AS THE 2026 WINTER Olympics officially began in Italy, a smaller opening ceremony was happening in Orange County.
This one was not to celebrate athleticism, but to embrace the rich cultural traditions here in the local community.
THE BARKADAHAN DANCE TROUPE PERFORMS A TRADITIONAL FILIPINO DANCE ON FEB. 6. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Christ Cathedral Academy hosted its first “Go for the Gold: An Olympic Celebration of Cultures” on Feb. 6 in the Garden Grove school’s gym. The event brought together different cultural traditions into one big opening ceremony, featuring performances from the Philippines, Mexico, Vietnam, Hawaii and Samoa.
“To see all of our cultures come together as one is amazing, and that’s what we’ve always wanted: unity,” said parent Belle Ibanez, who organized the event. “So, to see that happen today was very, very humbling, and to see the children laughing and smiling and having a good time was just amazing as well.”
The “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” played through the gym, quieting the packed crowd as Principal Julianna Tapia held up a glowing child-safe Olympic torch and led the way. Followed by kindergarten up to eighth graders, almost every student wore wore traditional clothing or items representing their heritage.
Colorfully embroidered huipils, China poblanas and silk áo dài filled the room as students processed into the event.
OLIVIA LEUTA-DOUYER PERFORMS A TRADITIONAL SAMOAN DANCE DURING CHRIST CATHEDRAL ACADEMY’S “GO FOR THE GOLD: AN OLYMPIC CELEBRATION OF CULTURES” HELD ON FEB. 6.
“I think honestly it was really cool to see all the cultures,” said seventh-grader Grace Mayberry, 13, “and I think it just shows the diversity of the school, which I think is really nice.”
The event featured dancing, singing, chanting and performances from around the globe. The show featured two dances by the Filipino Barkadahan Dance Troupe: a maglalatik, a war dance where the boys held coconut shell halves that they hit against the ones strapped to their knees, stomach and back; and a tinikling, where students danced while dodging rhythmically clapping bamboo canes. The eighth-grade class performed a traditional Vietnamese dance with red ombre fans for the girls and branches of yellow apricot blossoms for the boys; a mom sang a mariachi song about love; and the teachers and staff performed hula.
The Samoan Islands were represented with a chant, a song and dance, and a performance of traditional Siva Samoa that brought in generations of families.
The closing performance featured a Vietnamese lion dance, which got the smaller students rushing up to pet the elaborate costumes.
The event was “amazing,” said Tapia, who hopes the students realize that the community’s cultural diversity makes it a special community to be part of.
“We are such a beautifully diverse community and school,” she added. “We find it very important for the children to recognize all the special parts of each culture that make up our academy.”
When all the performances ended, it was time for lunch. Students returned to their classrooms with a special lunch of fried rice and churros. The churros were donated by Churrería El Moro, a maker of the traditional churros and chocolate for the last 90 years. The company originated in Mexico City and recently opened a location in the Mercado González in Costa Mesa’s Northgate Market.
“We are creators of tradition, and we want to be part of the community, so we’re here,” said Luis Martinez of El Moro. “Being creators of tradition, we wanted to be a part of tradition, be a part of celebrating all of our cultures.”
LUIS MARTINEZ, OWNER OF EL MORO CHURRERIA WITH HIS CREW PROVIDES CHURROS FOR THE STUDENTS.
Angels Baseball also came to raise awareness for its annual Catholic Families Night, which will take place on June 27. Families who purchase tickets will get a special-edition Catholic Angels hat.
“This year it’s honoring the 50th year of the diocese, and a portion of every ticket goes back to benefit the Diocese of Orange,” said Clare Wehan, a senior group sales account manager at Angels Baseball.
This is the first year the school has had one big cultural event. In the past it has celebrated Tet, Hispanic Heritage Month and AAPI events separately, said Ibanez. Bringing all the cultures of the school together for one big celebration was an idea the parents lobbied for, said Tapia.
“I told Mrs. Tapia it would be a perfect opportunity to showcase our melting pot of cultures here at CCA,” Ibanez said.
When the students share their cultures, get a deeper understanding of each other and that creates community, said Music Director Mallory Susank.
At CCA, students are not ashamed or afraid to wear their cultural clothing, but they are excited for each other and to cheer one another on, she added.
“I think the students just find more of a home when they can express where they come from and they’re not afraid because they see all their friends doing it for their cultures,” Susank said. “They are more willing to do it when there’s an environment where there is safety in doing that.”