Family Values and Social Issues Hot Topics During Battle of the Barrios XVII
Battle of the Barrios Overall Champions St. John’s University PARE performs an uplifting tribute to their parents during their award-winning skit. (NYPGC Photo)
NEW YORK 23 April 2018 – DACA, racism, reverse brain drain, parental love, and family values were the core of the skits during the 17th Battle of the Barrios – the annual talent competition among Filipino student organizations under District 3 of the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (FIND) – held at the Douglas Student Center of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey last 24 March.
Eleven teams vied for Best in Cultural Dance, Best in Modern Dance, Best Skit and Best Overall Performance awards.
St. John’s University’s PARE (Philippine Americans Reaching Everyone) were Overall Champs winning Best Cultural, Best Modern Dance, and Best Skit with their heartwarming “Tatay” number. Battle first-timers FUPAC (Fordham University Philippine American Club) tied with PARE for Best Skit with their innovative Dora-themed puppet show incorporating Philippine tourism destinations.
City College of New York and Columbia University teamed together to show an Avatar-themed act about human rights. Baruch College’s FUSION presented the reality of Dreamers’ plight in their skit. Hunter College paid homage to the sacrifices of their parents in their performance. College of Mt. Saint Vincent SAMAHAN urged the community to make cliques obsolete, and instead work together. Stony Brook’s PUSO wants to promote Filipino food through their presentation. Rutgers Newark RUNFSA tackled DACA in their skit, incorporating longanisa as a central theme. Steven Tech FAST highlighted the importance of “kapamilya” in their performance, which also touched on DACA. The host Rutgers New Brunswick RAPS’s skit pointed to family love in balancing racism impacts to children. Montclair University MUFASA and William Paterson FACE again teamed up to examine reverse brain drain in their performance.
Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz Popov sat in the panel of judges, among some youth leaders. During the intermission, she addressed some 500 students and family members in the audience about the Consulate’s programs for the youth during the intermission. She promoted the upcoming PCG-hosted TFCU Talks, and the annual Philippine Graduation (PGRAD) where one of the skits will be invited to reprise their performance during the ceremony. She also spoke on Diskubre Tour, the immersion tour for Filipino-Americans to be launched in July.
Filipino-American YouTube star Chester See provided entertainment during the evening. END
Tied for Best Skit are St. John’s PARE and Fordham University FUPAC.
Fordham University’s FUPAC’s lean team of 3 presents an innovative and entertaining puppet show, which bagged them Best Skit.
For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/.