Laura Cancio finished her first performance of her original songs in front of an audience of 70 students, waiting for a reaction.
The crowd responded with enthusiasm as Cancio, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student, sang two songs while playing guitar and piano.
The Asian American Cultural Center hosted an open mic night Friday, where students performed music and spoken word pieces in front of their fellow peers on Livingston campus.
Anyone can participate, and all types of performances are encouraged.
"We get a lot of people that aren't just from Rutgers University," said Rutgers Association for Philippine Students executive board member, Gretel Espina, a Rutgers College junior.
Many of the acts consisted of singing, but the performances were not limited to the crooning of college students. Following up the first act, the second act included spoken word pieces performed by Dexter Aguila. The majority of students sang and played guitar.
Rutgers-Newark first-year student Bill Menosa came to enjoy the performances.
"I'm out here to support some people I know," Menosa said.
There was no cost to attend the show, but students were asked to donate to a charity helping to build new houses and schools in poverty-stricken areas in the Philippines, said RAPS Co-President Corinne Sarmiento, a Cook College junior.
RAPS and the Filipino League at Seton Hall take turns hosting the event each year, said RAPS Co-President Jennilyn-Eve Fallorin, a Rutgers College junior.
"This is one of our more low-key events," Sarmiento said.
The Battle of the Barrios is the group's most popular event.
"It's a compilation of modern dance, cultural dance and skits," Espina said.
RAPS is open to any student of any ethnicity, and meetings are held every other Wednesday at 9 p.m. in Room 174 of the Busch Campus Center, Sarmiento said.
RAPS has been a part of the University since 1987 and has grown increasingly throughout the years. Filipino groups are prevalent all around the state, as well as in New York, and they meet and plan events through the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue, Inc., Fallorin said.
Be the first to comment on this article!