Filipino-American History Month (FAHM) is celebrated in the United States during the month of October.
This month-long commemoration honors the first Filipino immigrants to arrive in modern-day Morro Bay, Calif. on Oct. 18, 1587. During this month, Filipino-Americans embrace their rich history, culture and heritage within their communities.
UCI is home to Kababayan, or KABA — a cultural organization designed to spread awareness of the Filipino experience through the five pillars of their mission: academics, community, culture, politics and social aspects. Since its establishment in 1974, KABA has gained over 600 members to this day.
The New University spoke with various members of KABA to learn more about what it means to them to be Filipino-American.
Second year business administration student Lana Franchesca Cruz highlighted her struggle with feeling distant from her culture, but also explained that she still embraces her unique experience through a community of other Filipino students.
“I’m probably not going to get the full Filipina experience, but at the same time, being Filipina-American also means that I can embrace my identity. Maybe I’m not American white, or the stereotypical American that people do see in magazines, but my experience as [part of] a different diaspora is just as valid,” Cruz said.
Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood in New York, Cruz felt isolated in her identity until moving to California. Exposure to a more diverse community helped Cruz feel closer to her culture, especially during college.
“I remember entering my first KABA meeting, and I was not expecting it to be as loud as it was. People would cheer and clap. It was basically a whole hype house,” Cruz said. “Having that kind of encouragement and validation, alongside fellow Filipinos is a kind of solidarity that you can’t really find elsewhere.”
Events such as community talks, alumni panels and social workshops are held throughout the year by KABA with the aim to create a welcoming community and network. Cruz attributes the success of KABA’s student retention and engagement to the family-oriented culture they encourage.
“The combination of not only the size of the group but the scope of their activities, and the family-oriented culture that is already heavily knit within our own kinds of personal lives,” Cruz said, “all that comes together to make for a really strong foundation for a welcoming cultural community.”
First year English student Lowen Thomas Lobaton also struggled with his own Filipino-American experience, especially as a military kid who moved often.
“Living in places like Virginia, Ohio and Germany… it’s really hard to get integrated into what it means to be Filipino,” Lobaton said.
Lobaton embraces his identity through celebrating Filipino food.
“It’s a lot of food-based celebration. My mom is a connoisseur of Filipino food. She’d make things like ‘chicken adobo,’ a soup called ‘sinigang’ and a treat called ‘halo halo,’” Lobaton said. “Cooking and eating together as a family really helped me embrace my tradition where I wouldn’t have that experience [elsewhere].”
“They had this event overview of something called kamayan,” Lobaton said.
Lobaton found it fascinating to see traditions from his household play out in KABA’s club meetings. In particular, the practice of the traditional Filipino method of eating, called “kamayan,” where food is eaten with bare hands.
“In my home, we have utensils to use but I end up eating with my hands because it’s second nature to me,” Lobaton said.
KABA continues to celebrate its Filipino culture through various events in the future. For all upcoming event details, check their Instagram page for more. “Mabuhay,” or “long live,” to all of the Filipino students at UCI.
Elaine Cha is a Campus News Intern for the fall 2022 quarter. She can be reached at emcha@uci.edu.