Filipino cultural school opens again at PH Center in New York

Paaralan sa Konsulado 2015 students during the school’s opening ceremony. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

NEW YORK CITY — With close to 60 youngsters, parents, guardians, consular officials, teachers and volunteers in attendance, Paaralan Sa Konsulado (PSK) opened its 17^th season June 27 at the Philippine Center here with the theme, “Let’s Celebrate our Filipino Culture.”

PSK, a summer school that helps young Filipino Americans revisit their Filipino culture, is a project of the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the.

Ambassador Mario Lopez de Leon, Jr., consul general, welcomed and congratulated the registrants and their parents for choosing to participate in Paaralan, reminding them of the importance of teaching children about their culture

Mian Catalano, an alumna of PSK, gave an inspirational message to the students. She narrated her experiences as a student of the first and second seasons of PSK. “I remember my sister and my first day. We were a little nervous, since we did not know what to expect. Who will we meet? What will we learn? Will it be fun?” she recalled.

PSK teacher volunteers and friends with fashion designer Renee Salud (with scarf, standing fifth from left).

“Paaralan Sa Konsulado covered so many topics, including language, history, games, arts, songs and dances,” she said. “For all that Paaralan Sa Konsulado offered us, my sister and I liked Filipino dance the most. On the fifth day, we performed a dance for the culminating program. It was so enjoyable we came back the next summer. Soon, my sister and I were able to give back to Paaralan as volunteer teachers of dance.”

Catalano trained for Folklorico Filipino Dance Company and was very proud to have performed with the other Filipino American dancers at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center.

She added, “We are most grateful to AFTA’s Paaralan Sa Konsulado where we discovered our special connection to Filipino culture through dance. What will you discover? I am so excited for you all to find out what your special connection to Filipino culture is at this year’s Paaralan Sa Konsulado.”

PSK 2015 will feature noted Filipinos to discuss special topics like Pambansang Kasuotan, Katutubong Sayaw, Kundiman, Life and Works of Dr. Jose Rizal, Pagkaing Pinoy and table etiquette, according to Dr. Raul Cajigas, AFTA president.

For its first special guest, PSK hosted the well-known fashion designer Renée Salud who talked about Pambansang Kasuotan (national dress).

Salud told the audience of his struggle to follow his dream, from being a warehouse worker to achieving his stature now in the fashion world. He encouraged the children to follow their dreams no matter the hardship.

Mian Catalano, PSK 1999 alumna, sharing her experiences growing up as a  half-Filipino in an Italian neighborhood in Queens and how PSK  helped her in life.

The designer also explained his commitment to use indigenous materials in his creations to help the people in the provinces and their livelihood. “I am a Filipino and very proud about it. I think that I have a responsibility to promote our national dress.”

Salud added, “It is my dream to see all Filipinos wear it always in the same way the Indian women wear their sari everywhere.” And for as long as he designs, he said, he would make clothes using Philippine fabrics and materials and show the world “the beauty of our Pambansang Kasuotan.” Clearly, Salud wears his Filipino pride on his sleeves.

Mrs. Eleanor de Leon, the consul general’s wife, will join the students in a luncheon at the ambassador’s residence on a Saturday. They will proceed to Central Park to hold a picnic and enjoy the Palaro Ng Lahi, an all-Filipino-games afternoon, Cajigas announced.

Paaralan Sa Konsulado will meet for four more Saturdays and will hold its culminating program on August 1. The students will perform skits, songs and dances in Filipino for their parents and friends.

The consul general’s office, in cooperation with AFTA, will set up a database of all students, past and present. AFTA will continue to modify and improve the program.

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