PILIPINO CULTURAL NIGHT (PCN)

For thousands of Filipino American college students throughout the country, it’s PCN has been an unforgettable experience. PCN stands for Pilipino Cultural Night, a yearly ritual featuring Filipino ethnic dances and culture, and skits exploring such issues as family, identity and history. For tens of thousands of Filipino American youths, being part of a PCN, either as performers or as members of the production staff, has been a rite of passage in their college career for about three decades.

Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor, which formed at SF State over 40 years ago, went on to host the first Pilipino Cultural Night. More than 120 performers from colleges including SF State, Skyline College, City College of San Francisco, San Jose State University and others took part in the production. PCN is a big celebration for the community to take part in about the Filipino culture. PCN emphasized some of the arts closely associated with Filipino culture, highlighted by acting, dancing, singing, story writing and choreographing.

The show used not only Filipino writers and performers, but people of many different backgrounds knowledgeable of Filipino culture. As college students, we're trying to show our friends and our family back home that we actually do have a community here and we do have each other's back. I can say from experience, from PCN, we've built our own family.

Last year SF States PCN was: The Legacy of the Fallen. It was a modern-day interpretation and depiction of the passionate Filipino American and Asian American organizers of the '60s and '70s era of social change, who were inspired to change themselves and, in turn, have inspired us to move forth with progressions of our communities today. The story is rich--driven by the beauty, the struggle, the community and the resistance we all share as a people, united by one symbol: The I-Hotel. From Skits, to song, to dance, and to every single interpretation of the Filipino culture was present on the stage that night. From Modern hiphop, to contemporary, to cultural dances, and skits to song performances, and spoken words, it was truly a remarkable night.

Last year, because of my love and passion for Philippine art, I joined PCN excited to do all the dances. However, unfortunately, because of scheduling conflicts, I was only in one dance because that was the only time I was free for practice. Because I knew the choreographers, I had a 3 part solo along with a couple other girls. Through out the months of practice for the big night, I could really say that our PCN cast grew together as a whole. If it wasn’t for them, PCN wouldn’t have been such a successful show. And with out each and everyone of the cast member, my first PCN experience wouldn’t have been the same. Im definitely so exited for this years PCN!!! 

YOU SHOULD JOIN TOO!!!! You dont have to be filipino, or know how to sing or dance to be in it!!!! We just want to showcase all our talents as a community!!