PH Consulate General in NY Welcomes Paaralan sa Konsulado Students
Consul General to New York Claro S. Cristobal and spouse Marilou Cristobal welcome Paaralan sa Konsulado students during the luncheon that they hosted at the Philippine Center on 21 July 2018. (New York PCG photo)
NEW YORK 14 August 2018 – The students of 20th Paaralan sa Konsulado (PSK), together with their volunteer teachers from the Association of Filipino Teachers in America (AFTA) and AFTA summer interns, were the guests to a formal luncheon hosted by Consul General to New York Claro S. Cristobal and Madame Marilou Cristobal as part of the PSK’s special feature class.
The luncheon was a mock Independence Day celebration, which the children attended in formal national dress.
In his welcome remarks, Consul General Cristobal assured the children that the Consulate General is their home, underlining that—like their parents—the Consulate is where they can come when they need someone to trust, where they will feel safe, and where they will always belong.
“Once a Filipino, always a Filipino, that a Filipino belongs to all other Filipinos, we are just one big family living together in one home,” Consul General Cristobal said.
The luncheon was preceded by special classes on table manners and etiquette by volunteers Ave Pimo and Ella Hugo. A brief story on Philippine cuisine was given by Max’s Restaurant manager Maria Roldan, who also prepared the lunch for the children.
Each year, the Consulate General invites resource speakers to present feature classes simultaneously for all three groups of PSK students. This year, the Consulate General invited teachers to give lessons on Philippine heritage sites, the life and works of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Philippine cuisine, and Philippine fabrics.
The students showed significant interest and curiosity on the presentation on eight Philippine heritage and tourism sites prepared by the Department of Tourism in New York. Consul Arman R. Talbo and Cultural Officer Olive Osias-Magpile took the children on a virtual trip around the Philippines.
Maria Oliva Jopia-Abarquez, a Rizal Youth leader and alumna of the National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute, shared with the students stories and values of national hero, Jose Rizal and encouraged them to be the little Rizals in their community.
Following the talk, the Knights of Rizal-New York Chapter, through Consul Talbo, handed copies of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo to the 15 of the eldest students.
PSK students were also given a docent tour of the Hibla ng Lahing Filipino Traveling Exhibition by the curatorial team of the National Museum of the Philippines. Students expressed amazement at the tedious processes involved in the making of piña seda cloth.
The docent tour included interactions with the Kalibo, Aklan weavers and Lumban, Laguna embroiderers, while students were invited to touch the fiber, weave and embroider. An embroidery workshop was given to the older students as well. END
Consul General to New York Claro S. Cristobal assures the Paaralan sa Konsulado students that the Philippine Consulate General in New York will be their home where the heart is and where they belong. (New York PCG photo)
Paaralan sa Konsulado students listen to Ms. Let dela Cruz, piña-seda weaver from Kalibo, Aklan, on how to use the Tanhaga (Aklan foot loom) to weave the fiber and turn it into fabric. (New York PCG photo)
National Museum Assistant Director Ana Maria Theresa Labrador (right photo) introduces the PSK children to embroidery. The Embroidery Workshop was held for the Group 3 Paaralan sa Konsulado students. (New York PCG photo)
For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/.