FSU’s Upbringing
The Filipino Student Union is a place where all kinds of people from the community can come together to learn about the Filipino Culture. “We’re a club mainly created to unite Filipino students, and to inform people about the Filipino culture,” as explained by Edren Matas, the president of the Filipino Student Union.
Growing up in Hawai’i, Matas found himself in a community populated by many Filipino peers, and intense exposure to the Filipino culture.
This included exposure through his friends, family, traditions, gatherings, and more.
Upon moving to Washington in 2019, Matas experienced a surprising culture-shock concerning the Filipino representation at Tahoma.
“Personally, at Tahoma, there was some representation at the culture fair, but I felt like a lot of our culture was mainly underrepresented,” Matas said.
In response to the former dearth of Filipino representation at Tahoma, Matas made it his own mission to increase the recognition of the Filipino culture, and to educate others by creating a club that’s welcoming for both Filipino students, and to non-Filipino students that are interested in learning more about the culture.
This club became known as the Filipino Student Union.
The Filipino Student Union
Once the idea sprouted, it only continued prospering over time.
The current board for the Filipino Student Union includes the president, Edren Matas, a senior at Tahoma High School, the vice president, Sereniti Sinthavong, the secretary, Leila Pineda, the graphic designers, Jacob Santos and Ava MacKinnon, and student advocates Reanna Ocampo and Ruby Santos.
Members in the FSU participate in activities ranging from learning phrases in Tagalog, to learning more about the culture, including its traditions, foods, languages, and more.
Furthermore, members engage in fun and interactive activities meant for students to learn more about the Filipino culture, while immensely enjoying their time and building relationships with other members.
“My favorite aspect of the club is the community that we’ve created,” Nolan Cabanilla, a member of the FSU, exclaimed. “The community is really good, and people are happy to be here.”
From increasing recognition and Filipino representation throughout Tahoma, to creating an open space for Filipino students at Tahoma to safely express themselves, the Filipino Student Union is a diverse, and amiable community meant for everybody and anybody.
“We’re a club willing to accept everyone,” Matas stated.
Whether you’re Filipino, and wanting to delve into a community that has people that can relate to your experiences, or if you aren’t Filipino, but want to learn more about the culture, the Filipino Student Union is the right place for you.
Always in room 108 on Wednesdays during Power Hour B, the FSU will always welcome you!
