Suffolk University Filipino Association hosted its first District 1 event Oct. 21. Students from universities around Boston gathered at The Modern Theatre for a special talent show and fundraising event.

“D1’s Got Talent” reunited Filipino students from Suffolk University, Northeastern University, Boston University, Berkelee College of Music and UMass Boston not only to exhibit their talents in front of a panel of judges and friends but also to raise funds for Guinting Elementary School in Laguna.  

Guinting is a public school in the Philippines where a group of students is seeking funds to repair the school’s classrooms. According to the president of SU Pinoy, Catherine Angela “Myca” Pingol, the donations will go toward building a comfort room (bathroom), water dispensers, electric fans and other school materials for the students of Guinting.

Not only is SU Pinoy welcoming to the Filipino community in Boston, but they are also part of District 1, an intercollegiate organization formed by 10 Filipino student organizations from schools in the Boston area.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to bring together the Suffolk community fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose,” Pingol said. 

There were a variety of student singers, dancers and instrumentalists ready to have fun and raise funds for the school. The audience was cheering on every person on the stage, showing a sense of support among the Filipino community. 

Glenlloyd Suganob is a sophomore at Suffolk and one of the members of SU Pinoy. He was thrilled to have found a club so “welcoming and friendly” that represents his home country.

“It was so nice to see other Filipinos outside of my home. They were incredibly welcoming and I instantly felt like I found my place with them,” Suganob said.

SU Pinoy and its members were proud to hold its first event for District 1 since the club was founded, and when asked about the talent show, Suganob didn’t forget to mention how it was important for the Filipino community. 

“In Filipino culture, performing in general is just something that’s a part of our identity. It’s kind of a funny stereotype that Filipinos can sing well and a lot of the time it’s true. I’m excited to see some good singers,” Suganob said. 

Excellent singers who sang in both English and Filipino were participating in the competition, however, the one who took the prize was Abby Binaday,  a student from Northeastern University who enchanted everyone with a breathtaking acoustic guitar solo. 

Binaday wasn’t the only one who won an award. D1 and SU Pinoy were also holding a fan favorite poll and Joanna Malvas from Boston University, who played the keyboard and performed an original song called “First Love,” won. 

Some highlights of the competition were Joelle Mae’s incredible cello solo and Lenard Rivera’s dance performance. The UMass Boston and Northeastern students caught everyone’s attention hitting precise notes and incredible dance moves. 

Even some judges took the mic. Justin Siochi, one of the Chairs of D1, performed an emotional song for the audience and Joe Rosenthal played the guitar and sang a calming but beautiful tune. 

“D1’s Got Talent” ended with an encore on the guitar from the winner Binaday and a lovely reunion of the E-boards and contestants on the stage for a photo to capture these memorable performances. 

The event was a meaningful evening for the SU Pinoy Club and its members, celebrating Filipino culture and reuniting Filipino students from various universities in Boston.

“The impact of the talent show extends well beyond the event itself, leaving a lasting mark on the small but mighty Filipino community at Suffolk University,” Pingol said.