• View Columbia Fil-Am history/milestones.

• View the Columbia Fil-Am Association By-Laws.

• View the Columbia Fil-Am Association Executive Boards through the years.

• Download a Columbia Fil-Am Scholarship Application form and Scholarship Guide.

• View the Columbia Fil-Am Archives for old photo galleries, gala souvenir programs, and Fil-Am Bulletin newsletters.







Currently still under major revision

W E L C O M E
to the virtual headquarters of the Filipino-American Association of Greater Columbia, SC (FAAGC), a voluntary organization to promote inter-cultural education and understanding.
     Duly registered and incorporated in the state of South Carolina in 1991, FAAGC is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) educational/cultural/charitable non-profit, all-volunteer organization.

• To join and support FAAGC so "Together We Make a Difference," please use the following highly secure online forms:
      • Membership Application Form.
      • Membership Fees
      • Tax-Deductible Donations
      • Scholarship Application Form
      • Volunteer Application Form

   
For Zelle payment to FAAGC, use the email mwentley88filam@gmail.com as recipient. Please make sure to type in the reason of payment.
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• CALENDAR of EVENTS

• April 11, 2026, Saturday (1-4 pm)
  FAAGC Annual Spring Potluck Picnic
    Saluda Shoals Park, Paw-Paw Shelter
    [5605 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212]
    Join us for an afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun! Bring a favorite dish to share, and FAAGC will provide hot dogs, burgers, and water. Don't miss it!
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• April 18-19, 2024, Saturday-Sunday
    Columbia International Festival
    [1200 Rosewood Dr, Columbia, SC 29201]
Columbia International Festival
    Since 1996, the Columbia International Festival has showcased the music, culture, food and performing arts of the various cultures, nationalities, races and language groups represented in South Carolina.
    • Experience Columbia s premier celebration of international cultures, where communities from around the world share their food, traditions, and heritage. Enjoy the hospitality and flavors of the Philippines, presented by FAAGC and Susan's Kusina. Fi-Am children will also take part in the festival's fashion show.
    • FAAGC will participate in Global Education Day, the CIF's kickoff event on Friday. Designed for students in Grades 3 -10, the program introduces young learners to the diverse cultures across the state.
    • Volunteers are requested to assist in the Fil-Am display and food booths. If you are interested, please fill out the form here to select your preferred time(s).     • For festival details and tickets, contact CIF online.
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• May 14, 2026, Thursdy (4-7 pm)
  AAPI Tour of Tea at CMA
    Columbia Museum of Art
    [Boyd Plaza, 1515 Main St., Columbia, SC 29201]
    FAAGC will participate at this community event celebrating the rich traditions of AAPI cultures through an exploration of history, flavors and tea.
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• May 30, 2026, Saturday (1-3 pm)
  Settling St. Malo: The First Permanent Asian American Settlement in the U.S.
    Richland County Public Library - Main
    [1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201]
   Join us for a documentary screening, poetry reading, presentation, and Q&A with Randy Gonzales, poet, writer, and community historian dedicated to preserving the story of St. Malo, Louisiana, the first Filipino settlement in the United States.
   Born and raised in New Orleans, Gonzales works to illuminate Filipino Louisiana s history and heritage. He is an associate professor of English at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and holds the Dr. James Wilson/BORSF Eminent Scholar Endowed Professorship in Southern Studies.
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• June 13, 2026, Saturday (1-4 pm)
  FAAGC Elections of Officers & Summer Potluck Picnic
    Saluda Shoals Park, Paw-Paw Shelter
    [5605 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212]
    Food, fellowship and fun - don t miss it!
    There will be also an Election of Officers for the FAAGC term 2026-2028.

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• September 11 through October 30, 2026
  Art Nelson Left Behind exhibit
    Richland County Public Library - Main
    [1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201]
    Curated by Chiara Cox, this exhibition honors Nelson Baldemor's life through personal and historical artifacts, including his mother s autobiography, letters, early photographs of the Philippines, and works by his cousin, Manuel Baldemor, world-renowned Filipino painter, printmaker, sculptor, writer, and graphic artist. The exhibition reflects on memory, identity, and connection.
    Cox is a multidisciplinary artist and educator and serves as the Music and Art Ambassador of the Filipino American Association of Greater Columbia.
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• September/October 2026
  FAAGC Annual Gala
    Details coming soon.
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FAAGC Scholarship Information
Application Deadline: April 30

    The FAAGC Scholarship is for deserving high school seniors who are children of active members of FAAGC for at least the past two years. This scholarship is awarded in recognition of the applicant’s academic achievements, contributions to FAAGC, and involvement in extracurricular and other community activities.

Scholar Form  Scholar Guide
  • For more details, contact the FAAGC President or the other FAAGC officers.