UF students celebrate start of Filipino-American History Month

Hundreds gathered around Lake Wauburg to talk and eat pizza as they celebrated Filipino heritage Sunday.

About 150 UF students celebrated the beginning of Filipino-American History Month. The opening ceremony featured musical performances and a brief history lesson of the Filipino-American culture in Florida.

UF’s Filipino Student Association hosted the annual event to teach students about the culture, said Emilio Miguel Aragon, the organization’s vice president of cultural affairs.

“Filipino-American History Month is mostly to commemorate the first Filipinos who came here and how they progress over time in America,” the 21-year-old UF microbiology senior said. “We shouldn’t be tired of our culture. It basically creates our identity.”

The ceremony also started the ate/kuya/ading week. At the event, older members — ate for women or kuya for men — were matched with younger UF students, called adings. The older students mentor the younger students for the year.

“Adings are like your little,” said Debbie Diep, a 20-year-old UF psychology junior. “Someone you take care of, kind of like your mentee.”

Diep met her adings, Ian Arcena, a UF mechanical engineering freshman, and Michael Mangalino, a UF psychology sophomore, for the first time at the event.

Joco Mayo, the organization’s president, said he hopes students of all backgrounds learn about Filipino culture during the month.

“It’s not just about the Filipino people, it’s about the Filipino culture,” the 22-year-old UF health education and behavior senior said.

Tuesday: “Paint the Wall” at Norman Hall at 7 p.m.

Wednesday: “FSA Idol” at 6:30 p.m., location TBD

Friday: Filipino Olympics on Hume Field at 6 p.m.

Oct. 17: Asian Kaleidoscope Month Food Festival

Oct. 28: Closing Ceremony at Emerson Alumni Hall at 6 p.m.

Students raise their hands in preparation for the “Mabuhay Roller Coaster,” a traditional Filipino greeting, on Sunday afternoon at the opening ceremony for Filipino-American History Month. Sunday's event at Lake Wauburg kicked off the monthlong celebration.