The Filipino Culture and Language Club Brings Community Together
Rooting from an idea to now flourishing with around 100 plus members, the Filipino Culture and Language Club started the semester strong with its first Filipino Festival.
Leo Galang, a senior at the University of Nevada, Reno, remembers noticing something when he first came to campus: there was a vast amount of Filipino students like himself, but no Filipino community at the University.
“I just kind of noticed that there were lots of Filipinos and no clubs,” he said. “I was just a student wanting to connect with the culture. So I went to the Multicultural Center.”
It’s here where Leo learned of another student, Gavin Fisher, who had the same issue. Together they shared the same vision of bringing the Filipino community together and building an organization. The two eventually met up and formed the Filipino Culture and Language Club (FCLC), the first Filipino club at the University since 2015.
“That whole first semester was like a whirlwind,” Fisher said.
Photo Credits: Jaycee Asahan / The Filipino Culture and Language Club gathered together in a meeting in preparations for the Filipino festival and this semester’s plans.
As co-presidents, Fisher and Galang launched the club in Winter 2022, with specific goals in mind.
“The vision was always to have three prongs to it, with the language classes, the culture classes, and with the charity stuff,” Fisher said.
Fisher took charge over the language “prong,” and with no official Tagalog classes at the University, he started creating his own with campus tutors. As the FCLC has expanded, more Filipinos and Filipino-Americans have filled up these classes. Fisher said it’s vital the club brings opportunities for Tagalog speakers, especially for younger generations.
“It's like an endless conversation between the elders and us younger people. The fact that we don't know Tagalog,” Fisher stated. He believes that learning Tagalog is an important aspect of getting in touch with one’s culture and heritage, and is working to make language a solid part of the club, where members have the access to learn it..
“There's a shame in using our language, but there's also an oppression, whether it's an impression from ignorance, or racism.” Fisher said.
His passion for bringing community derives from his mother who helped form the first Filipino club at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, called The Filipinx American Student Association (FASA). Fisher stressed the importance of making sure FCLC continues to build and unite the Filipino community on campus.
“What I'm really worried about is making sure this continues to exist. One, because my mom was part FASA.” Fisher said.
With Fisher leading the language aspect of the club, Galang led the social aspect. Both were overwhelmed with the amount of support shown from Filipinos on campus with around 80 members joining the club's Discord on its first appearance at the club fair.
“Just seeing that much interest is probably, I feel like, the biggest accomplishment,” Galang said
Galang urges those involved to enjoy the social and community aspects of the club in hopes to relieve the stresses that come with being a college student. Galang himself has big goals for himself and the club.
“I wanted to create the image or like the branding of the club, because I had a certain way that I wanted it to look and feel, then also in branding, and also recruiting as many people as possible. Because like, the main goal is just to create a community here,” he said.
Galang also feels some nostalgia as he continues to connect Filipinos together and lead the social side of the club.
“I would hear Tagalog and it would be so nostalgic, it would remind me of family and stuff,” he said, “So it’s cool to have people relate to me in that way.”
One of the major aspects of the club are the events that promote community and social bonding within the club members – the latest example being the Asian Pacific Islander (API) night hosted by the multicultural center.
Photo Credit: Jaycee Asahan / Club Officers of the FCLC show their support as they represent the club at the API Night Market.
One of the biggest events yet is the first Filipino festival the club hosted on October 16. With the help of some local organizations like APIA Nevada, Pamilya Foundation, the University’s Diversity & Inclusion Department, the College of Liberal Arts, the Associated Students of the University of Nevada, and Department of Gender Race and Identity, FCLC had hundreds of attendees for the festival.
Along with fundraisers and the marketing that was needed to support this event, the festival included classes on Tagalog, Baybayin, Tinikling, and Filipino history. People who went to at least two classes got a ticket for free food, and everyone enjoyed performances throughout the festival.
The ultimate goal of the event though was to connect people to the club and urge them to learn about Filipino culture.
“We want to get as many people who know nothing about Filipino culture, to engage with Filipino culture hands on, even if they're not Filipino, especially if they're not Filipino,” Fisher said.
The club, which was formed as a way to connect with other students on campus, has quickly grown into something bigger. Fisher and Galang have created something that helps give a voice to the community on campus and beyond.
For anyone interested in learning more about FCLC, or to join or support, you can learn more on the club’s Instagram page.
Reporting by Ericka Estacio
This article is a product of the Vibrant Voices Mentorship Program, dedicated to equipping journalism students with guidance and opportunities to elevate their academic and journalism careers.
