New York and New Jersey Fil-Am Youth Battled it Out for Cheers and Charity
S. John’s University Filipino-Americans Reaching to Everyone (PARE) took home three awards, including Best Overall performance during the Battle of the Barrios at Rutgers University New Brunswick last 25 March. (Photo courtesy of Rutgers RAPS)
10 April 2017 NEW YORK – On its 16th year, the Battle of the Barrios gathered Filipino-American school organizations in the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue Inc. (FIND) District III Region last March 25 in Rutgers University New Brunswick campus.
Ten “Barrios,” schools from New York and New Jersey participated in the Battle. Each group performed a 10-minute skit incorporating Filipino traditional dance and art, historical tidbits, current socio-civic issues along with Western modern dance and pop culture.
St. John’s University’s Filipino-Americans Reaching to Everyone (PARE) emerged as the big winner, bagging the Team Trending Award, Best in Cultural Performance, and Best in Overall Performance, injecting Singkil, Pandanggo, and Igorot dances in their skit that tackled ancestral land issues. City University of New York-Hunter College POH’s delivered a compelling piece on women’s rights to win Best Skit. City University of New York-Baruch College’s FUSION went home with the Best in Modern Dance trophy, after their step-dance routine drew the most cheers.
This year, Battle of the Barrios donated $982 to the Advancement for Rural Kids (ARK), with host Rutgers University (RAPS) raising $867 of the total amount, winning them the Most Charitable Award. Donations will help ARK’s programs in the Philippines to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to get kids back to school, end hunger and malnutrition, and provide marginalized communities with new income.
Other school organizations who performed were College of Mount St. Vincent (SAMAHAN), Stony Brook University (PUSO), Stevens Institute of Technology (FAST). Montclair State University (MUFASA), William Patterson University (FACE), Rutgers University Newark (FSA) and New Jersey Institute of Technology (FINEST).
Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz expressed her pride in the students’ recognition of their identity and their desire to connect with the Philippines and anything Filipino. She encouraged the almost 500 attendees to increase their involvement in the community and to partner with the Consulate in exploring opportunities for collaboration. She also invited the graduating students to the 5th Philippine Graduation (PGRAD) organized by the Consulate and UniPro on 20 June where one of the winning skits will get the opportunity to reprise their performance during the PGRAD. END