LASA: Taste of the Philippines is Liga Filipina’s annual spring semiformal event — with catered food, entertainment, and special student performers in store.

“Lasa” is a Tagalog word that means “taste,” and through this food centric event, Liga strives to share Filipino culture with the Columbia and Barnard community. OPEN TO ALL!!!

The theme of Liga Filipina’s LASA: Taste of the Philippines 2024 and our corresponding zine is ARAW.

Roughly translating to “day” or “sun” in Tagalog, ARAW represents our commitment to finding light within ourselves and our beloved communities. Just like the sun, an emblem of the Philippines, we must spread beauty and joy throughout our surroundings, traversing borders and other boundaries in the process.

As an anti-colonial community-based organization, Liga Filipina stands in solidarity with all battles for liberation, whether they be continuous or emerging. Although these painful and arduous fights for self-determination and liberation against Western imperialism seem never-ending, we must not focus on suffering but rather our collective strength. Our solidarity, hope, and love — our ARAW — are our strongest forms of resistance.

In Liga Filipina, we have found our ARAW in our shared culture and community. What is your ARAW? Is it related to Liga Filipina, a different community you’re a part of, or the Filipino community at large? Or is it something more individual?