Cal State San Bernardino’s Filipino student organization, LUBOS P.A.S.O., represented their home campus at the recent 39th annual Friendship Games, held at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).

The 2024 Friendship Games, which took place on Oct. 18, brought together 32 Filipino student organizations from across California, with more than 2,900 attendees celebrating the event’s core values: spirit, pride, unity and friendship.

This year’s Friendship Games theme, “Lilo & Stitch,” perfectly embodied the spirit of the organization – to be a LUBOS P.A.S.O. member means “family.” More than 25 members from CSUSB participated in the weekend’s festivities, joining forces with fellow California State University campuses, including Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Long Beach and CSU East Bay.

"Friendship Games are more than just games for us," said Caitlin Munar, president of LUBOS P.A.S.O. "It’s about coming together as a family, celebrating our Filipino heritage, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Representing CSUSB with pride alongside other schools is an honor we hold close to our hearts."

First hosted in 1986 by CSUF’s Pilipinx-American Student Association, Kaibigan, the Friendship Games have grown into a statewide celebration of cultural pride and friendly competition. Students from participating schools compete in a series of picnic games and enjoy performances that celebrate Filipino heritage.

This year’s competitions included five picnic games: “Alpine,” “Nasty,” “Groundhog,” “Conveyor Belt” and “Up and Under.”

"It’s inspiring to see our students come together to celebrate their heritage, build lasting friendships, and represent CSUSB with such enthusiasm and spirit," said John Gungon, manager of Employment Services at CSUSB and one of the advisors for LUBOS P.A.S.O.

LUBOS P.A.S.O., founded in 2001, is dedicated to preserving and promoting Philippine-American culture while fostering unity and cultural awareness within the CSUSB campus and its surrounding communities. The student organization remains committed to strengthening cultural ties and promoting Filipino-American heritage through active participation in events, such as the Friendship Games.

For more information about LUBOS P.A.S.O. or upcoming events, please contact Caitlin Munar at CSUSBLubosPaso@gmail.com.

About LUBOS P.A.S.O.
LUBOS P.A.S.O. was established in 2001 at California State University, San Bernardino. The organization’s mission is to preserve, celebrate, and share Philippine-American culture while uniting Filipinos to foster greater cultural awareness on campus and within the broader community.