Ready, Set, Go! This year, Pacifica took a different approach to the annual Pacifica’s Got Talent competition with a Squid Games theme. Squid Games is a thrilling and suspenseful TV series about a secret contest where contestants (all of whom are in financial hardship) risk their lives for money. With the series having gained immense popularity, especially through TikTok, it’s a theme that resonates with many students, making it perfect for this year’s talent show!
On an Instagram post, ASB publicized this event. Sticking with the Squid Games theme, they labeled each contestant as “Player” and described which event they are doing, giving students an exciting preview for the actual event. The list was as such:
- Player 1: Michael Lingren (singer/guitarist)
- Players 2: Alex Case, Rory Parrott, and DJ (singers/pianist)
- Players 3: Jayden Cubero and Kai Nelson (performers)
- Player 4: Izzy Swanson (acoustic singer)
- Players 5: Ewan Nevetsen, Corvus Jackson, and Michael Lingren (band)
- Player 6: Marigold Nguyen (singer)
- Players 7: Ray Gehle, Connor Le, Brandon Tran, and Nolan Ngo (performers)
- Player 8: Audrelynn Verdien (singer)
- Players 9: Ryan Nguyen and Tiffany Nguyen (singer/pianist)
- Players 10: Michael Camino, Connor Le, and Ethan Lee (band)
- Players 11: KCC (dancers)
The night of the event, the auditorium was filled with expectant spectators ready to support each Mariner. The event opened with an engaging skit by the two MCs, Chelsea Kee and Anika Abigan. Throughout the show, they would introduce each new event in amusing ways, hyping up the crowd. From the first performance, Michael Lingren, to the last, Korean Culture Club (KCC), the energy of the crowd was brimming with excitement.
Pacifica’s Got Talent was truly a celebration of all the incredible talents within Pacifica’s community. Gifted Mariners had the perfect opportunity to showcase their creativity and passion, and they certainly did not disappoint. From dynamic band performances to powerful solo singing acts and captivating dance routines, every participant brought something special to the stage. It was a night full of energy, emotion, and excitement, with students pouring their hearts into their performances. The audience was kept on their toes and after each one there was a ripple of applause throughout the auditorium. Each performance made it harder and harder to determine who the winner of the “one million dollars” would be. In the end, despite all the performances being incredible, the winners were Michael Camino, Anthony Huynh, Connor Le, and Ethan Lee, the band who turned Pacifica into a Wave to Earth Concert. Their skills were brilliant, and the crowd was amazed, even shining their phone flashlights back and forth in rhythm with the music.
Michael Camino, the lead singer of this group, explained his thoughts about the night: “My friends and I felt excited because we really only had two practices before the actual talent show, but it ended up turning out really good. The night’s highlight was obviously the actual performance, but also taking pictures afterward and seeing all the friends who showed up for me, I really appreciate them. Wave to Earth for me and my friends influenced us so much because of the Asian representation. We all like the band and we all listen to them, so when coming up with what we should perform we all turned into one brain.”
The whole show served as a reminder of the community’s ability to support and uplift one another and how when we come together, we create something unforgettable. Thank you to all the Mariners who participated in this wonderful event as well as those who came to support!
