Since its founding in the 1986-1987 school year, the Filipino American Student Association has quickly grown from a small group of friends to a group of over fifty students and several hundred alumni. Emerging from the shadows of the Philippine Michigan Club and the Filipino history and legacy within the campus, FASA has striven to meet the needs and goals of Filipino American students and to introduce and educate the campus community about Filipino American culture. From its formation, FASA has been active in promoting Filipino and Filipino American identity throughout Michigan while taking and active role in learning and furthering their own knowledge and fostering friendships with other Asian Americans.
In 1994, FASA hosted the National Filipino American Youth Association (NFAYA) conference and in 2000, FASA was the host of the Midwest Association of Filipino Americans (MAFA). These conferences brought together people from within the university's campus and from all over the US. In 2000, the idea of having Filipino culture presented on a large scale became a reality with Mekeni Abe (Come Here Friend). This event held on the Diag, filled Central Campus with Philippine history displays, food, dancing, and spoken word. Because of the success of Mekeni Abe, FASA wanted to have a larger event to culminate all of their Filipino American History Month events. In 2004, FASA introduced the University of Michigan campus to Philippine Culture Night (PCN). With its family atmosphere, memorable performances and cast amounts of delicious Filipino food, PCN has grown to become one of FASA's most anticipated events.
In 2005, FASA deepened its campus involvement with the addition of a Service Chair to its executive board. Prior to this expansion, FASA had been active in raising funds for many service projects in both the Philippines and the United States, and participating in campus activities like K-Grams' Kids' service activities. Currently, FASA participates in several service projects a year, such as AIDS Walk and The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life and has been raising funds for The Las-Ud Elementary School Building Project. The partnership with Las-Ud Elementary School, an annual endeavor, is a project to help complete construction on an elementary school in Ilocos-Sur Province.
With its many programs, performances, social and cultural events, and occasional study nights, FASA has become more than just a Filipino American group it has become a family.
