FCN Coordinator Qualifications

(Click photo to enlarge)

More Details

http://twitter.com/samahanfcn2010

*Already made; will use if elected

*May also use cherple.com

• People can connect their phone to twitter so we can send them the latest updates about FCN and recognize people who contributed their efforts throughout the year

---

http://absamahanfcn2010.weebly.com/

*Already made; will publish if elected

Will have updates on the following:

Main page

+ Minutes of whatever I report at E-board meetings

About Site

+ What the website is about

The Script

+ Individuals can ask for full script but I’ll most likely give a summary of each scene

Characters

+ (And after auditions, I will also post up the actors)

Contact page

+ How you can contact me and others

+ Hijenamos.blogspot.com (I will change my cultural blog to an FCN blog)

Forum

+ In case people want to discuss the script or any aspect of the production

Sources

+ Will list all research here in case people may want to look them up as well

Credit

+ List down everyone that participates along with their contact information (if they wish to disclose)

---

ABSamahanFCN2010@gmail.com

*Already made; will use if elected

+ E-mail account for FCN :]

+ May also use the GOOGLE DOCUMENTS feature

++ So scriptwriters can feel connected and members can view the latest updates on the script

---

http://issuu.com/

+ May make a digital program (a brainstorming idea) for FCN

---

What I've Been Working On Since Before I Became Cultural

Script

+ Already have FOUR ideal scenes in mind

+ Ideal characters for the play

Dances to incorporate

+ Traditional

+ Modern

+ NEW: Break dancing

People to work with (some I already asked to work with me)

+ Scriptwriters

+ Dance choreographers

+ FCN Assistant

+ Possible costume designers

+ Funding, promoting, recruiting

+ Musicians

FCN Election Speech

[ Stay Tune for the Video ]

Two years ago, a good friend of mine invited me to watch AB Samahan’s twenty-second annual FCN – Malakas Ng Puso. Little did I know that I’d fall in love with the production. As I watched the second day in a row, I told myself, “I’m going to coordinate this one day.” Though I knew I had a lot of learning to do, I was already determined to get the position.

I joined AB Samahan my sophomore year to see what it was about and auditioned for an FCN lead role. I became part of the main cast and participated in my first FCN. I was more inspired to run for the position. But I still needed time. So while I brainstormed for FCN, I took on the Cultural Coordinator position. I spent this year studying about my culture and at the same time, finding a story for the future FCN.

For over a year now I’ve been observing, learning and brainstorming ideas for next year’s production. I already have an ideal story and yes, a game plan.

Communication will be my biggest priority this year. If we can communicate, we can cooperate. And if we can cooperate, we can efficiently operate. Plus I believe that establishing an understanding with one another will decrease tsismis, negativity and division. I want people to feel included, not excluded.

Next year’s production is intended to have a bigger cast as opposed to the past two years making it more important to keep the communication lines open. I intend on having one-on-ones and discussion groups about the play. In addition, a website that everyone can refer to for FCN updates.

Now, what’s a production without help? Next year I plan on expanding my resources by increasing member and non-membership participation. Members don’t come to Samahan just to be spectators. And spectators can be potential participators. People want to contribute their talents, and I will take full advantage of that for necessities such as funding, promoting, recruiting and more.

I know that I have the ability to make the twenty-fifth annual FCN one to remember. Being cultural coordinator this year has taught me that a presentation is only as good as your audience’s reaction. Messages are important, but knowing your audience and how you present that message makes all the difference. I plan on studying the demographics of FCN viewers, interviewing potential resources and overall making a story that will appeal to you.

Thank you for listening. My name is Jen Amos and I hope to be your next FCN Coordinator.

Help Support :]

Click fliers to enlarge :]

If you support me as your next FCN Coordinator, please set either one of these fliers as your social website default pictures (Facebook, MySpace, Tumblr, Blogspot, Twitter, etc.) Hard copies will have their debut at Speech and Q&A night Wednesday, April 29 @ 6pm! :D

You can take them down at the end of voting. (Voting will be from May 4 to May 8th at the AB Samahan office!)

Let it be known that

Jen Amos is running for Filipino Culture Night (FCN) Coordinator 2009-10.

AB Samahan FCN 2009 Review

Cultural Column with Jen Amos
*This entry will constantly be updated until notified otherwise

Filipino culture. There are key aspects that come to mind when we think about it: the Philippines, Philippines history, folk dances, tradition, family, religion and so on. Past FCN stories have addressed the journey of Filipinos coming to America such as Carlos Bulosan, historic times such as the Marcus Era or political issues such as the Filipino American WWII Veterans. But rarely in AB Samahan’s FCN history has a story’s focal point been about Filipino American (Fil-Am) youth.

This year’s scriptwriters Cyrille and Cypress Villaflores took on the daring task of writing a play based on Fil-Am college students and Filipino organizations. Anticipating the controversy their story would bring, the script became a product of 2o interviewed Fil-Am college students, input from numerous college professors and academic and social research on the Fil-Am youth. This year-and-a-half project went through constant revisions just to ensure that every addressed issue was explained thoroughly making the play as unbiased and realistic as possible. Overall, FCN 2009’s story was flawless and the least bit exaggerated.

Not only was the story a great representation of contemporary Filipino culture, it went up and beyond the standards of a traditional FCN. It is the first FCN to strategically tackle down the issues of Fil-Am youth and their lives in and out of cultural organizations. Most of all, it recognized the Fil-Am lifestyle as culture of its own.

It’s not to say that we should move on from our ties with the Philippines. Aspects of Filipino culture such as Philippines history, national heroes and cultural dances were lightly touched upon this year to challenge the audience to think critically of the play and find the overseen aspects of our culture existent in today’s society – or in most parts of the play, a college setting. The play also encourages Fil-Ams to personally discover and apply the ideas taught from our traditional culture to modern times. It’s just as MC Baguiro mentioned in her elections speech, “The old ideas are not useless because they teach us to be self-sustaining and instills in us a sense of duty to teach these lessons to others as well.”

Culture doesn’t end with the Philippines or Filipinos coming to America. If that is the case, then what does that make Filipino Americans and the Filipino American youth? Is today not considered a part of Filipino culture? Does this mean as time progresses, Filipino culture can only be presented as a past culture that became westernized? How passive and defeating does that sound?

American values have become part of Filipino values. There’s no doubt about it. Though ideals may contradict each other, Fil-Ams fight everyday to find that balance. This type of struggle is part of our culture. It is, in fact, becoming part of many oriental cultures as well. If not consider this part of Filipino culture, consider this a subculture that needs to be known.

We don’t need to be reminded on an annual basis that we came from the Philippines. Though “historical entities” are required for FCN plays, nothing in the AB Samahan constitution states that another “coming to America” story is necessary. The more we do this, the more we belittle our existence in America.

FCN 2009 showed the importance of recognizing Fil-Am lifestyle as an apparent part of the Filipino culture. This was an uncensored story about us, the youth. “Getting To Know You” FCN 2009. It was about modern Filipino culture that not only should our parents come to accept, but also ourselves. Though FCN 2009 has come to an end, I challenge you to look into your lives and discover the contemporary Filipino culture existing today. If you haven’t uncovered it yet, you’ll be surprised how prominent it has become.

---

This cultural column does not reflect the views of AB Samahan. Any questions, comments or concerns can be directed toward Jen Amos at sdsuabsamahan.cultural@gmail.com. For the complete article, please go to http://hijenamos.blogspot.com.

Charice Pempengco Sings Philippine National Anthem

Damn, her voice is beautiful.



No joke, her voice brings me to tears.