Phoebe Antonio, a senior at Glendale High School, is the president of the Filipino Club and HERd Club at our school. She is a member of the GHS Technical Theater class, and she is currently serving as the crew manager. Outside of school, Phoebe volunteers with the Pasadena Humane Society, and she enjoys listening to music, attending concerts and music store events, and crocheting items for friends.

Phoebe first joined HERd Club during her sophomore year, and she became their club publicist. As of last year, she has been the co-president, along with Danica Martinez. 

Phoebe expresses the importance of this club on our campus. “HERd is meant to create a safe, inclusive space, where girls and people of other genders discuss the injustices and oppression that women, non-binary, and trans people have to endure on a daily basis,” she said. “Girls are silenced on a regular basis and it is so important to show that we are not alone, and there is a community and support system within us.”

Phoebe believes in the value of their club projects. “HERd Club cannot emphasize enough that you don’t have to sit there and accept the prejudice and discrimination you face on the regular in a patriarchal society,” she argued. At meetings, the club has discussions centered around misogyny and queer feminism.

Phoebe feels that HERd Club is a safe space where people can work on issues together. “I love being a part of something, knowing I am not facing my struggles alone,” she said. “It’s amazing leading HERd with Danica; she comes up with great meeting topics.”

This year, Phoebe hopes to have more recreational activities among the members of the group, as she has fond memories of her sophomore year in the club, in which she made gingerbread houses and played charades.

Phoebe also explained the importance of community in GHS through the Filipino Club. “Filipino Club is meant to create a fun, inclusive environment for the Filipino students of GHS and those who want to learn more about the culture,” she expressed. “Filipino Club builds community with students, whether they were born in the Philippines or have lived in America their whole life.”

During club meetings, all Filipino students at GHS should feel welcome. Phoebe explained, “Building a strong foundation for the community of Filipino-American students at GHS is our biggest priority.”

Phoebe was previously the secretary for the Filipino Club, and she loves being involved now as the leader of the group. Phoebe’s favorite part of leading the Filipino Club is meeting other Filipino students at GHS. “Being Filipino is such a big part of my identity, and connecting with others is such a big deal for me.”

This year, Phoebe hopes that the GHS Filipino Club can participate in the same events and festivals that they have been involved in during previous years. She also wants to take her club members on field trips.

In the future, Phoebe hopes to pursue a career in the fields of tech theater, live music, or feminist studies. “I’m playing it by ear when it comes to taking action for what’s next between the three,” she said. “But I’m taking more initiative in the first two—which is awesome because they coincide!” She has been told that Cal State Fullerton has “an amazing program” so she plans on going there following graduation.

If you are interested in joining the Filipino Club, please email the advisor, Mr. Gebeshian, at [email protected] and follow them on Instagram: @ghs.filipinoclub. For more information on HERd Club, please send a message to Ms. Castaneda at [email protected], or check out their Instagram account:  @herdclubghs.