The Asian Pacific Student Alliance

presents the

24th Annual
FASHION TALENT SHOW

APRIL 10TH, 2020

 What is FTS?

Since 1996, APSA's Fashion Talent Show (FTS) has served as

a showcase of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)
talents. FTS uses the arts—music, fashion, dance, and so on
—to exemplify the diverse skills of the AAPI community to
fulfill its purpose of encouraging AAPI individuals to follow
their passions regardless of stereotypes and discrimination.
The event continues to transform every year, continually
increasing in size and caliber. Along with the goal to
entertain, FTS strives to improve the community’s
understanding and awareness of AAPI issues and lack of
representation while celebrating our own individualities.

More than ever, AAPIs are making an imprint into today’s

mainstream popular culture, paving pathways for others to
follow. AAPIs are making headway in contradicting social
norms and beginning to create destinies of their own. FTS
aims to showcase these AAPI individuals in order to
normalize the act of coming into one's own. FTS hopes to
inspire its attendees. This event is meant to encourage AAPI
individuals to rise above their challenges and use their
struggles to empower them in their unique journeys to
success.
 Behind the Theme:

Light the

Way

This year's theme "Light the Way" acknowledges how

cultural identity is a difficult aspect of self to figure
out, especially when living in the "mixing pot" of
America. Setting yourself on the path to discovering
your cultural identity may be tricky―as if setting
yourself on a path in the dark. The fear of the
unknown and confusion from intermingling cultures
force our eyes shut. However, with a bit of courage
from within, we can open our eyes to find that our
paths are lit. Our family, friends, and other AAPI
individuals exist as lights on our paths, helping us
discover our cultural identities. But at a certain point,
we no longer need a helping hand: our confidence in
ourselves as AAPI individuals grows enough that we
can serve as our own lights―and eventually serve as
lights to others.
 Coordinator's Message
Coordinator's Message

Hello, everyone! My name is Samantha Lin and I am this year’s

Executive Assistant and one of the co-coordinators for the Fashion
Talent Show along with Cara, Elly, and Yukina. I am honored to have
this opportunity to coordinate this amazing showcase of AAPI
talent.

This year’s theme, “Light the Way,” was made in light of our own
search for our cultural identities. Coming into SDSU, my sense of
self flickered in this new environment, but through APSA, I came to
discover my own cultural identity, a discovery that I could not have
made without the help of my friends and mentors. I may have
found my individual light, but I wanted to help others find their light
as well. 

I am truly thankful for everyone’s dedication, support, and most of

all, hard work for this event. It is truly inspiring to see you all lighting
the way for yourselves and others through your shared experiences
in preparation for this event. Our event’s light this year may have
been dampened, but the light still persists strongly from everyone’s
own individual lights. I hope you will be able to light the way for
someone else like you have lit mine.

Samantha Lin
 President's
President's Message
Message
Hello all! My name is Vincent Chung and I am currently serving as the
President of the Asian Pacific Student Alliance for the 2019-2020 school
year. On behalf of the Asian Pacific Student Alliance, I would like to thank
each of you for contributing to our annual Fashion Talent Show.
Whether you are organizing, performing, volunteering, or just attending,
FTS is special because of the community of people, talents, and stories it
brings together.

APSA holds our annual Fashion Talent Show to demonstrate to the San
Diego community that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are
capable of being much more than what is often portrayed. The various
talents showcased at FTS serve a purpose beyond simply entertainment.
These talents show that the AAPI community can break stereotypes,
pursue their own sense of individuality, and light the way for others.

Due to the situation regarding COVID-19, we are unable to host our 24th
annual Fashion Talent Show, “Light the Way”. However, my executive
board, the FTS organizers, and I would like to extend our gratitude to
those who put in considerable time and effort into our signature event.
To all of you, I sincerely thank you for continuing to support APSA in our
endeavors, and we hope you will return for FTS in the future.

Vincent Chung

Coordinator's
Coordinator's Message
Message
Hello, all! Firstly, I would like to thank my fellow coordinators for being
such powerhouses and inspirations. Deciding to participate in FTS as an
FTS co-coordinator was one of the best decisions I have made in my
college career. Over the course of this year, my love for FTS and APSA
blossomed along with friendships, both old and new. 

Whether we realize it or not, FTS does much to propel the development

of our cultural and personal identities. The opportunities it presents
allows us to discover and develop talents we as young Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders have not yet had the chance to nurture. I can only
hope that everyone involved in this year’s event positively benefited from
their participation just as I have.

I carry the cancellation of this event like a heartbreak and I am so sorry

that the hard work put in by all our auxiliary members will not be
showcased. Nevertheless, I am endlessly thankful to everyone who
helped in creating this event. I hope you all continue to search for the
light within yourselves as well as strive to serve as lights to others. Thank
you, all! I look forward to see everyone at next year's FTS.

Cara Barlin
 Coordinator's Message
Coordinator's Message
Hello, everyone! My name is Elly Wu and I'm honored to have been
one of the co-coordinators for this year's annual Fashion Talent Show.
Although the event may have been postponed, I truly cannot thank
you all enough for all the hard work everyone has put in. Despite what
has happened, I hope you were all able to have enjoyable memories
working towards this year's production.

 Our annual Fashion Talent Show is a showcase and platform for the
AAPI community to come together to share in their passions and
individuality. When I first started college, I didn't know too much about
or embrace my cultural identity. Through my time and experiences
with APSA, I came to understand that I was never alone in my journey
of discovering this identity. I have been inspired by my fellow peers
and friends to discover the light I had within 

Thank you to everyone I've met throughout my time with APSA for
lighting up my path when I was alone and lost. I believe you all will
continue to shine brightly and light the way for the future.

Elly Wu

Coordinator's
Coordinator's Message
Message
Hi everyone! I am one of this year’s Fashion Talent Show coordinators
along with Sam, Cara, and Elly.

When I decided that I wanted to help coordinate FTS for the second
year, I never imagined that we would be put into a position where we
would have to cancel FTS. This event holds a special place in my
heart: as a GBMer I participated in 4 auxiliaries, as a board member I
worked behind-the-scenes as a stage crew and Fashion head, and
as an Executive Vice President I coordinated the entire show, so I was
really looking forward to bringing another great FTS this year alongside
the three coordinators.

I would like to sincerely thank all of the amazing performers who had
been preparing for their time on the big stage by diligently practicing
every week, the kind sponsors who gave us the support for us to make
FTS possible, the board members who have been working tirelessly
alongside other APSA events, and finally Sam, Elly, and Cara for
everything that you have put in, not only for FTS but APSA as well. I
hope that through this process you can come to realize that many of
have the ability to light the way for the future, and I am looking
forward to what lies ahead.

Yukina Masuda
 FTS
FTS Coordinators
Coordinators Executive
Executive Board
Board

Yukina Masuda, Elly Wu, Samantha Lin, Cara Barlin Top to bottom, left to right: Kentaro Kawasaki, Jeffrey Cardinez, Edmond Rivera,
Jose Bravo, Jordan Chen, Mirei Kubota, Erwin Rivera, Christine Ho, Jacob Le, Joyce
Presco, Cia Ma Raphaella Licas, Vincent Chung (Not pictured: Ian Ordonio)

FTS Committees

Auditions/Ticketing Dance Fashion Hospitality

Jeffrey & Edmond Jose & Cat-Tuong Tu Christine, Erwin, Mirei Christine, Vincent, Erwin

Media Music Promotions

Kentaro, Vincent, Ian Samantha & Jeffrey Kentaro & Jacob
(not pictured)

Stage Crew Visual Arts/Programs Volunteers WOW

Jordan, Jose, Ian Joyce, Jordan, Kentaro Joyce, Mirei, Cia Edmond, Jacob, Cia
(not pictured)
 FTS
FTS Auxiliaries
Auxiliaries
Fashion

Top to bottom, left to right: Bary Lomibao, Jr., Jeffrey Gong-Sue, Miguel Dariano, Drake Ngyuen, Natalie
Soriano, Deanna Magpali, William Gaor, Angela Basco, Lynn Nguyen, Amanda Ng, Nicole Mori, Mikaela Lee,
Mio Sugawara, Mirei Kubota, Erwin Rivera, Christine Ho, Ngoc Truong, Dennis Monsalud
Not pictured: Camilla Catignas, Tina Cao, Kha Nguyen, Tammy Vo, Ko Takahashi, Logan Farrell

Music

Top to bottom, left to right: Jeffrey Cardinez, Samantha Lin, Jalea Villarama, Jeffrey Gong-Sue, Ngoc
Truong, Tammy Vo, Barry Lomibao, Jr., Giselle Sarmiento, Amanda Ng, Lynn Nguyen
Not pictured: Dalton Tarde, Bronson Reyes
 FTS
FTS Auxiliaries
Auxiliaries
Media

Top to bottom, left to right: Tammy Vo, Brianna Rull, Xavier Major, Vincent Chung, Kentaro Kawasaki,
Jordan Jacinto, Jayvee Soriano, Ngoc Truong, Barry Lomibao, Jr., Lynn Nguyen, Amanda Ng
Not pictured: Mandy Altura, Ian Ordonio

WOW

Top to bottom, left to right: Barry Lomibao, Jr., Brianna Rull, Deanna Magpali, Jayvee Soriano, Dennis
Monsalud, Iohanne Paula San Diego, Giselle Sarmiento, Jalea Villarama, Cara Barlin, Edmond Rivera, Jacob
Le, Cia Licas
Not pictured: Dalton Tarde, Miguel Dariano
 FTS
FTS Auxiliaries
Auxiliaries

Dance

Top to bottom, left to right: Jeffrey Gong-Sue, Mio Sugawara, Garman Chan, Nicole Mori, Frank Oiwa, Kaitilin
Chau, Caroline Duong, Shyrbel Celira, Jalea Villarama, Deanna Magpali, Natalie Soriano, Lynn Nguyen, Jordan
Jacinto, Mikaela Lee, Grace Cota, Brianna Rull, Esther Tsui, Jose Bravo, Cat-Tuong Tu, Ngoc Truong, Megan
Bacabac, Jayvee Soriano, William Gaor, Xavier Major, Alexah Jade Neri 
Not pictured: Greg Merz, Jordan Chen, Keito Shepard, Kha Nguyen, Natcha Koonmee
 Meet Our

Jalea Villarama
Barry Lomibao, Jr.
and
Giselle Sarmiento

Jalea Villarama and Giselle Sarmiento have Barry Lomibao, Jr. is a first year Music
been singing with each other since the Recording Technology and Audio Design
beginning of their high school careers. major at SDSU. Barry is an aspiring artist,
They were both in their high school's choir producer, and audio engineer pursuing a
and ever since then, they never stopped career in the music industry and identifies
singing together. Jalea plays guitar and has as a proud member of APSA. He is a
been playing since 8th grade. Giselle plays Filipino-American, born here in San Diego,
the piano and has been playing uke since CA and will be performing two rap songs
the 7th grade. They both have been in written and produced by himself; one of
several choirs and have a lot of musical which discusses the model minority myth
experience. Music has been an outlet for and the other addresses the American
them to express themselves so being a higher education system. Barry started
part of the Fashion Talent Show is very making his own music just in the past few
important to them. Because music months and he hopes to inspire others
connected them as best friends, they hope who are also pursuing a career in the arts
to bring people together through the music like himself. Barry is determined to make a
they make. They hope they can be a source positive impact on the Asian American and
of light to people who may be hurting in Pacific Islander community by expressing
any type of way & to be a positive himself through music.
motivating force to show people there is
hope through their music.
 Competing Acts
Competing Acts

Ashley Twiford Camilla Catignas

Ashley Twiford, daughter of Arthur and Camilla Catignas is a graduating 4th year
Maricel Twiford, is a 1st year at San Diego Public Health Science major. Since she
State University with a major in Business was little, Camilla always invested herself
Administration. Ashley is a hard working in art and music. She grew up playing the
student that dreams to one day start her piano and violin, going on to play the
own. Besides her academics. Ashley loves clarinet and percussion instruments in
to perform. She plays piano and is self drumline for her high school marching
taught to play the ukulele. She has been band. Nowadays, Camilla write songs to
singing ever since she was little and has jam out on her ukulele. Somewhere along
performed in school musicals such as
the way in college, Camilla realized that
Beauty and the Beast and Annie. Currently,
she enjoys expressing herself through
Ashley is a part of the highly competitive
spoken word poetry as well as singing
dance team from national city, iLL Habits,
and acting in musical theater. Her love for
who has been seen competing at events
writing and performing spoken word
such as Vibe Jrs, Bodyrock Jrs, and Bridge
Jrs. She is also a part of SDSU’s VSA
began when she started listening to more
Modern. Ashley loves to perform and also Asian-American indie artists and femme
loves giving back to her community. She rappers who inspired her to strive to do
loves performing for a charitable the same. Camilla always enjoyed writing
organization known as the FACOSD out her thoughts and experiences in
Kundirana program, especially because it journals, so she began making art out of
gives back to her family’s country. It is her that. Camilla hopes to spread her passion
family and friends that push her to keep for poetry and inspire others to not be
going forward with her passions and afraid to get out of their comfort zone,
aspirations. pursue their own art and—most
importantly—find their own voice.