The Andrews Filipino International Association (AFIA) was established in 1993 to share Filipino culture with Andrews students through social events, gatherings, vespers and more. This year, their president, Byron Victoriano (junior, aviation), has been steering the club toward what promises to be another incredible year. Their new emphasis is to establish AFIA as a place of community and friendship.
Bryon’s involvement in AFIA began his freshman year when he was struck by the club's strong sense of community. This inspired him to run for vice president the following year despite not knowing many people in the club. He quickly connected with the other leaders and, after a successful year, decided to take on a greater role as president.
Byron stated that he wants people to experience AFIA similarly to how he did. He said, "Newcomers to the club shouldn't be worried if they don't know anybody.” He also elaborated that if anyone is interested, they should make the leap of faith and come to the events because the club is welcoming and focused on building friendships.
This commitment to the community is embodied in AFIA’s theme this semester: "Bayanihan," which is "a phrase in Tagalog that refers to a sense of community, unity, and cooperation.” The phrase’s direct translation is “cooperative endeavor,” according to the AFIA website. In fact, "Bayanihan" is even on the back of the club hoodies they released, along with a beautiful picture of people communing together.
In this spirit, another event hosted by AFIA is the "AFIA Aunties Potluck." Held on select Saturdays after church, this event offers students a chance to enjoy home-cooked Filipino food and chat while eating. On Sept. 29, Byron and his team also organized a fire hydrant painting event. During this event, members painted 106 fire hydrants around St. Joseph. Byron mentioned that this event used to be a part of Andrews' annual Change Day, so it’s especially meaningful that AFIA continued the event and provided students with an opportunity to serve and engage with the local community.
One thing that sets AFIA apart from other clubs on campus is its smaller, frequent events. Recently, they hosted an ultimate frisbee and volleyball tournament. Their events, often focused on sports, are an easy way for new people to join in. They’re always enjoyable and open to people of all skill levels.
Byron also highlighted the annual highly anticipated "Pilipino Cultural Night" (PCN) that will be held in the spring semester. AFIA is preparing by holding auditions for PCN, which typically includes a play, cultural dancing and a choir. He noted that their director recently completed the script. Tickets for the event will be available for purchase next semester.
Finally, Byron expressed his aim to continue the legacy of past AFIA executives. “They were great leaders; they made the club feel welcoming to both members and non-members. Everyone made sure to come out to their events.”
When asked what message he would like to share with the student body, Byron said, “Don’t be shy to come out to events. College is the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone and meet new people. I know it can be intimidating if you don’t know anyone, but we try to make sure everyone feels welcome.” No matter who you are, AFIA invites you to be part of the journey, the fun and the family.
To learn more about AFIA, what they do and the events you can be a part of, check out AFIA on Instagram, where they post sign-up links and other key details.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.