Students experience Filipino culture

The event featured Filipino music and food.

By Emily Roman

Published Oct. 30, 2008

Students joined the Filipino Student Association on Tuesday to celebrate Filipino American Heritage Month with an evening of cultural activities.

The theme of the evening, "Explore the Islands of Paradise!," transported attendees to the culture of the Philippines. FSA and the Filipino American Community of Columbia members dressed in traditional costumes and served cuisine native to their country. Thai Kitchen, Meechu's Filipino Market and Filipino American Community of Columbia donated food for the evening. Participants were able to taste foods such as sunflower crackers, dried mangoes, cassava cake, chicken adobo, pancit noodles, lumpiang shanghai egg rolls, sago tapioca balls and mango juice.

"The food is not exactly what I eat, but my roommate and I like cooking so we like this variety," sophomore Bridget Zacharias said.

FSA also showcased pictures of the Philippines, Filipino Barbies and traditional garments.

The evening's events began with the singing of the Philippine national anthem. Dressed in traditional kimono, worn for festivals and celebrations, members of the FSA and Filipino American Community of Columbia performed a dance with candles in their hands and another dance called tinikling.

FSA President Roan Peters said tinikling is a traditional Filipino dance where two bamboo sticks are clicked on the ground and performers dance to the rhythm of the sticks. Audience members were then given the chance to try their luck with tinikling.

Although some caught on quicker than others, the interactive activity gave the audience a hands-on experience in the Filipino culture.

Filipino American Community of Columbia President David Melegrito serenaded the audience with Filipino love songs. A slide show proceeded with information about Filipino demographics, location, language, religion, government, dances, transportation, currency and food. YouTube videos showed Filipinos dancing to hip-hop music.

In 2006, Peters helped start FSA but it eventually fell apart in 2007 after she left MU to study abroad in Germany. Peters said the evening's events helped reestablish FSA and reminded the community there are Filipinos on the MU campus and October is Filipino American Heritage Month.

"We are trying to let people know we are here and provide awareness about the Filipino culture," Peters said.

With only 10 to 20 active members, FSA is a relatively small organization on campus.

"I hope that this event will entice people to join FSA," she said. "My goal is to graduate from MU leaving FSA with a strong foundation so that our organization can successfully grow in the future."