This past Saturday, February 23rd, hundreds of Filipino-American students from all over Southern California united at Cal State Long Beach for the 2013 SCPASA Summit: Redefined. 

The theme of this year’s summit was about redefining the role of young, aspiring Filipino-Americans in today’s society. “This [summit] focuses more on the individual”, said Jumar Garcia, chairperson of this year’s summit. 

Garcia said the workshops, as well as the funcilitators leading them, each revolved around different aspects of the average FilAm. Summit offered opportunities for rediscovery in their culture, language, lifestyle, and future.

Most of the workshops are led by Pinoy professionals, each successful in their respective field. Though their topics may have differed, one message seemed to stand out in all of their presentations. Each presenter addressed their audience to remind them that they were part of the generation that was changing the world and its views on Filipinos internationally.

Patricio Ginelsa, director and head of Kid Heroes Film Productions, told his workshop audience what to expect once they enter the job market. Speaking from his personal experience, Patricio said that it would take them a long time before they manage to make a difference, but that it was worth it.

Ginelsa, who has worked on large-scale projects such as The Debut (2001), has been pursuing his dream of working in the entertainment industry for over ten years. He also commented that “people don’t really understand why [he] puts so much effort into something that is not going to earn billions,” and that they do not realize what the real intent is.

Along with other presenters and fellow entertainment entrepreneurs, Ginelsa said that the intent behind the material he produces is to motivate his audience.

Inspiration and motivation was not only limited to workshops, however, as Josh and Jedi of the Shining Sons performed at the summit half-time show. Twin brothers, Jedi and Josh formed their rap duo as a way to promote the struggles and challenges faced by Filipinos both in the U.S and in the Philippines today.

“We are using music as a political vehicle for awareness...,” said Josh.

Many of the other workshops catered towards what Patricio advocates, such as one that addressed the ongoing struggle for social justice in the Philippines. Others focused on the change that must begin inside the individual like the faith discussion workshop. 

Associate Professor Christine Balance, the Summit’s keynote speaker, spoke extensively on the topic of redefining the stereotype of what she thought was Filipino.

Growing up as a second-generation FilAm, Balance’s parents were constantly reminding her to speak English to them in an effort to make her more ‘American.’ However, Balance said that she felt there was something missing in her life.

It was not until she started exploring P.A.S.S (Pilipino Anmerican Student Services) at UC Irvine that she felt complete. Balance went on to initiate the Junior/Community outreach program for P.A.S.S. With the help of her best friand, Mark Tristan Ng, the first openly queer president of UCLA's Samahang Pilipino, she also founded the Queer Pin@y Conference, the first conference specifically for the queer Pilipino population.

Balance said getting involved with her Filipino-American community was one of the best experiences in her life and suggests that people looking to reconnect their heritage do the same. “The only way.... Is to immerse yourself,” she added in response to redefining perceptions of culture. 

On the whole, the workshops and speakers at SCPASA 2013 Summit sought to redefine and break the stereotypes posed in society. 

Two participants, Winnie Galbadores of UCLA and Andrew Sabino of Pasadena City College, summed up what they learned through their experience at summit. They said that when they arrived, they were hoping to learn more about their Filipino culture, but that what they left with was a deeper understanding compared to the one they expected.

*Photos by Michelle Lapitan