On Oct. 25, 2025, SCHS’s Filipino American Student Association attended and participated in their first Filipino “Filo” Fiesta. This year, the event was hosted by Kathleen MacDonald High School’s FASA program. Filipino families came to enjoy the party, with organizations around the Bay Area representing themselves in booths and stations. Organizations such as Stanford PASU (Pinoy American Student Union), Santa Clara University Barkada, Malaya South Bay, Grace’s Baked Goods and Boba Passion all came.
FASA students from schools across the district provided entertainment by performing cultural dances. MacDonald FASA students performed Cariñosa, a folk dance that originated in the colonial era. Wilcox High School Filipinx students followed with a tinikling performance, a traditional dance using bamboo sticks and eccentric footwork. SCHS students then performed a dance to “Gento” by SB19 with other MacDonald and Wilcox students, displaying a mix of hip hop and traditional culture.
SCHS FASA co-presidents, junior Landon Madanes and junior Dominique Terese Mabanta, performed “Pasilyo” by Sunkissed Lola, a song of love and marriage. Following this, they sang “Cherry Wine” by Hozier and reinterpreted by Grentperez. Madanes mentioned the anxious yet ecstatic feeling about performing their song for their first Filo Fiesta.
“For our first Filo Fiesta event, I think there was a bit more nerves for me just because it was in front of strangers mostly and people that we as a club have not been around,” Madanes said. “But by the end of our presentation, it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulder because I was striving for our performance to be good, especially as it was our first time ever doing it, so a good impression as you could say.”
Mabanta also collaborated with the other schools to help organize the celebration.
“It was really interesting to see how other schools do their activities, just seeing them do the same dances as us but different, or talking to the other people in the executive positions of the other schools was so interesting,” Mabanta said. “I think we could learn a lot from other schools, and they could learn from us.”
MacDonald High FASA advisor and math teacher Lillian Kwiatkowski was pleased to see SCHS students join Filo Fiesta, a tradition that has been carried on by Wilcox for about seven years.
“We were so happy that they’re here to celebrate (with us). This year is a big celebration for all of us,” Kwiatkowski said. “It was better in a sense. It was more festive. I think Santa Clara brought that joy.”
Along with networking and dance performances, MacDonald FASA students provided karaoke, welcoming all guests and members to come and sing their hearts out. The Filo Fiesta also brought back old games like Patintero, which is a Filipino Laro (Game) that consists of trying to run to the other side as players try to tag and block their way over. Many students and guests enjoyed the addition of the childhood game.
MacDonald FASA president senior Gillian Mae Mabilin described her excitement when playing it.
“I felt a wave of nostalgia, not from my childhood but my parents. I didn’t grow up in the Philippines, so I never got to experience the fun childhood they always describe,” Mabilin said. “But when I played Patintero with so many people, I felt childish and relived my ancestors’ childhoods. The pure laughter and energy made the moment feel so much more genuine, and I never wanted to leave.”
Guest speaker and former co-president of Wilcox’s FASA, Blessy Alkuino, spoke about the importance of celebrating traditions and culture.
“As a community, we need to gather as a reminder that us Filipinos unite even across seas from the mainland,” Alkuino said. “Sharing our culture and passing it on to younger generations is crucial when it is so easy to become disconnected from our culture.”
j • Nov 4, 2025 at 9:29 am
good job kyiel!!