PCN – A Reason Why: For the People, By the People

By Samantha Susa

Pilipino Cultural Night (PCN) is April 18. That’s 7 weeks left for the show. 48 days exactly from today, March 1st. That’s really not that much time honestly if you really think about the time constraints each dancer, actress/actor, singer, choreographer, stage hand, Inner Sanctum member, and anyone else who touches the show has to overcome in order to deliver an outstanding two and a half hour show that aims to leave some sort of impression on its’ audience. The fact that each participant in this show has a life outside of PCN ranging from school to work with potentially an impressive array of other extracurricular activities to top it off and a social life to keep up with already is overwhelming in of itself. With the demands of these various responsibilities as young adults and college students striving towards our future one would question why any individual would want to dedicate so much of their already limited time (which is already fleeting as it is) and effort into making this show happen. But when you look beneath the surface and see PCN as more than just a show it becomes simpler to comprehend. The answer is clear as day to anyone with a passion for the arts, the community, Filipino culture, learning, and even cultural activism. This show is for the people, by the people. The people are students who run this show from its’ conception to its’ last curtain call under the spotlights of McKenna Theater. It is true that this show is no requirement for a grade, but to the student body, especially those who are of Filipino heritage this production is more than just a show in their eyes, the PCN experience transcends anything they an simply be taught in a classroom that this show is indeed a requirement but on a much bigger scale than just that of a letter grade in the educational system. The annual Pilipino Cultural Night showcase is the primetime opportunity for all interested students, but particularly Filipinos to be able to present and showcase to the community what being Filipino is all about, from our history, to our present day struggles, and our future hopes and dreams. For San Francisco State University in particular, this annual show has had its’ roots embedded deep within the history of our school for 43 years now, earning us the honor of having the longest run of PCN showcases. This means that for 43 years members and friends of the Filipino community within the organization Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor (PACE) have gathered together and have successfully organized shows year after year.

The survival of this show is rooted firmly by the continuous passion that each participant of the show brings and the fact that the show is open to anyone who is interested and would like to showcase and contribute any talent they have from singing, dancing, acting, logistical skills, organizing, teaching, planning, and the list goes on. Not only seen as a long running tradition for San Francisco State, this show acts as a medium for the student body to be able to creatively express and showcase any thoughts they want to voice about their heritage and this can range from present day issues to significant historical events. By this the students not only build on their skill sets and relationships with one another within the making of the show but they also give back to the community, teaching their audience a thing or two about what it means to be Filipino and why we are proud to showcase who we are as a collective. Even after this PCN season has come and gone, the show does not truly end once the last bow and curtain call are completed. The experiences, relationships, lessons, and collective effort would leave their marks because as each year has shown us, the passion and drive students have to collectively put together a performance and help tell a unique story of their struggles and history leaves a lasting impression on audience members and participants alike. Despite the constraints that being a student presents to each and every PCN participant, the call to the and the desire to engage and educate people resonates so much with the students earning the show its honorary time onstage each and every year and a place in the heart of our community.