12 December 2013 - The Eskwelahang Munti ng Guam (EMG), an informal school project initiated by the Philippine Consulate General in partnership with the Filipino Community of Guam and the Filipino Cultural Center, held its eighth commencement program on Monday, December 09.
The EMG aims to teach Filipino values, culture, history, and language to Filipino and Filipino-American children in Guam and to develop their talents and skills in reading, singing and dancing at a young age. The classes, which were held for 10 Saturdays, were conducted by volunteer teachers led by EMG Principal, Mrs. Milagros Moguel, Dr. Clarissa Quan and her daughter Amanda Quan, Mr. Jun Moguel and Ms. Ciony Viray.
The theme of the commencement program was a Barrio Fiesta which was participated in by the students, teachers and parents. The program started with a number by Rio, a four-year old student who played “Pen Pen de Serapen” with teacher Ciony Viray as partner. It was followed by Gavine Loraine who recited the Filipino alphabet.
An interesting part of the program was the contest in doing Tagalog translation of some English words. Students were divided into two teams and one of the teachers asked them to compete in translating to Filipino family-related terms or English words they were taught at the Eskwela.
The students also impressed the audience when they showed their improved reading skills in Filipino by reciting the fourteen stanzas of Dr. Jose Rizal’s poem, ‘Ang Huling Paalam”. Two students also made two short introductions of the two Philippine national heroes, Dr. Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio whose 150th birth anniversary is being celebrated this year.
They also showcased their skills acquired in doing artworks by presenting the Christmas décors that they made out of recycled materials. One of the students presented his snowman artwork to his father. One student was able to sell his handmade Christmas wreath made of an indigenous material, i.e, tangan-tangan/Ipil leaves, at US$10.00 to Mr. Alex Gagaring of the Guam’s Office of the Lt. Governor, to his great delight.
As a finale, the students serenaded the audience with a medley of Philippine folk songs such as “Magtanim Ay Di Biro”, “Leron Leron Sinta”, “Paru-parong Bukid” and a Christmas song, “Pasko na Naman”.
Consul Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian, accompanied by Ms. Mildred Sayurin, Embassy’s Cultural Officer, graced the event and handed over the certificates.
A total of seven (7) young boys and girls out of the nine (9) who enrolled during the 10 Saturday sessions, attended the graduation. Four (4) of the students received special awards, namely, RJ Beam Gamboa, Kaila Lasam and Angelique Garcia and Gavine Loraine Paraiso as Most Improved Student. (Photo credits: Ms. Mildred Sayurin) END