Students walked the catwalk and rocked the house during a talentshow last Friday night at Montezuma Hall.
“Your mission is to sit back and enjoy the show. We willdeconstruct in five seconds,” said a mystical voice over a massiveprojection screen that flashed words rapidly.
And so the fifth-annual Asian Pacific Student Alliance talent showbegan. The theme for this year’s show was “Mission: APSA”, anemulation of MTV’s “Road Rules” show.
The characters’ mission was to travel Asia, search for clues, andexperience the beauty of Asian culture along the way.
The annual talent show also included a mockery of populartelevision commercials, a fashion show and student acts.
“I love the whole concept of it,” said Zeela Gina Diwa, VicePresident of APSA and coordinator of the show. “It rocked.”
Diwa said the show took months to prepare.
“A lot of it was done two to three months ago,” she said. “(Many)officers contributed to this show as well as various people inorganizations helped out.”
Roadmaster and host for the show was Jinah Kim, a reporter forKSWB. She said she was impressed by the performers’ talents.
“I just couldn’t believe how much talent (there is) at thisschool,” Kim said. “The people here are going to make it big.”
Kim said Asian Americans are always encouraged to do well inschool and then get a good job.
“I don’t think Asian Americans focus on the arts too much,” shesaid.
Kim said she enjoyed and learned a lot from the various costumesthe models wore on stage. Models strutted the catwalk wearingclothing from China, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Korea, Japan,The Philippines and Pacific Islands.
The fashion segment was held in between the 14 talent acts,ranging from hip hop dancing to male and female singles.
A panel of six judges awarded Formality — an all male dance group– first place with a gift certificate worth $100. Second place wentto the Samahan Dance Troupe. It received a $50 gift certificate.There was no third place.
“I like the models, I like the lap dance, and I liked Formalityand the group who won last year,” said electrical engineeringsophomore Art Tejada.
Music senior Jason Yamaoka won first place in last year’s talentshow for his musical performance, but said he wasn’t nervous.
“Because we play around town, it’s not so bad. The only thingfrustrating was the sound (at the talent show).”
There were a few technical difficulties, like sound, that laggedthe show.
“If there was one thing I could change about the show, I’dprobably do a better run through next time,” Kim said, “We did have alot of technical difficulties and it delayed the show.”
Kim said she was proud of everyone who participated in the show.
Established in 1972, APSA began its yearly talent show four yearsago. The admission fee for the show supports other events held byAPSA, like conferences.
The talent show was open to everyone. Some performers were fromUniversity of California, Irvine, University of California San Diegoand elsewhere.
Diwa, who coordinated the show, summed up the purpose of the APSAtalent show.
“The show is a great way for the San Diego State community as wellas the other local San Diego communities to look at the Asian culturein another light,” she said.
