CVHS Barkada

Click to read about the ‘10-‘11 Barkada Officers and what they have to say about what Barkada means to them!

 BRIAN ROXAS - President
Hey there! My name is Brian Roxas. I’m a senior, and I’m going to be your Barkada Filipino-American Club president this year! Two years ago, Jannalyn Manabat (last year’s president) and I co-founded this club with the intention of bringing people together to celebrate the Filipino culture. With that in mind, we decided to name the club “Barkada” because in Tagalog (the native Filipino language), a barkada is a group of friends. And for my last year, I hope we can really come together to form a community and family full of people who support each other and are passionate about learning more about the Filipino culture. I hope to have a lot of fun and get to know all of you, while still helping to raise some money for the Philippines and learn about the Filipino culture. And with everyone’s cooperation, I’m sure we can make this year great! :)

KATRINA YENTCH - Vice President
Hey guys! Your favorite white Filipino vice president here, speaking ;) I am so honored to be able to serve you all as vice for my favorite club on campus! From Barkada Club’s start, I have been given a sense of cultural identity and unity with the Filipino race. Being half Thai and half caucasian leaves me with very few choices to make friends as far as those who share the same ethnicity as I do go, and Barkada has given me so many friends and this feeling of belongingness that took me so long to find. Barkada to me means friends, friends who care for you no matter who you are or where you’re from. I only hope that all of you are able to create your own meaning of “barkada” with our club as well!

DIA CABRERA - Secretary
Hi there, I’m Dia Cabrera, Barkada Club’s Secretary. I think the fact that the word “barkada” means “friends” is a pretty big deal in this club. After all, that’s one of the most important reasons why we’re here. But to me, barkada means more than just friends. It’s that bond we all have, our blood connecting us to the country we might or might not have come from. I hope this year will be the best by far. This year, I’d like to focus more on the bonding between the members, and feel more like a family. The best clubs are the ones with the closest bonds, cause no matter what cause we’re aiming for, if our members are all united - we can accomplish anything! I look forward to this year, and getting to know everyone better!

CRYSTAL CAMONAYAN - Publicist
Kumusta ka na po! My name is Crystal Lynn Camonayan and I am your 2010-2011 Barkada Publicist this year! I am a first generation Filipino-American and Filipino love and pride surge through my veins. I believe Barkada Club is all about friendship and to learn more about the Philippines! Filipino culture is quite scarce in La Crescenta so I’m honored to be a part of this community. Barkada Club is a place to feel welcome and to mingle with new people who can end up being your closest friends! I have been a member of Barkada Club ever since it first came out my Sophomore year and it has still brought lots of fun to both my friends and me. Being a Filipino born in the United States it’s hard to keep your heritage in tact, but Barkada Club has also helped me in that aspect from the fun and interesting power points that are presented once in a while. So I want to make sure everyone has the same awesome experience I was able to share in this club with everyone else. Oh! And don’t be shy to just say “Hi!” to me once in a while, I love making new friends. (:

KRISTEN AMPIG - Director Of Events
Barkada is a special club to me because this is where I can share my culture freely, have fun, and support the Philippines. With Barkada, I can also meet so many Filipinos at school whom I would never have met without this club. One might think that there is just a few Filipinos at school, then you come into a Barkada meeting, and you get overwhelmed with how full the room gets. This club offers so many opportunities to experience Filipino culture, make new friends, support the Philippines through fundraisers, and just have a great  time.