What does your pillar represent?
My pillar of Barkada is academics. I ensure the academic well being of Barkada through workshops, resources, and any career or scholarship help they may need through the semester. Once everyone’s ready to graduate, I get to coordinate our annual Pilipino Graduation. I also coordinate our Academics Month in November as well as our KKAA program for both fall and spring semester!

What does "Academics" mean to you?
From a more scholarly perspective, academics is the reason we came to college in the first place. We applied here to receive a higher education so we can gain more knowledge before going out into the real world. Academics isn’t just the grades we get, but it’s the application of what we can do with the knowledge we are given in these classes. From a Barkada Chair perspective, academics is the relationships that we have with the people around us. Through our KKAA program, it brings me the most joy seeing how close-knit our four fams become. What makes me the happiest is hearing our members use the “kuya/kuyate/ate” formalities within the KKAA program.

What makes you most excited about your pillar?
KKAA makes me the most excited. Once all of the pairings are revealed, listening to the room and the excitement that everyone has is one of the best feelings in the world. Because a lot of us are far from home, Barkada does become our home away from home. I hope the Barkada KKAA trees also bring some insight as to how Barkada has evolved and grown so much over time. I’m also very excited to bring back Academics Month this year after its absence since COVID. I wanted to hold a space where we could relax or study outside of home. Bringing resources to light for those who may not have known about them. I love being able to share what has helped me in the past to help people for their future.

What does your pillar represent?
The Culture Pillar is a representation of connection and shared appreciation. Regardless of where you are born or have never visited the Philippines. Your own diverse experience as a Filipino American or someone you associate with does not limit your ability to learn and connect. As the Culture Chair, it is important that I give members the opportunity to educate themselves and reconnect with the culture. Whether it’s from the culture corners I present throughout the year, PAHM Workshops, events, or PACN, ensuring what I provide is insightful, factual, and engaging is key. If members of Barkada can learn about Filipino-American culture with an open mind and heart, then I will feel satisfied with my work. It’s my goal to promote our culture and keep members wanting to learn more.

What does "Culture" mean to you?
To me, Culture means connection. As I started to learn more about Filipino culture, I felt very immersed and motivated to deepen my understanding. There are many different aspects, traditions, and customs throughout the Philippines, the diversity shining through. Culture can act as the bridge between two worlds. Being able to connect with my parents on a deeper level, as I grew to learn and understand their lifestyles through culture feels very rewarding. Furthermore, in Barkada, where you consistently meet different people, yet regardless of how much you interact, there is a shared appreciation and understanding of one another through culture.

What makes you most excited about your pillar?
As the Culture Chair of Barkada, I am very excited to cultivate our existing Bayanihan,, while also inspiring people to dive deeper and learn more about Filipino culture. Additionally, I want to foster connection between members throughout my term! There are many different directions and topics I can share and talk about, as well as ways of presenting them with how broad culture can be. I’m excited to bring a fresh new perspective to the pillar, and alongside PACN, create memorable experiences and moments.

What does your pillar represent?
I believe that my pillar represents the potential of a higher quality of health. I feel like physical wellness tends to get overshadowed by all mentally taxing qualities of college. While we are here to attain a higher education, and network with all of the related resources, it’s also important to understand that our minds cannot work at a full capacity unless our bodies are doing the same. I alone cannot handle such a daunting task, but that is exactly why there are four chairs. Much like how real pillars work, we are not only there to support the weight and structure of Barkada, but also there to lighten the load off of each other. Each one of us has our specialties, and we would be incomplete if even a single one were to be missing.

What does "Athletics" mean to you?
Athletics means a lot of things to me. At one point, it was one of the only ways I could actually bond with my brother. It’s what’s kept me out of the house on the boring summer days when all I wanted to do was rot on the couch and watch YouTube. And lately, it’s become a great way for me to meet new people.
Admittedly, there have been times where athletics, or even being physically active, was the last thing I wanted to do. But, it's proof that I can be better. For a brief period of time, the only thing that matters is being and doing better than I was 5 seconds ago. I haven’t found a sensation quite like it. In those few moments, I truly feel limitless.

What makes you most excited about your pillar?
I’m excited to get to show off all the underrated activities that we don’t really give a lot of attention to. I truly believe that anyone can be athletic. I think we limit ourselves to our comfort zones, and coax ourselves into thinking that we aren’t good enough. But, we need to remember that there isn’t a single person on the earth who hasn’t sucked at something before they became good at it. Sure, there are quick learners, and some people are just born with more suitable genetics, but that does not mean that it’s a lost cause.
I don’t want people to feel the embarrassment of trying something new. In reality, there’s nothing wrong with not knowing those things. I want to be there, to be an embarrassed mess in front of them so then maybe they feel a little less alone, because they aren’t.

What does your pillar represent?
The Social pillar represents the importance of fostering a healthy and supportive community within Barkada. The pillar encourages the members of Barkada to break out of their comfort zones with the opportunity to contribute to this “group of friends.” The friendships formed from this club establish a strong foundation for accepting what else Barkada has to offer - from KKAA pairings to late PACN nights. It is through solidarity that the family of Barkada continues to grow closer with one another. With members of various backgrounds and unique identities, the pillar gives the members a familiar goal: to bond and connect.

What does "Social" mean to you?
Outside of Barkada, the word “social” encourages me to be congenial towards others while seeking out the uncomfortable. I am not able to genuinely build relationships if I remain afraid of confrontation. Thus, as Social Chair, I believe in the importance of making lasting connections, not only for myself, but for others. Besides conducting social gatherings, I seek out establishing relationships and cherishing all the vibes and memories that may come. In this leadership, I want to share the passion and confidence that I have gained through Barkada. Being social means being there for others on all levels; through the ups and downs. Barkada provides many opportunities for people to socialize and embrace each others’ energy. I am also here to welcome all members with open arms, to provide support and to ensure the general wellbeing.

What makes you most excited about your pillar?
My pillar can be interpreted in many ways, which is exactly why I believe that I have just as much opportunity to nourish the warm, welcoming and inclusive family that Barkada is. I am given an outlet to curate moments where people can feel connected and seen. I love noticing how people thrive within a given environment. Being able to observe all of these things ultimately allows me to facilitate collaboration with general members and my board. Collectively contributing to the growing positive culture of Barkada helps me focus on what strengthens the hearts and minds of everyone that comes into Barkada. My pillar teaches me new lessons everyday, as I continue to grow and be comfortable with the challenges that may be thrown my way. My pillar teaches me how to balance creativity with responsibility. I learn about fine-tuning details while still staying true to the vulnerable side of community building. It pushes me to be patient and open-minded, especially when things don’t go perfectly. I also am taught the value of being present. I find serenity in being grounded and focusing on how to shape the environment to uplift members. I am reminded that the little, consistent moments of care are just as integral as the big events.