The League of Filipino Students at San José State is an anti-imperialist organization of students advocating for national democracy in the Philippines, among other left-wing causes.

Finn Albano, a social work student currently taking a gap semester, has served as chair of the league at SJSU for one year. 

“As students, we have a lot of privilege and free time because we have our own schedules,” Albano said. “Meaning when you have all these resources to organize, it is necessary for students to be able to use it and bring it back to the struggle of the homeland because it can feel very disconnected.”

There are three chapters of the League of Filipino Students across the Bay Area.

SJSU established its own chapter on campus on May 1, 2024, according to the chair of LFS, Finn Albano.

Elijah Placides, a fourth-year psychology student serving as the workers committee lead, said the organization’s goals go beyond campus issues and tie back to the Philippines’ ongoing struggle for self-determination. 

“One of the reasons I joined (the league) was to find a link back to my roots and that drive to keep fighting,” Placides said. “There’s a lot of inequality in the world, and being part of an organization like this makes me feel like I’m contributing to a larger movement, one that’s fighting for national sovereignty for the Philippines.”

The chapter regularly organizes protests and rallies against U.S. militarism, anti-immigration policies and political corruption.

Earlier this summer, the league rallied outside the Philippine Consulate alongside other activist groups to respond to Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s 2025 State of the Nation Address. 

During the rally, dubbed the People’s State of the Nation Address, protesters called on local consular officials and the Philippine government to address migrant labor exploitation, rising poverty and unemployment among Filipino communities, as well as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the Bay Area, according to a July 31 Bay City News article.

Along with protest efforts, the league also hosts educationals, art builds, socials and bake sales. 

Their next event, hosted in conjunction with local anti-war organization San Jose Against War, will be a documentary screening of “PALAYAIN! The Filipino People’s Fight for Peace” at the San Jose Peace & Justice Center on Sunday, Nov. 16.

Generations of colonization have contributed to a sense of cultural loss among Filipino Americans or Fil-Ams, leaving many to search for a deeper connection to their heritage, according to One Down Media.

“A lot of Fil-Ams, whenever I talk to them, say that a part of them is always missing, and so they’ll try and fill it with solely cultural things,” Placides said. “But that doesn’t answer the question of why we still exist, considering all the conditions in the Philippines.”

This feeling of disconnection ties to centuries of colonization that shaped how Filipinos and Filipino Americans perceive their own culture, according to Sage Journals.

“We really practice collective care,” Placides said. “We make sure that everyone is doing okay, especially with the migrants who feel homesick.”

“Cultural Bayanihan” involves Filipinos coming together to share their heritage and community responsibilities, according to a Steemit article. 

Henri Leuterio, an advertising major specializing in marketing communications and the media and propaganda officer, said the open structure reflects the commitment of the group and collective leadership. 

“Everyone deserves to know the knowledge, and everyone’s an organizer with us. That’s what democratic organizing looks like. Leuterio said. 

The league is currently fundraising for relief efforts for victims of Typhoon Fung-wong, known locally in the Philippines as Typhoon Uwan, according to a Nov. 12 Instagram post. 

As of publication, the typhoon killed 232 people last week, according to a Nov. 10 AP News article. 

“We check in on each other, making sure everyone’s doing okay, and that sense of community means a lot, especially as an immigrant,” Placides said.

Placides said the group’s community-based culture is also a reason he was drawn in.