Paaralan sa Konsulado Students Build their Community in NY
65 students complete the five-Saturday classes at the 20th Paaralan sa Konsulado held at the Philippine Center in New York City. (New York PCG photo)
NEW YORK 13 August 2018 – Sixty-five students of the 20th Paaralan sa Konsulado (PSK) completed their summer learning course with a colorful program featuring folk dances, choral recitation, singing of Filipino songs, and the awarding of certificates and prizes at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York on 28 July 2018.
In his remarks, Deputy Consul General Kerwin Tate quoted the popular maxim of national hero Jose Rizal, “He who does not look back to where he came from will never get to his destination,” and thanked the children and their parents for spending their summer with the Paaralan sa Konsulado and finding time to discover the values and traditions of the Philippines.
Deputy Consul General also expressed gratitude to the teachers and volunteers for their spirit of sacrifice in sustaining the PSK.
For her part, Association of Filipino Teachers in America (AFTA) Director and PSK co-founder Pacita Ros told the story on how AFTA and the Philippine Consulate General in New York, through then-Deputy Consul General Cecilia Rebong, collaborated to conceptualize the project originally called “Paaralang Pilipino sa Konsulado” in 1998 and launched in 1999, which eventually became the PSK.
PSK students concluded the five Saturdays of learning and discovering their Philippine identity and community through fun-filled activities.
The children, ranging in age from six to 16 years, generated a cultural show by rendering performances of what they had learned during the five sessions that ran every Saturday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Group 3, the most senior class (ages 12-16), performed a choral recitation and danced the “Inalimango”.
Group 2, the intermediate-age students, showed their Filipino conversation skills through a skit and danced the popular “Subli”.
Group 1, the youngest students, performed a repertoire of Visayan songs and choral recitation.
Groups 2 and 3 joined together to perform their composition in their live composing class entitled “Disco Dinner,” which featured music and dancing centered on Filipino cuisine. The song was composed by the groups and directed by Chris Ignacio, a volunteer teacher and member of the Filipino-American group Broadway Barkada.
The students’ parents also showcased their dance number and rendered songs during the program.
Following the cultural show, Deputy Consul General Tate and special guest Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, together with representatives from PSK co-organizers the AFTA handed out Certificates of Participation to the 65 students, as well as medals to the winners of the “Tuklas Talino” essay-writing and art contests. Scholarship awards were given by the President of the Philippine Heritage Center to the students who had attended the Paaralan sa Konsulado for three consecutive years.
He also handed out Certificates of Appreciation to the teachers, student volunteers, resource speakers, and lecturers who taught about the life and works of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Philippine heritage sites, Philippine cuisine, and Philippine fabrics, as well as the volunteers who taught table manners and etiquette, lyric writing, live composing and art.
The culminating activity concluded with a community singing of “If We Hold On Together,” and a dinner organized by parents of the PSK children. END
Paaralan sa Konsulado students during the culminating activity, with colorful performances of dances, songs and choral recitations. Group 1 students rendered a medley of Visayan songs (top right photo); Group 2 students dance the popular “Subli” (top left photo); Group 3 students exhibit their talent in choral recitation and “Inalimango” dance. (New York PCG photo)
Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville C. Tate handed certificates of completion to the Paaralan sa Konsulado students ages 8 to 11. (New York PCG photo)
Winners of Tuklas Talino in essay writing and arts received medals and certificates from Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville C. Tate and special guest Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong. (New York PCG photo)
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