AAPI presents annual heritage assembly

JAPANESE CULTURE: Regions of Asia show information about the countries it contains, games, traditions, food, people and more. The regions included East Asia, Polynesia, Philippines, South Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia and Melanesia. Photo by McLean Grimes/La Vista

By Mclean Grimes

Executive News Editor

and Taylor Kelley

News Editor

The annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) assembly took place Thursday during office hours to celebrate the AAPI heritage month.

The assembly was put on by the Pacific Islanders Club and the Asian American Club. Before the assembly started, there was a video shown in second period that explained AAPI month, held student interviews, and previewed the assembly.

TASTY TREATS: Spam Musubi sells as an item for $7. Other food items sold included lumpia, dim sum and fried rice. Photo by McLean Grimes/La Vista

“[The club] asked leadership and members of the club to be interviewed and choose one or more of five questions to answer,” said historian for the Asian American Club Jessilyn Reyes. “I was really glad that the AAPI community was able to come together and celebrate our culture through this event.”

Each booth contained a certain region of Asia with facts about countries, music, food, traditions, games, and famous people. The regions included East Asia, South Asia, Philippines, Southeast Asia, West Asia, Melanesia and Polynesia.

AAPI VIDEO: Preceding the assembly, there was a video shown in second period to explain what would be expected at the assembly, show student interviews and explain AAPI month. Photo by McLean Grimes/La Vista

“My booth is about the South East Asia community,” said junior Stringer Kotani-Crespo. “We’re making some traditional origami.”

The food that was offered included lumpia, Spam musubi, fried rice, and dim sum. Spam musubi sold for $7, lumpia sold for $3 for two and dim sum and fried rice both sold for $5.

REGIONAL FACTS: Several regions of Asia, including East Asia, Polynesia, Philippines, South Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia and Melanesia, each had booths presenting facts such as food, famous people, traditions, and more. Photo by Taylor Kelley/ La Vista

“I bought lumpias, and they were so good, I even got seconds,” said junior Alli Custer. “I had to go quickly because each booth sold out.”

There was also live music and dancers who recruited student volunteers. Preceding the event, both clubs met every Wednesday to plan out the assembly.

LIVE MUSIC: The assembly also held live music and a performance that taught student volunteers the Tahitian Hula. Photo by Taylor Kelley/La Vista

“We had many weeks of poster work days and planning days for what we were going to say in the videos,” said junior member of Asian American Club Christy Poon “I’m so glad that AAPI could come and share our culture with everyone, and I hope that everyone enjoyed the events we presented.”