#FASAPrez

[fasa-umich]

Bea Fandiño, FASA 2020-21 Co-President

One Last Time

We’re gonna teach them how to say goodbye...

3/19/2021

Wowee, what a whirlwind of a year. These past twelve months have been filled with so much to be proud of—I even started a list of “Proud Mom Moments” last May so I could document all the small triumphs worth recognizing. It’s as if I’ve been planning out this testimonial since my election into the Co-Presidency, so I only laugh as I try to put all these thoughts to paper the day after my testimonial was supposed to be done (sorry ading Janielle—Filipino time, am I right?).

“Pick up a pen, start writing.”

I want to start off by saying that this year was not easy. It wasn’t for anyone. Our board came into our tenure hitting the ground running, full of visions and concrete plans for FASA, only to have them thwarted time and time again by circumstances out of our control. Let it be known that if this was a normal year, our board would have absolutely crushed it. x1000.

But it wasn’t a normal year. And you know what? We still crushed it. We changed the game. And while it can be so easy to focus on what could have been, doing so would distract us from celebrating everything that was.

This was the mentality Izzy and I pushed at the onset of the summer. Yes, FASA has traditions. There are certain aspects of our programs that everybody loves and expects to see each semester. But FASA is also dynamic. Every year, boardies are challenged with finding the balance of upholding tradition while trying new things and pushing the boundaries. And with the nature of this year, there was no better time to challenge ourselves to do the latter. Because we wanted to do more than just “survive”—we were ready to reach new heights.

Pinay Power looking fire as hell

So what exactly was FASA this year? If I had to choose one word, it’s resilient. Bouncing back after each hurdle, our boardies refused to give up on this org; as did our members, who stayed with us through it all. PCN can’t happen in person? Cool, let’s turn it into a frickin’ MOVIE. Can’t have big group gatherings? Okay, let’s leverage our FAM’s to build stronger small-group bonds. Can’t travel to external orgs? No big deal, let’s organize virtual discussions with our Michigan Philippine Student Associations and our fellow Latinx friends on campus. Even in the face of adversity, FASA resiliently remained rooted in culture, tied together in family, and strengthened by our dedication to the community.

Pop quiz: What are the three ~pillars~ of FASA?

None of this could have been accomplished without the perseverance of our board. Without Janielle’s commitment to high quality. Sean’s willingness to ask important questions. Josh’s contagious, positive energy. Kris’s flexibility and open mindedness. Christine’s constant, uplifting support. Lauren’s willingness to step up for anyone and everyone. Angelina’s dedication to collaboration. Jason’s careful consideration for vision and purpose. Jolene’s innovative ideas. Estelle’s passion for navigating cultural discussion. Kate’s constant communication and initiative. Sam’s critical eye when we’re overthinking things. Kaitlyn’s honesty with what she believes is best. Izzy’s never-ending drive to make sure each person feels heard and supported. To my boardie family, you are an absolute inspiration. Your work ethic is unmatched, your care invaluable, and your determination a force to be reckoned with. It has been a true honor to work with you, to learn from you, and to be your friend.

“And I know we weren’t perfect, but I’ve never felt this way for no one.”

When people ask me what my favorite aspect of the Co-Presidency is, I actually find a strong parallel with my past experience as Performance Chair. In performance, you get to see people grow throughout the year, building up unique confidence and boldness through cultural expression. As Co-President, I had the honor of seeing that growth extended as I watched those same individuals rise as leaders and come to own their position in FASA. Through the trials and successes, to be granted a front-row seat in that journey is a privilege, and I thank each of my boardies for letting Izzy and me join along for the ride. We definitely took a more hands-on approach this year (hopefully you didn’t get too sick of us, lol), and with that, an even deeper understanding of the efforts and motivations of the people who make it all happen. And being challenged to make the tough calls, actively listen to what people have to say, take action to move forward, and use my voice to stand up for what I believe in, I learned just as much from my boardies as they (hopefully) did from me. Even as Co-President, there is always more FASA and Filipino culture to explore, as well as more to learn from those around you.

“I wanna talk about what I have learned, the hard-won wisdom I have earned.” -Boomers

On that note, FASA would not be standing so tall—well, as tall as a Filipino can be—today if it weren’t for our general members. To my first years: Your energy is what kept FASA fueled this entire year. To my sophomores: Thank you for sticking with us, engaging with our programs, and keeping FASA a part of your life. To my alpha dings juniors: Literally, I can’t imagine life without you. To my grad student population of ~2 (and growing!!): You are history in the making! Keep the momentum going! And to my seniors: I’ll save the sappy goodbyes for when you leave my life forever in a month (mom and dad, I already know I’m gonna cry and you’d best believe I’m bringing you down with me). But in all seriousness, your constant support over the years has shaped FASA into the community we know and love.

Like I said before, FASA is dynamic. It’s ever-changing. But even if the FASA 10 years from now is different from the FASA we know today, the impact we have made on each other’s personal and cultural journeys remains true. That’s the beauty of this family—stripping away the official title and positions, at the end of the day, we’re all just defining our own Filipino American experience together. And though FASA will continue to change, that personal impact is something that will stand the test of time.

“No matter where life takes us, nothing can break us apart...I just wanna be with you.”

Okay yeah yeah, I know I’m a sap, just let me be Feelings Chair for once. Before I wrap things up, there are a few people I want to acknowledge:

Mai-Ly and Elisa: X FAM BEST FAM!! Seriously, you should be incredibly proud of yourselves as FAM Heads. X FAM broke records this year, and I could not be more happy with the top-tier music videos, hella extra [exclusive] merch (other fams be jealous), COASTERS (lol), and overall stronger fam. Thank you for putting up with my sometimes overly Type A agendas and being so flexible amidst the craziness.

Kris and Josh: Long! Live! FASA! Performance! You guys were faced with a lot of difficulties this year. But in the end, you kept performance not only alive, but also fun and something members looked forward to, whether virtually or in-person. I am so incredibly proud of you and honored to have been your dancer :).

Izzy: The Isa to my Bella, the Pierogies to my Beaf. Thank you for being the absolute best co I could possibly ask for and the most amazing friend in the world. You challenged me to keep the big picture in mind and were integral in helping all of us (especially me) balance hard work and fun. As someone easily caught up in the grind and instinctively expecting others to be the same, you kept me in check and indirectly reminded me to take a breather and make sure board was enjoying what they were doing. I will forever have a love-hate relationship with our three- to six-hour calls, and you will always have a spot in my GCal for a Thursday night meeting-turned-dinner-turned-therapy session. It baffles me to think that we weren’t that close before 12 months ago. Thank you for being not only my inspiration as a leader but also my constant as a friend.

Team Isabella 4 Life

So where do we go from here? Admittedly, we couldn’t do everything we wanted to do this year. Izzy and I had a vision for FASA, and it can get discouraging when you’re not able to see your vision through. But at the end of the day, we had to accept that we might not be able to reach the end-goal. If the best we could do right now was focus on the present, make the most for our current membership, and set FASA up for future success, then we were gonna give that our all. And if the INCREDIBLE drive and work ethic of our Interns is an indicator of anything, I have full confidence in the passion, leadership, and people that will continue to join our organization and further its growth. FASA is in good hands—I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

“Your position is so unique.” “So I’ll use it to move them along.”

Looking back on why I ran for board in the first place my freshman year, I remember wanting so desperately to be able to give back to an organization that had given me so much. Thank you, FASA, for giving me the opportunity to do just that. Whether as a general member or Performance Chair or Co-President, I hope I’ve been able to create that safe space that makes FASA feel like home. I said it last year, but I will say it again—FASA, thank you for trusting me. It’s been an honor growing with you.

Mahal na mahal kita,

Bea Fandiño, FASA Co-President

[fasa-umich]

A Short Guidebook from Your Co-Prezzie Janielle || Janielle Calaunan, FASA's 2021-2022 Co-President

INTRO:

The first round of elections had been released and Jolene was set to be Co-President, and I had just submitted my second round videos to be released to the public. Always prepping for the worst, I consoled myself by thinking of all the ways that I could spend the next year without FASA Board.

But in the middle of the contemplation, an iMessage dropped down the top of my screen: “you did it joe”

The beginning of a long ride

(Img Alt: A gray iMessage notification with a message from Michelle Torralba saying "you did it joe")

Let’s cut the backstory. Even before I was in FASA, I had hoped to be part of Board, if not President. Look at me now! Don’t give up on your dreams, kid!

Sun beaming on JoJa cat

(Img Alt: Janielle, dressed with a blue blazer and a bracelet saying “Joja Cat”, and Jolene, dressed with a purple unbuttoned button up, pose together with spotted sun beam on their faces.)

But seriously, 2.5 years of meeting boardies and learning about FASA’s history, I honestly think there’s so much more that I have yet to discover about this organization and its ever-growing community. We had an incredible influx of new members, old members returned, an in-person PCN with a good number of its committee members never experiencing a live one before—new history keeps being made as we continue on, and it has always been rewarding to be a part of the Board that facilitates history being made.

After this year, my tenure might become obsolete. In two years, my name will cease circulation from this organization or remain on the deep remnants of Facebook, Instagram, or within the Board Archives. And I’m okay with that. If you remember my name, I’m glad to have made an impact in your life as either a President, a Boardie, or a friend. If you don’t, just know that I’m proud of the impact that I have made as an intern, a Media Chair, and a President here in FASA and I’m forever grateful for all the friends I made along the way. That said, let’s get to the meat of things.

Just some friends I made along the way

(Img alt: FASA members at PCN 2022 sit in layers, dressed in a mixture of formal wear and performance costuming.)

CHAPTER 1 - THE TOOLS FOR SUCCESS

If you want to ever become one of FASA’s presidents, here’s what you need to know:

Your position is as important as any other board member. Yes, your title sounds high and mighty, but if you aren’t working with your boardies, are you even putting in the work? As we often say, you are a board member first, your position second.

Be observant and follow the pulse of the organization. I might have stolen part of that advice from other presidents, but it's more of a reiteration than anything. Be in-tune with your general membership. Are there a lot of active members? The pulse is at a good rate. Are other people coming less? The pulse is slowing down. Are there too many events? The pulse is too fast. Observe and diagnose.

Understand the audience you are biased towards. Biases are so ingrained, and sometimes a collective bias makes things/actions seem like a norm. FASA is possibly one of the most inclusive spaces I’ve been to, but if you look around, it might not be for everyone. We have members and friends who hold identities that don’t fit a stereotypical Filipinx, Catholic view.

Enjoy it. There’s a reason why FASA is successful the way it is. While sometimes, I could have an incredibly busy or stressful day, a FASA event with people I love and care about can bring some brightness to my day. I take in the moments I get to spend with people I don’t know too much and take the time to have fun with them. It’s a fundamental thing.

Skating towards success

(Img Alt: Christine, Janielle, and Kate squat in the middle of Ingalls Mall with two up-right skate and longboards off to the side and a middle skateboard with the top of the board facing the camera showing a spray painted yellow block M on dark gray.)

CHAPTER 2 - RESOURCES

Here’s a brief list of resources for you to explore around:

Board Archive: This is an archive passed down from President to President. It’s practically the history of FASA Board throughout the year ever since we shifted to Google Drive.

FASA YouTube: If you’re interested in knowing what FASA looked like through the years, this will provide an insight.

Faculty Advisor: Prof. De La Cruz is an amazing professor, with research that involves our community.

The Filipino Language Department: S/O to Ate Irene. Language Tables are great opportunities to meet other Filipinxs (or even non-Filipinxs interested in our language) who might not be in FASA.

The Bently History Museum: FASA has their actual history archives there. Take a peek. Learn about the past. Maybe you can use them to your advantage in the future.

PACE-MI: They have access to ancient Southern Philippine instruments (like the Kulintang) which we can use! It’s one of the few pre-historical things that FASA has access to and it’s amazing.

Another great source of resource: Externals PSA’s! (The power in this picture: FASA, KAPA, FASOU, SAFA, and FIL-SOC Presidents in one image)

(Img alt: 8 PSA presidents, stand together in formal wear after FASOU PCN.)

CHAPTER 3 - GOOD LUCK

To the next Presidents, you will do great. Trust in yourself and trust in your boardies. I’m excited to see what you guys will bring to the table next year. I’m here to be another one of the resources above if you ever need me. Otherwise, I’ll be one of your biggest supporters :)

To the future endeavors of the rest of Board: Whatever you pursue next year, I’m excited for you :) All of you are incredibly talented, passionate people and whether you will return to board or not, I know you’ll put your efforts into what you want to and love to do <3

EPILOGUE - THANK YOUs

To Jolene: What a ride this year has been, and I could not have had a better Co to tackle this year with. You rarely hold yourself back from doing something you care about or love and it’s always inspiring and has helped push me to do the same. I know FASA things aren’t always easy, but I’m so grateful to have you by my side through it all. It’s time to let loose!! Be free!! Get off the rails!! We’re done!!

Another day being real pre-intern meeting

(Img alt: Jolene with two thumbs up sitting with Janielle at the top left corner from a separate image with one thumb up.)

To Board: WOW! Everyone was so amazing this year. For many of you, this was your first in-person year and you pulled it through. There were challenges, for sure. Room reservations, unforeseen mishaps, and technical difficulties. But that did not stop us. We’ve grown in external connections, in membership, in inter-class connections, in friendships, and as individuals. Every single board meeting, I stay astounded at the ambition and creativity that you put on your endeavors. I will miss this amazing board. (And you, too, interns!)

Pamilya :)

(Img Alt: FASA boardies dressed in light colors pose closely in 3 levels.)

To FASA: We hope you enjoyed our programming this year! It was incredible to get to know all of you and to see new faces come frequently. I can’t wait to join your demographic next year and get closer to you all :)

This is you FASA! You are amazing!!

(Img alt: A large group of FASA members pose for a picture holding up their FAM signs. To the left, the D I R T Y sign, to the top left, $WAG, the bottom middle, H.A.M., and the the right, eXcellence.)

To the Seniors: I hope FASA has helped contribute to your final year to be one to remember. You have more knowledge than we do and have seen FASA through so many leadership changes, but I hoped this was one of the good ones. Thank you for helping to break some class barriers and for being unofficial mentors for some of us. Thank you so much for all your contributions. We <3 you :)

S/O to my fav senior, Izzy, for helping build our lineage to become such a powerhouse that it is today!

(Img alt: 7 members of the Darago lineage pose in front of an arch dressed in semi-formal wear.)

Maraming, maraming salamat FASA, na binoto niyo po ako bilang isa sa iyong mga presidente ngayong taon. It was an honor to serve you these past couple years. Thank you for making FASA the fun and safe space it is today and continuing to improve on it as we move along in the future.

Mahal ko kayo, FASA, at sa huling pagkakataon,

lamp,

Janielle

[fasa-umich]

Jolene Soriano: FASA Co-Presidency Greatest Hits Vol. 1 || Jolene Soriano, FASA's 2021-2022 Co-President

Track 1. “Animal” - Neon Trees

“Here we go again…”

Well, well, well. We meet again FASA! Bet you weren’t expecting to hear from me again. To be quite honest with you, I also wasn’t expecting to be writing a second testimonial, especially as one of the co-presidents for this year.

As some of you may know, I had no intention of running for this year’s board and was about to live out the rest of my college career as a beloved member of FASA’s general membership. My bid for presidency was a surprise for many, including myself. It was a game-time decision I made about three or four days before applications were due and the election season officially began. This last minute choice lead me to scheduling 15 one-on-one meetings with my fellow board members, people interested in running for board for this current school year, and my presidential predecessors, and eventually another 12 months serving on FASA’s Executive Board as one of its co-presidents.

You, like others during the time, probably had a ton of questions about why I decided to re-run for FASA board in a seemingly “out-of-the-blue” fashion among other things related to my decision for co-presidency. Fear not, all of your questions will be answered in a fun little question & answer session!

Track 2. “THAT’S WHAT I WANT” - Lil Nas X

“[FASA Presidency] That’s what I really want!”

Question: Why did you want to run again for FASA Board?

Answer: Like many of those who decide to run again, there was some part of me that just felt like there was still more that I could give to the organization. My job wasn’t quite done yet.

Question: Ok, but what stopped you from considering running earlier?

Answer: There were a lot of uncertainties surrounding the presidency & running I wasn’t sure that I was confident in navigating. Also, I was just so exhausted from my current board position. As a social chair, I put my whole… being… into the position that I wasn’t sure there was much left to give.

Question: So there were obviously a lot of things holding you back, what got you to run?

Answer: My roommate last year told me “quit being a coward and just do it if you want to.” Honestly, that was all the convincing I needed.

Question: Did you have to run for president? Would you have been satisfied with just having been on board again?

Initially, I just wanted to be part of board in any way possible. However, I learned through the elections process that the visions I had for FASA could have been best executed through the presidency. For me, it was #Presidency or Bust

Track 3. “All You Need to Know (Acoustic)” - Gryffin

“You’ll never have to be alone”

After getting elected, I gained 12 new boardie besties that I would navigate this new year with. This school year was not without its fair share of struggles. As excited as we all were to be back in person and implement our innovative visions for FASA, we also griped with the recoil that was adjusting to an in-person schedule. School became way more demanding than the pre-recorded or virtual lectures & discussions and many of us were balancing other commitments outside of FASA (surprise! we do have lives outside of the organization). We learned this reality quite harshly as we got swamped with all of the responsibilities we had to uphold.

Not only were we juggling all aspects of an in-person year, we were doing so while rebuilding the internal structure of FASA from the ground up. It has been two years since we had an in-person executive board during a typical school year. Only three out of the 13 board members were around to see how an in-person board functioned and the behind-the-scenes of in-person programming. The majority of board, myself included, had no semblance of what an in-person year was supposed to look like from the logistical point of view. As if it wasn’t hard enough already, we still were dealing with the challenges of the pandemic. This meant there were strict guidelines imposed by the university we had to adhere to as well as balancing what we wanted to accomplish at our events while maintaining everyone’s safety. While it took trial and error and presented other challenges, board’s lack of experience coupled with its tenacity ended up being a good thing for us.

Our board was filled with a ton of brilliant minds with fun & fresh ideas that hadn’t been seen in FASA. This board pioneered a “new” FASA that didn’t necessarily uphold its old traditions and embraced a variety of programming and functioning. This board essentially ripped the FASA Constitution a new one and changed many aspects of it to accommodate the ongoing changes that started last year. We jumped into the unknown of an in-person school year, ran into a multitude of unforeseen problems, and persevered through it all. The one thing I admired the most about this board was everyone’s willingness to lend a helping hand when someone needed it. The amount of love and support shown throughout this board contributed to the successes we had this year and I couldn’t have been more thankful to have supported and been supported by these 12 individuals.

Track 4. “Butter” - BTS ft. Megan Thee Stallion

“It’s the hot girl coach and BTS”

Being perfectly candid, this year has probably been the most difficult year I’ve had in my life. I was taking my most difficult & demanding classes and had struggles related to my mental health. There were many points throughout this year when I found myself feeling overwhelmed by my responsibilities and my emotions. So why am I oversharing about my feelings in a piece that’s supposed to be about my year as a FASA President? Well to make a great segway into the people I have to thank for helping me survive this year.

To Janielle: I cannot thank you enough for continuously respecting the times when I have to step away from the organization & my responsibilities to take a breather. I appreciate you being more than willing to help me out whenever I needed it. I was grateful that you were able to cover my shortcomings and keep me on top of the game when I started to slip. It has been the greatest pleasure working with you throughout our tenure & I wouldn’t have wanted to girlboss the presidency with anyone else<3

To Board: I am so grateful for y’all being so on top of your game. After you got into the groove of things, you knew exactly what you wanted to do, what you needed to do to accomplish it, and then would get it done. It was like y’all didn’t even really need Janielle or I to help y’all out with anything. I appreciate y’all lessening my workload and any anxieties related to FASA, since I can always rely on you all to do what you need to without any pestering.

To Kris specifically: Thanks for always entertaining all of my mental breakdowns and being there when I need you. You never fail to bring a smile to my face (even if it is at your expense) and I know I can always count on you to raise my serotonin levels just a tad bit.

Track 5. “Dynasties & Dystopias” - Denzel Curry

“Beating the odds, rising to every occasion as if [we] defeated the gods”

Despite my personal challenges & the circumstances this board has had to deal with, there are many things that I’m proud of this year. I’ll let you in on a few of my favorites:

Growing our internal community by DOUBLING the amount of paid FASA members from last year

Reconnecting our ties with the other external organizations, becoming besties with other PSAs in the Southeast Michigan area, and hosting a summer conference with said schools

Breaking the Open Mic Night curse that haunted FASA for two years

Putting on FASA Formal for the first time in six years or so

Connecting FASA members with graduate students by hosting the FIRST Graduate Student Panel

PUTTING ON THE FIRST IN-PERSON PCN IN TWO YEARS

As a board, we accomplished so many feats this year. It has been an absolute privilege to reach these milestones with you all, watch your visions come to fruition, and help you all develop your ideas and provide whatever guidance or assistance I could. I could not be more proud of this board. Through all of the downs I felt throughout this year, I’m going to look back on this year fondly and remember all the good times and the incredible things we accomplished.

Track 6. “Runaway Baby” - Bruno Mars

“‘So every [future choreographer] this is what I say…”

One of the most integral parts of my year has been choreographing for PCN & GenAPA. For PCN, the utterly most chaotic trio of Christine Agpasa, Jason Portugal, and I teamed up to take on choreographing two different modern tinikling sets. For GenAPA, everyone’s favorite duo of Joson & Jalene was revived to lead “Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’” in our best idea yet: “Teen Beach FASA.” Choreographing has been one of the most stressful, emotionally dynamic, and fulfilling things I have ever done. Did I stretch myself too thin by agreeing to choreograph? Maybe. Do I regret doing it? Never in a million years.

For those of you who are interested in potentially choreographing a bomb set that I’ll most likely be participating in, here are some words of advice:

Flexibility is KEY. It is an absolute guarantee that the original idea for your choreography will NOT pan out the way you intended it to. You always have to be prepared to workshop things on the fly and change maybe the entire parts of your choreography

No idea is an outrageous idea. Fortnite dance the set away & drop it as low as you want if that’s what your heart desires. That’s part of the fun of choreographing!

Split your responsibilities among your fellow choreographers. There’s so much you can get done at a single practice if you divide and conquer and effectively use your team.

Beg Michigan to ditch the socks & the mats. You may think this is a joke, but I am 100% serious. Beg. Plead. Bargain. This is a cry for help.

Try not to fall. Sorry, that one was a joke. But also not really.

I look forward to seeing what FASA performance looks like next year and am eagerly awaiting the chance to dance in your future sets!

Track 7. “RATCHET SATURN GIRL” Amin��

“[FASA] girl, you changed my life”

Before I wrap up my testimonial, I want to leave my successors with a few key concepts that I’ve learned about from the presidency.

Balance. There are many things within FASA that require you to exercise balance, from the number of programs your board & general members can handle and the workload you and your board have to manage on top of school. You have to balance your professional relationships with your personal ones. You also need to balance your own visions with the visions of your board members to compromise on a common goal.

Proactivity. It is one of your prime responsibilities to make sure everything gets done in a timely manner. As a result, you need to be aware of everything going on and working on things weeks in advance before deadlines & other circumstances arise. Always try to stay ahead and not get swept away by the amount of responsibilities and other events happening.

Active Listening. Another large part of the job in my opinion is listening to general members and your board members about what works, what doesn’t work, and what needs to changed. You take their suggestions and act upon them appropriately to best benefit the organization, whatever capacity that may look like. Every single conversation I had about presidency had a repeated phrase: “taking the pulse of the organization.” To me, this means being active with your constituent and board members and understanding their concerns or ideas.

Well FASA, I think we have finally reached the end of our time together, and I mean it this time. No more surprise election bids.

I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that my heart and soul have been shaped by the organization and the people within this community. I truly could not picture my life without FASA and everyone that I have met as a result of being involved. Each year I have been on board, my goal is to give as much back to the community as it has given me. I think I can confidently say that at the end of this year, I have done just that. I am super excited to be a general member again see what the next board has to offer and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

With that, it’s been real FASA & FASA E-Board!

See you around:)

Track 8. “Time Goes ‘Bye’” - Jex Nwalor

“In memories, as time goes bye”

[fasa-umich]

Matt Ratanapanichkich, 2019-2020 FASA Co-President

If someone were to ask me: "What three words would best describe how you've felt over the course of the last year?", the only words that would come to mind are: Surprised, Proud, and Grateful. And as much as I would love for those three words to reduce to some elegant acronym, I truly can't find ones that are more true.

Surprised

FASA, even from the beginning, has surprised me. I always go back to the first time my lineage ate dinner together. The warmth and acceptance that they expressed to me that day is one that I will never forget, and those feelings have been associated with my perception of this organization ever since. For someone who had not gone to any prior events except for Winter Mass Meeting, they treated me truly like anyone should treat their adings: with love and respect. To think that complete strangers could make me feel so comfortable here... I have them to thank for the unforgettable experiences that I have had since. Kuya Christian, Ate Natalie, and Ate Colleen, thank you for giving me the home that I had no idea would change my life like it has.

But a while has passed since then, and in March of 2019, I was again surprised to learn that the family that gave me a home when I was a freshman chose to give the Presidency to my co-chair, AJ, and I. Even today, I still don't fully understand how the boy who joined late (but not too late!), became your friendly, neighborhood Historian, and only a year later, Co-President. And yet, I was honored all the same. Miracles do happen, and while I do acknowledge that a lot of work was done to get to that point, I'm sure that anyone who has run for an Executive Board can relate to the feeling that they may not be exactly the right person for the job. Everyone, from the bottom to the top, can feel like they are imposters, but it is their actions that validate those feelings or wash them away.

Proud

But I do have one more thing to say on that point: I hope from the bottom of my heart, that not a single person on my board feels as though they are an imposter after this year that they served FASA. I've said it before, but I am so, so proud of the things that we have accomplished together and the people that the boardies, my friends, have become. While growing is an undeniable part of being on E-Board, it is the speed and extent to which they did so that makes them some of the most capable people I have had the pleasure of working with. Each chair has done so much, overcome so many obstacles, and owned their work right to the very end, that they make my job easy, or as close to easy as a Presidency can get. And to that point, I would like to be a bit sappy for a moment, so if you would like to get through this testimonial without all the gushy stuff, you may skip to the next section. But I would suggest sticking around, if only to hear about how amazing these people are.

Lauren Escote, Media Chair

Lauren, you've heard me say it before, but just so it isn't forgotten: from the moment you became my intern last year, I knew that you would become a better Media Chair than I ever could have been. Granted, you are the first (technically), but oh boy, how high you've set the bar for those who follow in your footsteps. There is no doubt that Nursing is one of the most strenuous undergraduate programs at Michigan, and even under that weight, you never failed to create photos that make people feel how special they are, graphics that have excited our friends to attend events in numbers that we haven't seen (maybe ever), and a newsletter that has kept everyone in the know of any of the multitude of events that we took on this year. They might have called Historian the FASA photographer, but I only dare them to say the same to you.

Bea Fandino, Performance Chair

Bea, I know for a fact that you don't need me to laud you for your accomplishments this year; but then again, I'm going to do so anyways. You were such a strong leader coming into this year that you didn't even need to stand on the shoulders of giants- you stood tall alone (or almost alone #iykyk). From Kalayaan, to PCN, to Battle, and all of the little performances in between, you showed us what it means to perform at a high level, get things done efficiently, and have fun doing it. Dance practices don't have to be super serious. FASA Performance doesn't have to be about just music and dance. Performance has been a large part of the soul of FASA for such a long time, and through it, there's no doubt that you've influenced the whole of FASA for the better. I can't wait to see what you are able to do next.

Reggie Galanto, External Chair

Reggie, if there is anyone who has known the struggles of our board the best, it is probably you. The 2019-2020 school year has thrown FASA so many curve balls (to put it lightly), many times through the typical External channels, that I can easily say that I am so proud of how well you've done this year. Even from the beginning, when you fought for what you believed, but stayed professional when the cards didn't fall in the way that we wanted, I knew that you were going to be someone on our team that could be trusted to do exactly what I expected from all members on the board: to push where we needed it, and compromise when we needed their energy elsewhere. And from then on, tackling the never-ending problem of needing to be everywhere at once, working with people with priorities that didn't always match our own, up against circumstances that none of us could control, I hope that you are proud of the things that you've accomplished in the face of all of that. The measure of a person is what they can do with the cards that they're dealt, and I would argue that even at face-value, the work that you've done, especially in pushing for FASA to focus more on advocacy and community-building, has steered us in a direction that will shape our community into one that even our current board won’t be able to imagine.

Hannah Anderson, Service Chair

Hannah, even from the beginning, I knew that we would be in good hands in Service. The amount of work that you did behind-the-scenes for your chair was truly inspiring, but even more importantly, you embodied everything that I’ve ever wanted in a teammate better than nearly anyone else: your competence in your role was only matched by your willingness to help everyone on the board carry out their duties. While your chair is notable because of its independence from the operations of the board and dependence on organizations beyond the collegiate level, in spite of it all, you gave FASA an outlet to give back to the communities that have given us everything, which is undoubtedly one of the most important functions of FASA as a whole. But beyond all of that, you displayed a willingness to bring new life into the role and into the board, with the rollout of Mental Health Mondays, designing what will become a more structured alumni program, and collaborating with Jacque and Christine on the creation of an entirely new chair in Professional Development. AJ and I’ve always said that before even your chair, all board members are members of the board, and I would just like to thank you again for being exactly that.

Christian Magno, Social Chair

Mango, what a wild ride. To think that my first real interaction with you was at FACT 2018, I’m sure that anyone who knew you back then would be nothing but proud of the person you’ve become. Creating and overseeing events that are supposed to be fun above all else is a task that is deceivingly difficult, but tacking on your and Jacque’s goal of integrating culture into everything that we do is one that I would personally find extremely challenging. And yet, there is no doubt that you and your co’s work this year has done just that: even apart from my role as Co-President, I’ve never felt more at home. From our youngest members to those that I’ve known from the very beginning, I’m happy to say that I’ve gotten to know them better than I had in the last two and a half years in FASA. And for that, I hope you are as proud as I am.

Jacque Young, Social Chair

Jacque, the athlete that could talk the ears off of even the shyest of people. It’s hilarious to think that while we have the same personality type (allegedly), I could never in a million years even imagine myself as Social Chair, while you are the very embodiment of it. Your ideas for Social and the board were among the most ambitious, notably your push for Professional Development, and from someone who has had the opportunity to be on countless teams: it is so much better to be on a team that can crank out legitimately creative ideas and then reduce them to something that can actually be accomplished than to be on teams that stick to what has been done before. Your clear perspective on all board things was one that I always listened for, and I can only wish that my teammates outside of board could copy the way that you approached your work with energy and empathy. Above all, I hope that your performance on board can serve as confirmation that not only is one’s major not important to their ability to be a good board member, but their commitments should not stand in the way of their contributions to FASA, if only they have the discipline and love for this community that you do.

Kaitlyn Barron, Cultural Chair

Kaitlyn, one half of the heartbeat of FASA. Out of all of the boardies, I think I knew you the least before coming onto board. Little did I know that you would become part of the powerhouse duo of Co-Culture that never ceased to inspire the rest of the board. Working with Izzy several days of the week over the summer (I even remember that there was a point where you and Izzy had calls every single day), I was absolutely floored that you two would put in so much effort for an event that was more than half a year away. But boy did it pay off. I can safely say that PCN 2019 is one that will be remembered for a very long time; if not for the speaker, if not for the history-imbued storyline, PACE-MI, or the performances, then for the way it made us all feel. PCN is a celebration of our culture, but it is also a celebration of how each and every one of us are an important part of that culture as well. And of course, you know that better than anyone else (except maybe your co!). But even apart from your role as part of the cultural duo, you, as a singular member of the board, are someone I would love to have as a teammate again. You are so on the ball about everything, so willing to throw your hat into the ring, and you have an energy that reminded me every meeting why I decided to run for board again. Being a nurse is hard by itself, but the way that you balanced your role in FASA with your studies and had energy leftover is a testament to how lucky any team would be to have you on it.

Izzy Poquiz, Cultural Chair

Izzy, if Kaitlyn was FASA’s heart, then this year, you were its soul. Together, the two of you pulled off a reimagining of what FASA stood for that continuously reminded me why, even after I’m no longer on FASA’s E-Board, that I will be sticking around. While AJ and I made it a priority to make sure culture was at the heart of everything we do as a board, you and Kaitlyn not only made that idea a reality, but inspired the rest of the board to do the same in each of their positions. Being a leader in a cultural organization is tough: there are so many people with different ideas of what FASA should be that it is sometimes crushing to stand at the front. But you and Kaitlyn did everything with such conviction, empathy, and clarity of vision that there is no criticism that could diminish what you two accomplished together. And just as Kaitlyn was an irreplaceable part of our board outside of her role as Co-Cultural, you proved to be just as irreplaceable. Your combination of organizational ability, creativity, vision, and empathy made you a key leader amongst all of the great ones that our board was blessed with, and your voice was one that held more weight than I think that you realized. I can only imagine what you will be able to accomplish in the future, but from your performance this year, I know that I will be nothing but proud.

Natalie Lampa, Treasurer

Natalie, I can’t express how happy I am that I was able to serve on board with you this year. My other half of the Techtorian duo, I knew back then that if we were to carry out all of the ideas that the board was planning, we would need someone that was level-headed, knew FASA deeply, and had the organizational and writing abilities to keep the lights on. Our board was an ambitious one, and I can say that your guidance was one of the things that helped us make this year one that I will remember for the rest of my life. While I can understand why seniors wouldn’t want to serve on the Executive Board, you showed just how valuable the input is from someone who has seen it all happen before. Thank you, Ate: you made FASA feel like home for me when I was a freshman, and even as your undergraduate years come to an end, you have continued and will continue to do so for so many others.

Angela Salacata, Secretary

Angela, the return of the cultural queen! Like your ading, Bea, you don’t need me to reiterate the things you’ve done for FASA. But that won’t stop me from saying that I am grateful for having you as part of our Core Four. Your insight and sharp wit has always challenged me to be a better leader, and it’s definitely not a stretch to say that I look up to you in many ways. FASA wouldn’t be where it is without you, and for anyone who thought that cultural chair would be the end was only kidding themselves. Even beyond your duties as Secretary, taking on choreography for PCN as well as LITERALLY COMPOSING THE MUSIC THAT WE DANCED TO FOR BATTLE, your FASA accomplishments are unmatched. Future roomie, I am proud just to say I served on a board with you one last time.

AJ Espinoza, Co-President

AJ, what can I say that hasn’t already been said? It's been a rollercoaster, with this year being an extension of the one that we've been riding since freshman year. And from when we first met to now, I'd say that we've grown a little. Just a little. And I've said it before, a lot of it was because of the type of leader and person you are; I've always wanted to take just a little bit of that, and make myself just a little closer to the person I hope to be. But there are things that we can't learn from each other, and the things we've seen and done on this board are a good example of that. So while I think we both got a lot more than we bargained for, I couldn't have done it without you by my side. I'm proud that we built a few things that I think are going to last, and I'm grateful that it was you that went through the ringer with me. May we continue having our hour(s) long talks together, about FASA and not, into our last year and beyond. (But then again, hopefully we can get a bit more sleep when all of this is over...)

Grateful

I'm grateful to be here. I'm grateful to have had a chance to come back and serve a community I love. I'm grateful to have served with a team that I won't forget for the rest of my life. I'm grateful to have grown with these people, and to have grown with FASA. Our community is getting larger and larger every semester, and I'm just so excited to see where it all goes. Some of my friends from this year, on board and not, new friends and old, will probably go on to see another board. Or maybe join boards of other organizations. Or maybe just be the general members that we all wished to be at one point or another. But the fact is, I wouldn't have traded this time with FASA for anything. You all have taught me so much. You've given me opportunities that I couldn't have imagined. You've allowed me to touch more lives than I ever could have alone. And now, it's time that you give the opportunity of being Co-President to two other leaders.

Four generations of Presidents

So to the aspiring Co-Presidents:

The funny thing is that I already know who you are. I don't know which two will sit where AJ and I have necessarily, but I do know that it is one of you who I've served with this year. So the first thing I have to say is this: FASA is in good hands.

But the second is: always remember that first thing. Depending on what kind of people you are, there will be times in your tenure that you might forget. Times where you don't feel qualified or knowledgeable or ready to make the hard decision. The fact is: maybe you aren't. But that shouldn't stop you from becoming qualified, knowledgeable and therefore ready. Being Co-President isn't about knowing or having all the right answers. I've personally, definitely had ideas that were wrong. Many, in fact. But what you have is a board to support you, and a Co to bounce ideas off of, and old friends that are always willing to offer you any wisdom that can be had from just a few years in your shoes. You're never alone, just as your boardies are never alone. You might have a fancy title, but only together can you get through anything.

A caveat though: always be decisive. You might not have the answer right now. Your boardies might not have the answer right now. But being Co-President comes with the fact that the buck stops with you. In the end, for the many decisions that have to be made that don't require a 3/4ths vote from the board, your word is the decision. So give your board something to stand behind. Make a decision, stand by it, and admit you're wrong when you are. Because at least, if you are wrong, your board knows that they can trust that you believe in and act according to what you say.

Another thing: being Co-President is not babysitting. The amazing leaders on your board are fully-grown adults, and you should always hold them to that standard, if not higher. They don't need to be coddled, they need to be supported. They shouldn't need to be reprimanded, they need to know that their leaders have their backs. Because when you give them freedom, when you give them your confidence, it is up to them to uphold it. They might not always agree with you, and they might still be learning to be the professional leader that you expect them to be, but in the end, they are capable of so much. And sometimes, they just need to hear it from you.

Finally, remember that you set the tone of the entire board, and further, of FASA itself. Once you become Co-President, not only do you become the leader of your board, you become the face of FASA. The implication: you can decide how you want your boardies and FASA to feel for this upcoming year. And really, that is your choice. There will be those, on and off your board, who might want you to be super professional. Or super social. Or super laid-back. Or any number of things. But then again, it is your choice. Be empathetic of the concerns of your friends and community, but do what you think is right. What we've done before can be a good template, what others are doing can be a good plan, but what you actually do should be what you think is right. Remember that and I promise that everything will end up great. Not perfectly as planned, not smoothly, and likely not great without adjustment, but great in the end.

So to sum it all up:

Always remember that you are qualified

You aren't alone

Be decisive

Stand behind your words

Admit when you're wrong

Your job won't be babysitting

Hold your board to a high standard

You set the tone of both your board and FASA as a whole

Do what you think is right.

Notice that I didn't mention anything about organization, planning, strategy, skills you need or anything like that. Why? Because I already know what you're capable of; I've seen it, and I already know that you're going to do great.

But let me get off my soapbox for the last time.

How could you say no to a smile like that?

To FASA, again:

Thank you. Being able to serve the community that made Michigan feel like home, as much as I complain about it, has been nothing but an honor. And you can bet that you haven't seen the last of me, for better and for worse. Because, how could I stay away? I am endlessly fond and proud of this year's freshmen, the sophomores have proved to be some of my closest friends, the juniors inspire me every day with what they have and are currently accomplishing, and the seniors continue to be the Ates and Kuyas that make this community worth sticking around for. So while I won't be coming back as a board member in my final year, I guess you'll just have to catch me dancing in AJ's tinikling choreo this upcoming November... Maybe.

Only the most high-quality facial expressions...

Mahal na mahal kita, FASA. Always.

Matt Ratanapanichkich, FASA Co-President

[fasa-umich]

AJ Espinoza, 2019-2020 FASA Co-President

Hello FASA! As you read this, I hope all of you are safe indoors with the people you love. If not, I hope you’ll be with them soon. I’m writing to all of you from the solitude of my place in Ann Arbor, and it definitely isn’t the same around here with all of you. I miss every single one of you very dearly, but I don’t want to use this time to lament what could have been. We’ve been through a lot together, so don’t consider this mourning the last months of this semester and consider this as more than a reflection – this is a celebration of our time together and a celebration of everything I’ve learned from every single one of you!

The Journey

It may surprise some of you to learn that I had no intentions of running for this position. This was for several reasons: Feeling burnt out after dedicating so much of my time as External Chair, my desire to be a good example of an active general member (and perhaps be a choreographer for PCN, lol 😉) etc. However, chief among my reasons was my self-doubt. I didn’t believe that I had what it took to be the mature and reliable leader that the position of Co-President deserves, and I didn’t believe that I was worthy to succeed Jean and EJ. 

I remember other board members asking me, some even pestering me (read: Matt), to consider running, and it wasn’t until Battle of the Bamboo 2019 that I decided to listen. Long story short, with all of us there to watch, I had a great time talking to the now-sophomores about Battle and my love for the Filipinx American community. Despite how much I didn’t feel ready, at that moment I at least knew that a Co-President should be someone who cared about shaping the experiences of FASA’s members in this little Fil Am community we share like I did, and that I could learn to be a better leader while in the job alongside people who supported me.

So what does the job entail? Well, the job is certainly unique to others on E-Board. With this job, you’re not required to put together many things aside from Lineages, the Intern Program, and the day-to-day functioning of E-Board. Most of the time, you really are trying to steer the board in the right direction, offering advice and structure wherever it’s needed. The job certainly entails being one of the first if not the first E-Board member to offer support to other E-Board members when they need it, and there’s definitely a balance that needs to be achieved between allowing E-Board members to be independent while trusting them to do their job and simply micromanaging. Trust is key in this job, not just to your fellow E-board members and Co, but to yourself! There will be difficult calls to make and difficult conversations to be held, and you can often find yourself and your Co as the people best-suited to make the final call. Every decision should be made with the intention of doing what’s best for FASA, and if you come from there, then you’ll be happy to find a team that is willing to stand right there with you. 

My other tips include:

Professional before personal. I can’t emphasize this rule enough. As an elected member of FASA’s Executive Board, it is your responsibility to deliver a good experience to FASA’s members, and to fulfill your responsibilities to the very end. As for your fellow Executive Board members, my philosophy was this: Not everyone has to be good friends, but to serve the greater purpose of FASA and its members, you do have to be good co-workers. Trust, respect, patience, and honesty are critical in all professional settings, however they can also be ingredients for good friendships down the line!

Board member first, chair position second. As an External Chair, I made it a point to emphasize that it was up to everyone, not just myself, to represent the best of FASA at external events. Similarly, no matter who the event’s main organizer was, Matt and I emphasized that every FASA event was an E-Board event. This meant that all hands needed to be on-deck to support every step of every event, and that we would stick together like this from the very first event to the very last event. 

Surround yourself with people who believe in you, and in turn believe in them. This job often entails confronting impostor syndrome, and there will be no shortage of moments in which you are unsure of your qualifications for the task at hand. Remember: You were elected for a reason! You owe it not only to FASA’s members but also to yourself to have faith in your and each other’s abilities! And if, like me, you struggle to believe in yourself sometimes, then trust the people who believe in you.

Win together, lose together. Matt and I happily gave this year’s Executive Board the freedom to grow and understand themselves as leaders through their respective positions. No one on this board was perfect – we each had our fair share of imperfections, and with those mistakes came criticism, both for Boardies and the Executive Board overall. It was very important to us all that we defended and uplifted one another in the face of criticism, and I believe this created a board that functioned stronger than any team I’ve ever worked with.

From Gambles to Gratitude

This year had no shortage of challenges, but with those challenges came great accomplishments. Speaking for FASA and myself, this couldn’t have been possible without this year’s Executive Board. I say it wholeheartedly and without exhaustion every time: This was and will always be a spectacular group of people to work with. Without echoing the sentiments of everyone else’s testimonials too closely, I will miss every single part of serving with these people. Two-hour board meetings every week from 8-11 (not a typo), the immediate homework hangouts for many more hours after, lugging around event equipment with Mango and Hannah, Reggie dodging my hugs with hi-fives, saying “lamp” for our checkouts and for annoying the interns, I’m grateful to every single person for giving me the greatest experience of my college career. This was a board that fought some hard fights, but we fought hand-in-hand at every minute, and there was nothing but love for each other at every second. The role of Co-President may not have many tangible products or events to claim success to, so I argue that my greatest success as Co-President is this board. I know I said that it’s important to treat each other as co-workers first and foremost, but I am beyond grateful that I found my best friends along the way. :’)

Nowhere does this gratitude extend more than it does to my Co-President. Matt, my teammate and my brother, the second half of #TheCollectiveKuya, from the bottom of my heart, thanks for everything. Thank you for holding me up at my lowest, for putting up with my need to take everything too seriously, and for teaching me what it means to be a truly mature leader. I’m proud to have watched us both grow into the leaders we are now thanks to one another. We fought together, we laughed together, we triumphed together, and above all else we respected each other. You were the first person to believe in me, and even though I will endlessly jab at you for putting me in this position to begin with, I am so glad that you did. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. 

The End of the Beginning

With my time on board coming to an end, you can bet that I’m celebrating the eventual return of my free time, and I’m happy to say that being a general member again won’t be too much of a struggle. I’ve had the privilege this year of being not just Co-President, not just an E-Board member, but also an active general member. From PCN Modern Tinik practices (shoutout to Angela and Bea, thank you for keeping me fed every week lmao) to New Member Dinner and my Kaibigan Korners, I will always cherish these moments as the ones that still made me feel like a new member all over again. I feared that I wouldn’t get to know a lot of you by way of being older or being Co-President, but I still got to meet and get to know so many of you as simply a friend and fellow member. I’m happy to say that I’m still a lovable goof at best and a roastable meme at worst. In a way, I’ve come full circle, but I also never really stopped being what I am at heart: Just another regular member embracing the culture, and I still have a year left to do it! Every moment spent getting to know all of you has been an absolute joy – you’ve made this upperclassmen’s year in FASA one for the books. I encourage all of you who are considering running for E-Board to please reach out to me, I would love to sit and chat. 😊 

As I write this, we now find ourselves in the precarious position of being scattered from one another, both across the country and around the world, much sooner than we were expecting. There are feelings of discouragement, frustration, and betrayal for not getting the sign-off we feel we deserve – I am no stranger to this, and I am willing to bet that many of you feel the same way. It’s okay to feel this way. It is OKAY to feel this way. We’ve faced many goodbyes in the last week-and-a-half, and it’s easy to mourn and grieve for the time together that we can no longer have. If it means helping any of you find closure, I’d like to share some thoughts. 

I’m happy to say that I still got to be your Co-President, despite not thinking that I deserved it. For many of us, it’s safe to say that this is not the ending to the year that we deserved. I think that, for better or for worse, rarely in life do we get what we think we deserve. For that matter, I try to focus on being grateful for what’s in front of me in the face of whatever I may deserve. This year was swiftly and cruelly closed on us, however I try to take stock in being endlessly grateful for everything that you’ve given me up to now. I am so unapologetically grateful for everything that FASA has given me this year, so much so that I am prepared to return it doubly when we soon see each other again. To me, this is truly just the end of the beginning of the best that is yet to come. No matter where life takes us, nothing can break us apart, I just wanna be with you I encourage every single one of you who is reading this to look forward into the future with the best of your time in FASA on your backs. The memories we have made together will never leave us, they will never weaken us, and they will never fail us. 

My final request as your Co-President is a simple one: Look up at night. Look up at the stars in the sky. Look up at the vast expanse of the air and remember that we are all doing the same: Sharing the same sky, looking up at the same stars. With the sun and stars in the sky, on our flag, and in our blood, know that we are never truly apart. No matter how far away, we will always be right there with you, and no matter how much time may pass until we meet again, just know that the best is yet to come. Because that’s all this is, the end of the beginning – our tale still has yet to be written.

Your Co-President,

Aber John Ibarreta Espinoza

[fasa-umich]

“From #2Chairz to #Co-Chair” - EJ Fernandez, FASA ‘18-’19 Co-President

To All The FASA Nerds I’ve Loved

Being on board is one of the greatest birthday gifts I’ve ever received (second to my first Gameboy on my 7th birthday). I’m posting this on the day of my birthday because I’m ready to accept a new chapter of my life but sad to leave behind everything that has impacted me.

Being FASA Co-President was definitely something I never imagined for myself. It was an endeavor that changed a lot of how I view myself and everything around me. I’ll never forget being “tricked” into joining FASA, showing up to a Battle practice and getting guilt-tripped to stay ‘til the very end (lol before the next practice I wildly debated ever going back, so you can imagine what I ended up doing). And tbh, to be trapped in a room with a bunch of strangers forced to dance ‘til the break of dawn for multiple days, I’m grateful for the experience and all the people I met. I’ve learned so much about the people around me and grown even more closer to my identity, attending workshops, learning dances, and meeting new people from across the Midwest.

Much to my surprise and everyone else, running for FASA Executive Board (twice!) is still and will always be a surprise to me. I loved learning all about the people around me and how FASA has impacted each and every one of them. During my time as Techtorian (btw it’s not dead, just in disguise #insertScoobyDooMeme #TechtorianForever), I learned a lot about the history and development of FASA, discovering and exploring as much of the FASA Archives as I can muster. I saw the smiles and laughter that FASA brought to people’s faces through the generations and today. Being behind the camera was always lonely for me but I enjoyed every second of it. Now, being more involved as FASA Co-President brought a new joy and excitement in my life as I got to be in the front-end of the experience. The hard work and effort it took to make sure things went smoothly and effortlessly was something that I enjoyed from start to finish. It’s a thankless task that I took pride in, knowing that my effort means someone’s happiness. (It’s always a yes from me dawg).

During my term as Co-President, I’ve learned a lot. At first you think it’s easy and you get the perks of being president (flexing your power on others and getting that look of admiration from people when you mention it to them), but tbh, it’s a rough time ngl. Balancing not only the responsibilities of FASA but also my own career and my own health. Understanding that people won’t take you seriously unless you give them a reason to believe. Learning that not everyone is going to be happy for the things you do and that people will be critical of what and how you do things. Facing criticism with a grain of salt and not taking it personally. Working with multiple people with such different perspectives, beliefs, and passions and trying to mitigate that was no easy task. Doing what you can and acknowledging your limits. Learning from your mistakes and moving past them.

I know I’m not perfect and I made decisions that others would disagree with. It was never easy for me, both physically and mentally, but I had to make sure everyone and everything was doing well. I worked really hard and tried my best to keep the values of FASA true to heart and encourage growth and change for everyone. A lot of things happened this year, but in the end, I don’t regret any of it. It’s a learning process.

But I loved it. I loved being President. It has it perks from time to time, but being FASA President was a lot of work and a huge time investment, something that not anyone can just do and wing it. Being FASA President means more than just being the leader, the one who calls the shots and gets things done, or being the face of FASA. As FASA President, you live and breathe everything FASA. It’s not enough to just know your responsibilities but you have to live your life as a FASA member. The FASA Preamble means a lot more than people give it credit for. You will face challenges, some of which you never get over, but you must be prepared to take them on. 

But you never have to do this alone. Your executive board is there for you as much as you have to be there for them. Communication and transparency become important to how you lay down the foundation of trust you have with your board. You give them expectations and work with them to go above and beyond. You make sure that they have the support they need, and they give back the support you need. Above everything, take care of yourself. The best person to give you support is yourself. Know your limits and stay strong. 

In the end, have fun with it. Being on board is a full time job but life-long experience. Never forget it and never regret it.

My board has experienced their ups and downs, but they’ve worked hard to keep FASA a home away from home for everyone. They’ve always been there to keep me on my toes and subvert my expectations. Thanks for all the laughs and headaches from the stresses of events to the memes and games we had. I wished the best of luck to you guys and you will always hold a special place in my heart.

To my Co-Chair, Jean, thank you for giving me the strength to keep going and being my yin to my yang. We’ve complimented each other in more ways than we realize and I appreciate having someone like you by my side, working for an organization that means so much for us. You’ve been there when I’m falling short and never doubted our partnership for a second. You will always be my Co and my Sib. #HAMSLAM

As I end my term with grace and dignity, I’m excited for what’s to come for me. From all the stress, the sleepless nights, and the never-ending snooping (・ω<), I’m never not gonna miss it. Just know that FASA will never leave my mind (cuz they’re living in my attic).

Thanks for all the financial aid you have given me, FAFSA, and thanks for all the love you have given me, FASA. I can’t wait to see how you grow and change. <3

- edge ( > ∀・)

“That’s the good thing about being president, I can do whatever I want.” -BARACK OBAMA

[fasa-umich]

Jean Ang, FASA ‘18-’19 Co-President

To my beloved FASA:

I now have my first glimpse of what being a parent is like. I’m not the first president to compare the position to having a child, and I probably won’t be the last. FASA grows, changes, evolves, and you stand there like the proudest parent at the soccer game, cheering for its success. Over this year alone, FASA has grown immensely. We hosted the first ever TFCU-Talk in the Midwest on the same day as Winter Leadership Retreat, and introduced some new events, workshops, and collaborations – all of which I am extremely proud of. 

I owe so much to this organization. From the second I discovered U of M FASA at Battle of the Bamboo during my senior year in high school, I was set on joining. I was part of Filipino Club for 2 years during high school, but the focus was on tinikling and sayaw sa bangko performance. FASA showed me the importance of cultural awareness and advocacy events, in addition to the importance of collaboration among other Filipino organizations and service activities. FASA has so many moving parts that I didn’t know were related to being Filipino-American. I initially joined because I wanted to continue dancing tinikling, but I stayed because of the people I now call my family. 

The experiences I have gained from this organization are invaluable. I have written pen-pal letters to elementary school students in the Philippines, danced modern tinikling in front of hundreds of people at GenAPA, and spent a day in Detroit counting and sorting potatoes, all because of FASA. I am proud of being Filipino-American because of FASA. I will no longer question whether I am “too Americanized” or “not Filipino enough” because the people in FASA have taught me that I am the perfect mix of both cultures, influenced by family roots in the Philippines and by my daily life experiences in the United States. I can never thank FASA enough for that.

To any prospective president, I cannot stress how much of an honor it is to serve FASA by being an advocate for the organization and providing guidance to your fellow board members. People look up to you for advice when they’re feeling overwhelmed or not sure of what to do. You are faced with these decisions because the people of FASA are placing their trust in you to do what is best. It’s an ENORMOUS responsibility and privilege and although daunting, it is extremely rewarding. You get to see your executive board present so many ideas and then watch and support as they plan and bring their ideas to life. (These proud parent moments happen quite often throughout your term.)

The most difficult part about being president is that sadly, you cannot please everyone, and mistakes or mishaps are bound to happen. It’s been the hardest pill for me to swallow because I’ve always wanted to do everything possible to keep everyone happy and have things run smoothly. That’s the reason FASA members come back, event after event, because FASA makes them happy. There’s no such thing as perfection, and some people may have been upset by decisions EJ and I made, and I made my fair share of mistakes, but I can say that I always tried to keep FASA’s best interest in mind. 

To the next president(s), be kind to yourself. Never let anyone make you doubt your capabilities. You are capable, you love FASA, and that is why you will be elected. When I was thinking about being president, I read this in Christian’s testimonial from last year and it resonates with me now more than ever. “A FASA president has faith in themselves and their board. No matter what any hater says, a FASA president is strong. MAKIBAKA. HUWAG MATAKOT.” Struggle. Do not be afraid. You will face challenges and criticism, but do not look at these as failures. These are opportunities for learning and growth. You will overcome it all, believe in yourself and your board.

Here are my three biggest pieces of advice: 

Communication is key – with your co-president (or vice president) and with the rest of your executive board. Everyone has to be on the same page and know what the expectations are. 

Hold yourself and your board accountable – you are the face of FASA. General members and the outside community look to FASA as professionals. It’s great to work with your friends because it makes the experience more fun, but there is always a time to separate work and play. 

TAKE A STEP BACK WHEN YOU NEED TO. It’s okay to be overwhelmed. It’s okay to be stressed. That’s why FASA is not run by 1 person. You have an entire executive board by your side. Take time for yourself if you need a break. Clear your head and come back with a fresh mind ready to put in work. 

I wouldn’t be in this position if it were not for the people who stood by me the whole way. First of all, to the original Madam President, Ate Felicia, thank you so much for believing in me, encouraging me, and preparing me to follow in your footsteps and step up to such a great legacy of leadership. To my executive board: EJ, Isabelle, Caitlin, Alyanna, Kaitlin, Tina, Angela, Kim, AJ, Mai-ly, Colin, Natalie, and Matt, thank you for dedicating your school year to FASA and finishing strong to the very end. We started together, and I’m very proud to end this term together. And to my co-president EJ, thank you for always being proactive, never judging my busy nursing life, and for dedicating so much time and effort to this pamilya with me. I could not have done this without you.

It has been a crazy three years FASA. Freshman year Jean would have never imagined she could be elected as one of FASA’s presidents. FASA has been part of my college experience as my home away from home, and for that, I will always be grateful.

Thank you all for an amazing year, it has truly been a pleasure to serve you. Mahal kita sa inyong lahat <3

XO FASA Love, Madam President Jr. Jean Ang

[fasa-umich]

Presidentially Yours, X^2

A message from FASA’s first and coolest pair of Co-Presidents B-)

read our testimonials below!

|christian| |kyla|

[fasa-umich]

🇵🇭 As FASA’s president, I have learned more about myself than I knew was possible and I cannot thank my board enough. We have accomplished many great feats throughout this crazy year and I am so proud of all the hard work 2016-2017 board has put into FASA.** **

💪 For me, FASA is a sanctuary away from homework, exams, work, and other stresses. I became president because this organization has given me so much the past couple years and I wanted to provide a similar experience for others. If you ever find yourself in a rough patch, reflect upon why YOU ran for board. Hopefully it will give you the same strength it gave me to continue to devote hours upon hours to the (arguably) best org in the midwest :)

💓 Undergrad life presents many hurdles so as president, it is important to help lift up your team when they need it most. Periodically check in with each member away from the FASAsphere to make sure they’re doing ok. We are all humans first, family members second, students third, and board members fourth.

👶 As president you are the face of FASA, representing our school and our community to the world. We host many types of events and embark on multiple road trips each year, spreading our culture and love. It may seem daunting but with this role comes an incredible amount of responsibility. As many before me have said, FASA becomes your baby that you wish so many successes for. It’s part of your job to keep everyone in check so that FASA will continue to shine.

🤝 You’ll meet a lot of valuable contacts along the way so continue to foster relationships with everyone. Also, don’t forget about the network of people that have given their hearts out to this organization. We will always be just a message away for anything you need. You never know what opportunities may come about!

I wish the best of luck to new board, you all will do amazing things!

AW YEAH FASA YEAH

💖 Felicia

[fasa-umich]

President: Tia

FASA is my pride and joy and I treat this organization like my first born child. My role as president has challenged me more than I ever thought it could and expanded my leadership abilities tenfold. As I go into my last week of my presidency, I'm full of so many emotions, but I'm mostly just so proud of FASA and am ready to pass my responsibilities to the next E-Board.

I can't fully explain every reason why being on FASA E-Board is amazing, but it just is. Being on board for the past two years has only strengthened my love for FASA and all the work I have done has truly been done with passion and love. During my 3 years in FASA, FASA has experienced so much growth and (mostly) positive and great change. This move in the right direction isn't just the work of my ideas and goals for FASA, but the work of my E-Board and the rest of FASA. We are the leaders and the best at the University of Michigan, but also a leader and model for other organizations in the midwest. I truly believe that FASA helps people grow culturally, socially, and forms friendships and relationships that will last.

Here are my just some of my tips and suggestions for running for an E-Board position and thriving as an E-Board member.

For elections:

Dress business casual and all pretty

Make sure your speech is on point and really conveys why you want to be on board and why you want that position

Prepare to answer questions about your vision for FASA

Remember that you can still be nominated and nominate other for positions that you didn't specify on your application

For being on E-Board:

Being on FASA E-Board is like a job. School is always first, but being on E-Board comes with great responsibility and a very high time commitment

Time management and realistic prioritization are more important than ever. Remember 75% of board members are required to be in attendance for every FASA event, and this is more often than people realize.

Do everything with passion and love. The passion that the FASA 2013-2014 E-Board had was so strong and equal for every member. It's important that you put your time and effort into goals and events that everyone is willing to work on.

Work with each other and not against. Teamwork and support from every member on E-Board is crucial. You will only make stronger strides towards your goals if everyone is on the same page.

Make every decision with the whole organization in mind. The E-Board makes many important decisions for FASA and they should be representative of FASA as a whole.

Use your resources of past board members. Talk to the elders and the upperclassmen. They've done this before and will be there to help you make decisions and for a second opinion.

How does FASA make me feel? FASA makes me feel at home. FASA will forever be my family. I expect to be at all of your weddings and keep close ties and relationships with so many you. I love this organization more than I can ever put to words, but I hope that my words have conveyed that. I'm so proud of my E-Board and everything that we've done and trust that FASA can only grow from here.

FASA love,

Tia