University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign to Hold 18th Annual FACT Conference

This weekend, hundreds of Pilipino Americans and Asian Americans from the Midwest will gather in the cornfields of Urbana-Champaign next Friday, from Nov. 5-7.

No, they're not visiting the haunted corn mazes.

They will be attending FACT '10: Evolution of a Leader, a three-day conference, and one of the largest in the Midwest. FACT (Filipino Americans Coming Together) "aims to educate and empower delegates on Pilipino and Pilipino American issues as well as dealing with issues on self-awareness and identity" through interactive workshops, keynote speakers, and a crowd-pleasing variety show with Pilipino American artists. Universities in attendance include: DePaul University, Indiana University, Michigan State University, Northern Illinois University, University Illinois at Chicago and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, to name a few.

Celebrating its 18th year, this year's theme focuses on leadership in the past, present, and future.

How have leaders in the past shaped Pilipino and Pilipino American history? How can we aspire to be leaders ourselves if we don't know the leaders who brought us to where we are now? (Like the Pilipino proverb says, "Ang hindi marunong tumingin sa pinanggalingan ay di makakarating sa paroroonan" (He who does not know to look where he came from will never get to his destination)).

What can the delegates do now to explore their identity and find their passion?

What tools can FACT provide them with this weekend that will help make them a great leader now and in the future?

As FACT '10 approaches, the BakitWhy.com Midwest team has been working with student organization leaders to become leaders in a new movement: blogging about their experiences at FACT on BakitWhy.com! Learn more about FACT '10 and the workshops here. Keep checking BakitWhy.com for delegates' blogs!