Fundraising event shows muticultural faces of BU

Faces from around the world filled the George Sherman Union's Metcalf Hall Saturday night for "ISA: The World is One," an annual exhibition and fundraising event coordinated by the Boston University Filipino Student Association.

"Our club itself is full of culture and diversity," said BUFSA President Christine Guillermo, a College of Arts and Sciences junior. "We are very proud to show it in our dance, dress and food. But we also want to reach out to the other clubs at BU."

Part of the ticket sales proceeds will be donated to BU's chapter of Operation Smile, a charity which sends volunteers worldwide to aid children with facial deformities and build strong healthcare systems, Guillermo said.

BUFSA member Sancho Maulion, a Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences graduate student, said the BUFSA invited other cultural groups to perform in the show.

"We're trying to showcase multiculturalism at BU ... it's a big celebration," he said.

The show featured a variety of dance performances by BU's Hellenic Association, hip-hop group Fusion and Irish dance group Paisean do Rince.

"ISA means 'one' in the Filipino language," said BUFSA member Therese Lizardo, a School of Management junior. "It's a way for everyone to get together."

Fusion member Tony Nam, a CAS junior, noted the event's education value.

"You get to see that BU offers many different types of activities, things for students to experience," he said.

CAS sophomore Mike Hammer said the event promotes cultural awareness on campus.

"It allows the people in it to connect to their own cultures and for the people watching it to get exposed to something they normally wouldn't get exposed to," he said.