The Intercultural Center at College of the Canyons turned into a cultural classroom, where students learned the steps of traditional Filipino dance and celebrated Filipino American History Month.
“I wanted to come out today to make sure that people feel like they are able to come out to the tables, cuz I think I’m a very extroverted person, so they can read the things, talk to each other. My favorite part was seeing the connections be built because of this event. People find friends or find old family friends and reconnect, like ‘Oh, you go to campus here now.’ I think seeing people reestablish friendships through their culture — that was probably the best,” said Julia Larin, a COC student and event volunteer.
After the dance workshop, the Intercultural Center hosted a book discussion inspired by Filipinos in the San Fernando Valley, encouraging conversations about history, identity and representation.
“It’s really great to get a chance to do this because there is so much to talk about, and the culture is just so amazing. It’s almost like a melting pot of dance, the songs, all of those are so creative, and I am so proud of that, really,” said Zony Gordon, the event showcaser.
For many students, the event was more than a celebration — it was a way to learn, share and honor Filipino American contributions to Southern California.
