The Pilipinx United Students Organization (PUSO) is a club centered on building community within Occidental’s Filipino community and spreading the culture of the Philippines. Cal Kreuter (senior), PUSO’s social chair, said anyone is welcome to join the club, even if they do not have Filipino heritage.
“We’re an affinity-based group on campus for Filipino and non-Filipino students alike,” Kreuter said.
Kreuter said the club organizes various activities centered around connecting Filipino students.
“We do a lot of fun group events, and then also some community events to build a sense of belonging within the Filipino community at Occidental,” Kreuter said.
According to Kreuter, PUSO activities include Salo Salo, an annual community celebration held in the spring semester, which tends to be their biggest event of the year.
“It’s very common in Filipino culture to have a big gathering with all your family and friends,” Kreuter said. “Last year we hosted our Salo Salo at the Intercultural Community Center. We had over 100 students come, and we catered Filipino food. Think of it like a Filipino cookout.”
According to Haven Garcia (senior), one of PUSO’s co-presidents, Filipino staff members are an important part of PUSO’s community.
“Throughout the Salo Salo planning, we try to make sure to invite all of the Filipino staff members […] so they also have a space,” Garcia said.
Micah Elegores, the club’s other co-president, said the club’s meetings revolve around celebrating Filipino heritage through hanging out and having fun, which are important aspects of Filipino culture.
“[At] all our meetings, we play games and we eat,” Elegores said. “It’s giving a Filipino party […] or just being Filipino.”
According to Elegores, PUSO is about spreading the joy of Filipino culture and expanding people’s horizons.
“My goal is to spread the fun, lighthearted nature of being Filipino […] I just want everyone to be a little bit more Filipino,” Elegores said. “I think it’s really cool and it’s something that I’m really proud to be.”
Elegores said the community spirit within Filipino culture aims to connect with everyone, especially through the expression and appreciation of culture.
“It’s rooted in the fact that Filipinos are just super proud of being Filipino,” Elegores said. “So when they see another Filipino or even see someone that supports Filipinos, that [person] is automatically their friend.”
Garcia said PUSO helps enrich and celebrate Filipino identity.
“Providing a space for Filipinos to be together and celebrate our culture is important,” Garcia said. “I grew up in the Philippines, but it’s important [to have] a part of that culture even though I’m not from here.”
Elegores said she was excited to come to Occidental and meet more Filipino people, especially through joining PUSO.
“Growing up in the suburbs of Houston, I was [surrounded by] predominantly white people,” Elegores said. “Coming to college, I was like, ‘I can’t wait to meet more Filipinos.’ I really wanted to be in this club.”
According to Elegores, the Filipino community at Occidental has provided an opportunity for friendships throughout the club and beyond.
“Everyone on the e-board, I’m really good friends with,” Elegores said. “I know all the Filipinos on campus because of this club.”
According to Garcia, the club plans to do a field trip to Historic Filipinotown as a way of expanding the club’s activities and celebrating Filipino American History Month this October.
“I was in talks with Sabrina [Willison] from SLICE [Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement], and she’s also half Filipina.” Garcia said. “We really wanted to emphasize [Filipino American History Month] and go to Filipino town. I don’t think we’ve had a field trip for the club since I’ve been here, so I feel like that would be cool.”
Kreuter said being in PUSO allowed him to connect with more Filipino students.
“Growing up, I probably could count on one or two hands the number of Filipinos I knew,” Kreuter said. “It was really nice to tap in with a new side of my identity, meet a lot of really cool students and make a lot of new friends who are also Filipino.”
Contact Chloé Guerrand at guerrand@oxy.edu
