True identity and cultural pride were the main themes for the 28th annual Pilipino Cultural Night (PCN) in the Plaza del Sol Saturday.
PCN is an annual event hosted by Filipino American Student Association and Associated Students that celebrates the Filipino culture and raises awareness about cultural issues through a scripted storyline and traditional dances.
“All the different dances have a component of a culture piece of Filipino and I found that really amazing,” said Samantha Ortega, 23, junior political science and Central American studies major.
Ortega said she enjoyed the Sinkil dance because the “princess” performed with grace and poise.
Sinkil is a dance that is part of the Muslim Suite where women danced using fans and the men used long bamboo-like poles to tap and slide on the floor as a “princess” moved her feet between the crisscrossed poles.
“I loved the fact that even though a lot of the kids here are second or third generation they are still do delved into their culture and are so passionate about who they are and where they are from,” said Oluchi Onyima, 24, graduate public health major.
The crew comprised almost 60 members and it took them one academic year and a summer vacation to put the event together.
The script followed the story of Eddie Gregorio, a recent high school graduate who struggles with identity issues and finds his cultural roots along with three other friends.
Gregorio and his friends go through issues of fitting in, maintaining their friendship and most of all remembering their culture.
In the end Gregorio learns to appreciate his cultural background while keeping his high school friends.
The dance performances were incorporated into the storyline and were switched back and forth between acting and dances.
PCN co-coordinator Joseph Tagnipes said when the event started in 1985 PCN was only a showcase of some of the costumes from different parts of the Philippines. Throughout the years they added a storyline and dances because they wanted to expose more about their culture.
Tagnipes said that since they added a storyline to PCN they try and change it every year and alternate between the dances.
Sophomore Cameron Cudiamat, 19, kinesiology major, performed as Gregorio and also participated in the dances.
Cudiamat said he became part of the show because his parents were part of the Filipino American Student Association FASA about 28 years ago when the club was new and his sister, who also attends バイク査定CSUN, is part of the club.
“At first I got pretty nervous but after a while it became really natural to me because I was used to being on stage. I just got all the butterflies out of the way and after that I was just having fun with it,” Cudiamat said of his experience on stage.
