Thanks from the FCN Coordinator
Welcome everyone to Andres Bonifacio’s 25th annual Filipino Culture Night! For nearly three years, I have envisioned the day where I’d to run a production that would showcase the talents of AB Samahan.
FCN has become a defining moment of my involvement in this Filipino-based organization. Before I had the honor to write this letter, I found knowledge, leadership, enlightenment, inner-peace, friends, love and so much more. I found an organization that has helped me appreciate my culture.
Some of my friends might be shocked to see where I am today. Before I gave this organization a chance, I was a self-loathing Filipino-American. I disliked the cultural limitations that I had to deal with in my own house. I blamed my culture’s colonial background for the lack of charisma I needed in such a vocal society. I despised my own peers and my own skin.
To simply put it, FCN changed my perception of the Filipino and Filipino-American culture. When I watched my first culture night in 2007, I thought to myself, if AB Samahan could throw such a successful production with so many Filipinos, there must be something that I’m missing out on.
Now you are all here today to witness a collection of everything I’ve learned in the past two years. I chose to have FCN take place 25 years in the future so I could challenge myself (and my scriptwriters) to not just apply what I’ve learned, but predict the possible fate of Filipino and Fil-Am culture. Since we have reached FCN’s silver year, it only felt right to reflect on the past and to envision the next 25 years.
It’s no longer a matter of learning about our culture – that should already be a given, but applying what we know to help our communities move forward. The future rests in our hands and the children that we will bear. If there’s anything I’ve come to understand in these past two years, it’s how every Fil-Am must learn their roots to know exactly how to improve the well-being of our communities.
It’s saddening that in San Diego alone, there are over 200 Fil-Am organizations, many of which share the same mission statements. I feel that many of us are unaware of the days, before the Philippines colonial times, when Filipinos believed in bayanihan (a spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a single cause).
Although I cannot change or unite all the Fil-Am organizations in San Diego, I only hope that as an FCN coordinator, I have demonstrated the spirit of bayanihan.
I hope everyone who watches this production learns something about the Filipino and Fil-Am communities. From pre-colonial times to our lives in America, it’s obvious that our culture has changed and adapted so much. With all our different backgrounds and experiences, who’s to say what Filipino culture truly is? I believe that we’ve reached an era where Filipino culture is how we interpret it, but also how we share our interpretations for generations to come. I am very blessed to share my interpretation to you.
Before I end this welcoming letter, I have to express my thanks to everyone who has helped out. Thank you to the alumni who took time to share their past experiences, wisdom and concerns with me. Special shout outs to Bryan Spencer, Cheryl Elizaga, Cyrille & Cypress Villaflores, Jerome Budomo, Jhomar “Jay” Josue, Matt Villaluz, Melissa “Mae” Medina and Tony Olaes. Outreaching to alumni has definitely been a rewarding experience for me.
Special thanks to the past PCN/FCN coordinators Jonathan Valdez (2009: Getting to Know You), Jhoselle Padilla (2008: More Than Words), Desiree Cuison (2007: Malakas Na Puso), Mitz Carian (2006: Live. Love. Be), Alex Mina (2005: With Honor), Angelic Cabos (2004: The Fool, the Smart and the Wise), Joseph Villafuerte (2003: Para Sa Akin), Joel Judal (2000: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised), Ryan Riddle (1999: Farewell, My Adored Land), Maria Macum (1993: Discover the Treasure Within) and Rudy Rullan (1986) for your everlasting support. Thank you to all the coordinators that came before me. If it wasn’t for your year-long dedication to your production, I wouldn’t be here today to coordinate our silver year.
Thank you to everyone who helped start off my term in the summer: Allen Acenas, Angelo Seganti, Avagail Lozano, Crystal Gaza, David Corrales, Janina Viloria, Jelly Anna Biocarlos, Jeremy Arceo, Kiko Bautista, Maureen Balbesino and Mea Lath. Your contributions definitely helped build the foundation of FCN.
Thank you Abe Delosreyes and Leah Lombos for enduring many months of brainstorming, revising and finalizing the script with me. Because of your dedication and creativity, our actors have fallen in love with their roles and are very excited to perform tonight.
Speaking of which, thank you to my actors for your dedication and patience – Adele, Adrian, Ali, Alison, Anza, Arlene, Brian F., Crystal, CV, David, Ed, Elle, Grace, James, Jasper, JD, Jenna A, Jenna M, Kathryn, Ading Kristian, Madel, Mae, Miguel, Patrick, Ray, Ryan, Sarah, Sean, Thanh and Yvonne. I am also very honored that some of you chose my production to act for the first time. I’m sorry if I ever called you by your actor names instead of your real names! But overall, your enthusiasm and positivity has made my job so much easier.
Thank you executive board for helping me out when I needed you the most. This has definitely been the most fun experience I have had as an AB Samahan officer.
Thank you Jay-R, for taking on the challenging task of dance coordinator. For someone who came so late in the game, you have accomplished so much more than I could’ve asked for. I’m grateful to have you as a teammate and as a best friend. Thank you to the choreographers John Urata, Rowell Mateo, Misty Bayan, Edrik Mata and Intrinsic directors for your creativity. I’ve never considered myself a dancer, so anything you produced always amazed me. Thank you for your flexibility and ability to adapt your dances to the story. Thank you to all the dancers who dedicated so much time to the practices!
Thank you to everyone who helped out behind the scenes – literally. Shout outs to stage crew and Katrina for being my stage manager. Thank you Thanh for taking care of hospitality. Thank you Ed for props. Thank you Brian Fig for helping me with the program, T-shirts and DVD cover. Thank you Gabe Ogilvie and Jay Josue for filming my production and making the DVDs as fast as you can. Thank you to the other organizations that came in to help run my production.
Thank you to all our sponsors for making this production possible. Thanks to my family for coming out to watch my production. It means a lot to know that you’re here today.
Thank you everyone who voted for me. It’s because of your faith and support that I have learned the ins and outs of this production. From garage sales to our final donations, I’ll never forget anyone’s contributions. Finally, thank you everyone who is dear to my heart. You know who you are – my moral support, my inspirations and my motivations to endure this fulfilling position; I couldn’t have done it all without you.
And thank YOU for coming out to watch AB Samahan’s biggest (and most expensive) event of the year! If you’re ready to watch, laugh, yell or cry, brace yourselves for the 25th annual production, “For Generations to Come.” Thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoy the show!
Jennifer Amos
25th FCN Coordinator
FCN has become a defining moment of my involvement in this Filipino-based organization. Before I had the honor to write this letter, I found knowledge, leadership, enlightenment, inner-peace, friends, love and so much more. I found an organization that has helped me appreciate my culture.
Some of my friends might be shocked to see where I am today. Before I gave this organization a chance, I was a self-loathing Filipino-American. I disliked the cultural limitations that I had to deal with in my own house. I blamed my culture’s colonial background for the lack of charisma I needed in such a vocal society. I despised my own peers and my own skin.
To simply put it, FCN changed my perception of the Filipino and Filipino-American culture. When I watched my first culture night in 2007, I thought to myself, if AB Samahan could throw such a successful production with so many Filipinos, there must be something that I’m missing out on.
Now you are all here today to witness a collection of everything I’ve learned in the past two years. I chose to have FCN take place 25 years in the future so I could challenge myself (and my scriptwriters) to not just apply what I’ve learned, but predict the possible fate of Filipino and Fil-Am culture. Since we have reached FCN’s silver year, it only felt right to reflect on the past and to envision the next 25 years.
It’s no longer a matter of learning about our culture – that should already be a given, but applying what we know to help our communities move forward. The future rests in our hands and the children that we will bear. If there’s anything I’ve come to understand in these past two years, it’s how every Fil-Am must learn their roots to know exactly how to improve the well-being of our communities.
It’s saddening that in San Diego alone, there are over 200 Fil-Am organizations, many of which share the same mission statements. I feel that many of us are unaware of the days, before the Philippines colonial times, when Filipinos believed in bayanihan (a spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a single cause).
Although I cannot change or unite all the Fil-Am organizations in San Diego, I only hope that as an FCN coordinator, I have demonstrated the spirit of bayanihan.
I hope everyone who watches this production learns something about the Filipino and Fil-Am communities. From pre-colonial times to our lives in America, it’s obvious that our culture has changed and adapted so much. With all our different backgrounds and experiences, who’s to say what Filipino culture truly is? I believe that we’ve reached an era where Filipino culture is how we interpret it, but also how we share our interpretations for generations to come. I am very blessed to share my interpretation to you.
Before I end this welcoming letter, I have to express my thanks to everyone who has helped out. Thank you to the alumni who took time to share their past experiences, wisdom and concerns with me. Special shout outs to Bryan Spencer, Cheryl Elizaga, Cyrille & Cypress Villaflores, Jerome Budomo, Jhomar “Jay” Josue, Matt Villaluz, Melissa “Mae” Medina and Tony Olaes. Outreaching to alumni has definitely been a rewarding experience for me.
Special thanks to the past PCN/FCN coordinators Jonathan Valdez (2009: Getting to Know You), Jhoselle Padilla (2008: More Than Words), Desiree Cuison (2007: Malakas Na Puso), Mitz Carian (2006: Live. Love. Be), Alex Mina (2005: With Honor), Angelic Cabos (2004: The Fool, the Smart and the Wise), Joseph Villafuerte (2003: Para Sa Akin), Joel Judal (2000: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised), Ryan Riddle (1999: Farewell, My Adored Land), Maria Macum (1993: Discover the Treasure Within) and Rudy Rullan (1986) for your everlasting support. Thank you to all the coordinators that came before me. If it wasn’t for your year-long dedication to your production, I wouldn’t be here today to coordinate our silver year.
Thank you to everyone who helped start off my term in the summer: Allen Acenas, Angelo Seganti, Avagail Lozano, Crystal Gaza, David Corrales, Janina Viloria, Jelly Anna Biocarlos, Jeremy Arceo, Kiko Bautista, Maureen Balbesino and Mea Lath. Your contributions definitely helped build the foundation of FCN.
Thank you Abe Delosreyes and Leah Lombos for enduring many months of brainstorming, revising and finalizing the script with me. Because of your dedication and creativity, our actors have fallen in love with their roles and are very excited to perform tonight.
Speaking of which, thank you to my actors for your dedication and patience – Adele, Adrian, Ali, Alison, Anza, Arlene, Brian F., Crystal, CV, David, Ed, Elle, Grace, James, Jasper, JD, Jenna A, Jenna M, Kathryn, Ading Kristian, Madel, Mae, Miguel, Patrick, Ray, Ryan, Sarah, Sean, Thanh and Yvonne. I am also very honored that some of you chose my production to act for the first time. I’m sorry if I ever called you by your actor names instead of your real names! But overall, your enthusiasm and positivity has made my job so much easier.
Thank you executive board for helping me out when I needed you the most. This has definitely been the most fun experience I have had as an AB Samahan officer.
Thank you Jay-R, for taking on the challenging task of dance coordinator. For someone who came so late in the game, you have accomplished so much more than I could’ve asked for. I’m grateful to have you as a teammate and as a best friend. Thank you to the choreographers John Urata, Rowell Mateo, Misty Bayan, Edrik Mata and Intrinsic directors for your creativity. I’ve never considered myself a dancer, so anything you produced always amazed me. Thank you for your flexibility and ability to adapt your dances to the story. Thank you to all the dancers who dedicated so much time to the practices!
Thank you to everyone who helped out behind the scenes – literally. Shout outs to stage crew and Katrina for being my stage manager. Thank you Thanh for taking care of hospitality. Thank you Ed for props. Thank you Brian Fig for helping me with the program, T-shirts and DVD cover. Thank you Gabe Ogilvie and Jay Josue for filming my production and making the DVDs as fast as you can. Thank you to the other organizations that came in to help run my production.
Thank you to all our sponsors for making this production possible. Thanks to my family for coming out to watch my production. It means a lot to know that you’re here today.
Thank you everyone who voted for me. It’s because of your faith and support that I have learned the ins and outs of this production. From garage sales to our final donations, I’ll never forget anyone’s contributions. Finally, thank you everyone who is dear to my heart. You know who you are – my moral support, my inspirations and my motivations to endure this fulfilling position; I couldn’t have done it all without you.
And thank YOU for coming out to watch AB Samahan’s biggest (and most expensive) event of the year! If you’re ready to watch, laugh, yell or cry, brace yourselves for the 25th annual production, “For Generations to Come.” Thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoy the show!
Jennifer Amos
25th FCN Coordinator