Venerable SWC Pagkakaisa Club celebrates a rich and proud heritage

Filipino-Americans are this region's quiet minority, but at least once a year they have a lot to say. Gising Na comes across loud and clear.

Pagkakaisa was more than just the first Asian club at SWC in 1968, it was the first Asian club in San Diego.

"It has been the forefront of starting different Asian academic movements," said Pagkakaisa Treasurer Jimmie Larcome. "Once Pagka, always Pagka."

Pagkakaisa is a Pilipino-American organization at SWC that encourages students to find their roots. Room 556 may look like an ordinary classroom for students but for members of Pagkakaisa there is historic sentiment.

"Room 556 was the same room we would have our meetings in," said former Pagkakaisa advisor Arlie Ricasa. "We are one of the oldest and one of the hardest working clubs."

Ricasa's most memorable time when she was advisor was when she would take a group of students to Agbayani Village in Delano, California. College students and community members in the early 1970s as a retirement home for Pilipino farm workers.

"At the time I had taken manongs (brothers) who were farm workers and who were participants in strikes against the growers," she said. "We would go up for the day and share history about our history. We had a phenomenal time."

Ricasa said in the USA we have a history that bridges a lot of different cultures.

"The Philippines consists of 7,000 islands," she said, "but carries influences from all throughout the world."

Ricasa said 14 percent of SWC students are Filipino.

SWC held the first culture night at Mayan Hall in the early 1970s and later turned into a bigger event called Gising Na.

Students of Pagkakaisa 1991 wanted to do something similar to the culture nights they previously had to expose Filipino culture to the community. Pilipino Cultural Awareness Festival (PCAF) was an event held at Devore Stadium.

The event became a full-day celebration and went on for several years until 2000 when counselor Maria Abuan became advisor. Pagka students wanted to express themselves and created Gising Na.

"Gising Na started out as an open mic or spoken word," said former president Arsenio Quejado. "It transitioned into a talent show and a culture night."

Francis Florendo, 14, kicked off the event by singing the national anthem of both the USA and the Philippines. Florendo said his motivation is his mother, Maria. She taught him how to sing at the tender age of four. He joined competitions three years after and has won first place in seven. Jason Larcome, son of Pagkakaisa Treasurer Jimmie Larcome, invited Florendo to sing at the event.

Florendo practiced his anthems two weeks before the event and his voice gave everyone something to talk about. Florendo did not stop there. He performed with his dance group called Pride Rice.

"I am proud to be Filipino," he said. "My whole life is Filipino.

Gising Na revealed many talents.

Daisylynn Noriega invited Nikko Nobleza, 21, a music performance major, to his second Gising Na event. Noriega played "Hide Away" by Freddie King and "Raining Blood" by Slayer on the electric guitar. He also performed "Classical Gas," by Mason Williams on the classical guitar.

Voices of the Filipinos were heard during Gising Na, as Allyssa Servenas, 15, and Emily Talampas, 14, took turns singing. Servenas and Talampas first sang a duet and another song solo. They sung "I Want to Dance with Somebody" made famous by Whitney Houston. They were invited last minute by Maria Florendo, although they admit that they knew the song and practiced briefly.

After their duet, Servanas sang "Basang Basa sa Ulan," a Tagalog song by Aegis. This song translates to "Really Wet in the Rain."

Servanas said she is not fluent in Tagalog but she was proud to sing a Tagalog song for Gising Na for she has not lost her roots. Servanes said she has been singing since she was six when her mom put her in vocal lessons.

"Filipinos are getting out there," she said. "It is nice to see a lot of people perform for their culture."

Talampas has been singing since she was three and continued to sing. She sang, "You Belong with Me," by Taylor Swift. She said she is proud to be a part of this event and knowing more about her culture.

Dancing also took the center stage. Pride Rice, a dance crew since 2009, occupied the whole stage. The dancers ages ranged from ages 10 to 29 with two girls.

"We are a bunch of people who have the same drive," said artistic director, Emanuel Barongan, 19. "We have the same pride for our culture."

Justine Ann Miranda sang three songs, each of which told a story. "Hey, Sister" by Train she sang with Paula Waters. She then sang "Play on Words," by Nessa Rica and "Love Song for No One," by John Mayor with Rudy Villegas.

"I chose those songs so they could go along with the storyline of my performance," said Miranda. "This became to be a good idea."

Miranda said the storyline starts by Waters and her singing "Hey, Soul Sister." When the music stopped, Waters ran off stage and left Miranda alone. Miranda looked to her right and sang "Play on Words" to Jon Blazado, secretary of Pagkakaisa. Blazado's roll in this storyline was her boyfriend but ended up leaving her. After Blazado left the stage, Villegas came on and sang "Love Song for No One" with Miranda.

"Gising Na's Filipino cultural event was a perfect way to show my talent," said Miranda.

Jimmie Larcome's pet project for earthquake relief occupied a booth during the event. Larcome asked Can't Stop, Won't Stop club members to collaborate with his project to bring awareness to the students.