Kaibigan

Kaibigan is a student organization in Chicago, Illinois, USA based in Northwestern University's Evanston campus, dedicated to promoting Filipino culture through events, performances, and general body meetings. The word "kaibigan" translates to "friend" in Tagalog.

History

Austin Lim, a member of Kaibigon from 2003-3007, is widely regarded as the greatest president in the history of the Northwestern chapter of Kaibigon. During his tenure from 2005-2006, Lim improved Kaibigan's presence on campus, increased the group's funding, and oversaw the most successful Pinoy Show in the group's history. In a poll conducted on Northwestern's Evanston campus about past Kaibigan presidents, Lim received a 90 percent approval rating (20 percentage points greater than the next person on the list).

Participation in Community

With the aim of spreading awareness of Filipino culture, Kaibigan participates in performances and events in the Northwestern University and the Chicago-area community.

Examples of the group's past involvement at Northwestern events include:
*Co-sponsoring Voice for Asia concert and related events, benefiting UNICEF and China Care Foundation [cite web|url=http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/media/storage/paper853/news/2007/04/30/Campus/Voice.For.Asia.Fashion.Show.To.Benefit.Chinas.Aids.Orphans-2887884.shtml|title="Voice For Asia Fashion Show To Benefit China's AIDS orphans"|author=Matt Spector|accessdate=2007-06-30|publisher=The Daily Northwestern]
*Co-sponsoring and performing in Southeast Asia Nite, began in 2006 [cite web|url=http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/media/storage/paper853/news/2007/02/12/Campus/Five-Cultural.Groups.Unite.For.southeast.Asia.Nite-2712687.shtml
title="Five Cultural Groups Unite For 'Southeast Asia Nite'"|author=Liz Coffin-Karlin|accessdate=2007-06-30|publisher=The Daily Northwestern]
*Co-sponsoring immigration debate entitled "Entering the United States: The Immigration Controversy" with the Northwestern University branch of Americans for Informed Democracy(AID) [cite web|url=http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/media/storage/paper853/news/2006/05/15/DailyOnline/Debate.Will.Explore.Implications.Of.Immigration-1996785.shtml|title="Debate will explore implications of immigration"|author=Melanie Wanzek|accessdate=2007-06-30|publisher=The Daily Northwestern]
*Performing at the International Fest at Northwestern University in 2004 [cite web|url=http://www.chron.org/tools/viewart.php?artid=926|title="Around the world in four hours"|author=Robert VerBruggen|accessdate=2007-06-30|publisher=Northwestern Chronicle]

Kaibigan also takes part in other Filipino and Asian-American events in the Chicago area and the Midwest, such as:
*Competing in the annual Battle of the Bamboo intercollegiate Filipino dance competition at the University of Illinois at Chicago, winning first prize in 2005 [cite web|url=http://chifilipino.tripod.com/culture.htm|title="Keeping the Filipino Culture Alive"|author=Karolina Guzek|accessdate=2007-06-30|publisher=The Filipino Experience in Chicago] [cite web|url=http://groups.northwestern.edu/kaibigan/multimedia/Pinoy%20Monthly%20Article.pdf|title="Battle of the Bamboo:Northwestern U. Prevails"|author=Abbey Eusebio|accessdate=2007-06-30|publisher=Pinoy Monthly]
*Attending the Filipino Americans Coming Together(FACT) annual Filipino-American conference hosted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaignciteweb|url=http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/media/storage/paper853/news/2007/02/05/Campus/Filipino.Club.Passes.Down.Traditional.Dance-2696681.shtml|title="Filipino Club Passes Down Traditional Dance"|accessdate=2007-06-30|author=Leona Liu|publisher=The Daily Northwestern]

The Pinoy Show

In order to showcase Filipino culture in the Northwestern University campus, Kaibigan presents an annual cultural show entitled "The Pinoy Show" (with the exception of the first show in 2003, which was entitled "The Debut"). "The Pinoy Show" features dances, music, acts, and other performances relating to traditional and modern Filipino culture.

Footage from the 2006 "Pinoy Show" will be featured in the documentary "That Asian Thing", currently in production by Jonald Reyes. [cite web|url=http://www.thatasianthing.com/credits.cfm|title=Credits|accessdate=2007-06-30|publisher=That Asian Thing]

References

External links

* [http://groups.northwestern.edu/kaibigan/ Official Website]