01 July 2016 - Unforgettable memories were created during the community celebration of the 118th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence in Shanghai on June 25. Held at the grounds of the International Philippine School in Shanghai (IPSS), the Filipino community in Shanghai under the auspices of the Philippine Consulate General along with faculty and students of the IPSS, welcomed all the Chinese wards and children of the Sonflowers Organization for a day of fun, laughter and community-building. Themed “Reaching Out with Open Hearts”, the event was able achieve its objective of bringing together the Filipino community in Shanghai to provide joy to Chinese children who are growing up under tremendously difficult personal circumstances.
The Sonflowers Organization, founded three years ago under the leadership of British-Antiguan national Ms. Shona Semasake who has been based in Shanghai for more than a decade aims to provide a safe after-school haven for Chinese children who are experiencing tumultuous personal circumstances because of their families.
The 30 children from the Sonflowers Organization were warmly welcomed by the faculty and students of the IPSS, key members of the Filipino community in Shanghai and all of the officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General. Ms. Michelle Teope-Shen, President of the Filipino Community in Shanghai (FILCOMSHA), opened the event through an interactive activity where everyone held each other’s hands and chanted, “hand-in-hand, we have each other!” Then, Ms. Shona Semasake, Founder of the Sonflowers Organization expressed on behalf of the children their organization’s appreciation for this gesture of goodwill between the Filipino community and their association.
Philippine Consul General Wilfredo R. Cuyugan praised the event as a low-key yet very meaningful program which positively impacts on the lives of Filipino and Chinese children. Consul General Cuyugan, along with officers of the Consulate General, also awarded certificates and plaques of appreciation to individuals and organizations which made this event possible. The Consul General also turned over a box of toys to Ms. Semasake to be collectively shared by the children in their headquarters.
Adding to the festivities of the day were a clown and a magician who entertained and wowed all the children and the children at heart in the audience. The IPSS students also sang a medley of Filipino and Chinese songs and danced to the delight of the Sonflowers children. Filipino acoustic band Blue Heaven serenaded everyone as they partook of a Filipino-Chinese merienda consisting of pansit, siomai, chicken lollipop, lumpiang shanghai and biko. Gift bags donated by the Filipino community in Shanghai were also distributed to the children before they left.
As the children left, one could not help but feel emotional to see the joy that gleamed in their eyes. The language barrier between the children and the rest of the participants did not hinder anyone from the outpouring of love for one another through palpable expressions of generosity and kindness. What more powerful gesture to ensure that our future is peaceful than to instill love among the children, who as very rightly pointed out Dr. Jose Rizal, remain the future of nations. END
