The 54 graduates of the 17th Paaralan sa Konsulado proudly show off their Certificates of Completion at the Culminating Program on August 01 at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall. Joining them are Philippine Consul General Mario L. de Leon, Jr (2nd from right) and Mrs. Eleonor de Leon (rightmost), Deputy Consul General Kira Danganan-Azucena (leftmost) and Dr. Raul Cajigas, President of the Association of the Filipino Teachers in America (AFTA) (2nd from left).
06 August 2015 - Fifty-four (54) pupils aged five to 14 years gave a rousing presentation of songs and dances that celebrated the theme “Kulturang Pilipino, Ipagdiwang Mo” to mark their completion of the five-week Paaralan sa Konsulado 2015 (PSK) in a Culminating Program held in the afternoon of August 01 at the Philippine Center New York’s Kalayaan Hall.
The pupils, grouped into three, performed the dances Paru-Parong Bukid, Bulaklakan, the popular Tinikling, and a simplified version of Singkil, did a sabayang bigkas of Jose Rizal’s “Sa Aking Mga Kababata”, and sang popular Filipino folk and popular songs such as PenPen de Sarapen and “Isang Mundo, Isang Awit”. The volunteer teachers along with some of the parents also rendered entertaining song and dance numbers, to the delight of the more than 100 spectators who flocked to the Philippine Center to watch the show.
The program concluded with the awarding of Certificates of Completion to the 54 pupils, as well as the winners of this year’s Tuklas Talino, a competition among the participating children in art and essay writing. The certificates were handed out by Consul General Mario L. de Leon Jr. and Dr. Raul Cajigas, President of the Association of Filipino Teachers in American (AFTA), the Consulate General’s partner organization in this annual flagship activity.
In his keynote remarks, Philippine Consul General Mario L. de Leon Jr. happily noted the significant increase in the number of participating children this year – 56, up from last year’s 34. He urged the parents to bring back their children next year, and invite their friends to enroll their children as well.
“I hope parents will agree with me that PSK is a venue for actual and personal interaction, which makes learning about our country more personal and enjoyable, and creates an emotional link with our people,” he said.
In his opening remarks, AFTA President Dr. Cajigas emphasized the importance of making the parents more involved, and how the organizers endeavor to continually innovate the PSK curriculum every year to make it more enjoyable and effective for the children. He cited, for example, the initiative this year to invite special resource speakers to talk on specific modules. Renowned designer Rene Salud talked to the children about Pambansang Kasuotan; owner of popular New York City Filipino restaurant Jeepney Nicole Ponseca shared about Pagkaing Pinoy; Knights of Rizal New York Chapter Commander Dean Suba spoke on the life of Dr. Jose Rizal; indigenous folk dance group in New York Kinding Sindaw headed by Ms. Potri Rankis shared about Mindanao music and dance and martial arts; and Ms. Pacita Roces spoke about Kundiman, which was followed by a rendition of the song “Bituing Marikit” by popular New York-based soprano Ms. Kay Habana.
A highlight this year was a sit-down luncheon at the Kalayaan Hall hosted by Mrs. Eleonor De Leon for the children in line with the module on Pagkaing Pinoy and table manners, an experience that one of the pupils described as “special”.
The Culminating Program was hosted by two PSK alumni, Joshua Clyde Rabina and Alyanna Moralda.
The Paaralan sa Konsulado, now on its 17th year, is a flagship project of the Philippine Consulate General in New York in cooperation with AFTA. PSK 2015 was held for five Saturdays at the Philippine Center New York premises from June 27 to August 01 (it skipped July 04), from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. This year’s theme was “Kulturang Pilipino, Ipagdiwang Mo”. Its curriculum covered lessons on Philippine culture in its various forms -- dance, music, arts, clothing, values, cuisine, language and indigenous games. END