Asian/Pacific Islander American
CULTURAL PERFORMANCE & SHOWS
at The University of Michigan
FASA: Philippine Culture Night (PCN)
FASA was the second culture night show that I had ever attended, the first being IASA. It was quite different in comparison. Where IASA was held in a Auditorium with a clear difference between the performers and the audience, FASA was held in a ballroom with a small stage placed on the side, and a much more intimate atmosphere. Before the show, there was dinner served, which is a nice addition that was approved by the FASA board close to authentic Filipino food. This setting was good to create such an intimate atmosphere but poor for spectators. People who sat in the back could not see through to the front because everything was roughly level, and people who sat in the front couldn't see the entire show because the stage was not adequately spaced for proper viewing angles.
The wear was semi formal, which along with the venue gave off again- a more intimate atmosphere. However once the show itself seemed to conflict with that atmosphere as people started shouting and cheering during acts and the hosts themselves would interact with the audience. It was difficult to comprehend a lot of the cultural meaning behind some acts as I don't know much Filipino history/culture/lifestyle so I could not identify with some of the acts on a more sophisticated level. I attended with a Japanese and a Korean friend and both had issues seeing past just the show itself into the meaning. Not to say that a bad thing, but it just represents that the show itself is definitely geared towards relatives and other Filipino/ Filipino Americans, rather than a general audience like IASA was. The PCN very much mimics what Gonsalves mentioned, it is a way for Filipino Americans to get in touch with their roots and self identify with each other.
The Show itself began around 8 PM and lasted about for a hour. it consisted of many different types of acts, not exclusive to dancing. There was singing, dancing, and even speeches. There was not too much production for the show itself: I didn't particularly notice any type of lighting (just lighting for the ballroom throughout), on stage sound work (there were some speakers set up but naturally couldn't match the acoustic properties of Hill Auditorium, which lead to some uneven music through out parts of the room), or cultural background information (there was a projector on the far wall but it only said PCN 2014).
For me who was not that informed on Filipino Culture, when the hosts would chant some words that I didn't know or understand the meaning of, it just left me rather confused, though I know a lot of people chanted back. This carried over to a dance where the dancers (from MSU?) had wooden blocks and traditional garb (consisting of white shirt and tan dress) and danced a traditional dance with them hitting the blocks together and with each other I was a bit confused about the background of the dance but it was very entertaining to see the traditional pendulum-like movement and traditional non synthesized music accompanied with it. There was a speech about a persons reactions to the recent typhoons and how he was feeling, but being in the back made it difficult to hear, though many of the words were very powerful. There was also a competition for a T-shirt doing a certain type of dance, however the Hosts didn't really explain what kind of dance it was, assuming everyone knew it (which also lead to some understanding difficulties for me but again, was still very fun). The dance seemed more modern with a lot of hip swinging and gyrations of the body along with a pop like accompanying music.
These are only minimal complaints, as on an entertainment level the show itself was still good. It's just a trade off for a more personal experience vs. a show like IASA which seems to more cater towards an audience.
The FASA show was a completely different experience, unlike most other cultural shows that I have been to. The night began with an authentic Filipino dinner, an aspect of PCN that I really liked. It was buffet style, and the event was semi-formal, which was very different from other cultural shows where there is no food served and extremely casual dress. It was held in the Michigan League ballroom, a venue that I did not think served the event well. Although the ballroom was a nice setting for the dinner, I think that having the dances in the ballroom as well made the PCN feel a bit informal. I thought that the speaker system was also a bit weak, since I expected the music to be much louder and the microphones to be working better. I feel that for future years, FASA should look for a different venue for their show, because having the dancers on an actual stage as opposed to a small dance floor on the same level as the audience would make PCN feel much more formal.
Around 8 the performances began, with the introduction of the Emcees. The emcees were constantly engaging the audience, chanting “Fa-”, and having the audience respond with “-Sa!” The emcees also would chant “Ps-” and the audience would respond with “-Oi!” They would do this between performances throughout the show, and I felt that although it did make the event a bit less formal, it kept the audience actively engaged, and gave the show a very ‘fun’ dynamic.
The show was very different from other cultural shows in the sense that it included many non-dancing performances. One of the past presidents of FASA performed a medley of American songs, which was done well. Additionally, there were two poetry performances. Both poetry performances included one poem discussing what it was like to grow up as a Filipino-American, casually making jokes and addressing certain difficulties that the Filipino-Americans in the audience would relate to. This is an element of PCN that I believe Gonzalves addressed in The Day the Dancers Stayed, and was something I was surprised to see with my own eyes here at Michigan.
The modern Tinikling dance was performed by the UT FAA cultural group. I have seen Tinikling dances before, but never so close up (I was right next to the stage). This really gave me the opportunity to appreciate how difficult the dance is, since the dancers have to move their feet very quickly and in time with their partner. Additionally, the dancers with the sticks had to keep in time with the beat of the music as well as keep times with the other dancers. The dance I truly enjoyed was the Bakya, based on the barrio suite. This dance was performed by members of the MSU Pass Dance Crew. I really enjoyed the more Spanish elements of the dance, and noted that the dancers were clapping what looked like wood pieces in time with the beat. They moved in synchrony and wore white-V necks with printed gingham skirts, which appeared to be traditional Filipino style. Overall, the PCN held by the FASA here at Michigan was unlike any other cultural show I have previously attended, and I really enjoyed the experience.
This year was the first time I have been an audience member as opposed to a performer in the Philippine Culture Night, which was strange yet interesting at the same time. It was strange in the sense that I was not with the other performers, getting dressed and running through the dances in our heads beforehand. But it was interesting because as I was watching the show, I felt as if I had an insider's knowledge about what it takes to put on the show.
My freshman year, I was on the PCN committee, specifically the decorations committee. The theme was "Hakuna Mabata", and our decorations resembled logs with gummy grubs underneath, similar to those from Lion King. We dedicated time thinking of the decorations to fit the theme, buying supplies, and making them. We spent countless hours fundraising for the Save the Children foundation, as well as many late nights practicing our traditional and modern sets. On the day of the culture night, PCN committee arrived hours earlier to set up the tables, put up the decorations, and make sure all the technology was operating correctly. As a freshman, it was my job to serve the food to the guests.
My sophomore year, I was unable to work with the PCN committee, however I stayed active with the dances.
Each year I have seen the Philippine Culture Night grow in success. The dances, choreography, production, and audience involvement has gotten progressively better. This year, I saw more cultural references, many of which I was not familiar with, as I was not raised in the Philippine culture. I do wish, however, that these cultural references were explained to the audience that may not have known. For instance, the "ocho ocho" competition was something I had never previously heard of. I understood what was going on because the filipino woman next to me explained that these fun little competitions were quite common at filipino parties.
I was unable to make it in time for the dinner, however I know how delectable the dishes are. Adobo, pancit, and lumpia are dishes that my Lolo and Lola always made when we were growing up. I was able to see the performances. It was fun to watch a group of my friends emcee, dance, and perform, but it was also interesting to see other groups incorporate their performances into the show.
While the FASA E-board video was unable to be played, I appreciated the video showcasing the Children's Shelter of Cebu organization. It is eye opening to see the purpose of the foundation and visualize what kind of difference can be made, and I think it is very special that FASA is able to connect with these organizations.
All in all, the Philippine Culture Night was an enjoyable night where I was able to see friends that I do not see daily in the midsts of college. It was a very worthwhile break from the stress that is composed of school, exams, studying, extracurriculars, and work, and allowed me to learn more of a culture very near and dear to my grandparents.
This was my first time ever attending the FASA show. It was definitely a different experience compared to what I am used to. Compared to the IASA show, the FASA show is very different. FASA was a semi-formal event, whereas IASA takes on a more casual look. IASA is also held in a huge auditorium, while FASA was held in a ballroom. FASA had more of a tight layout, which I believe did not fit the event well due to its location. If one were seated towards the back of the room, they would not be able to see the performances that well because the performers were on the same level as the audience. In order to improve the event, I believe FASA should consider another location where there is some sort of raised stage, so that the performances can be seen well by everyone. FASA also had a traditional Filipino dinner served before the show, which is different from no food being served at the IASA show. I believe food being served at FASA was a good way for people to learn more about the Filipino culture through more than just the show.
The show part of the night began around 8pm, with the emcees speaking before each act. The emcees were very engaged with the audience, which I thought added dynamic to the show. Another way the FASA show is different from other shows I’ve been to, is that not all the acts in the show were dance performances. There was a singing performance done by Maize Mirchi, as well as a few poetry readers mixed into the show. I enjoyed listening to the poetry, as both the poets had poems that spoke about growing up as a Filipino-American.
One dance that stood out to me was the Modern Tinikling dance performed by the UT FAA Cultural Group. At first, the performers had a hard time hearing the music, so they were unable to establish their beat. This is another reason why I think FASA should look into other locations is that the speaker system in the ballroom was not very loud. Once the performers found their beat, they began dancing in between these two long sticks that other dancers were bouncing to the beat. While I was watching the performance, I realized how much practice must go into this performance, as the dancers have to be in sync with their partner while they move their feet quickly enough to jump across and through the sticks. If one partner loses the beat, which did happen at the show, they must start over in order to continue to be on beat. This dance also stood out to me because I remember watching this style of dance in the Bayanihan video. Since I do not know much about Filipino culture, remembering the dance from the video reminded me about how these dancers were incorporating traditional dance styles into their performance. It was just like Gonzalves said in his book, The Day the Dancers Stayed, about how PCNs today are using the Bayanihan video as a basis for their performances.
Overall, I enjoyed the FASA show and learning more about the Filipino culture. I hope I am able to attend again next year.
This was my first time attending the FASA Show at the University of Michigan. This event was very different from the cultural night shows that I am used to (the IASA show) because of the smaller venue, more formal ambiance, and more cultural focus.The event started off with traditional Filipino food. This was a very nice aspect of the show because it allowed non Filipinos to experience authentic parts of the cuisine and Filipinos to enjoy the food of their culture. For this part of the event, the Michigan League ballroom was a good venue because people could sit at round tables and mingle among each other with a comfortable amount of space. However, when the actual performances started, I thought that the ballroom was not very effective. This is because there were no levels and there was no actual stage so it was very hard for people who sat in the back to properly view the performances. This was particularly noticed during the Tinikling performances where a lot of the important aspects involve footwork and long sticks on the ground. The people in the back did not get to experience those important details.
Besides the slight ineffectiveness of the venue, I thought it was a very interesting show. The emcee’s involved the audience by cheering “Fa-“ and the audience would reply “Sa”. At first, I was very confused about what was happening, but after a few times, I joined in too and it was fun! A lot of the performances were very new to me. My favorite one was MSU Pass Dance Crew-Bakya performance because it was very fun to watch and I appreciated the effort it took to coordinate the wooden bakya movements among the dancers. Overall though, most of the dances were pretty serious. The FASA Girls Traditional-Maglangka dance was very deliberate, with very specific movements and expressions. Because I was not aware of the cultural significance or meaning of that dance, I was kind of confused while watching it.
A lot of the performances and dances seemed to be geared towards other fellow Filipino-Americans, which made it kind of hard for me to really connect to the performances because I wasn’t aware of what exactly was happening. This connects back to the Gonsalves book, The Day the Dancers Stayed because he talked about how the purpose of PCN’s was to help Filipino-Americans reconnect with their traditional-Filipino roots. In order to improve this aspect over the next few years, it would be nice to hear a brief description of the performance that is coming up and what it means/represents in Filipino culture so the audience has some context.
Besides dance performances, two people presented poems. A common theme among these two speakers was that they both discussed how it felt to be Filipino-American away from the traditional Philippines. This was interesting to listen to because it showed the new culture that these Filipino-Americans have created and how they try to reach back to their roots as much as possible.
In general, I really enjoyed my experience at the FASA show. However, there are definitely improvements that could be made and I hope to see how the show evolves over the next few years. It was a great and unique experience for me and my friends and we would definitely consider going next year.
FASA was my second culture show, with IASA being the first. There was a great amount of contrast between the shows.
First, the dress semi-formal, making the show appear a bit classier. The cost was $10 for a dinner and a show (a bargain!). The theme of the show was "Pagbibigay Balay Pagbibigay Buhay", which translates to "Giving Homes, Giving Lives" (which this theme was emphasized if you see what charity they're supporting). Then, we had a buffet-style dinner that served Filipino food. The chicken adobo (Adobong Manok) was tasty, as well as their spring roll (Lumpiang Shanghai). I actually never had Filipino food before, so that was a pleasant introduction that showcased another side of Filipino culture that IASA didn't (i.e. the food side). Moving away from the dinner, there was a lot of "mini-games" that went on throughout the night.
For example, while we were eating, there was a sort of "open-mic" session, where essentially anyone can volunteer to sing or play a musical instrument, which is in direct contrast to IASA (where everything was completely organized, and all performers were preplanned). Here, some of the performers was the audience. At some point, one of the Emcees asked someone to showcase their talent, and a guy went up and did the wave (a dance move)! This made the "formal" dinner seem a bit less formal, in some sense. Incidentally, many of the games and mini-events that went on throughout the night seemed geared towards Filipino/Filipino-Americans. I didn't understand a lot of the inside jokes or actions that were going on throughout the night, so I just assumed it was part of the PCN. It completely reminded me of Gonzalves book, where he says that PCNs have become a sort of "invented tradition" for Filipino-Americans. After several games and mini "guest performances", we moved onto a Keynote address (which was also different from IASA), and finally the performances.
Performance-wise, the energy was quite different from IASA. Perhaps it's the location, perhaps it's the culture. There was still shouting at some points, but it was not as loud and distracting as it was at IASA. Incidentally, the fact that we were at the Michigan Ballroom at the League made things difficult to see often times (sitting on the side or the back made it difficult to see the performance, since there was no "extra" elevation that is typical of stages). Nonetheless, the performance was still enjoyable to see, but most dances seemed much more "traditional", compared to IASA's dances. Perhaps the music type is different, but the traditional music used in FASA was less upbeat will much less modern elements. Perhaps Indian music is intrinsically modern-influenced.
A few performances stuck out to me. One was definitely the poetry, which I didn't expect. I thought, like IASA, it would all be dance performances. However, FASA threw in other elements like poetry. For me, I prefer dance performances more than poetry, but I think it was a pleasant change of pace for some people. In addition, I also noticed the difference in the FASA modern dance performance vs. the traditional dances. The traditional dance didn't have many people performing, maybe somewhere from 4 to 10. The last performance was by FASA modern, and they seemed to have over 30 people! Not only that, the energy was much higher (perhaps that is intrinsic to the "hio-hop" nature of the music). Thus, it leads me to think that more people are interested in modern dances than the traditional dances (not just the crowd, but for the performers as well). Additionally, the traditional performances didn't have as much description about them as I hoped. There was not a proper introduction before each dance, so I was quite clueless on what the dance was supposed to symbolize.
Interestingly, I thought it was great that FASA emphasized what charity they were supporting during the intermission, even showing a video of the cause they were helping. I don't remember IASA doing that (maybe they did, but I don't remember). Overall, I enjoyed FASA. I definitely enjoyed the energy of IASA much more (I think the cheering and "informalness" really pumped up the show), where FASA didn't have as much of that. However, I think FASA also seemed to be more "cultural" in the sense that they had Filipino food and the traditional performances actually appeared to be traditional. In some sense, with FASA, I felt like I was at a Filipino's home for the night, but at IASA, I felt like I was at an Indian's party. Both were different, and showcased different parts of their respective culture.
All in all though, I think the show has a lot of value intellectually. It's a step into the Filipino American's life, showing bits of the West and East. As Gonzalves said, PCNs are like a "rite of passage" for Filipino Americans and I definitely saw that Saturday night. It's also amazing to imagine the amount of work the performers, the organization, and the executive board put in to put on the FASA show, and that alone, made the show worth going to.
I find this critique to be interesting to conduct as this is my third Philippine Culture Night to participate in and my fourth Philippine Culture Night to experience in total. Each year I have experienced this event has been different in my role.
This year, I organized the performances and set for the show. In doing so, I wanted to ensure that there would be an equal balance of culturally appropriate acts and others that would show the impact of being a Filipino American. To focus on the cultural aspect of Philippine Culture Night, I invited the Michigan State University Philippine American Student Society and University of Toledo Filipino American Association to perform traditional dances. MSU PASS performed Bakya, a dance the elicits the use of bakyas, which are Filipino wooden sandals. UT FAA performed a modern version of Tinikling to a Michael Jackson song. The act was interesting as it is typically uncommon for traditional Filipino dances to meld into modern day culture. Tinikling is an adaptable dance that can moved in this way. FASA has a history of performing modern tinikling as it used to be an aspect of the organization in the past.
FASA performed two traditional dances, Subli and Maglangka. Subli is a Barrio suite dance in celebration of the Holy Cross. The dance featured castanets and straw hats to accentuate the movements. Maglangka is a Muslim suite dance. Featuring only girls, the dance is meant to teach girls the movements of Muslim suite dances with a square cloth to train the girls on the placement of their arms. All of the culture dances portrayed in the show illustrated the depth of Filipino dances, but they did not depict dances from all regions of the Philippines.
The more Fil-Am acts included poetry from FASA members and short contests to interact with the audience. These acts were meant to illustrate how far we as Filipino Americans have come and to create a more lighthearted atmosphere aside from the concert etiquette during the traditional acts.
From the perspective of a PCN veteran, I can easily say that the event has grown to include more culture and variety to the show. There are still many improvements to work with such as the food, venue, and in all just having more culture in the event, but FASA is on their way to creating a larger scaled event.