by Gabriel Gonzalez
“Holé!” “Viva Mexico!” these are the cheers you could hear from across the campus on December 3rd at Joliet Central High School as the bilingual students portrayed their Hispanic roots to people who were unaware at how extravagant this culture can be.
The Hispanic Cultural Assembly was held on a Friday with 3 show times, 11:00am, 2:20pm, and 7:00pm. The program was sponsored by today’s Hispanic Leaders Club who’s had only a month for preparation. The theme was Cesar Chavez’s, “Si Se Puede” and “Amestda”, which means “Yes We Can” and “Friendship.” The first act was a dance choreographed by Luis Leal, “La Gota Fria”, second was a song sung by Alondra Montenegro, “Amigos”, third was “La Dansa de los Viejitos”, fourth was a sung by Guadalupe Nieto and Luis Leal, “Colgando en tus Manos”, fifth was” La Vida es un Carnaval”, sixth was “Cucurrucucu Paloma” sung once again by the lovely Alondra Montenegro, seventh was a song sung by Central’s very own teachers, Mr. Harris, Mr. Medina, and Mr. Hodgers , “Juntos Volaremos”, eighth was a choreography to the song “ Waka, Waka”, and finally, the Spanglish version of “We are the World”.
I got the chance to speak with one of the performers who sang for this occasion. Alondra Montenegro is a seventeen year old junior at Joliet Central. She’s been singing since the age of eight and has traveled to places like Mexico, Ohio, and Indiana to perform for events and parties. She is motivated to be a future singer by the inspirations of her father who is also a singer. She says she had a great time and hopes that the assembly has touched people’s hearts.