Student Association for Filipino Americans
at University of Michigan-Dearborn

Founded in January 2018, the Student Association for Filipino Americans (SAFA) strives to cultivate the Filipino culture within the UM-Dearborn community through workshops, conferences, discussions, volunteering, and social events centered around the Filipino American experience. Being of Filipino descent is not a requisite for membership; any student or faculty member interested in learning more about the culture is welcome to join at any time.The University of Michigan-Dearborn sits on the territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, comprised of the Ojibwe, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi.⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆SAFA's E-Board 2023-2024
Co-Presidents: Kenneth Conuel Oralde & Tyler Nguyen
Treasurer: Sasha Folloso
Events Coordinator (Internal): Dan Ly
Communications (External): Nathan Lyle
Co-Cultural Chairs: Anton Senerpida & Ricky Semillia
Events Performance Chair: Kaitlynn McKenna
SAFA's Interns 2023-2024
Media Interns: Marinel Perez & Natalie Kim

All About SAFA

What is SAFA?
SAFA is the Student Association for Filipino Americans based in the University of Michigan-Dearborn. SAFA is a student-run organization centered around celebrating Filipino culture and improving Filipino lives.⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆What activities and events does SAFA hold?☆ PHILIPPINE CULTURAL NIGHT This is SAFA's grand, annual celebratory event held in March featuring Filipino performances, speakers, foods and drinks, and other facets of Filipino culture. Proceeds go towards Project PEARL, a monetary assistance program for the SAFA community. Open to the public, PCN is prepared by members of SAFA months in advance with hours of hard work poured into this night of cultural entertainment. We hope you are able to join us on stage or in the crowd!☆ AKA (ATE-KUYA-ADING) PROGRAM SAFA members are placed in a lineage with at least two older peers (ate/kuya) and two younger peers (ading) after taking a fun personality quiz. The goal of the AKA program is to form a cohesive community by establishing smaller groups that an individual member can focus on and relate to first; it is a way for new members to more easily make their first SAFA friends.☆ SAFAM PROGRAM Based on a house system, SAFA members are placed into either of the three SAFAMs—Hadyis, Psss!eidon, or Zeusmaryosep—after taking a fun personality quiz. SAFAMs go against one another in friendly competitions throughout the years, which can include anything from Filipino cooking contests to seeing how which SAFAM can donate the most clothes to a clothing drive. Members can also earn points for their SAFAM by simply getting involved with SAFA events, such as attending general body meetings and joining a Philippine Cultural Night committee. Whichever SAFAM obtains the most points by the end of the school year wins a cash prize. May the best SAFAM win!☆ TRADITIONAL AND MODERN DANCES Those in SAFA have the opportunity to learn both traditional and modern dances—such as tinikling, tiklos, and choreographies to current Asian-American music—with no previous dance experience needed! These dances are often performed at SAFA's Philippine Cultural Night or other cultural events.☆ VOLUNTEER EVENTS SAFA is involved in community work around the Metro Detroit area and abroad in the Philippines. Some examples include organizing clothing drives and communal gardening with HUDA Urban Garden.☆ GENERAL BODY MEETINGS General body meetings are held every few weeks as an opportunity for all SAFA members to gather, get updated about SAFA happenings, and bond through discussions, games, and joke langs. Informally, SAFA loves to also eat out after within Dearborn, Michigan's delicious food scene!& so much more!⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆What can I get out of SAFA?
- Greater connection to your Filipino identity/knowledge about the Filipino culture
- On-campus community with friends and SAFAMs, as well as the ability to befriend members of other student Filipino organizations within the Midwest
- Opportunities to learn traditional Filipino dances and recipes
- Cultural discussions and communal volunteering
- Whatever you wish to make of it! Being of Filipino descent nor being available to attend every SAFA event is a prerequisite–we welcome everyone's interests and perspectives in the community.⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆How can I join SAFA?
Simply follow the steps under our GET STARTED tab!⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆Have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions?
Head over to the SOCIALS tab to reach out to us!

Kamusta! Get started here!

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

══ ⋆★⋆ ══1) If you are a UM-Dearborn student, join us on VictorsLink.2) Join our Discord to meet our members and receive announcements.3) If you would like to receive a monthly email containing updates, important links, and event reminders, sign up for our newsletter.4) Fill out the membership form and pay dues/fill out the dues waiver form for official member benefits, which include receiving a Filipino stole for graduation.5) Have fun at our events!

Click on the halo-halo to learn more about safa!

SAFA Events and Forms

1/10/23 - Welcome Back GBM
1/22/23 - PASS x SAFA goes to Battle of the Bamboo Form
1/31/23 - SAFAM/AKA Winter Semester Reveals
2/07/23 - Battle of the Bamboo 2023 Informational Meeting / External Event Behaviors
2/18/23 - Battle of the Bamboo 2023: Maunawaan | Understand Your RootsRunning Event Timeline 2022-2023★。＼｜／ ★。＼｜／。★。＼｜／。★
March 18, 2023
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★。＼｜／ ★。＼｜／。★。＼｜／。★⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ALL EVENTS
Running Event Timeline 2022-2023
Sign In Form
What activities and events does SAFA hold?
Join our mailing list for reminders!
SAFA General Body Google Drive (includes GBM slides + photos from events!)
SAFA General Body Google Drive NEW (includes GBM slides + photos from events!)⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆FORMS
Philippine Cultural Night Production
Philippine Cultural Night Committee Form
Philippine Cultural Night Performance FormExecutive Board Internship
E-board Internship Form*AKA (Ate-Kuya-Ading)/SAFAM (Open until January 27th) *
AKA/SAFAM Program Form
AKA/SAFAM Reassessment FormProject PEARL (Pilipino Efforts Are Rejuvenating Lives)
Fundraising Request FormGetting Started
Introduction to SAFA
VictorsLink Sign Up
Membership Form 2022-2023
Dues Form 2022-2023
Dues Waiver Form 2022-2023
Mailing List for Weekly Emails & Monthly Newsletters
SAFA's SocialsGeneral
SAFA Feedback Form⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆APPLICATIONS
Executive Board
E-board Application: Currently Unavailable

Merchandise

All Night and Ube T-shirt Form: Will Re-Open Soon

Midwest Association for Filipino Americans (MAFA)

Instagram | Facebook | Discord | Mailing ListThe Midwest Association for Filipino Americans (MAFA) is the student-run umbrella organization of all Filipino student organizations in the Midwest. It exists to encourage communal unity and cooperation by promoting Filipino culture and Asian-American awareness, coordinating meetings and events, and supporting the objectives of its member organizations.

External Events

CONFERNCES AND SHOWCASES
November: Filipino Americans Coming Together
February: Battle of the Bamboo
April: Midwest Filipino American Summit⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆PHILIPPINE CULTURAL NIGHTS
TBA⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆SAFA Chant
External: SAFA!
Members: So good!
External: SAFA!
Members: So good!
External: So far?
Members: So good?

Resources