Dalawang Baybayin Filipino Language Exchange Program Featured in 2023 San Diego Dual Language Conference

Dr. Eva Pando-Solis (first from left), Consul Alnee Gamble (third from left), Ms. Hazel Mendoza (first from right), together with representatives from the Spanish and French Consulates and some teachers from the Spanish, Filipino, and French language programs.

LOS ANGELES 05 May 202 – The 2023 Two Shores Intercultural Exchange Program which includes the Filipino program ‘Dalawang Baybayin’ held its final celebration and showcase on 27 April 2023 as one of the highlights of the San Diego Dual Language Conference held from 27 to 29 April 2023.

Dr. Eva Pando-Solis, Two Shores Coordinator of the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), together with representatives from the Consulates General of Spain, the Philippines, and France, acknowledged the efforts of the participating schools and teachers, and gave out certificates of appreciation for their participation.

The 2022 edition of Dalawang Baybayin featured Otay Ranch High School (ORHS) in San Diego, CA, and Salvacion National High School (SNHS) in Santo Tomas, Davao Del Norte.

Ms. Farrah Mendoza and Ms. Rizalyn Cruz, teachers from Otay Ranch High School from San Diego, received their certificates in person and those of their partner teachers from Salvacion National High School in Santo Tomas, Davao Del Norte.

Consul Maria Alnee A. Gamble, Head of Cultural Diplomacy and Community Relations at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, thanked the participating Filipino-American teachers, as well as the representatives of the Council for the Teaching of the Filipino Language and Culture. She also encouraged them to continue working with the SDCOE so that the Filipino language program could expand further to more partner schools in the Philippines and assured them further of the Philippine Consulate General’s support on this endeavor.

The Dalawang Baybayin program was initiated by the San Diego County Office of Education’s (SDCOE) in 2020. It aims to provide opportunity for teachers, from both the US and Philippines to collaborate in providing rich language and cultural experience.  It also aims to expand horizons, remove barriers, and promote communication and intercultural understanding through a linguistic, cultural and educational exchange within a flexible framework. A total of 143 teachers and 4,992 students from the US, Spain, the Philippines, and France have participated in the program since 2020. END

From left to right: Ms. Rizalyn Cruz, Ms. Mendoza, Dr. Atilio Alicio, Consul Gamble, and Ms. Farrah Mendoza. (Los Angeles PCG photo)

Ms. Rizalyn Cruz (left) and Ms. Farrah Mendoza (right) with their showcase, presenting the topics taken up during their Dalawang Baybayin sessions and the output and comments of their students from Otay Ranch High School. (Los Angeles PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.philippineconsulatela.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLA/.