• November 3 - Rubio's Fundraiser
• November 7 - Cultural Dinner with Delta Tau Delta
• November 11 - Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) Rally
• November 12 - Big Sis Revs
  
• November 18 - Ice Skating Social with USC Zeta Phi Rho
• December 2 - Kappa Psi Epsilon Holiday Party
• December 3 - Christmas Fest in support of our Alpha Chapter Sisters at CSULB

If you'd like any more information on these events, check out our Fall Kalayaan! If you'd like to see photos of these events, check out our Facebook page!

“How you gon’ win, when you ain’t right within?” The words of famous recording artist Lauryn Hill resonated throughout the room. Tracy Buenavista, Department of Asian American Studies at California State University, Northridge, recited this line to emphasize the night’s theme: EmpowHERed Pinays. Each year, the sisters of Kappa Psi Epsilon organize Pinay Symposium to share the Pinay experience, which often goes overlooked. The theme of EmpowHERed Pinays focused on the different avenues which women can take to find their own inner strength.

Speakers of various backgrounds were invited to address an audience of both women and men on the night’s theme. Nenita “Tita” Domingo, lecturer in Filipino at UCLA, spoke about her experiences in community organizing in the Philippines to her story in becoming an educator. Loralei Bingamon shared how she uses her passion for art as a form of self-expression and community education through her workshops as a Certified Expressive Arts Therapy Practitioner and Soul Collage Facilitator. Darlene “Daya” Mortel narrated her journey from being the first Filipina to sit on the University of Washington’s Board of Regents to how she co-founded the Anakbayan in Honolulu, Hawaii, and how she is involved today with BAYAN-USA and Habi Arts. Last but not least, Tracy Buenavista elaborated on the importance of self-empowerment to prevent the occurrence of “battle fatigue” within both the Pinay and Pinoy community.

The sisters of Kappa Psi Epsilon find importance in learning about the struggles of the community and sharing the lessons that come with their experiences. Through this annual event, the sisters of Kappa Psi Epsilon are able to reach out to an audience of UCLA students as well as members of the greater Los Angeles community. With that said, Kappa Psi Epsilon would like to thank the brothers of Theta Delta Beta, Gamma Chapter and the sisters of Tau Theta Pi, Beta Chapter as well as members of the community based organizations: People’s Community Organization for Reform and Empowerment, Kabataang maka-Bayan, and SiGAw for attending this event. Each year, the sisters will continue to carry out Pinay Symposium in order to provide a space where Pinays and their allies can share their experiences.

    The events of the week included a Baybayin workshop, a Pilipino food fundraiser, and this year’s Pinay Symposium. As a means of celebrating the past, our Baybayin workshop allowed us to share the history of this ancient script that was used in the pre-colonial day of the Philippines and the techniques in writing it. The Pilipino Food fundraiser allowed us to share with others the Pilipino food that we know and love with all of campus and let us share our present as Pilipino Americans with all of campus. This year’s Pinay Symposium entitled “EmpowHERed Pinays” celebrated the fact that many Pinays that are currently working to improve the future of Pilipino Americans here in the United States. This year’s speakers included Tracy Buenavista, a Ph. D. professor from CSUN who researches how topics like race, gender and socioeconomic status affect Pilipino Americans, and Loralei Bingamon, a Pinay artist who uses her art as a means of empowering not only herself but also her community. This year’s events helped to celebrate PAHM by allowing us to “learn from the past, live in the present and work for the future” of Pilipino Americans.