Hello fellow mens and womens. My name is Christian Borromeo. I’m a third-year Psychology major here at San Jose State University, and I am this year’s Cultural Chair! Cool. You know what else is? Walruses. Walruses and basketball. Do you play? Meet me on the court and we can run. That’d be fun. Hey, I just rhymed. I’m like a rapper. Not that I like hip-hop or anything. I actually prefer country music. Sweet Home Alabama is my song! Just kidding. But country music is cool. And don’t mess with Sweet Home Alabama. I have a wide selection when it comes to musical preference. For me, it’s like food. I like it if it tastes good. And I think everything tastes good. Speaking of food, I’m hungry right now. Let me grab something to eat and I’ll finish this off. Be right back.
Alright, where was I? Oh right, food. I love Filipino food the most, of course. Especially what my mom cooks at home. But I’ll have my occasional trip to Wingstop and wherever else the kids go these days. If not you can usually find me in the kitchen. Boiling water to cook Top Ramen. Or in front of the microwave. Heating up a hot pocket because I can’t really cook. Hey, I’m on a budget here. A college student has to do something to get by. When I’m not in class or doing hood rat stuff with my friends, I’m usually in my room practicing my uke skills and mixing. Like I said before, I have a thing for music. However, I’m not too, how do I say this, musically gifted. But you know, just keep at it and you’ll get it one day. One of my dream jobs is to make beats and produce for big artists and stuff like that. How awesome would that be? If not, I’d take my talents to South Beach and spin at the hottest clubs. I’m not that good yet, but ambition and perseverance can definitely take you somewhere, right? For now, I’ll just stay in school and work on that degree. I’m going to pick up all those books that I’m going to read and not remember, and I’m going to roll, man. Props if you got that tiny little Kanye reference. He’s definitely one of my favorites. I think if you were able to take out my brain and see the things I’m really in to, you would find a lot of Kanye (and other rappers’) lyrics, thoughts about food, loads of knowledge about basketball, more thoughts about food, and my ever-growing love for the Filipino culture.
Throughout my time here at San Jose State, I have really come to appreciate our culture in a way I never have before. Back when I was going to high school in San Francisco, there was little to no emphasis on actual Filipino culture anywhere in sight. All that I knew about my culture was Manny Pacquiao, the food, and that Daly City was foggy because the Filipinos were cooking rice all the time. I never knew about the little things about our culture. There is so much more to learn than what we see in the media. It’s amazing. What I hope to do as your Cultural Chair this year, is teach you something you never knew before and get you excited about the things you learn in Akbayan. I want you to be able to go home to your parents and tell them, “Hey mom/dad, I learned this today!” Ultimately, that is the reason I ran for the position in the first place.
Like I said I didn’t know much before I came to State and before I joined Akbayan, but through my time as a L.E.G.I.T. Intern and a member of A Tribe Called Cab, I’ve learned so much and I’m ready to share it with you. So come out to my workshops, and I’ll teach you as much as I can. I’ve got a lot in store for us this year. Check it! Doe.
Add me on facebook!
Follow me on Twitter! @chrisromeooo
Follow me on tumblr! christianborromeo.tumblr.com
Check out my mixes! soundcloud.com/chrisromeoo
