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FASA Answers Questions
its the questions, what!? the
questions, who!? the questions, where!? the questions, COME ON!
  
What is the idea of being a
FASA member?
Being a FASA member is not just coming to the meetings
held every other Thursday. Nor is it being a person who just pays their $5
dollars to get their membership and discounts. A FASA member is someone who
comes to the meetings and uses the meetings to help give input and ideas and
collaborates information with other members and officers. A FASA member
participates in events and donates spare time through educational,
political, cultural, and social advancements to use unity and pride to gain
support from the Filipino Community that surrounds them. But most of all,
being a FASA member is to help one another have a "sense of belonging" in
this big campus we prepare ourselves for our educational goals.
What's up for FASA this year?
FASA will devote a lot of time, effort and hard work into not only
maintaining already existing programs and events like Tahanan, SAYAW, and
Filipino Night, but also more academic and political endeavors. For example
the Filipino Veterans of World War II issue. This injustice has been
going on for nearly 60 years where our manongs and lolos were discredited
for their involvement in WWII. Academically, as Filipinos, we are
among the largest Asian and Pacific Islander groups on campus (roughly
1,200!), but yet we have one of the highest drop-out rates. Through FASA, we
hope to change this statistic; increasing the amount of Filipinos (and other
minorities) on our campus, and decreasing the amount of those who drop out.
Of course, we also salute our culture with activities
like SAYAW, a night dedicated to young Filipino American talent (Filipino
Night), and events dedicated to exploring and celebrating our history during
October -- National Filipino American History Month. Be sure to check out a
Filipino American History display at the HUB Art Gallery or a surrounding
library!
What's the deal with the
Committees?
Basically put, FASA has smaller "clubs"
within the greater association, the umbrella which is FASA. Because
FASA is such a large organization, we decided to have committee chairs to
focus on the many areas which we feel are important to the organization and
the community. We know at the UW that its easy to get lost, and
finding your place at FASA is the first step. The second step is to
join a committee to really make your contribution, and to really make the
bonds between other members to make your FASA and UW experience fulfilling
and memorable. Our committees include fundraising, activities, history,
culture, dance (sayaw), community service, public relations and politics.
Please remember that you can
join as many committees as you want! Though we have particular foci, they
all overlap each other. Its up to you to make those connections, but
overall, they exist to help you, the community, and the greater Filipino
movement.
What are "Filipino Night" and the KUMUSTA?
At the end of every school year, FASA shows its stuff
to the public. Filipino American performers of all ages share their talents
in a two-and-a-half hour production. There are singers, dancers, skits,
comedians, and A LOT of people. Filipino Night gathers around 800 audience
members each year. It is FASA's main event. (for you Cali-heads, its our
Pilipino Cultural Night).
If writing, drawing, or taking pictures is your style, FASA has an avenue
for you in our very own Newsletter. This is our way of spreading the word
about how young Filipino Americans view the world around us. There is also
the FASA Literary Journal. This journal was kicked off in 1996 with our
premier issue, "Mga Likain."
What are the members like?
All are welcome in FASA, Filipino or not. There are a
lot of laughs, and a lot of memories. FASA helps freshmen and new students
at the UW feel comfortable in the huge university setting by providing a
place for them to meet people who share at least one thing in common. Its a
tough word out there.. it feels good to know that there are places and
groups you can go to where you can take it easy and chill....
What about high school students?
FASA has many links to younger Filipino American
students through our High School Outreach Program (Project FAMILY) and
through FASA scholarships. A FASA scholarship is given to new UW freshmen
each year (announced at Filipino Night). Our HS Outreach program sends FASA
members and officers out to Seattle area high schools to discuss getting
into college, college life, and FASA. We also take high school students
around and give them a sample of college life, to let them know and feel
that there is a higher level of education that they can achieve.
What else is new?
FASA is always looking for fresh new ideas for events,
fundraisers, community service, etc. Typically, these ideas come from
interested members or freshmen, individuals who end up being FASA officers
themselves! If you have any ideas, and would like to help out your
surrounding community, please contact us.
We want to track down former UW Filipino Students Association members! Who's
who? Where are they now? Who's doing what? Did they hang out at By George
cafeteria too? This is a way to see what our FASA Kuyas and Ates are up to,
and what words of advice they have to share.
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