
DATE: Friday, July 11, 1997                 TAG: 9707110072

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: SUNNY CHEN AND PHIL TOSCANO, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENTS 

                                            LENGTH:   84 lines

STUDENTS FIND FELLOWSHIP, FUN IN CULTURE CLUBS

HOLIDAY CUSTOMS, traditional clothes and ancient myths of Asia are just some things that Othelo Gervacio Jr. did not explore until he joined the Asian Culture Club at Brandon Middle School.

``I get the opportunity to learn about my Asian culture and also have fun at the same time,'' said Othelo, who joined the club last year with friends.

Othelo is one of hundreds of Asian teens across Hampton Roads who meet in churches, schools or community youth groups for find support, cultural enlightenment and fun.

With Asians making up the largest immigrant group in South Hampton Roads, the number of culture clubs is on the rise.

``They're not getting it in the schools. The schools are not teaching about Asian Americans, Asian-American history, the Asian-American experience,'' said Daphne Kwok, executive director of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA). ``The students are having to learn about it themselves. They create organizations with students similar to themselves so they can explore their culture and heritage.''

That's what Winfred Escalante Jr. found when he joined the cultural club at Brandon. The club gave Winfred, 14, the opportunity to do a variety of things, including designing posters for a drug-free community and setting up a fashion show that featured Filipino clothes like the barong, a shirt worn by men and made of pineapple fibers.

``It taught me to be organized through working together and communicating (with others),'' said Winfred, now president of the club.

It also taught him to be a leader, something Daphne said is an essential function of the cultural clubs.

``We feel strongly that Asian Americans need to become strong leaders in their community and the broader community to be fully integrated into American society,'' Daphne said.

Part of that integration includes community service.

The Salt-&-Light Youth Group of First Chinese Baptist Church in Virginia Beach volunteers at soup kitchens and union missions. Teens in the group also have a ministry team that performs through music and sign language.

Tim Liu, an 18-year-old University of Virginia student and a Salt-&-Light member, said the group comes together ``to reach out to Asians and to help youths live right.''

The name Salt-&-Light comes from a Bible verse in which Jesus asked his followers to be the salt, representing the seasoning that makes the world a better place, and the light, which represents guidance through the darkness. Tim, who grew up in the youth group, said it gave him a feeling of belonging.

``Adolescence is a hard time,'' Tim said. ``Peers are always searching for meaning in life.''

Christina Hu found that meaning as a part of the OCA Youth Group. The OCA is designed to spread knowledge and understanding of Chinese culture. ``I joined because I can contribute and I can be informed,'' said Christina, 17, of Cox High School in Virginia Beach.

The OCA's national office is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Eastern Virginia chapter is based in Virginia Beach, with members from across Hampton Roads.

OCA Youth Group president Chi-Pei Tseng said that joining the group is a great way to get involved in the community and to meet friends. The group sponsors annual picnics and gives teens a chance to do community service.

The Asian Studies Association at Ocean Lakes High School takes a different approach to cultural education. The group was formed to help others recognize and appreciate the value of Asian culture.

Eddy Wu, 15, a member of the Ocean Lakes group, said the club has a diverse membership of Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese and white students who meet every first and third week of the month to tell stories, share Chinese proverbs and perform other activities rooted in Asian culture.

It took three years to get the Ocean Lakes club up and running, said Lawrence Gonzales, a rising sophomore.

``It's nice to have ASA at Ocean Lakes, because the school is not heavily associated with Asians,'' said Lawrence, 15. ``We are going to try to improve the club. . . . We are still growing.'' MEMO: To find out more about these cultural groups and clubs call your

school guidance office or local church.

Sunny Chen is a rising senior at Cox High School in Virginia Beach.

Phil Toscano is a rising senior at First Colonial High School in

Virginia Beach. Both were participants in The Virginian-Pilot's 11th

Annual Minority Journalism Workshop. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

GARY C. KNAPP

Filipino Youth Council members include, from left, Aila Almelor, 15,

of Tallwood High; Joyce Magpantay, 19; Elaine Villasis, 15, of

Kempsville High; and Joy Jacob, 19.