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To Be Loved Is to Be Changed (whatever that means) || Gabe Froehner, FASA's 2023-2024 Co-Social Chair

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.

#2023 2024 #fasasocial

Andrew Ramirez, FASA'S 2022 - 2023 Co-Social Chair

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?

There you have it Andrew. You have officially created your very own FASong. There’s countless things I wasn’t able to mention but that’s okay. I don’t want to spoil everything. While I’m only halfway through my time with FASA, I can easily say that it’s been the best part of my college experience. I hope that I was able to leave my mark the same way others have left a mark on me. Here’s my final piece of advice to you, 18 year-old me. Cherish it. Cherish it all. Cherish the times when you perform. Cherish the times when you're planning an event. Cherish the times when you hold a KK. Cherish the people you’ll spend time with. Cherish all the little moments. Cherish the times when you make new friends. Cherish even the times that you feel stressed because it is a sign that you care. Cherish all the lessons you’ll learn about yourself. Time doesn’t stop for anyone so appreciate the time you do have. Be thankful that you’ve found a group of people who accept you for who you are. Appreciate the space that has allowed you to experience so much personal growth. It’s scary, I know, but I promise that it’s more than worth it.

#2022-2023 #FASASocial

My Experience in FASA Through Cryptic Song Lyrics <3 || Angeli Fandiño, FASA'S 2022 - 2023 Co-Social Chair

“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 <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 <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,

Angeli <3

#2022-2023 #FASASocial

Amanda's Declassified Social Chair Survival Guide: Amanda Sutherby, FASA’s 2021-2022 Social Chair

In a club full of Fil-Ams, FAM rivalries, and my closest friends, Amanda Sutherby—that's me—and my co-chair Adrian try to do the impossible: create a guide that will help you survive FASA.

Tip 1: Join FASA

Wow, look at this! My time as Social Chair is coming to an end. You might be wondering how I got here, and honestly so am I. Coming into college, I didn't plan on joining FASA. I remember telling my mom that I didn't think that I would fit in, or that I wouldn’t be “Filipino” enough. I mean I grew up in a predominantly white area and there was maybe one other Filipino person in my town. And we had maybe a total of ten interactions with one another. So really there was never anyone my age that I could relate to. And then at home there was nothing that could help root me to this Filipino identity either. There weren't many Filipino dishes being made; no tagalog being spoken. So yeah, I wasn’t joining FASA. I knew that my cousin Sam was in FASA, but he had all these friends already in the club. And even when he joined, it wasn’t until his sophomore year. So I made a plan. I wouldn’t join FASA. At least not for my freshman year. If I wanted to join in the future, I would do what Sam did and wait until my second year. At least that was the plan until I got a call from him telling me to get to the diag for FASA’s welcome weekend because he was holding two freshman hostage for me to meet. So what could I do other than frantically pack my stuff, race from the Union to the diag, and save these poor people? (They were not really helpless, one even was a black belt at the time. I just like framing the story that way.) Little did I know that this impromptu meeting would introduce me to one of my closest friends here at school. So in a way, thank you to Sam for setting off this crazy chain reaction that led me from general member to FASA intern to this year’s Social Chair.

Aw yeah, FASA yeah

Tip #2: Learn about Philippine concepts, histories, and traditions (if you don’t already know them)

To FASA, first of all, I want to thank you for how much you have helped me grow into myself. It wasn't until I arrived at Michigan, and joined this club that I finally felt connected to my Fil-Am identity. With your help I learned more than I ever thought possible about Philippine concepts, histories, and traditions; stuff I was never exposed to before coming here. With your help, I found a group of people who felt the same way about their identity as I do. For once, I didn’t feel isolated by my own identity. Thank you for creating a welcoming space that allowed me to meet new people. You let me find friends that will last a lifetime. You have honestly have helped me more than you will ever know.

Imagine having a stye the day of the board photoshoot…couldn't be me.

To Board, you have taught me so many invaluable lessons. I want you all to know that I have never felt more supported by a group of people. I know we always say board first, position second. But I like to think that we’re friends first, then boardies, and then our positions. You all have never failed to make me laugh (especially Shane managing to say Janielle for his check out word after every board meeting). Thank you for all the help you gave me and Adrian with our events. Nothing we did would have been possible without you all.

Peach Mangh0es (go follow us on instagram @peachmangh0es)

Tip #3: Find an amazing group of friends

To my roomies, thank you for being there for me every step of the way. You have seen me go through the good and bad of my position, and you have supported me more than anyone. Through every late night planning and stressful event prep, you have been through it all. No matter what, you were all there to offer a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, or even just a comforting hug. Whether you know it or not, you have become one of my best friends, and I am so extremely grateful for each and every one of you.

Ladybug and Cat Noir for the win

To Adrian, you have truly been the most amazing co I could ask for. Thank you so much for putting up with all my antics and the crazy ideas I spring on you at 1 am. I have no idea how we were constantly on the same wavelength, but we truly became an incredible unit. I don’t think I could have done any of this without you. You have always had my back through it all, and helped me stay grounded even during the craziest of times. You taught me to never give up on our ideas. No idea was too crazy or scary for you. You pushed me to be the best social chair that I could be. I want you to know that I am so proud of the person you have grown into over this year. Thank you for all the laughs, late night text chains, and amazing gifts. We did it <3.

Tip #4: Have fun!

Statistics (yuh)

Finally, to the future social chairs, if I leave you with one thing it is to learn to embrace adaptability in all situations. Your time with planning and executing social events will expose you to obstacles. If something that you had planned isn’t happening like you envisioned it would, whether it be delayed start time or ripping the Rackham Assembly Hall carpet, be able to pivot your course of action and focus on how to improve it. Challenges will inevitably arise throughout your tenure. But when that happens do not shut down or run away from those situations. Instead, take a step back and see what is working and what isn’t. I know that coming into your tenure will feel daunting and you’ll probably feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. But you got this! This position is whatever you put into it. Be as crazy and creative as you want. To be honest with you, one of the driving factors for me running for social chair was that I wanted to create the first ever Capture-the-Flag FAM Reveal. Make the most out of your time on board. I hope you will have as much fun as I did. If you ever need anything, I will be there to support you through it all. Good luck! You all are going to do amazing.

Tip #4.5: Steal a car and make it into a life lesson (jk, don't steal cars... unless)

The one where I "stole" a car!

3 reasons why stealing a car equates to being an excellent social chair:

Demonstrates spontaneity: sometimes you won't be able to plan everything to the T. Instead you’ll have to create things on the fly.

Forces you to be adaptable: just like how every FASA event is different, every car is different. And with that you have to have a different approach

Teaches you to be dedicated to your task: Don’t be afraid to fully commit to your ideas. Trust yourself and your vision. Want to plan something crazy? Plan it! Want to steal a car? People will tell you it’s a bad idea, but do it.

Tip #5: Take care of yourself

Ok so maybe this wasn’t an extensive guide, but I did give a couple tips. So if you learned anything about surviving FASA from this testimonial, I’ll be happy. Well, that’s all from me! Until the next time. Live, Laugh, FASA.

P.S. Special thanks to Rackham Assembly Hall for hosting almost all of our social events. You will be missed.

Maraming Salamat - Amanda Sutherby <3

Enjoy this Social Chair themed word search and find the words below!

Adaptable

Adrian

Amanda

Dirty

eXcellence

FASA

Games

HAM

Meetings

Rackham

SWAG

POTTER

#FASASocial #2021-2022

Adrian Rocha, FASA's 2021-2022 Social Chair

what's up FASA?

The last two years of my life were as turbulent as the rear of an airplane fuselage (yeah I’m an aerospace engineer). Okay, but I came into college from a land far, far away called New Jersey, from a tiny prestigious high school. I had no friends or acquaintances from back home who came with me here. On top of that, it was a completely virtual COVID-19 year. I lounged in my Bursley dorm room for weeks straight, terrified of making an effort to meet other people on campus. I had no social life. There was one day that I decided I needed to make a change, and I thought if there was nobody I knew here, maybe I should find someone who could relate to me culturally? That was the first step for me, and it turned out the person who lived right next to me could relate. (He’s this board’s external chair!!)

Anyways, I went out of my room with a direction. Prior to leaving, I stalked online for a Filipino org on campus. Back home, Filipinos were all over the place, but I never actually had a Filipino friend outside of my own family. So I brought Ryan Chua, the other Filipino guy who lived next to me, and we ended up at a Filipino org’s booth because I saw someone waving a Filipino flag around. From that moment on, I found myself a Filipino community that I would share memories with, go through rough patches with, play League with, and have fun with. I found myself a very HAMmy FAM and of course, I landed in the BTS lineage (love y’all). That was special for me.

The fact that I was able to make friends, despite my reserved nature and despite the virtual year, was truly something bigger than what it is at face value.

obligatory picture of me jumping in and out of sticks

My freshman year in FASA was like a teaser for a movie. Even though all of the events were virtual, even though people were farther away in front of their computers, I could still feel an intimate sense of connection with other members. When I became an intern, I cherished that connection and ran with it. I can never forget the shenanigans that went on, like serenading board with Worldwide by BTR, eating 60 spicy chicken nuggets, and streaming League with Sean on Twitch. All of the virtual memories in front of my desktop in NJ only fueled my inclination to be with these amazing people in person.

Somehow, I was elected as co-social chair, even though, as you read above, I could be the person you wouldn’t see talking to anybody else for weeks on end. But I knew that I wanted everyone who wanted to join FASA to experience what I experienced. The heartwarming connection that I want to hold onto with the people I know as my friends today. (I even coerced Ryan to join the board as an External Chair when we had to fill that position). I was excited to become one of the chapters in the FASA story. I joined forces with Amanda and we became a miraculous dynamic duo. We went through numerous ups and downs together, and Jason and Jolene didn’t lie – being social chair was a lot of work. We had to take the reins of transitioning from a virtual year into an in-person year. Both of us had combined zero experience with running an in-person FASA event. At our first Fall Mass Meeting, we freaked out because nobody was coming in on time, but we figured out that Filipino time was a thing. We also realized that vibing out the general crowd atmosphere really played a role in determining what to do next. These two concepts were one of the main few things that drove our next social events.

aw yeah??? fasa socials yeah???

October was a huge month for us with two social events that had to be planned: FAM Reveal and Halo-Halloween. With respect to our social predecessors, we wanted to carry POTTER out with a bang, and Amanda had the perfect idea to do just that – Capture the Flag. It was crazy how we just overran the Arb with a bunch of Filipinos chasing for flags for the glory of their FAMs. During Halo-Halloween, Amanda and I learned a lot about flexibility and being able to pivot on the fly. As we knew we couldn’t get everything on our event plan done, we had to make adjustments during the event, which proved to be a little stressful for us. I think we learned a lot more about what comes into the core of running a social event as well as a lot more about each other’s planning styles. We took these lessons that we learned and applied them to our Pasko event in December, which really was such a sight for me to see – everybody enjoying themselves, singing songs, making parols, and celebrating our FASA culture. (and HAM FAM winning 1st in POTTER for the fall semester :D)

that's us being #1

The winter semester was PCN szn, and it really was a culmination of everybody coming together to form a glorious product showcasing our Filipino culture. I co-led an advertising team that got a cute pamphlet done in just one week. I got to dance Bangko for the first time in my life – I was a part of something that started out as a couple of benches and formed into these benches stacked onto each other with people dancing on top of them. (Shoutout to #stairsgang for bringing the default dance to life). Post PCN came with some more FAM-centric events that I really enjoyed because I didn’t feel like I was just hosting the event, but that I was having fun with the general members and the rest of the board. That was another core element of social events that us socials learned – have fun at your own events!! Social chair wouldn’t have been the same if I didn’t have fun.

Of course, along the way, I got to meet new people and make stronger relationships with others. I can’t believe I’m friends with a King on the Rings, a notorious blader, a fujoshi, and a guy who’s hardstuck in League (cringe). I could only go so far to describe all of these unique personalities that I met in FASA. I will cherish them forever.

Throughout the year on FASA E-Board, I became closer with board and I came to understand that board came first before my own chair’s responsibilities. We worked like a well oiled machine, and when any other board member needed assistance with their own responsibilities, there was always someone willing to help. I think the supportive and cooperative nature of our board really made us shine this year. I wanted to thank the board for dealing with our complex event skeletons and weird FAM scoring formulas. You all made checking in general members, facilitating games, and creating the vibe easier during all of our events. You were the drivers of our events, and I can’t thank you all enough.

our board is full of love <3

I’d also like to give a special shout out to the 4th Floor Rackham Assembly Hall – we literally had more than half of our social events in that room.

And of course, the biggest thank you goes to my co, Amanda. You’re seriously an inspiration to me – your dedication, drive, and your leadership carried us through the rough patches of our tenure as co-socials. The way you made it seem so easy to bring our crazy ideas to life was special. Since the first time we danced tinik together and when you got me that friendship bracelet (that’s still on my airpods case), it was an unforgettable experience with you. I cannot emphasize enough how proud I am for you to have fulfilled your social dream to have a capture the flag event (haha) and obviously for you to make it this close to the finish line with me. There’s no other that I would have been able to make it through with. Thank you Amanda, and I hope we can continue to be miraculous together.

pictured from left to right: miraculous ladybug and chat noir

To the future FASA Social Chairs…

Being a social chair involves a great deal of organization with planning and a lot of management internally and during an event. All of this is tied under communication. Having an amiable, but also task-driven relationship with your co-chair is important in order to get things done in a timely manner and with minimal flaws. Establish a nice social-work balance relationship with your co early on so you can understand how both of you communicate and how your working styles may differ. When it comes to event planning, literally take ANY idea and work with it; make it something bigger. If you see something is remotely possible, do your best to increase the chances of it happening (within reason of course). Finally, make social chair your own! I fully believe that doing things differently is more fulfilling and can reveal some really interesting new ideas. It’s your time to shine and you don’t want to have any regrets. I wish you guys the best of luck in your tenure!!

Take the position and run with it! Things come to an end sooner than you think, and all of those times when you accidentally say the wrong thing during a presentation and when your voice cracks when you’re explaining the rules of a game and when you and your co celebrate after the end of a successful event… all of those times become crystal memories.

Thank you FASA for being a crystal part of my life,

-Adrian Rocha

#FASASocial #2021-2022

Jolene Soriano, FASA 2020-21 Co-Social Chair

Oh, hey FASA, didn’t see you there. It’s me, one of your co-social chairs this year, Jolene. You’re probably wondering how I ended up here. My story begins in a small town in the west side of Michigan where I had no real ties to my culture other than whatever my mom decided to cook up for dinner and the functions my parents had with the very few other Filipinos in Holland. I grew up always feeling a little out of place and always feeling the need to hide my culture from my friend group. When it came to my junior and senior year of high school, one of the biggest factors for me in deciding where to go for college was wanting to be in an environment where I could comfortably express myself and my culture. With that being said, I put in a deposit for Grand Valley State University, another predominantly white school. Not to bash on that school or anything, it’s a good school, it’s just I would’ve had a repeat of my high school days. Obviously, I did not end up going to GVSU and I ended up changing my mind and submitted my deposit for the University of Michigan the day before deposits were due. The biggest reason why I ended up changing my decision was because of the opportunities available at Michigan, that I couldn’t get anywhere else. One of these opportunities being FASA. So, when I got to Michigan, I waddled up to the table at Festifall, got info for their mass meeting, sat in on the mass meeting, ate some Insomnia Cookies, and ended up committing a large amount of time to the org.

For those of you who met me last year, you may know that at the first few events I ever went to I spoke a total of maybe five words. So you might be wondering how this literally silent person wound up as social chair, a position that requires speaking maybe more than five words. For this, you’ll have to thank Aber John Espinoza. I know I make fun of him kind of frequently (every chance I get), but I do genuinely have to thank him for providing a space in his Modern Tinik sets for me to finally get comfortable and start opening up to people. AJ’s naturally friendly and sociable personality allowed me, an unbearably shy individual, to start forging the bonds and friendships I have now. He was the one to kickstart whatever “sociable” nature I have in FASA. When I ran for social chair, the main thing I wanted to accomplish was creating a space similar to the 8PM to 10PM Modern Tinik practices in all of my social events and initiatives. I wanted to make sure everyone, new or old, had a place where they could express themselves and open up safely and start making those friendships in FASA that really will last a lifetime. Hopefully, that was something I was able to accomplish during my time in this position.

modern tinik origin story s/o aj (black shirt in the back set of sticks)

Social chair was not exactly what I had expected, granted COVID did not help anything. The ideas I had originally envisioned were no longer feasible, and online events were the only thing that my co-chair Jason and I could do. After our first few online events in June with Independence Day Spirit Week, I disliked hosting online events. At first, the events felt awkward, there were lag issues, the list went on. However, we pushed ourselves to think outside of the box and committed to making these social events fun, even if they were virtual. It was not easy to say the least. We didn’t have anyone to ask about how to make an online event “fun” since no one’s ever had to pull one off, and even if we did have ideas that we wanted to do, they weren’t exactly always feasible online. Nonetheless, we were committed to making these events as fun as possible and the result of that were literally hundreds of meetings and thousands of hours spent over the course of the year. You may think I’m exaggerating that time, but honestly I don’t think I am. Not only were we busy with these events, we were also launching the first ever year long FAM competition-- POTTER. This initiative had its own set of challenges from making the rules, the scoreboard, points, keeping in communication with FAM heads, the list goes on and on. We juggled our events, POTTER, and all the other board responsibilities that were asked of us.

welcomed the weekend with the best people

You could maybe say that we were a bit ambitious in our goals for our tenure, which might have caused us more stress than if we had just stuck to the traditional social events done. There could be some truth in that statement. I mean, we didn’t have to put in that level of effort into our events or into POTTER. But it would also be literally so embarrassing if we were that org and just did something basic like Kahoot at every social event. More importantly though, especially in the times of a panoramic and isolation, maintaining friendships and being social is crucial to one’s well-being. This is one of the main reasons why we worked especially hard. Although there were many instances where I questioned why I was putting in so much effort or allowing myself to incur so much stress, I feel rewarded at the end of the day. When I look back on the year and the things I’ve accomplished, I feel proud that I was able to do all the things I wanted and more. It also makes me feel good that I might’ve been able to create the same space AJ made for me. I would say that whatever stress or negative emotions I felt during my time on board was worth it.

FASA board has provided me with many invaluable experiences I wouldn’t trade for the world, from the countless midnight parties, boardie hangouts, stressful weeks and events, and meeting so many amazing people. FASA board has pushed me out of my comfort zone in a good way, forcing my introverted self to initiate conversations with awkward freshmen trying to navigate their way through their first year and leading zoom calls filled with many people. I’ve also learned the importance of teamwork, collaboration, and asking for help. It’s so easy to think “this is my event, so I have to do this on my own,” but in reality that’s just making more work for yourself. I’ve never been a part of a team that has worked so closely together, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to have been supported by an amazing cast of characters.

charlie ft. trad #charlie supremacy

Ok, so this is the part where I’m going to go through a list of thank yous and messages to certain individuals. To Board, I don’t think there are enough thank you’s in the world to express the gratitude for you all. You all have been there for me whenever I’ve needed it the most and helped me throughout all the tough times this year. You all are smashing individuals and I wouldn’t have wanted to work with anyone else this year. To AJ, thank you for being the foundation of my time in FASA. I don’t think you realize just how much your existence has impacted my journey in FASA and on board and without you I don’t think I would have had the experience I’ve had if it wasn’t for you. I will dearly miss you when you inevitably graduate and I will try to continue your legacy of making FASA a safe space for everyone. Ok, I think that it’s for all the sappy words for you we’ll go back to our regularly scheduled programming of roasting AJ. To Sean Herrera and Bea Fandino, thank you for being the boardie boomers I could always go to. I will always be grateful for Midnight Party being the thing that brought us all closer together and started a friendship that no one saw coming. Also, sorry for all the random and questionable texts I’ve sent at odd hours of the night, but I hope you were able to get some entertainment out of it. To Kristina Mallabo, thank you for always entertaining my shenanigans and driving me to Fuller when I don’t want to walk 20 minutes. You truly have become one of my best friends and I wouldn’t trade you for the world (except for my anime boys but that’s to be expected). Hmmm… I think that’s all for my messages and thank yous… LOL just kidding how could I ever forget to thank the one person who’s kept me sane throughout this entire year… Park Jimin <3

KIDDING! I’M KIDDING! The last person I’d like to talk about in this testimonial is none other than Jason Portugal. A somewhat unlikely friendship born from the 8PM to 10PM Modern Tinik practices and late night Victor’s Pushes at Mojo. Mr. Portugal has been one of my closest friends since I joined FASA, and I don’t think there was another person I would’ve wanted to run for social chair with. I was really lucky to have one of my best friends as my co-chair and go through thick and thin with him. I genuinely do not believe I would’ve been able to make it through this year without Jason. I would like to thank him for making all of the late night meetings, stress, and countless hours bearable, for all the laughs, memories, and shenanigans, and for being someone I can be vulnerable with. I don’t think I could envision a life without Jason Portugal and he is a pillar of my life that I could not go without. Thank you, Jason, for everything you’ve done for me this year and for working together with me to accomplish the things we’ve done. We did it.

putting the “jj” in “jjk” (we love you kris)

Before I wrap this testimonial up, I’d like to write a message for next year’s socials. This board position is a lot of work, but I assure you that if you truly love what you’re doing, it’ll all be worth it in the end. I don’t think I can stress the importance of having fun with what you’re doing. You can’t expect general members at your event to have fun, if you’re not also having fun. The energy you give is the energy you’ll receive. Also, be sure to rely on your co-chair! You don’t have to be best friends or anything, but they are with you for your entire tenure and you go through so much together. Be sure to always keep in constant communication with each other! My wish for whoever carries on the social chair legacy is that they are passionate about instilling a welcome and safe space at every social event.

With that being said, I’ve come to the conclusion of this testimonial. I will miss working with everyone on board, contributing to FASA’s community through social events, and turning visions of event ideas into reality. I will not miss spamming the GroupMe with all of my announcement messages though. I’m looking forward to what next year’s board brings and am excited to participate in social events rather than planning them! Thank you FASA for allowing me to provide you with hopefully fun social events and activities this year. FASA has become such a large part of my life and I could not imagine my life without it. Maraming Salamat from the bottom of my heart.

<3 you all are the best

See you around FASA!:)

Jolene Soriano

#FASASocial #2020.21

Jason Portugal, FASA 2020-21 Co-Social Chair

Hi FASA! how are you?

Honestly, before coming to college I felt extremely directionless. It felt like I had so many different interests I cared about, yet at the same time it felt like I couldn’t imagine my future pursuing any of them. On top of this, I was frightened that the decisions I made my freshman year would push me down the wrong path. I knew something about my mindset had to change. In the weeks leading up to moving into the dorms, I was a bundle of anxiety because of what I knew lied ahead of me, but through it all I finally realized something that I will forever stand by, there is no ‘wrong path’. No matter what path you decide to pursue, fully commit yourself to it. You’ll learn and enjoy so much more than if you are constantly worrying about the decisions you could have made. Even if at first you feel you made the wrong choice, do everything in your power to prove your past self wrong. Put yourself in a position so that if/when you move on from that path then you can confidently say you do not regret the time you spent down it. For me, this is what led FASA to becoming something I care so deeply about.

I was always interested in joining a Filipino American club coming into college. I am half-Filipino myself and out of all of my grandparents’ grandchildren, none of them have fully explored their heritage. I felt that I owed it to my grandparents that at least one of their grandchildren learned as much as they could about the culture they felt they needed to hide when they moved to America. I remember, however, after FASA’s fall mass meeting I was walking back to my dorm and felt very conflicted if FASA was even right for me. In many ways I felt out of place. It seemed like I barely knew anything about Filipino culture compared to everyone else and I was unsure how I could belong in an organization that already seemed so close. However, I reminded myself of what I realized over the summer. I decided that if I was going to join FASA then I was going to fully commit to enjoying my time in this organization. And I did exactly that.

One of the first commitments I made was to dance for PCN in modern tinikling. Coming into college performing in a dance seemed like the complete opposite of something I wanted to do. Despite not really knowing what I was getting myself into, tinikling looked so genuinely fun and I followed that interest. Dancing this set was such an incredible experience and I honestly will never forget it (thank you so so much sir AJ Espinoza for choreoing this amazing dance and being such an inspirational person to look up to throughout it all). Through this dance, I learned so much about what I truly am capable of doing, and here I met my future co-chair and one of my closest friends, Jolene Soriano.

Joson and Jalene origin stories

Throughout my freshmen year I attended every FASA event I could and even performed in battle. I fell in love with the organization as I finally found a space I felt comfortable in. Later my freshman year, I also had the opportunity to be a FASA intern. Again, an amazing experience where I learned so much about how to be an effective team member that was invaluable for my time on board the following year. During my time as an intern, I also realized that I wanted to run for social chair. At first, I honestly did not feel as though I was capable of being a social chair. I did not have the event planning experience I thought I would need as our intern event was cancelled due to COVID. I knew, as well, I was terrible at meeting new people which I thought was half of a social chair’s job (turns out it wasn’t lol). Again, however, I relied again on the same mindset that pushed me towards joining FASA and modern tinikling. I decided that I was going to fully commit myself to running for social chair and do everything I could to disprove my own worries wrong.

When I got elected I was so ready to begin working and I was so ecstatic I would be working with Jolene. However, if you haven’t guessed already from reading other testimonials from this year, planning events during our time on board wasn’t quite ideal, at least initially. Over the summer, Jolene and I really experimented with what we could do. We knew there was a high likelihood that our programming for the upcoming year would all be virtual and we tested the waters with Independence Day Spirit week. Not going to lie, running that event felt extremely awful. It really wasn’t what I imagined social chair was going to be and it was so so frustrating trying to have people engaged online. However, we took notes on what didn’t work and what we could do better. In comes our second summer event, August FAM competition (yes we really did plan two whole spirits weeks over the summer, yes we are crazy). I am not lying when I say that I felt a thousand times better about this event. Separating the event’s experience into each FAM group chat made it feel a lot more personalized and we had an incredible amount of participation from alumni and general members. I am also incredibly proud of the fact that we raised $485 for charity. This event also marked the start of the year to our new program, POTTER.

The sopht-serve boardies

At the start of summer, Jolene and I had a dream, to foster as many close relationships as we could through friendly competition between the FAMs. This came in the form of POTTER. For those of you who don’t understand the name, the FASA FAMs are always advertised as the ‘Harry Potter houses of FASA’. Well, one of the aspects of the Harry Potter houses is that at the end of the year there is a house cup that is awarded to the house that earned the most points for good deeds they did throughout the year. This was what inspired POTTER in the first place and we tried to take that idea and apply it to FASA in the best way we could. Anyways, Jolene and I spent countless hours planning all aspects of POTTER. All of the tasks, the best way to score things, all of the events tied to POTTER directly, coordinating with FAM heads, etc. It was an incredible amount of work, but well well worth it. I am so proud of what Jolene and I accomplished through POTTER and here’s hoping it continues far into the future.

An iconic duo

On top of POTTER, Jolene and I, the crazy people we are, quite possibly set a record on the number of social events within a year (approximately 12). Part of it was that virtual programming is arguably easier to plan for as there is not a physical space to prep, but we really were just that ambitious. I would love to talk about every single event, but I want to focus on a few so this testimonial isn’t too long lol. The first one was fall semester FAM reveal. The logistical planning for this event was, to say the least, immense. Juggling a scavenger hunt with 4 separate groups, 4 separate routes, 5 different locations, and a chain of communication between all the boardies was just a bit overwhelming the day of. At the end of the day though, it was an incredible experience and the first time I felt that something I helped accomplish was truly something great.

We love ham fam!!

The second event was fall spirit week + maskerade, the conclusion of our fall semester POTTER activities. Through this event, we saw so many general members participate and members jump in who we haven’t seen participation from before as well as some iconic POTTER submissions. On top of this, we raised $3014 for charity in four days which I will forever thank FASA and their friends and family for their generosity. I am also incredibly proud of our avatar-themed FAM reveal winter semester. As per usual for our events, the planning for this event was also immense (shoutout to Amanda and Celeste for helping us plan for this event and coming to our daily at minimum two-hour meetings leading up to the event). This is when I felt we really nailed how to get online programming to work and prove that there is so much to offer in a virtual setting. All of our events were incredibly fun to plan albeit very stressful. I will honestly miss getting to plan events for FASA but I know in the future FASA will be in good hands.

I will also forever be thankful for all of the boardies that helped make these events possible. There is not enough I can say to emphasize what it means to me in terms of the support board has given not only me but also Jolene. All of the times you helped facilitate breakout rooms during our events, all the times you helped POTTER be a success, all the times you actively made our events more engaging, thank you.

The most amazing board

And you know I think there’s one last person I want to thank after all of this. That’s right, it’s you Jolene. Thank you so much for not only being the incredible co-chair I could not have lived without this year, but also the friend who made this one of the most enjoyable years of my life. Thank you for being there for me through thick and thin and thank you for pushing me to be a more confident person. It feels like yesterday we were dancing tinik together for the first time, yet in that time you have become such an irreplaceable part of my life. I am so proud of you and everything we accomplished together. To everything we’ve done together and will do together. Thank you.

Finally, to all future socials, understand that although this position is incredibly demanding, it is also incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. There are so many different paths you can take with social chair and it’s really what you make of it, but here are a few pieces of advice I can offer. Be flexible. Know that things can change on the week leading up to your event or literally the day of and you will have to adapt. Be creative. Use themes for your events if it fits and think about what you can do differently to years prior. Think as well about drawing inspiration from anywhere. Fall semester FAM reveal was scooby doo themed because my lineage dressed up as the scooby gang during my lineage reveal. Create fun games for your events. One way Jolene and I figured out how to do virtual programming work was through different minigames. These ideas can easily be applied to in person events and most likely can be better executed in person. Think outside the box for games of activities. Take simple ideas and expand upon them. For example, POTTER took the simple idea that friendly competition builds bonds and pushed it as far as possible. Also don’t be afraid to break the formula. If you have the confidence to change the way something is traditionally run then do it, but do it wholeheartedly. Good luck! I know you guys got this!

Overall, I’ve learned an incredible amount from my time on board. Not only in terms of the invaluable skills I’ve developed, but also what I’ve learned about myself. I have so much more confidence in myself and I will never forget what this experience has given me. At this point, thank you to all of FASA, for all that you have done for me. I am so glad I fully committed myself to this path FASA has taken me down. There are so many valuable experiences I would have missed out in my life if I still believed that this organization wasn’t from me.

Thank you so much for everything - Jason Portugal

#FASASocial #2020.21

out of my comfort zone: a great place to be - kaitlin kahler, ‘18-’19 FASA Social Chair