---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Christian Rivera <r1vera2666@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Subject: Kamayan 2008: My Love, My Sweat....(as promised!)
To: Christian Rivera <r1vera26@bu.edu>
Well after a week filled with labs, quizzes and most importantly a week off of Kamayan I finally found time to send this to you (as promised). Sometimes for me and probably for you, things that get emotional and are important to you are best said in writing. With that said here I go. (sorry if i make no sense, i wrote this quick and based on what was on my mind)
First off and this has been said way too much and is a complete understatement, I am very proud with each and everyone. You gave it your all out there and represented our school with the utmost pride. I have a short story I want to share with you and I sort of alluded to it in one of my DC emails. The story begins at a Filipino function in Philadelphia with my family when all of a sudden a Filipino professor from LaSalle Univ. comes up to me and asked me where I went to school. I told this professor (who appeared to be in her 40's) that I went to BU and her eyes lit up and she couldn't help but ask me if I was involved with the Filipino club. Of course I said yes. Immediately after (and I assumed she automatically knew I was a dancer since she has seen me perform with my parent's dance troupe) she asked if we won again. Confused at first I then realized she was talking about Kamayan (for all of you that are not familiar, Kamayan used to be a competition in which we won every year which is why it is not anymore). It is a weird place to end but the conversation continues on from there and the rest is history. The point I am trying to make is that you are part of something bigger than the confines of just being part FSA. I know a lot is said of pamilya but also as a part of BUFSA you present yourselves as representing your heritage here in the States and people near and far from Boston respect BUFSA for that. There is a lot of talk about who won etc. (and we all know we did) but it is not all about that or whose dances looked the best. It is about the Kamayan experience. It is about getting signed into dorms 15 mins late to practice, getting guest meals for upperclassmen, being on stick duty, listening to speeches and cry fests, and waking up ridiculously early to get to Metcalf Ballroom, meeting new and old friends who might end up being your lifelong friends you contact when you're old. Who cares if you messed up on stage (as I did in Juan's dance..sorry) but I knew I was still having fun with the people who appreciates this club as much as I do and helped make this Kamayan experience a memorable one. It is the whole experience that makes Kamayan, well, Kamayan and makes our group so special. I would like to thank all of you whole helped out in anyway to help foster the sense of pamilya embedded in our heritage and club mission statement.
This week I really struggled to find the reason why I didn't cry during Kamayan. Not because I have no emotions or that I have a cold heart, but that I was just trying to take in the newness that each Kamayan brings- meeting new friends, trying to remember the dance moves, watch the other schools tear up the dance floor, freshmen showing so much enthusiasm and passion for the club. All of this is the product of classes and classes before us passing down the tradition and passion for FSA and Kamayan. Take the newness of this experience and cherish it.
And now to my call outs:
To the class of 2012. You guys are UNBELIVABLE. You guys do not get as much credit as you deserve. You guys respect everyone in the club and are starting to get that swagger I don't see all too often. Come on, none of you complained when you were on stick duty. You guys danced your heart out and I see soo much potential in you guys. You are exactly what this club needs as you are the future and define what it means to be members of our club. This was your first Kamayan and you will remember it forever.
To the class of 2011. Yet again you continue to amaze me. You all looked hot out there and have soooooo much energy. Even though your class diminished in size, your presence has spoken louder this year than last. I hope you guys don't lose that. Keep the passion and love for BUFSA alive.
To 2010. I love you guys. Each and everyone of you have conducted yourselves with such dignity and pride needed to be leaders of a club. I see a leader in everyone of you and you do a great job in dancing as well.
To 09. Wow soo much love in the air. You guys...wow soo tight knit. Not even just here but with the other school's 09ers. Why can't all the classes be like that!!!! You guys are the foundation of our club and no matter how small your class is, you will always be the leaders of the club and will be the ones that lead our club into the future. Nobody can take that fact away. I think enough is said how this is the last of this and last of that. I however like to look at this experience as a number of firsts. This is the first time I danced in Metcalf. This Kamayan marked the first time turo-turo was early. This was the first time we had the D1 stretch. But the most important first for this Kamayan was that this was the first time I realized I am going to miss you guys so effin much.
Sorry for the length of this email. I told you this was going to be like 10 pages.
Finally 2 more shout outs.
Eboard. I am honored and distinguished to work with each and everyone of you. You all are deserving of your positions and putting on Kamayan is representative of that. You all are hard working and to be honest I am sort of jealous because you all seem like you are doing soo much more than I am. I thank you for all the support and this is just the beginning of many amazing things to come.
My Tinikling birds. I will be straightforward in saying I have never been more honored to teach a dance than this year's tinikling. You all gave your hearts out and were dedicated from the beginning to make it work. We all knew it was going to come together. Through the falls and split pants I really wish the whole club could come to practice to see the teamwork and support we gave each other. Again thanks for a memorable tinikling.
To close I don't know if any of you noticed but right before Showtime I tried to give everyone a hug and said good luck (sorry if I missed you and shame on you if you weren't in the room). Let me explain the brief background to that. Back in high school football before every game there were 2 instances when we gave each other hugs 1) instead of shaking hands during the sign of peace we gave hugs and 2) in the locker rooms the captains would walk around and give every player a hug and say good luck. From freshman through junior year when I got those hugs I knew I was ready for the game because the hug represented that the captains had trust in me that I wouldn't let him or the team down and ultimately I would give my best effort. Finally when I got the chance as a senior and last Saturday I hoped you would understand that, I too had the trust in each and every one of you that you would dance your heart out and have fun doing so.
Ok I am done
Love you all
Hope I didn't ramble too much.
Christian
GO PHILLIES
From: Christian Rivera <r1vera2666@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Subject: Kamayan 2008: My Love, My Sweat....(as promised!)
To: Christian Rivera <r1vera26@bu.edu>
Well after a week filled with labs, quizzes and most importantly a week off of Kamayan I finally found time to send this to you (as promised). Sometimes for me and probably for you, things that get emotional and are important to you are best said in writing. With that said here I go. (sorry if i make no sense, i wrote this quick and based on what was on my mind)
First off and this has been said way too much and is a complete understatement, I am very proud with each and everyone. You gave it your all out there and represented our school with the utmost pride. I have a short story I want to share with you and I sort of alluded to it in one of my DC emails. The story begins at a Filipino function in Philadelphia with my family when all of a sudden a Filipino professor from LaSalle Univ. comes up to me and asked me where I went to school. I told this professor (who appeared to be in her 40's) that I went to BU and her eyes lit up and she couldn't help but ask me if I was involved with the Filipino club. Of course I said yes. Immediately after (and I assumed she automatically knew I was a dancer since she has seen me perform with my parent's dance troupe) she asked if we won again. Confused at first I then realized she was talking about Kamayan (for all of you that are not familiar, Kamayan used to be a competition in which we won every year which is why it is not anymore). It is a weird place to end but the conversation continues on from there and the rest is history. The point I am trying to make is that you are part of something bigger than the confines of just being part FSA. I know a lot is said of pamilya but also as a part of BUFSA you present yourselves as representing your heritage here in the States and people near and far from Boston respect BUFSA for that. There is a lot of talk about who won etc. (and we all know we did) but it is not all about that or whose dances looked the best. It is about the Kamayan experience. It is about getting signed into dorms 15 mins late to practice, getting guest meals for upperclassmen, being on stick duty, listening to speeches and cry fests, and waking up ridiculously early to get to Metcalf Ballroom, meeting new and old friends who might end up being your lifelong friends you contact when you're old. Who cares if you messed up on stage (as I did in Juan's dance..sorry) but I knew I was still having fun with the people who appreciates this club as much as I do and helped make this Kamayan experience a memorable one. It is the whole experience that makes Kamayan, well, Kamayan and makes our group so special. I would like to thank all of you whole helped out in anyway to help foster the sense of pamilya embedded in our heritage and club mission statement.
This week I really struggled to find the reason why I didn't cry during Kamayan. Not because I have no emotions or that I have a cold heart, but that I was just trying to take in the newness that each Kamayan brings- meeting new friends, trying to remember the dance moves, watch the other schools tear up the dance floor, freshmen showing so much enthusiasm and passion for the club. All of this is the product of classes and classes before us passing down the tradition and passion for FSA and Kamayan. Take the newness of this experience and cherish it.
And now to my call outs:
To the class of 2012. You guys are UNBELIVABLE. You guys do not get as much credit as you deserve. You guys respect everyone in the club and are starting to get that swagger I don't see all too often. Come on, none of you complained when you were on stick duty. You guys danced your heart out and I see soo much potential in you guys. You are exactly what this club needs as you are the future and define what it means to be members of our club. This was your first Kamayan and you will remember it forever.
To the class of 2011. Yet again you continue to amaze me. You all looked hot out there and have soooooo much energy. Even though your class diminished in size, your presence has spoken louder this year than last. I hope you guys don't lose that. Keep the passion and love for BUFSA alive.
To 2010. I love you guys. Each and everyone of you have conducted yourselves with such dignity and pride needed to be leaders of a club. I see a leader in everyone of you and you do a great job in dancing as well.
To 09. Wow soo much love in the air. You guys...wow soo tight knit. Not even just here but with the other school's 09ers. Why can't all the classes be like that!!!! You guys are the foundation of our club and no matter how small your class is, you will always be the leaders of the club and will be the ones that lead our club into the future. Nobody can take that fact away. I think enough is said how this is the last of this and last of that. I however like to look at this experience as a number of firsts. This is the first time I danced in Metcalf. This Kamayan marked the first time turo-turo was early. This was the first time we had the D1 stretch. But the most important first for this Kamayan was that this was the first time I realized I am going to miss you guys so effin much.
Sorry for the length of this email. I told you this was going to be like 10 pages.
Finally 2 more shout outs.
Eboard. I am honored and distinguished to work with each and everyone of you. You all are deserving of your positions and putting on Kamayan is representative of that. You all are hard working and to be honest I am sort of jealous because you all seem like you are doing soo much more than I am. I thank you for all the support and this is just the beginning of many amazing things to come.
My Tinikling birds. I will be straightforward in saying I have never been more honored to teach a dance than this year's tinikling. You all gave your hearts out and were dedicated from the beginning to make it work. We all knew it was going to come together. Through the falls and split pants I really wish the whole club could come to practice to see the teamwork and support we gave each other. Again thanks for a memorable tinikling.
To close I don't know if any of you noticed but right before Showtime I tried to give everyone a hug and said good luck (sorry if I missed you and shame on you if you weren't in the room). Let me explain the brief background to that. Back in high school football before every game there were 2 instances when we gave each other hugs 1) instead of shaking hands during the sign of peace we gave hugs and 2) in the locker rooms the captains would walk around and give every player a hug and say good luck. From freshman through junior year when I got those hugs I knew I was ready for the game because the hug represented that the captains had trust in me that I wouldn't let him or the team down and ultimately I would give my best effort. Finally when I got the chance as a senior and last Saturday I hoped you would understand that, I too had the trust in each and every one of you that you would dance your heart out and have fun doing so.
Ok I am done
Love you all
Hope I didn't ramble too much.
Christian
GO PHILLIES
