MGA KAPATID'S 28TH PILIPINO CULTURE NIGHT

Mga Kapatid's 27th Annual Pilipino Culture Night: Ang Pinapangarap Ko

Gino Lucas 3rd Year Managerial Economics Major Director

There is a saying here in Davis that is used quite frequently to put things into perspective, “everyone has a story.” What that entails is that each person went on a journey to get to where they are today. Often, we, as college students, rarely get the opportunity for our stories to be told. We are silenced because either no one wants to take the time to hear our stories or there is no outlet for them. This is why PCN is so important to me. Tonight, it is our stories on stage to share with you. For some of us, it is a story that has been waiting to be told. For others, it is a story that they never knew they had. Regardless, our stories are what help us understand each other. These are the stories that come from our voices, our bodies, and our feelings. For me, there really is no other medium like PCN.

My favorite PCN memory would have to be last year's 60's Medley that I co-choreographed with Kristy and Kyle. It was the first time I had choreographed anything and seeing it all come together and everyone on stage having fun was the most rewarding experience I could have asked for.

As the director this year, my goal was for every single person, whether you are an actor, participant, or you reading this blog post, to go on this journey with us and see a story they can relate to. When you go to see a show, you expect to see something unknown unfold before your eyes and there is a thin veil that separates what is reality and fiction. As soon as you enter the theater on May 2nd and 3rd, you are not just watching a show; you are a part of the experience. The veil has dissolved and we are placed into a space where we are all along for the ride. Though this year is a work of fiction, it is based off of life experience we can all identify with. When you leave the theater, I hope you are able to see yourself or someone you know in these characters and their story.

This year, the central theme is about dreams, but a dream can be anything. We can dream for a better life, we can dream to be accepted and loved by someone, and we can dream for the next day to be better than the last. Life is going to slap us in the face and prevent us from achieving these dreams, but now, I am going to invite you to dream with us. I invite you to put yourself in the shoes of the characters and reach for the stars. I invite you to never give up on those seemingly crazy thoughts of yours because that is what drives us to achieve greater things. I invite you to a dream that has finally become a reality for all of us who have worked on this show.

Katherine Zon Clavel 1st Year English Major Meri Tan

I’ll be playing Merideth Tan, also known as Meri! She’s Adrian’s cousin. When it comes to Meri, I’ve found that relating to her becomes both an easy and difficult task. It’s contradicting, I know. What we share is our fierce love for our families. There is not a day that goes by where I don’t think about my family, my brother and my cousins in the Philippines. But where we differ is how we express this love. While Meri, who is in contact with her family at any given time of the day, I am not. Meri has been in the company of her entire family all her life, while miles and miles separate me from a sizable portion of the rest of my family. I don’t really know what it feels like to be in a crowded house, though I’m positive it’s a good feeling. I’m not always very obvious when it comes to telling my family, both near and far, that I love and care about them, like Meri is, but I’m sure they understand, nevertheless.

This actually isn’t my first time acting on a stage! I’ve acted with both my high school and my church before, as well as outside companies. Acting is great. Acting is fun. And being part of this year’s PCN Acting cast makes me so happy! Ever since seeing the PCN at UC Berkeley, I told myself I’d participate, wherever I ended up going (you know, if they had PCN wherever I ended up). I’m so glad to be part of this.

The message that I want to convey with Meri is that there will always be someone there who loves and cares for you. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say this, but we’ve all gone through something where we’ve felt like the world was against us. We all have our times of weakness, frustration, and doubt – we are only human, after all. But even in the darkest, most difficult of times, there is someone there, who loves you, who cares for you, and who has always been there. We are never alone. And I feel that that is what Meri helps to embody, and what I hope to convey to the audience.

Since this is my first, I’m gonna have to go with the night that I found out that I was going to be in PCN! That was this past year, during FATDs! I remember being so nervous when they told us to go outside to see the cast list. I was so nervous, in fact, that I didn’t even see my name the first time I looked at the list. I… wasn’t even looking at the right list! It was terrible, and Abby had to tell me that I made it on the Acting cast, cause she was actually looking at the right list, haha. That was a really great moment for me, because I wanted it so much!

PCN is not just a show to me. PCN helped to make my first year bearable. I had practices to look forward to, and lines to memorize, keeping me from being idle with my time. And I had people that I looked forward to seeing every time we had practice. While I was usually more quiet and calm (and probably really tired) at practices, I enjoyed being able to spend my time with everyone there. And being involved with PCN also helped my inner longing to get more in touch with my Filipino culture. I was never involved with the Fil-Am in my high school, but I found myself immersed in it within the first weeks of my time here. And I’ve loved every moment of it. I’ve got PCN to thank for a lot of that love.

My dream is to be happy. And no, I’m not just copying Beyoncé. But she did have the right idea, didn’t she? To be happy is my greatest aspiration. In the end, it won’t matter if I’m rich or famous (but that’d be nice). What matters is if I’m happy with who I am and who I have grown to be in my future. I want to be able to smile when I wake up every morning, and I want to be able to sleep soundly, without worries plaguing my mind.

Jordan Lorenzo 5th Year English Major Bubba Bucat

This year I am playing the role of Bubba Bucat. I haven't really found out yet what this role means to me, but a lot of the characters in this year's story have so many dimensions because they're fighting for what they love and what they believe in. Whether it's the lovely Diana Estrada sticking to the show because she loves it even with the diabolcal Ricky Sabado, or Erica Pedronan going against her mother because of the way she looks, or Adrian Tan against the world, everyone is fighting for what they believe in. I asked a friend once, "How far do you go for something you believe in?" and he told me "As far as it takes for it comes true."

This is my first time acting and I can't wait for PCN. Everyone is putting a lot of hard work. My favorite PCN moment must have been last year at the end of the last show where people came up to talk about their experiences. It was that moment where I wanted to become more involved with PCN this year. PCN is a time for friends and family to gather.

Gerald Carlos Malixi 4th Year Exercise Biology Major Joseph Tan

In this year’s PCN I play Joseph Tan, Adrian’s uncle & cameraman on the show. I really enjoy the times I spend with my uncles. They provide a different aspect of being a father figure without actually being my father. They’re great to hang out with during parties, but they are also there to give me advice when I need it. I prepped for my role as Tito Joseph by modeling my personality after the connections I have with my own titos. I try to be as caring as I can to Adrian, but still show limitations because I know I’m not actually his father.

One thing I pride myself in is having confidence, but when it comes to talking to my dad I feel like I really lack in that area. I love my dad and I’m very grateful for all that he’s done for me throughout my life. I just wish I told him that more often. I know I have control over my own wishes, but it’s a lot easier said than done. Our relationship was never based off of intimate conversations like that. We show each other love by what we do rather than what we say. I hesitate to tell him because all these years I’ve never actually told him how thankful I am to have him in my life. I know one day I’ll work up the courage to tell him, it’s something he deserves to hear from his son.

I’d have to say when Louise and I walked the middle of the stage during the ending ovations last year. I’ve always wanted to be part of PCN ever since I transferred here so that moment made me realize my goal was coming true. My brothers both did Berkeley’s PCN a few years back and when I saw their PCN cast hugging each other, waving at the audience and bathing in the sounds of the applause, I knew I would want to live that moment one day too.

PCN means progress. From PCN, I learn more and more about Pilipino history and dances. I get a better grasp of my roots and identity. I make new friends while also becoming closer to others. I’ve performed for Pilipino shows in high school, but PCN makes me realize that I’ve finally made it to the big stage. Through PCN, no matter how stressful it gets, it’s always a step forward in my life.

Although I do have aspirations and material wants, there’s always one ultimate dream for me: to make my mom and my lola proud of me. At 23, my mom was the first in her family to move to America; she worked hard to make sure her kids had an easier life than she did in the Philippines. Growing up, my lola was the one who took care of me when my mom was at work. I always knew I was her favorite.

MK Modern - Davis Dance Revolution 2014 First Place - Modern

Alyssa Limbo 3rd Year Food Science and Technology Major Glori Tan/Katsudoratan Choreographer

Glori is a little bit sassy and loves to joke around, but above all, her highest priority is supporting her loved ones and making sure that no one ever feels alone or discouraged; something I really value in how I live my life. Initially, I saw Tita Glori as that Auntie, the one who hovers and gets all into your business when you want it the least. I was a little worried about how to translate that she has the best intentions despite the fact that she could be a little over bearing or annoying. However, as I got to know her character, I started see her as my own mother, who, regardless of my doubts and insecurities, has always encouraged me to dream big and have faith when I needed it the most. It also helps that I've been recognized as the "mom" out of my friend groups for as long as I can remember

I acted in a short play in FILAH's AIOTS last year, but this is my first full length and incredibly real acting experience. I'm so excited to be acting in PCN! For the past two years, I've stacked on the cultural dances, and the play portion of the show was always this big, beautiful mystery that I wouldn't fully understand until I got to watch the DVD months later. Being a part of this acting cast, with this script the whole creative team has helped to develop insight and an understanding of the issues we're addressing in this year's show, and has only made me more excited to promote PCN and share our story!

My favorite PCN memory always comes at the end of it all. Curtain Call at the last show on Saturday night, when everyone's on stage dancing and taking their bows; the energy and spirit is indescribable. Whether you'd been learning dances at workshops with people from the beginning of the year, or just got to know someone during the madness of tech week, everyone just vibes off of each other and it's so much fun!

PCN is my favorite event of the year, it's the time that brings everyone together and if there's anything I've learned throughout my PCN experiences, it's that you get what you give, but like a thousand times more in return. The choreographers, creative team, dancers, and new friends are what help make PCN so memorable. If you come with an open mind and open heart, you could be surprised the connections you can make with people or the new things you can learn about yourself.

Yumiko Nakano 3rd Year Design/Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry Major Costume Coordinator My role as a costume coordinator was making the traditional costume pieces that were hard to acquire in stores, as well as some fashion coordinating for the casts. It required a good communication with the choreographers, director and a scriptwriter to understand their vision in order to accurately recreate them through the medium of wearable materials

It is not exactly in a costume field, but in Junior year of high school, I entered a fashion class and participated in a fashion show as a designer of my own collection. Since then, I have participated in UC Davis Student Fashion Association fashion show as well as a Single Garment Competition, as well as PCN 2013 Costume Coordinator.

Traditional wears are made to replicate the authentic wears as closely as possible within the limits of the accessibility to the materials. Many color schemes and patterns are taken from an authentic wear as inspirational elements to incorporate into the costumes.

The main roadblock was a lack of accessibility to appropriate materials. Many traditional wears were composed of unique materials not available or accessible to us, and it required some creativity to overcome it by recreating with other sources. 

My absolute favorite PCN memory is curtain call and the closing of the show when everyone starts chanting to signify a show completed. Being part of the energy, feeling of joy and sense of accomplishment radiating from everyone is an indescribable experience every year. 

PCN is a piece of an enormous project, accomplished through an assemblage of diverse communities and people of various interests and strengths. Through PCN and interaction with foreign culture, I became more aware of different political, social and cultural ideas, which also lead to discovering more about my own identity as well. PCN, to me, is an irreplaceable experience that really opened my eyes and my mind.

Sandrine Santiago Lipana 3rd Year Sociology/Law and Society Major // Education Minor Jerica

To me, PCN is the ability to share our culture as Filipino-Americans through stories, dances, and the bonds we share with one another. Through my experiences doing PCN at UC Riverside as well as here at UC Davis, I have never learned so much about what it means to be Filipino-American and what it means to truly embrace and never forget our culture and our background. We are who we are because of where we came from.

My favorite PCN memory from last year’s “Faces” at UC Riverside was Heaven and Hell Week, and being able to spend so much time with the people I love. Although it was extremely stressful for everyone, we had fun through it all and can look back with no regrets. To see the whole cast with smiles, tears, and laughs on our faces do our final bow to “September” was amazing because all our hard work was worth it in the end. Shout out to UCR’s Katipunan!

This year, I am Jerica, one of the dancers on the game show, Ready, Set, Go! Although I’m the complete opposite of Jerica’s personality, it’s fun to break out of my comfort zone and play someone that I’m not on stage!

UC Davis Fil-Am Showcase 2014

Kristy Lauron 3rd Year Linguistics Major Diana Estrada/90's Medley Choreographer

Umm I too can be seen as outwardly-sexual middle aged woman who does what she loves despite awful ppl hahaha

I'm always a lil nervous about acting, but it usually works out in the end. I feel like I was type-casted haha, if you know me, you know wassup 

I don't know if i qualifies as a PCN memory, but I'll never forget certain bangko practices particularly when my twin sib Alex Deng utot'd during a move, where all of us move around the benches in a square, so we were encased by fragrance

PCN means a time and place where I can share my love for my identity, my people, my culture, and my community with friends and family