Paul BittickThe Pilipino Cultural Exchange (PCE) presents “Righting My Goodbye,” an original production by Cal Poly students Friday and Saturday at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande.
“Righting My Goodbye” centers its story around the character of Isabelle (Lisa Aguirre) who returns to the Philippines after the death of a loved one. With the help of her best friend and others, she uncovers corruption and in turn questions her loyalties.
The feature also includes a line-up of different bands each night. Friday night the show opens with performances from Gabe Bondoc, Take It SLO and the Chinese Student Association.
The Saturday night performers include Cathy Galvez of “Leave It to Chance,” US Crew and Next Phase.
Performances are a part of PCE’s cultural night, which they have hosted every year for the last 17 years.
PCE members began writing the play last summer under the instruction of Bernard Badion, the author of “Leave it to Chance.”
“None of us had writing experience,” co-author Melanie Rubia said. “We (the authors) are four engineers and a music major.”
Rubia said that one of the greatest obstacles in writing the play was the distance between the authors over the summer months.
“We would be on AIM and be like, maybe the characters should do this?”
The play features several actors involved with the PCE.
Actor Raniel Camacho, a mechanical engineering junior called the show “a showcase of what our club is about to Cal Poly and our culture.”
“When I came to Cal Poly, I was looking for a family, I found that in PCE,” Camacho said.
The authors completed the play with a “good collaboration” Rubia said.
PCE has more than 100 members at Cal Poly.
Shows run Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande. Student tickets are $12 and general admission is $15.