The orgs celebrated “PACisama: Piyesta ng Sining at Kultura,” a fiesta that aimed to redefine the Filipino cultural identity by making it modern.
Orgs under PAC gave song, dance, and theater performances centered on Filipino culture and history. The Media and Creative Arts Cluster (MCAC) orgs also participated in the fiesta.
Orgs performed December 19 in the University College Lane, at the wide red brick road between the Rizal Library and the MVP Center for Leadership and Training.
Identity and the arts
“Whether the performance is from Blue Repertory (BlueRep), Tanghalang Ateneo (TA), Ateneo College Glee Club (ACGC), or Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADS), [the orgs] can redefine the Filipino into what they really do best,” Project Head Pearl Margaret Ganzon (IV AB PoS) said in a mix of English and Filipino.
The fiesta started with an opening number, a collaborative production of Ryan Cayabyab’s “Limang Dipang Tao,” from four PAC orgs (ACGC, TA, BlueRep, and CADS).
Four major performances followed: ACGC performed a revival of Filipino songs composed of pre-Spanish folk songs and some OPM songs, and CADS gave a modern twist and interpretation to the history of colonization of the Philippines.
TA also performed the play Talab, and BlueRep revived the bodabil, a popular form of entertainment during the American occupation.
In between these major performances were minor performances from the MCAC. The Ateneo Association of Communication Majors and Collegiate Society of Advertising conducted a Pinoy Pop Quiz.
The Loyola Film Circle showed a short film, while the Ateneo Musicians’ Pool performed several Filipino rock songs to culminate the event.
More dancing and singing
Filipino Instructor Ariel Diccion said he was glad that PACisama was held. “First time na nagkaroon sila ng isang sama-sama performance (It was the first time that they [PAC] had a collaborative performance),” he said.
Christian Edward Nuevo (II BS HSc) said he was excited during the event. “I am an enthusiast of the arts, of theater, dancing, singing so it was really something I look[ed] forward to,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Office of Student Activities Professional Richard de Guzman hopes that the PACisama will be a yearly event.
Ganzon, meanwhile, was happy because the event received mostly positive feedback.
“I spoke with Ms. Vilches [School of Humanities dean] and [Vice President] Cuyegkeng, [and] they were excited [and thought that] there should be more things like this in the Ateneo,” she said.
