We are thrilled to extend an invitation to you to participate in our annual Filipino-American Magkaisa High School Conference to be held October 19, 2024, at Sweetwater High School. It is our hope our conference will empower Filipino-American youth and our community to explore diverse career opportunities, learn about the Filipino-American experience, and celebrate the contributions of Filipino-Americans to society. Our theme this year is Kapwa: The Self in Others. "Kapwa" embodies shared identity, recognizing interconnectedness, mutual respect, and empathy, highlighting the self’s connection with others in Filipino culture. In "Kapwa," the boundaries between self and others blur, creating a sense of shared humanity and collective well-being, essential for harmonious relationships and community life. Here are the details of the event: Event: Magkaisa High School Conference Date: October 19, 2024, 9AM to 1PM Location: Sweetwater High School, National City, CA Our co...
The 21st annual Magkaisa Filipino American Student and Parent Conference: Keeping our Culture and Identity Alive Through Art was a tremendous success! The conference was held on October 28, 2023, at Otay Ranch High School. Magkaisa is a Filipino word for unity. In 2002, the Filipino American educators of Sweetwater Union High School District united to respond to concerns that our Filipino American youths were experiencing a high rate of thoughts of suicide, suicide attempt, and gang involvement. The purposes of that first conference were to bridge the gap between parents and youth and to affirm our identity as Filipino Americans by exploring what that meant through workshops on history and culture. Through the years, the conference has broadened to include workshops on college/university preparation and exposure to traditional and non-traditional careers. A huge thank you to our conference chairs: Ms. Dinnah B. Donato-Palmore, Counselor and Mr. Rizalyn Cruz, Filipino Language Teac...