.

Ash Hey bro. Learning about you has been really interesting. Even though we were interns together, I never would’ve thought we’d become close. I suppose it’s been somewhat of a recent development, but I’m glad I was able to become closer friends with you. I love how much passion you put into FASA, and I also love the little dances I’d learn from you.

Zainab There’s so much I admire about you. I admire your professionalism, your aura, your work ethic, and your humor. I feel like you really put the “P” in “PD.” Even though we’re in the same grade, sometimes I find myself looking up to you. Well, that is until you say “meow” for your one-word check-in during Board. P.S. I also apologize making meowing a habit for you as well 🐱

Taryn Even though we don’t know each other that well, whenever I talk to you, it feels like we’ve been friends for a really long time. You always make me laugh, and you’re such a bright presence to have on Board. Even though my term with you will be over soon, I hope I’ll still have the opportunity to get to know you better.

Kayla It took a long time for it to register that you were my ate. Now, I realize how comfortable I am speaking to you about literally anything, as if you really were my ate. I’m grateful that I was able to work with someone like you. You’ve been such an important part of Board. You always give us your input and advice, and I’ve learned so much from you throughout our term.

Epilogue Pt. 2

When I started becoming active as a sophomore. I remember being distraught that I wasn’t able to be on Board with my fellow sophomores. But now, I think being on a Board as a junior makes so much sense. If I hadn’t, I may have never gotten to know you all. As a Board, we have done so much together; looking back, I can’t believe we thought it would all be feasible, let alone make it all happen. I thank you all for making my time on FASA Board so enjoyable and worthwhile. After writing all of this and remembering how much I loved my time on Board, perhaps I retract my previous statement of not wanting to do it all over again. 

Who knew people could change so quickly.

Hi! My name is Kendra but some of you may have met Tendra… Just FYI, those two are not the same. So, I would like to walk you through my journey being in FASA.

Chapter 1: Twin 1

I want to start by saying, I am not Filipino. I am Vietnamese. Going to UofM I didn’t really know what to expect or what to get involved in. It all started when freshman year I bumped into Ashley, who told me I should join FASA when I had brought up that I was from the Chicago area and did battle during high school. She mentioned that FASA went to Battle the previous year and was planning on taking a trip to UIUC for FACT, which I found really intriguing because many of my friends go there. She really gave me the rundown of how FASA worked and told me to sign up to be in a FAM/LIN and not even knowing what that might’ve meant for me, I trusted her and did it anyway. 

So… My first FASA “event” was actually an afterset at Ashley’s house where a handful of the other freshmen and I showed up for “anything but a cup” and of course… on time. Board was scrambling to set up still and I still remember that night very clearly and Amanda and Celeste showing up as animals hehe. 

At some point, people started mistaking me for Ashley and vice versa for some reason, and either you see the resemblance or you don’t. Regardless, she is still my twin.  But I want her to know  how much I appreciate her for all that she has done for me. 

Sorry Ashley for the rug!

Chapter 2: Twin 2

I pulled up to Halo Halloween with a group of friends dressed as Sanrio characters but little did I know my lineage was also Sanrio characters! 

Fast forward, now, here I am going to FACT with a group of people that I’ve never met before. I hop into the university van and the first thing Emily Paras says is “ I think you’re in my Lin”. Then Nate Tran says, “ I think you’re in my fam!”. Not knowing what any of that means I’m like “Oh, cool,”. This is where I’m sitting in the back seat with Jess and Adrian and they’re CODING. Anyway, we got there and Emily introduced me to Kris. She says “ This is your ate,” and that my lin twin, Sofia, wasn't able to make it because she was sick. Of course I had to stalk her but her following ratio was scary. I took this opportunity to find out more about performances and then joined PCN dances, which was one of the best decisions I’ve made. But also can we take a moment to acknowledge the fact that I won PUSO Merch through their giveaway?!

That night, we had a senior x freshman bonding session and during hot seat, I got asked which senior I was looking forward to getting to know and I said Kris because she’s my ate. 

So real quick shout out to Kris: Thank you Ate Kris for letting me, Sofia, and Jenny spend countless nights and hours at 815 talking about everything and anything. As your double ding, I have looked up to you in so many different ways and you have really made me feel comfortable in sharing whatever it is that I am going through. I can’t express how much of an inspiration you have been and I really hope that we will continue staying in touch. 

Shoutout to all the freshmen that I met here 🥹

Especially Eli who blew up the air mattress and woke up next to a cockroach!

Fast forward again, Kikilan was having their first lin hang at Slurping Turtle! This is where I met Sofia, so I guess we can call her Twin 2! I am going to skip over the lore but who would’ve thought that we would be bonding over being twins! I must say I love all my Kikilan girl bosses.

Chapter 3: Twin 3

Well now, I’m like “hmm, what if I became an intern?” 

I didn’t even apply l o l.

But this gave me the opportunity to get to know the other freshmen better. We had freshmen pre-games at Markley and more specifically Taryn’s dorm, and boy were they unforgettable memories that we created. 

Look at this one! 

Anyway who knew this Cali Boy would be the reason for the revival of Tendra…

Chapter 4: Throwback Tendra

So how did I end up in this position when I’m not even Filipino??? 

For some context, I am from Skokie, IL, the LARGEST village in the US. (Don’t ask me what that means). Going into high school, we had a huge Filipino student body and most of my friends since elementary school are Filipino. My sister and I both had good friends that were Filipino. Originally, I wasn’t too involved in my Filipino Club, Kapit Bayan because I was more focused on my other dance club. Until it was my sophomore year and all my friends had competed in Battle of the Bamboo and won third place, I was dragged to join and unfortunately during my year we did not win… But I must say it was a thrilling experience! From actually slicing my friend’s scalp to rolling off the 5 foot stage. (You can ask me about it after ) We were also one of, if not the biggest student organization. Right after, COVID hit. Then at the beginning of Junior year, I was asked by the current coordinators if I would be interested in helping coordinate battle with them. I was hesitant at first but then accepted anyway. I spent hours researching and story boarding and it was extremely hard during covid. However when senior year came along unfortunately I dropped out of being a coordinator. Still, I was very familiar with Filipino culture and always felt a sense of community.

Chapter 5: As(h)endra Arc

Back to the question of how did I even end up in this position? I received a message from Ash asking if I would be interested in running as his co because of my experience with Battle. Of course I was hesitant because I wasn’t sure if this was my place to step up in a leadership position especially since many times when I tell people I am in FASA, they always ask why I’m in it because I am not even Filipino. Many times this did make me feel weird about being so involved, but FASA itself has never made me feel like an outsider. I ended up running because I felt that Ash’s ambition to bring FASA back into Battle as a competitor was something that I could help bring to life. 

With both of us living being from Chicago or whatever, when summer hit, we spent hours and hours either just hanging out or working on FASA stuff. I must say, many of those hours were spent grinding Valorant… so @ FASA Hater we are coming for you this Rice Bowl. Even being in Chicago, we made the road trip back for Kalayaan and then Blondra became a thing!

Then when we got back to school, we were already sucked into the PCN grind. I just want to say that I am so proud of everyone who joined a performance even if it was their first time. Everyone truly grew so much and I hope everyone was able to get what they wanted to out of it. Everyone looked amazing on stage! Starting as a general member being on the outside of the circle to being the one saying the chant and starting the hype circle was such an amazing experience.

Then of course, Battle. We went through many battles with this. 17 hours of FASA for 5 weeks. How is that even real?! There were many times where Ash and I were really discouraged and worried about how our vision was gonna turn out. Many times where we were troubleshooting our story board, worrying about cultural accuracy, if we had the funds (*shoutout Andrew!!), and having enough people perform. It felt like a constant struggle with there being so many uncertainties going on and many times where neither of us wanted to do anything but we still pulled through. But even then, I felt confident that we would win. 

Again I would like to sincerely thank everyone who performed and helped us bring our vision to life. Thank you for your patience, and trusting us to lead you into Battle even when we were doing this for the first time, too. I really hope that you guys are proud of your accomplishments as much as I am proud of you all. 

But more importantly.

To Ash:

Hi. I know that we’ve gone through many ups and downs, but I’m glad that I was able to experience this with you. I would have to say that there were many times that I felt like we weren’t doing enough and it really stressed me out.  I know that I focused a lot on appreciating the general members, but I want to say that I acknowledge all the hard work that you have put into performance. Looking back at our year, we let our ambition drive us and it was a really fulfilling and full circle moment especially bringing home our well deserved trophy. I am really proud of us for being able to create FASA Pamana and bringing FASA back to Battle as a competitor. I am really happy with our results and thank you for bearing with me. I also had a lot of fun practicing for FASApalooza and I think our creativity really brought FASA performance to another level. I don’t know if I would’ve been able to grow this much if it were anyone else.  So once again, thank you for everything. It has been a pleasure working with you. 

Chapter 6: Back to Tendra

So, Tendra.. Tendra really started when Eli’s mom was guessing Taryn’s name before Kalayaan. Then for some reason, Philip Churchley says “It starts with a K and ends with Tendra,”. Now, Tendra has been revived! But also, for those of you who don’t know… people would mix me up with Taryn. This makes her Twin 4. In conclusion, I found my own little happy family within FASA. Papa Eli and his quadruplets: Tendra, Karyn, Pip, and Fifi. 

But lastly, my message to board as Kendra:

Dear Board,

Thank you for supporting me and Ash through our vision. I’m glad that I was able to start the Taho train. I appreciate all of you for all the hard work and dedication that you’ve put into making FASA a wonderful and welcoming community for me. I will forever cherish our memories together and wish you all the best in your future endeavors. And if you ever encountered Tendra, no you didn’t.

Contact Information

Therese Cerdan: (000) 612-7692 Yes, I am writing this testimonial like an external trip itinerary. No, I am not putting my actual phone number. Before I get into my reflections on being external, I’d like to thank some very important people! (and because contact info comes first in our itineraries)

Sofia Gestiada: (000) 259-9023 Hi Sofia. I truly truly could not have asked for a better co. You’ve genuinely made this experience being on board a fun one, and having to do work never felt super serious or daunting because of you. Whenever I began to overthink or worry too much about FASA things, you were able to help me take a step back and come up with good solutions. I am going to rave about you more in a later section, so I will keep this short for now.

Alyssa and Bryson Madame and Mister President! This club could not run without you. I appreciate how you both were always there to give us advice, especially on how to interact with other orgs. Alyssa– I always tell you that you would be an amazing external. I love yapping with you about the other externals and MAFA in general. Bryson– You are such a reliable person. If I ever asked something from you, you always came through (benches 😭🙏).

Ashley and Mikey You guys are the blueprint. Sofia and I both came into this position having not interned, so we for real did not know what was going on at first. Thank you for showing us the ropes and for your advice throughout the year!

Board!!! Nicole, Andrew, Lizzy, Philip, Zainab, Eli, Mizzy, Gabe, Kendra, Ash, Taryn, Kayla, Sofia, Alyssa, Bryson (+ interns :P) – I’ve had an amazing time with y’all. Thank you for putting up with us adding random events to the calendar.

Sophie and Angeli To the gals who convinced me to do board….spare change 🪙?

Meg and Kyle Had to shout out the OGs. My first FASA friends. Here is the day we first met KGR lol. I am also writing this on Megan’s bday (3/15) so everyone say happy late bday Meg.

Freshmen us at Fall mass meeting ‘21

Housing Addresses

Cebu, Philippines. My connection to Filipino culture stems directly from my parents. Both of them grew up, met, and got married in Cebu City, Philippines. They moved over to Michigan with a group of other Filipinos in their engineering company, whose kids I grew up with. Because of this, I was fortunately able to grow up with a close-knit Filipino community and attend many family parties. I knew that in college I would absolutely want to find a similar kind of community, which is why there was no question that I would join FASA.

Dearborn, Michigan. This is the city I was born in and went to elementary and high school in. Although I grew up going to Filipino parties and the fact that Dearborn is already one of the most diverse cities in Michigan, I attended a predominantly white, Catholic school for almost my entire life (I did live in Shanghai for 3 years but I don’t feel like writing a section on it. Ask me about it if you want lol). I had very conflicting views of my identity as a result. I was microaggressed as the smart Asian my whole life, but I took this as a compliment and was simultaneously proud to be the different kind of Asian (aka not East Asian, like most of the stereotypes). Regardless of these external factors, I have always been proud to be Filipino.

Ann Arbor, Michigan. My sister Audrey was in Fil-Soc at Wayne State and I had various family friends in FASOU and SAFA, so it was a no-brainer that I join FASA at UMich. But my freshman year, I was a commuter student and ended up going to maybe 3 FASA events. Since I lived at home, I spent a lot more time going to FilViet volleyball up in Waterford/ Troy, which is where I met so many of my external friends. I guess everything happens for a reason, because if I wasn’t so inactive my freshman year, I wouldn’t have met the externals and eventually run for external chair of FASA as a result. 

Me and the fam swimming with whale-sharks (butanding) in Cebu 2013

Packing List

An amazing co The most important part of your trip as external is having an amazing co-chair. Sofia Beatrice del Rosario Gestiada has been one of the people I admire most in my life. Not only did she support me professionally, but she became someone I could depend on just in life in general. Your co is there to balance you out and provide support when the job gets tough. Sofia never failed to make me laugh when times got stressful, which was often because we were truly in the trenches together this whole year (we don’t talk about October).

Be okay with saying no With that being said, if you do not want to be planning external event after event during your tenure, be okay with saying no to some things! This is definitely something that Ashley and Mikey told us, but alas we did not listen. Oftentimes, FASA would be invited to join other internal events after we had finalized our calendar for the semester. Because we so loved our fellow A/PIA orgs, we wanted to join events when they invited us. Regardless, I have no regrets about any of the external events we planned and joined because they were genuinely all so fun and I loved working with the other externals/ outreach chairs.

A vision You have to want to build FASA’s connections with other orgs in order to perform this position correctly. There’s no question about that. Growing up, I had always known FASA as the “clique-y” Filipino org. During my whole term, I tried to help board and general members realize that external connections, both in and outside of the UM community, are important. You love the Filipino community found within FASA– why not expand it further within MAFA (Midwest Association of Filipino Americans)! Whether this worked or not, I am very proud of FASA stepping out of its comfort zone to interact with other orgs, especially the PSAs (Pilipino Student Associations). 

Connections! (not required) As I’ve been saying, my existing connections within the other PSA’s were the main reason I wanted to be an external chair. Not only was this helpful in shaping my vision, but it also helped make communication with them pretty efficient throughout the year. In fact, it happened quite serendipitously that both the Fil-Soc and Kapa external chairs this year were people I grew up with (s/o John Paul and Spencer), among other family friends on various PSA boards. But having prior connections are by no means requirements to do a good job as external! It’s all about how you build and maintain relationships, and wanting to build them in the first place. In my position, I’ve been able to meet and get to know so many of the amazing externals and outreach chairs of both internal and external orgs.

Baby me, Bea (Purdue PFA), JP (Fil-Soc), Spencer (Kapa), and Anton (SAFA) balling out

Itinerary

Now let’s get into some of the cool events that Sofia and I got to put on as externals!

Rice Bowl This was Sofia and I’s first event. Rice Bowl is an annual field day/ sports competition with MSU’s PASS in April/ May. It felt like we were thrown into it, having hosted it in AA for the first year since covid. This was a huge learning curve for me especially in figuring out how to work with non-FASA boardies, but luckily we had a lot of past documents to rely on (RIP FASA archives 💔). It’s amazing that we are able to maintain connections with another org through an annual event, so I’d love to see more FASA programs like this (hint hint @ next externals). Anyways, I believe that we will win Rice Bowl next year guys! Pls!!

Internal collabs During the FASA welcome week extravaganza of 2023, Sofia and I hosted our first internal collab! It was a cultural game night on the Diag with TASA. This semester, we also got to plan a huge tailgate with VSA, MSU PASS, and MSU VSA in East Lansing and it was just a swell, fun and safe time. We further bonded with the other UMich APIDA orgs during the Halloween LIVE collab, Celebrasia, ice skating night with CSA, and VSA’s annual Sweet Soiree. This semester, we were able to pull off probably one of the most rewarding events for me, which was Tsismis en el Barrio with La Casa. Being able to reflect on the shared culture and identity between the Filipino and Latinx peoples was an experience I will never forget. I hope this event returns sometime in the coming years.

Battle of the Bamboo 2024 This deserves its own category y’all. I am so beyond proud of our performance chairs and all the performers for all the work they put in to win us 3rd place! It makes the 3 hours a day working on spreadsheets for 2 weeks straight almost worth it! 😀Kidding. Not really. The trip to Chicago was the most demanding task of my time as external. But honestly, it was so worth it to hear how much of a fun time our general members had in Chicago. And it was really fun to make cars and houses and plan out what performers and non-performers should do with their time away from Ann Arbor. 

Music committee slay

Afterset Info 😛

Being on board felt like a never-ending party. I have never felt so encompassed by a community to the point where Filipinos and Filipino culture are found in all aspects of my life. Everywhere I go on campus now, I am able to see a familiar face, which makes this huge campus feel a lot smaller. Becoming an active member in FASA through being on board has been one of my favorite experiences in college. It’s opened so many doors for me not only socially and culturally, but professionally as well. It’s allowed me to make connections and learn about opportunities that will benefit me in my future career endeavors. Like many other boardies, I have wondered what comes next after FASA, but now I realize that FASA truly set me up for a great future. Being on a board like this teaches you so many soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and logistics planning. Most importantly, my time on board and in FASA has made me decide to pursue Philippine studies in my future anthropological research. 

To finish off this itinerary of my trip as co-external chair, I would like to wish the best of luck to our future boardies and next year’s external chairs. I know you will do great things <3

Inserting a pic of my Lakapati lin girlies bc I love them so

Ingat,

Five, six, seven, eight. And it begins.

I started my journey with Filipino culture in high school. I auditioned for the Filipino club at my school, “Kapamilya Habang Buhay”. I practiced and practiced and practiced every day after school preparing for our school’s International Night. 2 hours, 5 days a week, I danced until my shins trembled with pain. And I loved every second of it. I didn’t know anything about Filipino culture before I joined this club. But through the members and the practices, I learned so much. At family parties, I always ate the eggrolls. After a year in Filipino club, I realized I always ate the lumpia. Never before have I felt so connected to my culture. I started calling myself Filipino proudly.

My final performance with Kapamilya Habang Buhay was Battle of the Bamboo. While I was here, performing the biggest, best performance I’ve put on so far at this stage, I watched colleges perform their dances. They told stories and myths from Filipino folklore through dance, something that I never got the chance to do. Tinikling was all I ever did in dance. By this time, I didn’t know I was going to Michigan at this point, but I looked at the names on the back of the shirt I bought at the merch stand, FASA’s name nowhere to be found.

Freshman year, I find myself in the diag staring at a Filipino flag and a bamboo stick high in the sky. I learned about FASA, attended the events, and joined a dance. Another notable thing was hearing the Tinikling music live at an SEAS event - something I’ve only ever heard from a recording on Spotify. I was flooded with emotions, so much so that it almost flooded down my face. This was important for later. In the dance, I impressed the  choreographers (my boy and best friend B-sone included), and they knew it all made sense when I said I came from KHB like Christine (shoutout her). I made some of my closest friends through dance and after every practice I looked forward to the next. Practices also helped me grow into a person that I never thought I’d be. Before FASA, before college, I was never this comfortable with who I was and sharing that with everyone else. Performance was how I grew my love for FASA and deepened my love for Filipino culture. I loved the practices, the bonding, and the pounding of my heart as I prepared to step on stage. I continued into FASA as an intern, and after that, I decided to run for board. Before I was on board, I wrote a message to myself at the “IAmFilAm” event. 

Dear me, 

In the past, you didn’t know a lot about Filipino culture, but over the years, you have learned a lot more. You are growing your cultural identity. I hope you are continuing this growth and meeting your new people. I hope you are doing well and hopefully on board. Did we win Battle? Did you make a new dance group within FASA? Solidify your legacy.

Five, six, seven, eight. And it continues.

It started with PCN. I went back to my roots and taught Tinikling. Not Modern Tinikling. Tinikling. I taught the dance the way it was taught to me. Except this time, not with the music from Spotify, but with live music from PACEMI (shoutout them oh my I don’t know where I’d be without them). I fostered a community within my dancers that allowed them to express and learn about their culture in a way they could be proud of. It also served as a way for me to see just how much I’ve grown.

The largest feat of my tenure was placing third at Battle under the name “FASA Pamana” (legacy (solidified)). When I first ran for board, returning FASA to competing at Battle of the Bamboo was my vision and most ambitious goal. I couldn’t have done it without Kendra (shout the [redacted] out to her). We choreographed, practiced, planned, and studied for hours on end preparing for our dance. If there was anyone who poured their heart, soul, passion, blood, time, and culture into FASA, it was us. Battle was my medium in which I showed what FASA really meant to me - what being Filipino really meant to me. I love being Filipino. 

Culture is really a performance in itself. You find yourself in your dance, in your culture. You take every step with intention. You lose yourself in your dance. You express yourself in your dance. And after that, you watch yourself and see all that you’ve done. But the thing that’s different about culture and a performance is that the performance is on stage. Culture is like a performance that you put on for an empty audience. For a crowd that consists of your reflection on the mirrors made of only your own being. Something only you need to be proud of. 

In these words, I’m painting a picture on what my internal performance looks like. This is the one dance I will never finish choreographing.

Five. Six. Seven. Eight. And counting.

Thank you, FASA. 

There was one more thing I wrote in the letter to myself: 

Introduction

Hi. My name is Zainab Ahmad (zay-nub eh-med), and I am a fiend for boba. That’s what everyone says, though, right? Yes, but dare I even call myself a connoisseur, I have the credentials to prove it:

I worked at CoCo in my junior and senior years of high school (yes, the one on north campus)

I worked at Sharetea my freshman year of college

I had 200 boba drinks in 2021 (I counted)

I won free boba for a year from Palgong

I have a private story (called bobruh 🧋) where I rate boba every time I get it

I absolutely demolished PASS in the boba drinking competition at Rice Bowl ‘23 (we still lost overall ʕ ´•̥̥̥ ᴥ•̥̥̥`ʔ )

POV: you’re beating PASS @ the boba drinking section of the eating comp @ Rice Bowl ‘23

Thus, you can clearly see I have a(n) mild obsession. Thank God I don’t have diabetes!

Wait, what does any of this have to with FASA? Actually, for my testimonial, I will be comparing my experiences regarding FASA to boba drinks. Let’s get into it.

Taro milk tea ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

Respectfully, taro milk tea is the most basic boba drink. It’s by no means bad if taro is your favorite, but it does mean your taste is basic (and that it completely ok ദ്ദിʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ). We all start somewhere on our boba journey, and more often than not it’s with taro (myself included)! How could this possibly intertwine with my FASA origin story?? You guessed it– like so many other FASA members, I went to one FASA event in freshman year and dipped until sophomore year.

Let’s run it back to winter 2021 of my freshman year– technically the first FASA event I went to was mass meeting. But guess what! I attended on Zoom and did not really engage with anything!

So, the first FASA event I truly attended was FAM/lin reveal. I honestly don’t know what compelled me to fill out the form to join a FAM, but I do recall going to Rackham, sitting at a table watching the lin reveals (at this point I did not know what a lineage was so I did not opt to be in one), then the FAM reveals began and I was on the edge of my seat. It was down to me either being placed in H.A.M. or $WAG and truthfully I was hoping for $WAG just because the possibility of the Muslim girl being in H.A.M. would be… interesting (for context, Muslims do not eat pork). Then lo and behold I was placed in $WAG ฅʕ⭑ﻌ⭑ʔฅ I thought it was cute how my new FAM members and I all sat together in a circle & introduced ourselves, and I left that event feeling a little bit closer to FASA.

Taken after my first real FASA event! Idk why I called it a meeting tho!

Then I fell off the face of the Earth in regards to FASA events & didn’t go to anything until the fall mass meeting of my sophomore year (lol but nobody’s laughing)  ₊ ⊹ʕ – ᴥ – ʔ

Thai milk tea ʕづ๑•ᴥ•๑ʔづ♡

By thai milk I specifically mean Ding Tea’s thai milk tea  – my favorite milk tea! But only the version prior to Winter ‘24 (because they changed the recipe this semester ʕ ꆤ ᴥ ꆤʔ). Anyways, as I became more active in FASA as a general member in my sophomore year, I had so much fun! I finally got sorted into a lineage in Fall ‘22 (darago!) & enjoyed debriefing with people that I probably would have never spoken to if it weren’t for FASA.

Darago @ PCN Centennial ୧ʕ•̀ᴥ•́ʔ୨

I never considered myself a dancer (& still don’t tbh) but I learned tinikling for the first time, sucked at it, but eventually danced to Industry Baby at PCN

+ learned to dance like an elegant lady through performing pag-apir at both PCN & Battle

Chins up for pag-apir!

+ danced like a duck by doing itik-itik for Kalayaan.

I wanted to dip my toes into being more integrated with FASA than just being a general member & a performer, so I joined the yearbook committee! I always thought graphic design was fun, & I enjoyed the creative liberties the yearbook gals & I took to make last year’s yearbook <3

I designed the fit check page (right) ᵔᴥᵔ

I enjoyed the FASA community so much that I wanted to contribute to it more as a board member. Thus, I ended up running for both S’Advocacy & PD because I thought my prior experiences/skills aligned well with both roles (fun fact: I was the only applicant who ran for two positions last year). As you can see, I became the 2023 - 2024 Professional Development Chair, & I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

PD lin!

Wintermelon milk tea ⍝ʕ´•ᴥ•`ʔ⍝

I feel like not many people have gotten into wintermelon milk tea, but it’s really good and underrated. I would down it so fast when I worked at Sharetea. So good. But, as we all know, too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing. Woah, this seems like it’s about to go downhill. Let me explain.

Transitioning into when I became a full-fledged boardie & started being one of the people behind the scenes of the ever-loved FASA events, I learned a lot about myself as a leader & about my personal characteristics. A lot of time goes into being a boardie, & being on board made me get my planning skills down to a T– despite me thinking they were already good. I experienced a lot of ups & downs as a boardie, & I utilized my experiences as learning opportunities. I currently am on two other boards (shoutout NOiR & IMSA lol), but I have never seen on organization value community as much as FASA does, & I think that’s something to be treasured.

Board @ senior farewell fresh outta the womb for one of our first events together

As I write this in my final month as your Professional Development chair, I feel ready to pass the baton off to the next. Being a FASA boardie has definitely been a good thing, but I have reached a point where I believe our organization could benefit from someone with a fresh perspective. Time for something new. I have had the great pleasure of being PD chair, & I hope that our members only continue professionally developing!

Hands up, time’s over!

Kita kits,

Cameraphobe = someone with the fear of being in front of a camera and having their picture taken 

Hello FASA, 

It is I, Taryn, the person behind the camera who is always running around at events asking you to smile and pose. As my time on board is near the end, I can’t help but look back at how far I’ve come in this org as well as think about how nice it felt to not be the focus of a camera for a while. Now, I do realize the irony in giving tips on avoiding the camera while using photos of myself, but these are the ones out of thousands of photos that just happened to turn out good. So if you are like me and are a cameraphobe, then here are some steps that I took that I think can help prevent the inevitable photo of you lacking. 

*Disclaimer* This is 100% NOT foolproof so I am not responsible for any photos that may catch you lacking (jk that probably was my fault lolz im sorry)

Step 1: Go to a FASA event 

My first touch with FASA was at the beginning of freshman year, when the Filipino girl who lived down the hall from me at Markley texted me, asking if I was gonna go to FASA’s FAM/Lin event. I barely knew her, or much about FASA, but I was intrigued by the idea of a Filipino club so I said “I’ll go if you go.” The next thing I know a couple weeks later, she and I are walking to the event wondering if there was gonna be food and what the event was gonna be like. Little did I know that I ended up walking there with one of my future best friends, was sorted into the best FAM (shoutout $WAG), somehow missed the lineage sorting form, and was gonna get caught lacking. 

Me + said girl from down the hall (aka Sofiaaaa) at FAM/Lin Reveal

Step 2: (if given the opportunity) Go to FACT

To be honest, I didn’t go to anything FASA related after FAM/LIN until FACT came around. I actually signed up to go at FAM/Lin with Sofia (the girl from down the hall) because going to UIUC for the weekend seemed like fun. I was honestly so excited to go to UIUC for the weekend but I was also extremely nervous because I didn’t know anyone else going except Sofia. But then she ended up getting sick and couldn’t go, so essentially I went to Illinois knowing NO ONE, but I wouldn’t change it for a thing. It was at FACT where I really got to know people in FASA and where I realized that FASA was something I truly wanted to be a part of.

I can’t believe freshman me got in a car with people I’ve never met before and went to UIUC  

The freshmen room except I didn’t get put in the freshmen room. Still had a lot of fun though!!

Step 3: Integrate yourself into FASA

After FACT, I tried to go to as many events as I could and even applied to become an intern!!

But that didn’t really work out… 

But (spoiler alert) everything ended up working out in the end! I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and since I got rejected from being an intern, I was able to get to know more people in FASA at events and really enjoy the fun of being a general member. 

During my active era:

I (finally) got sorted into a lineage, which I love so so so much and am quite literally obsessed with. 

TIGGYYYY

I constantly had the freshmen over at my dorm before every afterset iykyk. 

I went to Chicago for Battle, which really felt like a big giant sleepover with my friends.

Who would have ever thought that the FIRST co-media chairs would be in this car on the way home from battle

And I got to do so much more all while having fun and creating some of the best friendships I’ve ever had through FASA. 

Like this one. 

And this one.

How could I ever forget this one.

And most importantly this one.

Step 4: Run for Media Chair 

The best way to ensure you won’t be in front of the camera is by being behind it all the time!

By the time election season was coming around, I was on the fence about running for board because I wasn’t sure if a) people knew who I was and b) if I was even qualified to do so. I was so hesitant and so secretive about it (and for what???) that I only told 3 people I was running. And even then, I told them I was running for either socials or externals, NOT media. After coffee chatting my media ates Emily and Michelle, I realized that I was just as qualified as everyone else to run for board, and that if I wanted my vision to come to life then I should run. So I did. And then I was able to avoid the camera for a year :)

Media Lin <33333 (also who let me wear cheetah print pants to elections???)

During my time as media chair I have gotten to see and capture moments where people are creating friendships or where they are finally connecting to their own culture, and it has been so fun to watch and be a part of. Truly this position was an opportunity I never knew I needed. Looking back at the beginning of my freshman year to now, I have grown so much creatively and as a leader. Not only that, but I have also learned so much about my culture and how I can let it be a significant part of my life. So because of that, being on board and being media chair will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Step 5: Ummmm

So actually I don’t know what step comes next after being media chair, but that’s something for me to figure out now. But It’s looking like I’ll have to come up with a new plan for avoiding the camera. 

All I know is that I owe A LOT to board. Thank you guys for being patient with me (and Kayla) when we turned you into impromptu models for board photo shoot. And then when you had to do it again another day for the group photo. Thank you for listening to us at the end of every board meeting when we were always the last to go. Thank you for all supporting and hyping us up in every creative endeavor we had. And thank you all for being such eager and hardworking people and for letting us be a part of each and every one of your events. I am so proud of everything that you all have accomplished and I hope you know that after our terms that we are not just fellow board members but friends as well. 

My favorite impromptu models <3

And of course, I know I owe MUCH MORE to my wonderful co. Kayla, you have been such a rock for me this year and I don’t think I've thanked you enough for it. You pick up where I slack off and you push me to be more creative and a better co each and every day. Thank you so much for supporting my ideas and helping me bring them to life. Thank you for being patient with me and for always listening to my rants and ranting with me. You make me feel sane and seen :) On another note, thank you for always laughing at my jokes and telling me I’m funny. It always makes my day when you say that <3 

And lastly, thank you FASA. You have been a community that will forever feel like family. It has been such a pleasure getting to capture FASA’s memories with my camera, and I can’t wait to see what the next media chairs do (it better not be catching me lacking). 

With peace and love, 

Okay, let's do this one last time, yeah? For real this time. This is it. My name is Amanda. I was bitten by a radioactive spider. And for like 364 days (I counted), I've been one of FASA’s Co-presidents. I’m pretty sure you know the rest…a couple mass meetings, a few FAM/Lineage reveals, Halo-Haloween, Couzens MPR, CHAMPAIGN ILLINOIS, October burnout, PCN, BOTB, and so much more.

No, but in all seriousness, I can’t believe I am writing my second, and last, FASA e-board testimonial. If you asked me last year if I saw myself as one of FASA’s Co-presidents, the answer would be absolutely not. Even before election season, my roommates and I would sit and contemplate who we thought would be in each executive board position. Not once during this “fantasy e-board” (Caldito, 2023) did I draft myself as president. If anything I thought I was more suited as a secretary. But somewhere along the way, I gained a different perspective. I took a minute for myself and thought about the direction I wanted FASA to head in. After I had that in my mind, I asked myself if it was possible to implement these changes outside the presidential position. Would I be able to accomplish the things I wanted without the resources that came with being co-president? And I think we can all guess what conclusion I came to.

Now officially, being a FASA co-president involves overseeing and delegating the rest of the FASA executive board. Overall, it’s their responsibility to ensure that FASA is upholding its three pillars of community, culture, and outreach. Unofficially, being a FASA co-president was the most challenging and rewarding thing I have ever done. There were times when I felt like I was a friend, a mom, a therapist, or generally just someone trying to put out fires where I could. But if I had the chance to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. Even during the most exhausting and frustrating moments in the position, I was so grateful to have these experiences. 

As my time as a co-social chair came to an end, I knew I wasn’t ready to leave the e-board. I believed that I still had growth inside the organization that I wanted to achieve. Essentially, I had so much left to give to FASA, and I wasn’t quite ready to let it go. I am ready now. It’s bittersweet saying goodbye and stepping down. But I leave knowing that I have learned so much by being a leader in FASA. I have become confident, not only in myself but in my cultural identity. And that is thanks to my time both on board and in FASA.

Coming into college, I was so disconnected from my cultural identity. I grew up knowing virtually nothing about Philippine culture. No one ever talked about the Philippines around me growing up. And besides the occasional lumpia or adobo, Filipino food was not made in my house. I was never given the chance to learn what being Filipino meant. So, even though my cousin (Samuel Dennis Baine) was encouraging me to join FASA as soon as I got accepted into Umich, I planned not to. In fact, I even remember telling my mom that I wouldn't fit in because I wasn’t “Filipino” enough. Luckily, Sam didn’t take no for an answer and he all but forced me to FASA’s welcome weekend. And I am forever grateful that he did. By making me come to welcome weekend he set off this crazy chain reaction that led me from general member to FASA intern to social chair to one of FASA’s co-presidents. 

To Board, first of all, I am so incredibly proud of each and every one of you. I don’t think any of you hear it enough, but you all have done such amazing work. Honestly, you all were half the reason I wanted to run for president to begin with. I wanted to be there to watch every single one of you grow into your positions. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more ambitious or creative board. 

Justine, remember when I compared you to a blizzard? Well, I still double down on that. You are truly a force of nature. You are diligent, kind, and a true girlboss always. 

Sophie, You have the ability to make anyone feel welcome and laugh for no less than ten minutes straight (to this day I am still laughing about the thumb joke you told me).  

Alyssa, your passion and drive for not just FASA and its members, but towards the history and culture of the Philippines is truly an inspiration.  

JC, you always account for every aspect and person on board, making sure nothing and no one goes unnoticed or is left behind (also thank you so much for always giving me a ride home after my shifts at the hospital). 

Angeli, I loved watching you grow this year. You are so creative in many ways that I can’t wrap my head around it. I am in awe of everything you have accomplished, and I can’t wait to see what else you do.

Andrew, your love for FASA is so evident in everything you do. The initiative and ability you have at reaching out to people and making them feel heard is not something everyone can do (also lowkey I will miss bringing snacks for you during our board meetings). 

Kyle, you are so genuine and kind. At every board meeting, I could count on you for a smile. I will truly miss working with you.

Ashley, you are incredible. You are kind, driven, smart, and beautiful. You have approached the external chair with such professionalism that I believe people can learn from you.

Mikey, you are probably one of the hardest workers I know. The drive with which you approached External Chairs this year truly changed the position for the better. Thank you for setting such a great precedent. 

Caitlin, you inspire me every day with your kindness and ambition. The way you have balanced performance duties and nursing is crazy to me. Every decision you make is always done with someone in mind. You make sure everyone feels included.

Bryson, the dedication you have for FASA is amazing. You truly give 110% not just in your position and performance, but in all things FASA related. I have loved watching you grow into the leader you are today.

Christian, I am so thankful that we convinced you to run for the board. Having you has been such a great asset. You never falter in lending a helping hand to anyone. Your generosity and warm personality makes you a great friend and board member.

Emily, the work you have put into FASA is indescribable. You were quite literally doing the work of two people AND you were doing it with such a positive attitude. You are genuinely such an amazing individual and I am so grateful to have been given the chance to work with you.

Together, as a board, we hit the ground running from the very start to make our version of FASA You have all gone above and beyond my expectations, and have accomplished more than I ever thought possible. Yes, we had our ups and downs. But what family doesn’t? I just want to let you know that I am so thankful to have worked with you all <3

To Celeste, the love and care you have for this organization is undeniable. Your passion for FASA and Philippine culture was always so evident to me. You inspire me with how intentional you are in your relationships. You never fail at checking in on those around you and making sure they are doing well. I never got to truly thank you enough for stepping up and helping me when I was going through a hard time in November. You made sure I wasn’t getting overwhelmed by FASA tasks and were always there to lend help. I am so thankful that you and I were cos together. I want you to know that I am proud of the person you have grown into over this year. Thank you for all the laughs, memories, and late-night emergency meetings - xoxo

To Emily and Michelle, you both deserve such a big shoutout. You have been my support system since day one. I love being able to talk to you both about my day, board, FASA, literally anything. I can always count on you to have my back through anything. You have both helped me in more ways than I can describe, and I want you both to know you are some of the most important people in my life. Emily, your mindfulness and reflectiveness has been such a blessing to me. You are constantly teaching me new ideas and ways of thinking. And I think out of everyone, you have helped ground me the most. Michelle, there has not been one instance where I have not felt loved and welcomed by you. You are the embodiment of a ray of sunshine. I want you to know that you are such a big source of happiness in my life and always will be. I love you both beyond words. Thank you for helping me grow into the person I am today.

To Alyssa and Bryson, I am so excited for you both to be the next FASA co-presidents! The FASA I entered my freshman year is not the same one Celeste and I are handing off to you. The organization as a whole is constantly evolving and growing. But I want you both to know that I believe you are the best two individuals to help lead FASA through this growth. I am confident that you both will create a supportive environment that allows the board and FASA to grow to their fullest potential. I know FASA is in great hands, and I am confident in both of you. You are going to love watching your board members learn the ins and outs of their positions. You are also going to be equally in awe and in fear of their ambitious ideas. Don't be afraid to ground their ideas when necessary. Remember to take care of yourselves and look out for one another. The position isn’t easy but support from both of you and the rest of your board will make it worth it. Please reach out if you need anything at all. I am truly so happy for both of you. Good luck next year!

To FASA, thank you for being the community I needed when I entered college. You paved the way for me to educate myself about Philippine culture through workshops, services, and events. You taught me more languages, histories, and traditions than I ever knew existed. For the first time, I feel connected to my cultural identity, and that is thanks to you. You also made it possible to meet some of my closest friends. So thank you so much for all of that. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully articulate how grateful for the effect you have had on me. Just know that it has helped me more than you will ever know. 

FASA I have loved working with you for the past two and half years, but I am officially ready to retire! 

Dear Andrew

Look at goofy 18-year old me right after graduation. 

Yo! What’s up, 18 year-old me! I know you’re enjoying your summer before you go to college for the first time but I wanted to write to you because I know you’re scared. There’s so much uncertainty going into college. I know you’re thinking “How am I going to make friends? What am I going to do with all my freetime? How do I have a meaningful college experience?” Well, I’m going to answer all those questions and in a way that we’d understand: music! The best way I can describe your first two years of college is that it's like a song. There are so many different, yet interconnected parts that all come together to create an incredibly unforgettable experience. So younger me, this is the song that is FASA.

Chapter 1: THAT CHUNKY BASS 

My first FASAPalooza. This was the birth of the blindfolded bandit.

Nothing hooks you in more than a really catchy bass line. Something about that deep sound makes you want to keep listening. Do you remember during junior year, Mango made you speak in a zoom meeting about what it was like to go to the Philippines? Little did we know that that was the first note of the bass line. The rest of the bass line will come in the form of Mango dragging you to a party and Fall Mass Meeting. Here, you will meet the most incredible group of people (and the most Filipinos you’ve seen outside of the Philippines). You’re going to meet many of your best friends, study buddies, and dance partners here. These will be the people who will make you laugh until you have torso convulsions, they will be there at your lowest, they will make you feel special and cared about, and most importantly, will accept you for who you are. Now, I know that we were not very invested in our culture so it may seem weird that a Filipino culture club is where you end up spending most of your time, but I promise you won’t regret it. 

Chapter 2: Play dem chords

Wow, my first friends in FASA.

Now that you’ve been hooked by the bass, let's add some chords to fill in the space, set the tone for the rest of the song, and build a foundation for the most interesting parts. You will very quickly realize that there are so so many opportunities for you to get involved and it can be overwhelming at times. You’ll go to Tinik on the Diag and discover your love for Tinikling. You’ll go to Fasapalooza and find out very quickly that there are so many talented people in FASA. You’ll find yourself at Halo-Halloween Fortnite dancing with people you’ve just met. And at Pasko, you’ll be singing karaoke with your fam. There’s so much that happens so quickly, and you will be so excited to go to all of these events. Like chords, there will be major highs, minor lows, moments that will augment your character, and others that will keep you in suspense. But I promise, it will be a chord progression that is so interesting, that you will enjoy every second of it.  

Chapter 3. Gettin that drum groove

The culmination of the intern program : An Evening With FASA. It was after this event that I knew for sure that I wanted to be on Board.

Let’s add some drums to the song. The drums are the energy of the song. They set the pace and give a sense of progression and excitement. From here on, the pace will start to pick up. You’ll go to your first PCN, and it will be an incredible experience. You’ll perform a couple of times in the night and enjoy many others. You’ll even host your first dorm rager. That’s not all though. You’re now officially an intern. You’re going to get really involved and have a chance to learn the ins and outs of what makes FASA. The pace will start to pick up very quickly as you go to weekly board meetings, and plan An Evening With FASA. I know that sounds scary, but I promise that you will have an incredible sense of satisfaction and fulfillment when it's all over. It will be so strong in fact, that you will decide that you’ll decide to run for board. And let me tell you, that is the best decision you’ve ever made. 

Chapter 4. Insane stanky face from killer vocals

Oh no! After everyone escaped the escape room, Andreli decided to crash the whippopotamus!

The spotlight is on. All the instruments have been building up to this moment. The second that the vocals start, everything comes together. Your time as Social Chair will fly by in a second. I know we both love a witty, creative lyric. And believe me, this song is filled with incredibly creative lyrics. I can very vividly remember pouring our heart into our first event: Senior Farewell. You’ll plan so many memorable events including Spirit Week, Mass Meeting, Halo-Halloween, and Pasko. You’ll even put on a new event: Va-lin-tines Day Social. In this song, there are multiple times that the vocalist does an insane run that blows everyone away. Every week your creativity will be put to the test as you try to make the most complex events possible. That really shows in both FAM/Lineage Reveals that you will plan. There’s so much I could say about being social chair but I wouldn’t want to spoil everything :)

I know that it seems like a really daunting task to have to put on this many events and be in the spotlight so often. So here’s my advice to you and for any future social chairs. Have fun! Social chair has the most creative freedom and it’s a great chance to express yourself. Learn your limits! Social Chair is one of the most work intensive positions. You’ll consistently have a high workload and you’ll have to balance a lot of different responsibilities. Find a groove that works for you and stick to it. Utilize the rest of your board as a resource. You’re not doing this alone so don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself. 

Chapter 5. The best co-writer

Andreli after our very first Social event, Senior Farewell. I could never forget that feeling of deep satisfaction and fulfillment after we pulled this off.

Many good songs have multiple writers. They help bounce ideas off each other, they cover your weaknesses and amplify your strengths, and they’ll be there when you need them to be. Andrew, we are so unbelievably lucky to have an incredible co-chair. Let me tell you a little bit about her. Angeli is, to put it simply, exactly like us. She’s stubborn, always busy,  a perfectionist, ambitious, and just as egotistical as us. However, you’ll come to find that she’s kind, funny, easy to talk to, and incredibly fun to work with. Because you’ll share similar values, goals, and visions, it will be very easy for you two to work towards accomplishing all that you want. She’ll inspire you everyday to be better. She’ll help keep you on track with all the responsibilities you’ll have. She’ll make every meeting you have with her super fun. She’ll be there when you need her most (expect when she gets covid for the 3rd time and doesn’t make it to Fall Mass Meeting 👺). She’ll help you bring the change that you want to see. 

But most importantly, she’ll be one of your best friends. You’ll have a lot of inside jokes together, and both of you will do things different from the rest of the board. You guys will have a co-name, have a signature signoff and handshake, you’ll plan a trip to Boyne, steal the P.O.T.T.E.R. Trophy with her, kidnap the FAM Heads with her, devise an escape room with her,  and create a whole new social event. Together you guys are unstoppable. So my advice to you, 18 year-old me, is to show her the appreciation she deserves. She’ll do so much for you so try not to make fun of her too much. She’s one of a kind and I couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone else.

Chapter 6. The most sexy, beautiful, ear-pleasing guitar solo

Catrina and I performing Locked Out of Heaven at An Evening With FASA. I’ll never forget the way the crowd sang with us!

Hey me, there are not many things we love more than a good guitar solo. The guitar solo is often our favorite part of a song. It gives the guitarist a chance to show off and share their passion with others. You’ll have a lot of moments that embody that exact feeling. FASAPalooza will reignite (haha, you’ll get that joke later)  your passion for performing. It will be the birth of the blind bandit. You’ll share the stage with many people, including the incredibly talented Catrina when you perform together at An Evening With FASA. You’ll discover a passion for tinikling and you’ll perform that a couple of times. You’ll even start  (and be the leader) a boy band with the other guys on board. Shoutout to BoardTown. However, my favorite performance will be this year's PCN. You’ll get the chance to perform with Greenwood, a band you’ll start at the end of freshman year, and end up leading sophomore year. It will be an absolute pleasure sharing the stage with such talented people who share the same passion we do. I hope you really cherish these moments as they will often be the best memories you’ll make. 

Chapter 7. “You’re doing what with a mango?”

Wow look at me copying you again

It seems like your song is almost done. However, every good artist draws inspiration from other incredible artists. They’ll take what they learn from their role models and try to make it better while also putting their own personal spin on things. That is no different here. Mango will be your main source of inspiration during your time in FASA. He’s been that way our entire lives but it especially rings true during our time in college. You will come to Mango a lot for guidance. He’s the one who roped you into FASA in the first place after all. We’ve been trying to copy him all our life and fortunately it's the same here. He will be the main reason why you become an intern. You’ll then follow in his footsteps and become Social Chair.  A lot of your ideas you’ll use for Social Chair will come from him.  You’ll even go to him when you consider rerunning for board. He will always be there for you when you need him. He is an incredible resource not only for advice but for motivation as well. Thank him. Make sure he knows how much you value his opinions, thoughts, and advice. He’s an incredible source of inspiration for you and you should be proud that he is. I know that you already think this at this point, but he really is our Kuya.

Chapter 8. Mix it Mix it Mix it 

There’s no way I was the first one out during water wars

You’ve got your bass as a hook, you’ve got your chords to set the tone, you’ve got your drums to get the energy going, you’ve got your singer to steal the show, you’ve got your co-writer to work with, you’ve got your guitar solo to showcase your talent, and you’ve got your source of inspiration. The last step is putting it all together with a mixing and mastering team. In order to mix and master your song, you will need a team of highly skilled individuals to put their personal talents together to make one cohesive song. That team is this year’s board. Each person on board is unique not only in their individual talents and skills, but also in their personalities. They each have their own unique visions that come together to form a board that wants to create the best possible experience for other people. I am so honored to be on board with such awesome, fun and unique people. You’ll learn a lot about each other and yourself. I hope you enjoy getting to know each person because they all have something special to offer you. Make sure to also show them your appreciation because they will make your time on board meaningful and full of laughs. These are the people you will be spending most of your time with. Unfortunately, that time will fly by without you even noticing it. Near the end of your tenure, you’ll find yourself missing it even though it hasn’t officially ended. You’ll find yourself missing seeing them every Sunday. You’ll end up missing each person’s individual quirks and the inside jokes you’ve made throughout the year. So please, appreciate and be thankful for every moment you have with them.

Chapter 9. Your very own FASong

Aww yeah?

“Feels like we’ve been through war together. Feels like you’ve been right here forever. But I don’t even know you at all.” - I Don’t Know You At All, Lizzy McAlpine

bucket hat baby!

Before my college career, I genuinely had no concept of what it meant to be Filipino. I grew up thinking that being Filipino was just a fact of life—it wasn’t my identity. I only knew some Filipino dishes, I had only been to the Philippines twice in my lifetime, and (surprise surprise) I couldn’t speak Tagalog. If you asked me who I was while I was still in high school, I would’ve responded with adjectives like athletic, musical, funny, or stubborn. My Filipino culture was always a part of me subconsciously, but it was never an aspect of my personality that I found worthy of conversation with people outside of my immediate family. It was much easier to acknowledge my Filipino heritage through jokes about the brownness of my skin or by contributing to my classmates’ ill comments on Asian stereotypes. I often look back at the person I was throughout my childhood and wish that I hadn’t been so indifferent to learning about my culture, but that’s why I am now so grateful that FASA has given me this opportunity to explore the part of identity that I had once suppressed for so long. 

“You gave me a meaning to my life, yes, I’ve gone beyond existing. And it all began when I met you.” - When I Met You, APO Hiking Society

“OMG LOOK, it’s Greenwood—the super cool, underground but upcoming Filipino American cover band at U of M that performs a wide range of genres from OPM to R&B and indie rock!!!” – real anonymous gen mem

When I first joined FASA, I’ll admit that I originally felt obligated to because of how involved my older sister Bea was. I already knew a majority of Bea’s friends, so joining FASA was more of a “why not?” situation than it was a “how could I pass this up?” opportunity. My thinking quickly shifted though at Fall Mass Meeting last year. I vividly remember the boba push with my small group after the event and traversing as a large Filipino clan from Rackham to Ding Tea. I think this was honestly one of the first times in my life that I had hung out with Asian people outside of my family. It sounds soo cliche, but it was on that walk that I started to feel different about my Fil-Am identity. I remember how welcoming and conversational everyone was and how eager we all were to learn each other's names. Never had I ever thought that I could find a community so fast, let alone in a demographic of people that I once wanted nothing to do with. From that day on, I involved myself in every FASA event that my busy schedule would allow, and I’ve made friendships here that I know will last a lifetime. 

“This weight’s too much alone. Some days I can’t hold it at all; you take it on for me. When tomorrow’s too much, I’ll carry it all, I got you.” - I Got You, Jack Johnson

my lovely e-board family &lt;3

Confession time! Even though I was elected for Social Chair this year, I actually only went to a grand total of 2 out of the 7 social events as a freshman (half of Fall Mass Meeting, Fall FAM/Lin Reveal, and [not even] half of FAM Games). This was quite frustrating because almost all of the major events I missed were due to scheduling conflicts or prior commitments. I thought that I was “falling behind” in making friends in FASA because I had been so used to that high school mindset of “establish a friend group and stick to it.” However, I could not have been more naive. I eventually learned that although FASA can look like a large or intimidating community at a glance, it quickly becomes family. FASA has taught me that anyone and everyone is welcome here, whether you are Filipino by blood or Filipino by love (#FACT2022). 

This is why I wanted to run for Social Chair last year (aside from the fact that Amanda had been planting seeds since Day 1 and I’m an easily convincible person); I wanted to cater towards the members of FASA who, maybe like me, also had packed schedules and could only attend a small handful of social events. With every event I put on, I wanted to create an environment where new faces would feel safe to be themselves and eventually call FASA home. Of course, I wouldn’t have been able to attempt any of this vision without this incredible board and especially the following people…

“Cause we’re okay, we’re fine. Baby I’m here to stop your crying… Adding up the total of a love that’s true, multiply life by the power of two.” - Power of Two, Indigo Girls

Bea (left), appearing age: 14; Angeli (right), appearing age: older?

(Ate) Bea: Thank you for introducing me to this home away from home. Thank you for letting me have the same friends as you and follow you around at FASA events whenever I would get anxious. I’ve definitely said a whole Senior Farewell speech about how much you mean to me, so you can refer to that again if you want to be reminded of more warm n fuzzies 🥱. But honestly, in high school, I wish I had a better appreciation for what it meant that you were a single Performance Chair who choreographed PCN and choreographed/competed in Battle, and the fact that you were Co-President during an entirely virtual school year is nothing to gloss over either. I might be a little late to the game, but I’m very proud and impressed of all that you accomplished within FASA. Thank you for leading by example of how to embrace my Fil-Am self, and I’m so glad we could share this community together. 

Me and Mandy at the intern event last year &lt;3

Amanda: I’ll never forget how you recruited me to FASA before I even set foot on campus as a freshman. We were at Lucas’ grad party over the summer, we were standing by the dunk tank, and the conversation went something like this…

Amanda: Hey! Are you Bea’s sister? I’m Amanda, Sam’s cousin!

Me: Oh yes I am! Hi, nice to meet you!

Amanda: I’m the social chair. You should join FASA.

Me: ..Okay.

FAST FORWARD >> It’s a little bit over a year ago today, and the scene is set in one of the union basement booths (duh)...

Amanda: Hey are you running for board?

Me: Uhhh maybe, I’m not sure yet. I was thinking about it.

Amanda: You should run for social chair.

Me: Okay.

If you had not planted these seeds, I would not be here! You’ve been a major support system to me in FASA since, quite literally, Day 0. I know I can always count on you for honest advice and just a shoulder to lean on. Thank you for showing Andrew and I the ropes of being socials and never getting (visibly) annoyed at our many questions or concerns. I simply could not have pictured my FASA experience, let alone my time as social, without you <3. See you at the next lin hang! Haha get it cuz–

Alyssa and JC: Hey slays. I just wanted to pop in here and say that I think we finally squashed the beef this year (#walangbeef). This “socials vs culturals” war has gone on long enough, and I thank you guys for constantly being an open ear and available resource in all the events Andrew and I put on this year. Andrew and I might’ve grumbled at first at the idea of implementing elements of culture into every social event, but you helped us find ways to make it fun and intentional. I’m constantly amazed at the duo you guys are, as real recognizes real 🤝. I have really enjoyed working with you guys on board this year, and I am so proud of the work we accomplished together. Cheers to no more beef ❌🥩🥂

Sophia Grace Samson: you are so wrong for that angelisa pic. even though you were not too kind to me in your own testimonial, i’ve decided to turn the other cheek (heh) and write you a nice poem anyway. ahem…

Roses are red 🌹,

Violets are blue 🫐,

To my favorite nickels 🪙 ,

I’m so glad I met you 🥰 

here’s to more waffle house adventures, nickel debriefs, and trips to urgent care!

xoxo,  

foop

“Caught you cryin’ cuz you be jealous. Don’t be whinin’ if you wanna be us 😎” - [REDACTED], Andreli

your friendly neighborhood social chairs, Andreli 🕷️🕸️

Andrew: Story time! For anyone who doesn’t know, the first time Andrew and I met was not a positive experience (yes I am going to expose the both of us here). Andrew and I had dm’d a bit over the summer because Bea and Mango (hi mom, hi dad) suggested we become friends going into the school year to have a familiar face on campus. After maybe a couple weeks of chatting, I kinda ghosted Andrew (oops) and we didn’t end up meeting until the first day of Tagalog. Ate Irene had asked everyone why we all wanted to learn Filipino, and Andrew answered with, “I’m tired of my parents talking about me behind my back.” Everyone laughed, but apparently he looked over at me and I had a “scary,” unamused, dead expression. I was planning on introducing myself after class, but he immediately zipped out of the room and I thought to myself, “wow rude,” just to find out later that it was because he was scared of me! But wowow, fast-forward 19 months later, and here we are… 

Mannn, you already know that I couldn’t have done this job with anybody else. There are so many little traditions that I’m going to miss as co’s: post-meeting jam sessions, CAPS massage chairs, our outro + tagline, and just sitting for hours in the Union Panera bouncing off ideas until our brains are completely fried. Even though we always joke we’re the exact same person, I’ve learned a lot from you this year. You taught me how to never doubt myself and always give 110% into whatever I care about. You also taught me that although we are both perfectionists, nothing is ever going to go according to the original plan. We had to be alert yet composed at all times, which was never an easy task. As tiring of a position as Social Chair is, I never felt like either one of us settled with an event. We held each other accountable while understanding how to take space when needed. All of the ambitious and elaborate events we’ve pulled off continue to amaze me and make me proud of our tenure together. From planning a whole scavenger hunt and escape room to forming a real band with Greenwood (shoutout to Catrina, our third og member), I’m really amazed at the team we’ve become. Thanks for always keeping my ego in check, for becoming one of my best friends, and for being the best co I could ask for. Action items: GenAPA, be mush, and finish writing our album!

To the future Social Chairs: Simply put, this position and your time on board is whatever you make it to be. The biggest piece of advice I have for you is to never forget your “why”-- why did you run for social chair, what is the impact you want to leave on this community, and how are you going to do so? It’s easy to think that as a social chair, you have to constantly go above and beyond, always innovating and creating until you burn yourself out. Something I wish I knew at the beginning of the year was that although it can be fun to constantly invent new ideas, FASA can always use more laidback, chill events too. Remember, you facilitate da vibes. It doesn’t always have to be “go big or go home.” Just be there for your general members and they’ll see that you care <3. Be alert, don’t be too prideful to ask for help, pivot on the fly, and trust in your co. I’m very excited to see what you guys accomplish next year, and I will happily be here for support if you ever need anything!

awww yeahhhh!!

To FASA: A lot of other people joke that my only personality trait nowadays is being Filipino, but I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you for being the community that has taught me how to be my most honest and unapologetic self. You’ve been responsible for the most meaningful aspects of my college experience thus far, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. It’s been a pleasure being your Social Chair this year, and I’ll see you around!

Signing off for now, your friendly neighborhood Social Chair, 

1: deez nuts

Hi slays 😌 I can’t believe I have reached the end of my time as FASA secretary - it feels like it was only yesterday that I stepped into Palmer Boardroom 5 for the first time 😋

me and alyssa being the first two people at the board transition meeting because everyone else was late getting food

Before I get into the details of being a board member, I’ll talk about joining FASA in general. I became a member in the Fall of 2021 when I was a sophomore (for the first time lol). It all began when I attended Festifall and frantically searched for a “Filipino club.” After I snatched up the free goodies at the Snackpass table, I made my way over to the section of the Diag that was lined with cultural orgs. It took me about 5 minutes to squeeze my way through the mass of people, but I eventually saw someone waving the Philippine flag. A lot was going on and I was pretty overwhelmed, so I honestly don’t remember who I saw or spoke to. All I know is that I was excited to find out that there was an actual student org for Filipino students! 

the picture I took after I walked away from the FASA table at Festifall (why did I call it the filipino club bye)

To be honest, I wasn’t super involved during my first semester of FASA. I attended events once every couple of months, but it wasn’t until PCN committees that I actually started committing (get it? because committees 😀) to our organization. For those few months leading up to PCN, I got to see how passionate our members are about our culture. It was seeing that passion that encouraged me to be more involved with FASA - I knew I wanted to be part of a group that genuinely loves its culture and the people within it.

figure 3: the first existing pictures of me and christian at pcn committee meeting <3 

2: wakanda forever

Fast forward a few months, I decided to run for E-board! The two people that I want to give credit for encouraging me are Emily Madlambayan and Amanda Sutherby. Hearing both of you tell me that I’d be a great fit for board played a huge role in my decision to send in an application, so thank you for supporting me :’)

I was pretty nervous to give my speech during elections. Even though I felt like I knew a good amount of people in FASA, I still didn’t really know the other people running for board. It was a bit intimidating to see that a lot of the other candidates had spent a few months together as interns while I was coming in as a silly little non-intern. However, I’m so glad that I didn’t let my nerves deter me from running. I can’t imagine not having my booty gals by my side!

first board pic!

Throughout this last year of being on E-board, there have been a lot of ups and a few downs.

Ups 😄:

Memories

So many fun times! Here are a few favs of mine:

Tinik on the Diag: I didn’t think I would be able to do Tinik, but honestly I kinda slayed

Halo-Halloween: ya’ll remember those two tacos? (hi catrina)

FASAxPASS Tailgate: I just want to thank Celeste for grilling it UP that day 😮‍💨

Fishing & Unionizing: the weeks that I decided to study with FASA friends were the weeks that I got absolutely nothing done… but it was worth it!

All I Ask… Choir Kids edition

me & meedja milly at fasaxpass tailgate <3

Friends: I have gotten so much closer to people that I don’t think I would’ve gotten close to. It’s hard not to form friendships with people you see all the time, but it’s even harder not to bond with people when everyone is so dope!! I am truly so grateful for the friends I’ve made on board - I don’t think I would’ve made it through the trenches without you all :’)

Growth: Being on E-board taught me so many things, both related and unrelated to FASA. It’s obviously super interesting to see the behind-the-scenes of a student organization, but I also appreciate the growth that came out of sticky situations. For instance, I had to be okay with last-minute changes, denied requests, and miscommunications. Although these things were frustrating in the moment, I ended up learning how to handle those types of situations so that I can slay them in the future!

Downs 😔:

Emmanuel: iykyk

Booking practice rooms in East Quad:🧍🏻‍♀

Burnout: Board burnout is so real. When an E-board is made up of people that truly want to provide the best experience for other members, it’s hard not to reach a point of burnout. It really does take a lot of energy to create and plan out events every week or two! Future boardies, please remind yourselves often that you have a whole group of people that are willing to support you if you need anything. You don’t need to take on too much by yourself - and you shouldn’t, as it will only lead to more stress!

how to cure boardie girl burnout = go hub tubbin

3: slay

I feel like this testimonial has been super chaotic whoops so let me wrap it up😎

To the 2023-2024 executive board: 

I am so excited to see what you all do with FASA! You are all capable of so much - I already know that you’re gonna make this another amazing year for everyone in this org. As I talked about before, burnout is real so please take care of yourselves! 

This year is going to go by so much faster than you think. Enjoy every moment you spend with your fellow boardies, even when you aren’t feeling 100% up to it. By the end of the next year, you’re not gonna believe it’s over (I still don’t!). 

To the next secretary:

hi slay <3 We can talk all about the logistics of what it means to be secretary, but the one thing I really want to emphasize is that your role is vital to the success of the rest of board! There were times when I felt like I wasn’t doing enough or I was ~useless~ because I wasn’t responsible for planning any events while my fellow boardies were slaying with all of their creative ideas. However, having a different role from the rest of board does not mean that your position is less important. Give yourself grace and try to remind yourself of the uniqueness of your role and what it brings to the table! 

To the 2022-2023 executive board: 

I’m so thankful to have been on board with each of you. Thank you for all of the laughs and support throughout this last year. Having to transition to the nursing program (yuck) at the same time as becoming part of FASA board was more difficult than I thought it would be, but I managed to get through it because I knew I could turn to any of you if I felt overwhelmed about anything. The time we spent on board together is something that I will always look back fondly on. So much love 🫶🏼

we definitely didn’t forget caitlin at first…

To FASA:

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explore my culture alongside some of the most genuine, fun, amazing people I know. Being a part of FASA has been one of the best parts of my college experience, and I know that my time as a member will have a lasting impact on me even after I graduate <3

To the person reading this right now:

Hi FASA,

As I’m writing this testimonial the day it is due (shoutout to miss media milly) I’ve reflected on my experience as a general member turned FASA intern turned FASA board member.

But first I’ll start with some context:

I was born in Dearborn, Michigan at the ripe age of zero, and after living in Detroit for the first two years of my life, my parents made the decision to move us to somewhere smaller… much smaller. For the most part, I lived and grew up in a teeny tiny town (literally a village 💀) in rural Michigan.

Those of you also from middle of nowhere towns in Michigan or honestly anywhere in the Midwest probably know what it's like. I was the only Asian student in my grade for pretty much all of K-12 and was the only Asian student in my entire graduating class. It’s interesting to hear how some schools had entire Asian/Asian-American organizations and even their own Filipino clubs. If my high school were to have had an Asian organization, it would’ve consisted of only three members (i.e. me, Alexa, and Tommy Yang).

Anyways, fast forward, I’ve been accepted into U of M and am living in Bursley Hall. 😭 I had heard about FASA but was pretty hesitant to join. I showed up to Fall Mass Meeting at Rackham (with Bryson 😎), went to the LinkedIn Photoshoot at the Law Quad, and quickly despawned from all FASA events in the Fall.

Photo taken Fall 2021 during LinkedIn Photoshoot by Michelle (aka “media meesh”)

I wasn’t an active member of FASA until the Winter semester of my freshman year. I had a lot of hesitations about joining, but I applied to the FASA intern program on a whim, thinking I wasn’t active, qualified, or even “Filipino enough” to be accepted. However to my surprise, a little less than two weeks later, I received an email that read:

Slay.

I basically forced myself into being active in the organization by becoming an intern. It was both a sense of obligation and eagerness to learn as much as I could about FASA, especially about how the organization operates behind the scenes. I went into the program knowing very little about FASA and had only attended a small number of events. I didn’t know any of the other interns besides Angeli and Andrew who were in FIlipino class with me, however I was excited to get to know all of the other interns and board members.

FASA INTERN GALS ✨

I grew close with the other interns, went to “Teen Beach Movie Night” (iykyk), helped plan and eventually had the intern capstone event, went to many FASA events and made many maaany more memories. I got to know my fam (Xfam = best fam), my sexy lineage (Darago <3), and so many people in the FASA community.

Darago Lineage: Jbapo, Ate Janielle, Ate Kennedy, Kuya Colin, Bry-Bry, Krystelle, Zainab, and adings Ash and Nicole + not pictured: Ate Carina

(also not pictured: the Darakunawa alliance)

EXTERNAL EVENTS

Filipino Americans Coming Together (FACT)

Filipino Americans did WHAT???

The Filipino Americans Coming Together (FACT) conference was the first external trip during my sophomore year. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure what FACT actually was at first. It had been a few years since they had an in-person conference, but this year they were in-person. I sent out my silly little Google forms, texted everyone and their mom to figure out logistics, and toiled on the master spreadsheet until cars, houses, itinerary, and all of the other details that go into planning external trips were figured out.

FACT itself was a little rocky because UIUC’s first in person conference in a while. I heard that many of the workshops went well, however, the quality/structure varied with each. We attended the FACT Variety Show (sorry Ashley Mehta), many of us pushed Joes, and went on our pilgrimage to Seafood City and Jollibee in Chicago. Looking back, it was a challenge trying to figure out how to manage such a large group of people. We had 55 members attend the conference, but Mikey and I managed to ensure no one perished or got abandoned in Chambana, so overall I’m happy with how the weekend went.

One thing that FACT taught me is that you cannot plan everything down to the T and expect it to go smoothly. The unknown of what could happen on an external trip always has made me a little anxious, but sometimes all we can do is plan, put in the effort, and then leave things to their own accord. This position has taught me that you can’t try to perfect everything. When [REDACTED] hits the fan, you must always be ready to pivot and adapt to what the new situation or challenge brings.

Battle of the Bamboo

FASA takes on Chicago

Battle of the Bamboo (BOTB) this year had about double or nearly triple the number of attendees from the year prior. For me, last year’s BOTB was one of my favorite FASA memories and also a big reason why I feel close with many of my friends in the organization today so I urged everyone to go (or else they’d get severe FOMO).

This year’s BOTB was particularly special because of performance chairs and FASA’s exhibition performance of Pagapir. From a planning perspective, we were more relaxed with overall planning for BOTB and focused a lot of our logistics around ensuring that specifically performers made it where they had to be well in advance. We had 55+ attendees with housing being spread out among several different locations. Many people got the chance to explore Chicago, try new restaurants, sing karaoke, etc.

External quick tip: An easy and relatively harmless way to ensure that Filipino time does not demolish your plans/external itinerary is by accommodating for a 30 minute (or more) buffer time and saying that people need to be places earlier than they actually have to be. We cannot get rid of Filipino time, however we can try our best to plan for it and ensure it does not deter us too much.

One big takeaway I had after Battle is that there is a sliding scale between trips being hands-off and trips being planned down to the minute. That being said, there are pros and cons to both sides. If the trip is way too structured, it can be 1.) too suffocating for attendees and 2.) very stressful for externals to maintain this structure. On the other hand, if there isn’t enough structure then people do not feel secure/reassured during the trip. Meaning that in both planning and execution, you need to aim for the external trip to fall somewhere in the middle of this range.

Additionally, things may seem good on paper but there can be flaws and problems that arise the day of when the plan is in execution. It is our responsibility as external chairs to make the trip fun and equitable for everyone, and it is also our responsibility to try to make things right when they do not go to plan. Battle weekend allowed a lot of necessary and valuable dialogue to be brought up/discussed, and I am looking forward to seeing how external trips progress and grow in future years.

Philippine Culture Night

I remember my first Philippine Culture Night (PCN) in vivid detail. From the “sinigang” to the Toledo coconut boys, the Tinikling set, speeches, poetry, speakers, and so on. However, I wasn’t on a committee or a part of a performance group but I knew I wanted to be more actively involved in the night in the future.

For this year’s PCN, I managed the new External Outreach committee with Mikey. It was a bit of a headache to figure out, but we made sure nearby external PSAs were able to reserve tickets and make it to our PCN.

In addition, I also signed up for a PCN dance at the last minute. I’m terribly uncoordinated (e.g. Tinik on the Diag) and dancing has never been my strong suit. That being said, I cannot recommend enough that people join one of the PCN dance groups if they have the time in their schedule for it. Dance practices, as long and tiring as they can feel, became something I really looked forward to during the week. I enjoyed getting to know the other dancers and bonding with them over jokes, shared exhaustion, and a great PCN performance at the end.

Like all things in life, what you put into FASA is what you get out of it. In order to get the most out of the organization, you need to step out of your comfort zone. Sign up for silly little dances and committees and make the most of all of the opportunities to get to know all of the amazing people that make up the FASA community.

To my Co:

Dear Mikey,

We met at Mass Meeting in the fall of freshman year, but my real first impression of you was at the [REDACTED] mixer during the beginning of winter semester when you accidentally butt-dialed 911 on my phone. I thought you were a complete goon, but little did I know that we would end up becoming co-chairs just a few months later.

With that being said, I cannot put into words how thankful I am to have you as a co-chair and friend (among other things). You’ve grown so much since I first met you, and I admire how driven, caring, and considerate have always been. You make me want to be a better person.

Sometimes planning external events/trips have made me want to explode into a million pieces, but you’ve always been there and have given stability to me through it all. From board retreat to organization collabs, external weekend, late night toiling in the Fish Bowl, FACT & Battle, and everything in between, there’s no one else I could’ve done it all with. Now that our tenure is coming to a close, I can truly look back and be proud of everything we’ve accomplished in the past year. Thank you for always supporting me unconditionally and for always being there for me. We did it!! :)

FASA Executive Board 2022-23

To FASA Executive Board:

I’m so lucky to have served my tenure on board alongside each and every one of you. I’m definitely biased, but this year’s board is such a special and talented group of people. Thank you for making Sunday board meetings something to look forward to, and thank you for all of your support, hard work, and dedication this past year.

To the seniors:

Senior farewell hasn’t happened so I don’t need to be too sappy yet. However, as you all go on to do immeasurably great and impressive things, remember that FASA is always here for you and proud of you.

To those considering external chair or FASA e-board in the future:

FASA board has historically followed a trend: People are a part of FASA, become interns, get elected onto e-board, and then burn out over the course of the year. Although this trend doesn’t apply to everyone, it is important that we each do our best to manage burnout. For the sake of the FASA board and the wellbeing of your fellow boardies, please try your best to alleviate burnout and help out each other as best as you can.

If you need help, feel free to reach out to your predecessors. We’re always here to help and we want to see FASA and the new board succeed. 

Learn to say no. Say no to events you don’t want to do. Say no to events you don’t want to go to. Additionally, know when to take a step back, especially if the FASA calendar is overpacked, realistically ask yourself what you would like to see/accomplish this semester.

I’ve heard this from past and present boardies a million times and I’m definitely sounding like a broken record, however this is one of my most important takeaways after being on board: Responsibilities in FASA cannot be black and white, either your problem or not your problem. Such a dichotomy could never exist because in a cohesive board, it is everyone’s job for events to run smoothly. If someone needs help in FASA, it is everyone’s job to step up (if they can) and assist their fellow boardies when they need it.

In closing:

As Winnie the Pooh (and Celeste at Sunday board one time) once said:

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

It’s hard and bittersweet to say goodbye to FASA board, but I know it will be in good hands. Thank you to all of FASA and board for your support, love, and friendship this past year. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future board is scheming.

I am also excited to push Sound Bar next year at Battle return to general membership status (joke lang).

It’s been real FASA <3

2022-23 Co-External Chair