Angelica Joy Burguillos, a senior at Moanalua High School, has paved the way to success. Burguillos is the president of 3 active clubs on campus this year: Filipino Club, Photography Club, and Leo Club. Besides the holding 3 presidential roles, she’s also the Vice President of the Class of 2026 Student Council, leads her own category in MeneMac, and is a rifle in color guard. She’s known as not just a leader, but someone who takes their work seriously.
Balancing academic and extracurricular responsibilities rooted from Burguillos planning her school schedule ahead of time. During her junior year registration for senior year, she carefully picked out classes and opted to take summer classes online, so she could have time to commit to her extracurriculars, academics, and clubs. The class and subject that has challenged her the most is film, “It forces me to be creative, think outside of the box, and it takes time inside and outside of the classroom,” Burguillos shared. It’s a bittersweet feeling for her, but has made her better at time management and communication.
Burguillo has been involved in the Moanalua Marching Band and Color Guard for 2 years. In her first year she spun flags, but this year she has decided to indulge in something new, rifles (weapon line). As a senior, she has the responsibility of helping the rookies (first-year marching band students) and looking out for them.
For Burguillos, MeneMac has become a creative outlet. She previously had an acting background when she started MeneMac, so she was put in acting roles majority of the time. She expressed, “I want to be more behind the scenes.” STN (Student Television Network), has had a positive impact on her future goals. She wants to continue to pursue a creative side beyond high school. The competitions and conventions that STN hosts help her to work under pressure, not only that, but the opportunity to be surrounded by equally talented students in Florida.
Chevy Cadiente, a close friend of Burguillos, has known her since seventh grade. They first met in Aliamanu Middle School and have been friends since. Working with her in MeneMac has been a pleasure for Cadiente, “She makes sure things are going smoothly and if something doesn’t make sense, she’ll bring it to light.” Although close friends, Burguillos has consistently kept it professional. Cadiente explains, “She’s down if the role needs her to cry or argue or do something out of her comfort zone. She’s very willing to attack it and give her best shot at it.”
A specific moment that stood out to Cadiente while working together was during their competition, “In Florida we were at the end of our timed competition and we were getting kicked out of a lot of spots that needed to film. Her and I were stressing out and we needed this one last shot.” Cadiente looked at her and realized she had her ‘lock-in’ face on, ready to give that 110% effort no matter what it took.
“I think whatever she wanted she took, she stepped up and took it. She went from being an actor to leading her own category [in MeneMac]. She went from not knowing anything to professionally using the camera and her own equipment,” Cadiente added, describing her to be an impactful student here at Moanalua High School.
Mrs. Berna Dela Cruz is a teacher at Moanalua High School and advisor to the Filipino Club. Mrs. Dela Cruz describes Burguillos as efficient, when she does something she delivers. Mrs. Dela Cruz explained, “She knows how to delegate tasks as a leader. Being a leader doesn’t mean that you have to do everything, a leader knows how to delegate tasks and responsibilities to the team.”
She not only celebrates her own success, but the team’s success. Mrs. Dela Cruz has seen Burguillos grow over the past three years, “At the beginning of the club, when we set up the club, I’ve seen her try to be vocal about what she really wants for the club, but I didn’t see her potential back then.”
As the newly installed president of Filipino Club, people recognize Burgillo as someone who has shaped this club in many positive ways. The Filipino Club Council has equally shared the opinion that their first meeting went well and that a big part of that was because of Burguillos.
Burguillo’s future goal is to continue what she loves doing. All of her involvements in clubs and councils are shaped by her own personal interests. Although she highly values academics, she still wants to pursue her creative side. When asked to give a piece of advice to her freshman self she replied, “There’s always a now, but never a later. Now is the best time to do things, don’t wait.”
