We are not just a pop-up. We are a community. Meet the people who started, spearheaded, structured and continued to organize the SMKN events.
Eliza Leigh Serna
Founding President
By profession, Eliza Leigh Serna is the Director of Operations and Marketing at Tofer & Associates, a personal injury law firm. She originally started and founded Sama Ka Na (SMKN) Caravan & Events to help food vendors reach a wider audience during the pandemic. In 2022, she has received an award from the California State Assembly as Woman of Worth in the Community Outreach category for her community service through SMKN. Later on the same year, SMKN was chosen as Best Community Pop-Up Event by the Spotlight Awards.
Recently, Eliza and Sama Ka Na was featured in the Filipino-American newspaper, Weekend Balita. Click the WP link for the article.
Maui Borci
Vendor Coordinator
Maui is the co-owner of Tatay Ry’s, one of the Core Vendors of SMKN. As such, she has helped with finding venues and promoting the caravan since she joined the group in 2020. She has started a new role in 2022 as Vendor Coordinator and is now helping facilitate a close working relationship between SMKN and business owners /vendors.
Her business, Tatay Ry’s is a family centered home business which serves quality street food that bring a nostalgic feeling of being in the Philippines.
Angge Balignasa
Site Manager
Angge is the main chef and CEO of Angge’s Kitchenomics, a catering and event business. She is one of the Core Vendors of SMKN, having joined the group in 2020. This year (2023), she has started a new role as our Site Manager and is now helping ensure that the flow of our events run smoothly each time.
Her business, Angge’s Kitchenomics can help with your private events. They offer buffet style or full service catering, DJ, lights, photobooth services as well as hosts and emcees.
Chef Stephen Serna
Culinary Consultant
Chef Serna is an army veteran who co-owns the food catering business, The Happy Toque. He has 15 years experience as a professional chef for restaurants including Bouchon, Ocean Prime and Eveleigh as well as private institutions. As Culinary Consultant for SMKN, he provides advice on food trends, food service, suppliers, project planning and streamlining operations.
On weekdays, he also provides mobile knife sharpening to both home cooks and professionals as well as notarial services.
Reisz Elijah
Volunteer
Reisz Elijah is an incoming freshman at the University of California – San Diego. He has helped the Sama Ka Na Community by volunteering his time and energy to the causes of the nonprofit organization, Sama Ka Na Foundation. He also helps social media engagement for the organization’s instagram and FB page.
