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Hopwood celebrates ‘chain of cultures’
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Posted on Jan 25 2009
Over a thousand students of Hopwood Junior High School took a light break from their busy schedule last Thursday to join the school’s fifth annual cultural day on campus.
This year’s theme was “Chain of Cultures.”
Hopwood is home to students of various ethnicities—Chamorro, Carolinian, Japanese, Korean, Bangladesh, Indian, Filipino, Chinese, and other Pacific islanders.
“In a diverse campus like Hopwood, it’s important that we always remind our kids about their origin and be proud of their roots. This way, we can promote harmony, understanding and appreciation of each other’s culture and tradition,” said event coordinator and committee chair Senot Donald B. Mendiola.
Among the highlights of the occasion were the parade of national costumes, traditional ethnic performances, and native island games like coconut husking and grating.
Mendiola admitted that “modernization” has contributed to the “fading” of island cultures.
“It’s one factor…the reason Hopwood is keeping this annual celebration for our students,” he said, describing this year’s participants as more involved and enthusiastic.
He believes that “different cultures on campus is what makes Hopwood.”
“Without the inclusion of all these different ethnic backgrounds and cultures…Hopwood will not be the way it is now; it’s a big melting pot,” Mendiola added.
The celebration was also participated in by popular island artists Parker Yobei, Palauan dancers, Inatu’as, Refaluwasch Warriors, Pinay Pride, and Samoan-Hawaiian Dancers.
According to Elizabeth Arriola, language arts teacher, the celebration was also in conjunction with the school’s mission to incorporate PSS standards and benchmarks—to engage students in effective “speaking, listening, reading, and writing.”
She emphasized that whatever origins they may have, students speak a common language in school.
For eight graders Rena Tabuena and Yunika Biado, the occasion will bring everybody “greater understanding and appreciation” about cultural identities.
“It’s also a good start of friendships and harmonious relationships. Learning more about our classmates’ cultures and traditions means building a strong partnership with them as well,” they said.
